title: Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Coordinating Hundreds of Meth Shipments From California to Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for coordinating more than 200 shipments of methamphetamine from California to Chicago. In 2022 and 2023, KEITH R. MCCORMICK mailed more than 200 parcels—each containing a pound of 90-100% pure methamphetamine—from his residence in Sacramento, Calif., to individuals in Chicago. Many of the parcels were addressed to co-conspirators who arranged for the sale of the drugs on the streets. The illicit proceeds were then shipped back to McCormick in California. McCormick, 54, was arrested in March 2023. He pleaded guilty last year to a drug conspiracy charge. On Feb. 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang imposed the 14-year prison sentence and fined McCormick $25,000. McCormick was one of six defendants charged with drug conspiracy as part of this investigation. Four co-conspirators, all of whom resided in Chicago, pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced as follows: STEPHEN R. JENKINS, 46: 14 years in prison. DANIEL HEISE, 43: 12 years in prison. DONALD W. GRENIER, JR., 64: four years in prison. JOSE HERNANDEZ, 48: four years in prison. The fifth alleged co-conspirator—WILLIAM F. KOCH, 38, of Chicago—died in 2024, prompting the government to dismiss the charges against him. McCormick’s sentence and the results of the investigation were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Mary T. Johnson, Acting Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California; Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) in Chicago and Sacramento; the USPIS High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force —Parcel Interdiction Regional Enforcement Team in Chicago; USPIS and Homeland Security Investigations Field Offices in Sacramento; and the North Riverside, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Moheb.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty for Making Online Threats

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A 46-year-old man pled guilty in federal court to making threats online. Raymond Pumphrey, of Aberdeen, Maryland, is charged with making threats transmitted by interstate communication. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the guilty plea, Pumphrey made a series of threatening posts on the social media platform YouTube and other social media sites to spread hateful rhetoric, particularly toward Black and Muslim communities. Commenting primarily on news stories, he advocated for and threatened to participate in the killing of black people in multiple large cities throughout the country. He further threatened to kill multiple politicians and members of their families. Pumphrey faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, June 29, at 10 a.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and USSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Aubin who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach .


title: Longview tax preparer guilty in tax fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Longview tax preparer has pleaded guilty to a federal violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Marneitha Reese Scott, 57, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid, assist, counsel, or advise in tax fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on February 18, 2026. According to information presented in court, Scott owned a tax return preparer business operated under the name of F.A.S.T. Financial Firm (“FAST”), with two locations in Longview. Scott and others recruited tax preparers to work at the businesses to prepare and file income tax returns for clients. With others, Scott created a scheme to defraud the United States by instructing the tax preparers to create fraudulent entries on client tax returns, including, for example, claims for business losses when the client had no business. The tax returns were filed by Scott or employees working at her instruction. The tax preparation business was paid a fee by the clients for preparing and filing the returns. Scott's conduct resulted in a known tax loss for tax years 2019 – 2022 of $243,899.00. Scott faces up to five years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson. ###


title: Honduran National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Cornejo Hernandez, age 40, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 27, 2026, Mendoza-Hernandez was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, after previously having been removed from the United States. The indictment also alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez had been removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas on April 29, 2019, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://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. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Chinese National sentenced for role in pig butchering scheme

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a scheme to launder the proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams and other fraudulent schemes involving millions of dollars in victim funds, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Fei Liao, 31, of San Gabriel, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on February 19, 2026. Liao was ordered to forfeit over $2.3 million in seized currency and to pay restitution of more than $2.8 million to the victims that directed money to his accounts. According to information presented in court, Liao and others conspired to open shell companies and bank accounts to launder victim proceeds of cryptocurrency confidence schemes – also known as “pig butchering” scams. Pig butchering fraud schemes (a term derived from a foreign-language phrase used to describe these crimes) consist of scammers encountering victims on dating services or social media, or through unsolicited messages or calls, often masquerading as a wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making investments using cryptocurrency. Once funds are sent to scammer-controlled accounts, the investment platform often falsely shows significant gains on the purported investment, and the victims are thus induced to make additional investments. Ultimately, the victims are unable to withdraw or recover their invested funds and suffer significant financial losses. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Tyler Resident Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells. If you or someone you know is a victim, report it to www.IC3.gov. In the report, please reference “Pig Butchering PSA” and include as much information as possible in the complaint including names of investment platforms, cryptocurrency addresses and transaction hashes, bank account information, and names and contact information of suspected scammers. Maintain copies of all communications with scammers and records of financial transactions. ###


body_text: HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Trinidad Amaya-Montoya, A/K/A Bernardo Cardana, age 39, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 2026. Mendoza-Hernandez was removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas, on May 18, 2016, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://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. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Zuni man sentenced for sexual abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to ten years in prison for sexual abuse. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on August 19, 2023, Stanton Hannaweeke , 63, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, engaged in a nonconsensual sexual act with Jane Doe. Hannaweeke pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse. Upon his release from prison, Hannaweeke will be subject to ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.


title: Dauphin County Man Indicted For Production, Receipt, And Possession Of Child Pornography

body_text: HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregory Strickland, age 45, of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 18, 2026, by a federal grand jury for production, receiving, and possessing child pornography. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Strickland used a minor to produce child pornography on 12 separate occasions in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The indictment further alleges that Strickland received child pornography via the Kik application in 2022 and 2025 and possessed child pornography in 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum total penalties for the offenses charged are 420 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of up to life following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Morgantown Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Monongalia County, West Virginia man was sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Jamie Russell Jones, 47, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Law enforcement officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle and observed Jones exit from the car. Officers smelled marijuana and proceeded to lawfully search the vehicle. A backpack with three handguns, some methamphetamine and marijuana, and an empty firearm magazine were seized from the vehicle. All three firearms had been reported stolen from a home in Gassaway, West Virginia, in 2024. Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior firearms and theft convictions. Jones will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police, and the Gassaway Police Department investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.


title: Gang member sentenced to 29 years for role in sex trafficking operation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 27-year-old member of the Forum Park Crips has been ordered to federal prison for sex trafficking young teenage girls, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Damarquis McGee aka Lilblue pleaded guilty Aug. 26, 2024. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered McGee to serve 348 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard information and evidence detailing McGee’s exploitation and victimization of numerous teenage girls. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that McGee’s conduct was “horrific” and that McGee was “every parent’s worst nightmare.” The court emphasized that in exploiting his victims through force, violence, threats, rape and coercion, McGee used the victims for his own entertainment and tossed them aside. He will serve 15 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. McGee will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date. “McGee systematically exploited young teenage girls for personal gain, using violence, intimidation, and fear. For far too long, these young girls were treated as commodities, instead of people,” said Ganjei. “Today’s sentence cannot erase the trauma the victims endured, but it does affirm a fundamental truth: their lives have value, their voices matter, and those who abused them will be held accountable.” From April 2019 to February 2020, McGee and others worked to recruit young teenage girls and forced them to engage in sex acts with “clients” for money in cars and motels around the Bissonnet “blade” or “track.” The Bissonnet blade is an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street in Houston where pimps and traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex. McGee and others passed around or reassigned victims amongst one another, taught each other “the pimp game” and forced young girls to walk the blade while they kept the proceeds. To switch between pimps, the young girls had to pay an exit fee or get “beat out.” Some traffickers required daily quotas each night from their victims. If the victims failed to meet their daily quotas, they were severely punished through beatings and humiliation. Co-conspirators Michael Anthony Gonzalez aka Mumbles, 29, Jerreck Michael Hilliard aka Jmoney, 37, and Javon Yaw Opoku aka Glizzy, 25, all of Houston, were previously sentenced to 240, 292 and 365 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the sex trafficking conspiracy. McGee will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Suh, Anthony Franklyn, Amanda R. Alum, and former AUSA Richard W. Bennett prosecuted the case. The Houston Police Department conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Harris County District Attorney’s Office. HTRA law enforcement includes members of HPD, FBI, ICE-HSI, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties. Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: Pembroke Man Sentenced for Misusing CARES Act Funds to Purchase the Angus Lea Golf Course CONCORD – A Pembroke man was sentenced today in federal court for fraudulently obtaining over $1 million of CARES Act funds and misusing funds to purchase a golf course, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Michael Kirouac, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante to 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release. On October 3, 2025, Kirouac pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. “The defendant stole over a million dollars from taxpayers amidst one of the worst health and economic crises in a century,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “This office will continue to vigilantly investigate and prosecute those who defraud pandemic relief programs.” “The defendant misappropriated critical funds intended for legitimate businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “This sentencing underscores the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding taxpayer funds and protecting the integrity of government assistance programs.” “Today’s sentencing of Michael Kirouac demonstrates IRS-CI’s continued commitment to prosecuting all those who took advantage of the CARES Act for their own undue self-enrichment,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Kirouac defrauded a federal program designed to help those most in need at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with the intent of misappropriating these funds to purchase a golf course, while others, who were truly in need, struggled.” During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage. Kirouac owned or controlled four companies: HK Manchester, HK Loudon, HK Hudson, and HK Pelham. He applied for and obtained over $1 million worth of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for the companies. Kirouac certified that he would use the loan proceeds solely as working capital and would not use the funds for personal expenses or to relocate the businesses from one location to another. Beginning in 2021, Kirouac was looking to purchase a golf course. He was unable to obtain financing from banks and private lenders and instead obtained EIDLs on behalf of HK Manchester and HK Loudon. Kirouac used approximately $600,000 of EIDL funds intended for HK Manchester and HK Loudon to help purchase the Angus Lea Golf Course in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Kirouac also misused EIDL funds he obtained for HK Pelham. Separately, Kirouac obtained a $260,500 EIDL for HK Hudson. However, Kirouac had already agreed to sell HK Hudson to a third party when he signed for the loan. Kirouac did not disclose that fact to the SBA. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigations, and SBA’s Office of the Inspector General led the investigation. The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case. 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.


title: Fayette County Man Sentenced  for Threatening a Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Christopher Rhodes, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom to 42 months for interstate communication of a threat. According to his plea agreement, on May 22, 2025, Rhodes used his Google account to send an email to Jackie Steele, who is the Commonwealth Attorney for Laurel and Knox Counties. Rhodes intended the email as a threat and specifically indicated that Steele needed curtains in his residence and made references to his wife and children and that he should fear for the safety of his family. This message was sent as part of a series of emails that spanned multiple weeks that expressed Rhodes’ anger with Steele based on Steele’s service as Commonwealth Attorney. Under federal law, Rhodes must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman. — END —


title: McAllen man convicted of illegally purchasing .50 caliber weapon for Mexican drug trafficking organization

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 24-year-old legal permanent resident has pleaded guilty to conspiring to straw purchase a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Javier Sebastian Vazquez-Ponce admitted he recruited another individual to purchase a .50-caliber semi-automatic rifle on his behalf, knowing the firearm was intended for trafficking and use by a drug trafficking organization in Mexico. On Dec. 2, 2025, authorities identified a suspicious attempt to purchase a .50-caliber rifle using approximately $10,000 in cash. They determined Vasquez-Ponce and others crossed into Mexico shortly after placing the order and returned approximately two days later to retrieve the firearm. Law enforcement immediately took them into custody at that time. The investigation also recovered text messages detailing the scheme and referencing additional firearm trafficking activity. As part of his plea, Vasquez-Ponce admitted the money for the purchase originated from the Gulf Cartel in Mexico. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos will impose sentencing May 13. At that time, Ramos faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Vazquez-Ponce remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Izaak Bruce are prosecuting the case.


title: Chinese National Found Guilty of Smuggling 207 Pounds of Marijuana into the United States

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Wenjian Zhuo, age 32, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, has been found guilty of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute following a jury trial in federal court in Syracuse. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Robert Garcia, Chief of United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, and Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), made the announcement. Evidence presented during the two-day trial proved that on January 22, 2025, Zhuo drove from New York City to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation where his van was loaded with 94 kilograms (approximately 207 pounds) of marijuana. Zhuo began to transport the marijuana back to New York City where he intended to deliver it when Border Patrol pulled him over and seized the marijuana. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “For far too long, criminal networks have exploited the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation as a gateway for smuggling illegal drugs into our country. We will not tolerate anyone using this border region as a safe haven for trafficking. If you attempt to move narcotics through this corridor, you will be investigated, arrested, prosecuted, and held fully accountable. Border Patrol and DEA work every day to close this valve and this time, they were successful.” Chief of United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector Robert Garcia stated, “Swanton Sector Border Patrol agents remain vigilant in protecting the nation from the dangers posed by human and narcotics trafficking. This case demonstrates the dedication and teamwork of our agents and all our law enforcement partners in the area, including the United States Attorney’s Office, in intercepting illicit drugs before they reach our communities. We also commend the United States Attorney’s Office for their dedication to prosecuting those who attempt to exploit our border for criminal activity, ensuring they are held accountable and brought to justice.” DEA Special Agent in Charge of the New York Enforcement Division Farhana Islam stated, “Once again, justice is being delivered to those criminal networks and individuals flooding the Northeast corridor with illegal marijuana. Today’s guilty verdict against Wenjian Zhuo reinforces our commitment to identify, target, and prosecute all those who profit from illicit drug distribution. The DEA New York Enforcement Division remains steadfast in our pursuit of holding accountable anyone trafficking drugs across our borders and into our neighborhoods.” Zhuo will be sentenced on June 23, 2026, by United States Senior District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby, who presided over the trial. The charge of conviction against Zhuo carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Border Patrol and DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted the case


title: Maryland U.S. Attorney Announces Hundreds of Arrests Connected to Joint Federal-State Targeted Baltimore Criminal Enforcement Operation

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced federal charges today, in connection with a large-scale, targeted law-enforcement operation, resulting in hundreds of federal and state arrests. From January 20, through January 31, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners brought dozens of federal and state charges against numerous defendants. Through this operation, law enforcement also arrested more than 200 violent fugitives and individuals affiliated with organized criminal activity throughout the Baltimore area. Throughout the operation, authorities carried out various law enforcement actions, including the execution of search-and-seizure warrants, in connection with efforts to fight violent crime and drug-trafficking in Baltimore City. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the prosecutions with Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City; Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III, Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor (OSP); and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). This multi-jurisdictional law-enforcement effort resulted in several federal indictments in connection with drug trafficking and firearm offenses, including: Zachary Lewis, 36, Dwayne Hamilton, 45, and Elton Jonray Cruickshank, 37, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine between June and October 2025. Lewis is also charged with firearms-related charges. The FBI and BPD are investigating this case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities. Donte Sands, 51, and Walter Gardner III, 56, are under indictment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine base. These charges stem from drug activity from April through August 2025. Additionally, Sands is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, including a .40 caliber handgun, a 7.62 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a revolver. The DEA and Baltimore County Police Department are investigating this case. Three members of a Baltimore drug trafficking organization are under indictment for drug trafficking crimes from November 2025 through January 2026. Terrel Tomlin, 36, Michael “M&M” McKay, 55, and Keenan Jackson, 39, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The DEA, Carroll County Sherriff’s Office, and Maryland State Police are investigating this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also sought charges against more than a dozen others for unrelated drug and firearm offenses, along with a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act Conspiracy in connection with MS-13 affiliated crimes. This law-enforcement operation also involved Operation Baltimore Safeguard, an effort by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, in partnership with FBI Baltimore, HSI Maryland, and BPD, to arrest fugitives based on outstanding Maryland state arrest warrants. Operation Baltimore Safeguard resulted in a total of 239 fugitive arrests, including eight individuals wanted for homicide, 12 for attempted homicide, 18 for robbery, 108 for assault, 13 for weapons-related offenses, 10 for sexual assault, and 26 for drug-related charges. Among those apprehended six were identified as gang associates. Law enforcement personnel also seized four firearms, along with 869 grams of narcotics, and cleared 264 outstanding warrants during the operation. The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force is a Congressionally funded multi-agency task force whose mission is to focus resources and efforts on the reduction of violence within the National Capital Region. Prosecutions from this operation also include charges brought against at least 10 additional defendants for various offenses in Maryland state court. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office; USMS; FBI; ATF; DEA; HSI; USPIS; OSP; BPD; BCPD; Annapolis Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; Frederick Police Department; Hagerstown Police Department; Harford County Sheriff’s Department; Howard County Police Department; Howard County Sheriff’s Office; Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Maryland State Police; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the federal cases. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # # Agency Quotes Kelly O. Hayes – U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland “This operation makes clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to join forces with our law-enforcement partners to execute the united goal of dismantling organizations associated with driving violence and other criminal activity, and prosecuting those involved to the fullest extent of the law,” Hayes said. “This successful operation shows how collaboration and teamwork help combat crime, thereby making our neighborhoods safer.” Ivan J. Bates – State’s Attorney for Baltimore City “This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among various levels of law enforcement, all working towards the shared mission to disrupt violent crime, dismantle organized criminal networks, and enhance public safety,” Bates said. “By combining the unique resources and expertise of each agency at the federal, state, and local levels, we are successfully removing violent offenders from our streets and holding drug traffickers accountable. Achieving impactful public safety requires partnerships, and this operation showcases our coordinated effort to make Baltimore safer for residents and visitors alike.” Jimmy Paul, Special Agent in Charge – FBI Baltimore “The FBI was proud to be part of this effort, combining agents, intelligence analysts, specialized teams and professional staff, with our dedicated law enforcement partners,” Paul said. “Results from this recent operation build on the progress we’ve made over the last few years to drive down crime and we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to make Baltimore safer for everyone.” Clinton J. Fuchs – U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland “The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank all the law enforcement officers involved in this operation for their professionalism, skill, and dedication. Successful operations like this one are a reminder of the value of effective federal, state, and local partnerships in protecting public safety and upholding the rule of law,” Fuchs said. “It should also serve as a reminder that the U.S. Marshals Service and all our law enforcement partners will pursue violent offenders wherever they attempt to hide.” Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge – DEA “Violent crime and drugs are undoubtedly connected. Our job is to safeguard the safety and well-being of American communities by actively fighting against all criminal drug networks that inflict harm, violence, and contribute to overdoses and poisonings,” Goumenis said. “Through strategic partnerships with local, state, and international law enforcement agencies, the DEA works tirelessly to dismantle these illicit organizations and, one by one, return the neighbors to the good people of Maryland. We are working for a violence and fentanyl free America.” Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge – ATF Baltimore “ATF remains relentless in working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to identify, investigate and prosecute those who threaten public safety,” Doerrer said. “Our agents will continue to work every day to keep Baltimore safe and hold those who perpetuate violence accountable.” Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge – Homeland Security Investigations Maryland "Homeland Security Investigations Maryland, in close collaboration with federal partners, supported a surge operation focused on public safety and criminal activity in the Baltimore area. Special agents assisted in the execution of numerous arrest warrants and search warrants for serious offenses as part of ongoing investigations targeting transnational organized crime and illicit narcotics activity. These efforts reflect HSI’s commitment to combating violent crime, dismantling criminal organizations, and protecting the community we serve," Heck said. Richard Worley, Commissioner – BPD “Through continued collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners, efforts such as these are delivering meaningful results,” Worley said. “These operations are essential to our crime-reduction strategy and have a significant impact on removing individuals who threaten public safety and our communities. The outcomes reflect the level of safety and security the people of Baltimore deserve.”


title: Colombian Transnational Robbery Crew Member Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Dollar Organized Jewelry Theft Ring in Miami

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The last member of a transnational Colombian robbery crew in Miami pleaded guilty on Feb. 12 for his role in a series of robberies of and thefts from jewelry couriers that targeted high-end retailers and resulted in losses exceeding $5 million dollars. Leroy Ortega, also known as “El Enano,” 43, of Miami, was the last of 11 defendants indicted as part of an operation against South American theft groups operating in the Southern District of Florida. The 11 defendants were each convicted as part of Operation Boujee Bandits, an investigation of a Colombian South American Theft Group targeting jewelry salespersons in South Florida and elsewhere. The investigation resulted in three indictments and an information that charged robberies and money laundering activity from September 2019 to July 2021. “This transnational theft crew came to the United States to steal from American businesses and preyed upon unsuspecting, hard-working citizens who were just trying to do their jobs as jewelry couriers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Leroy Ortega played an integral role with other already convicted defendants to execute sophisticated, high-value robberies that caused millions of dollars in losses. The Criminal Division will investigate and prosecute organized theft networks and hold to account those individuals who participated in them at all levels.” “These defendants operated as part of a coordinated South American theft group that targeted hardworking jewelry couriers and sales professionals transporting high-value diamonds, watches, and other merchandise,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They followed their victims from jewelry exchanges, used fraudulent identification to rent vehicles, and relied on force and violence to steal valuable inventory. Those who commit organized robberies in South Florida will face federal prosecution and significant prison time. We will continue dismantling theft crews that threaten the safety of our community and the integrity of our marketplace.” “Eliminating these brazen South American Theft Groups reinforces the FBI’s mission of ensuring public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “With our hardworking special agents, analysts, and professional staff triaging leads and sharing threat intelligence with law enforcement partners around the world, we’ve been able to efficiently and effectively disrupt these criminal groups.” According to court documents, Ortega was part of a group that forcefully took jewelry and other property from victims they believed were in the business of buying and selling jewelry throughout South Florida. To commit the robberies, defendants rented vehicles using false identification documents to follow jewelry salespersons from the International Jewelry Exchanges or the Seybold Jewelry Building. They would then rob victims of the jewelry that they were transporting, sometimes brandishing a knife-like weapon to ensure victims’ compliance. Ortega admitted that he committed two robberies. On Oct. 16, 2019, Ortega and his co-defendants identified a person they believed was carrying a case of jewelry. In fact, the victim was not a jewelry courier but rather a professional photographer who had been photographing jewelry. Following the victim to a shopping center, co-defendant Allan Lucas, 33, of Miami, pushed the photographer and Ortega grabbed the photographer’s case, which contained photography equipment and a computer. The photographer chased Ortega and Lucas to their get-away car. When the photographer tried to open the car door to get his case back, Ortega reversed the car, causing injury as the photographer was thrown to the ground. Then, on Nov. 7, 2019, Ortega and his co-conspirators, including defendants Andres Barahona Poveda, 51, a national of Colombia, and Edwin Castillo, 45, of Pembroke Pines, robbed a jewelry salesman of approximately $125,000 of assorted jewelry. Ortega and his co-conspirators followed the salesman to his business in Miami Beach. As the salesman sat in the vehicle, Ortega approached and smashed the salesman’s windows while another co-conspirator took the salesman’s backpack containing the jewelry. When the salesman tried to exit the vehicle, Ortega held the salesman’s door shut trapping him inside the vehicle. To conduct the robbery, defendant Carlos Morales, 47, of Miami rented a vehicle using a fraudulent Venezuelan driver’s license. Ortega pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and two counts of Hobbs Act robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Defendants convicted under this Operation, in addition to Ortega, include the following: Allan Lucas, who was sentenced to 168 months in prison; Diana Grisales Basto, 41, a national of Colombia, who was sentenced to 97 months in prison; Carlos Morales, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison; Giovanni Cardenas, also known as“El Mono,” 40, a national of Colombia, who was sentenced to 110 months in prison; Andres Barahona Poveda, who was sentenced to 87 months in prison; Edwin Castillo, who was sentenced to 108 months in prison; Demian Gonzalez Contreras, 30, a national of Colombia, who was sentenced to 74 months in prison; Victor Fabian Valenzuela, 39, a national of Colombia, who was sentenced to 57 months in prison; Hernando Rodriguez Mahecha, also known as “Nando,” 42, a national of Colombia, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison; and Mark Simon, 57, of New York, was sentenced to 57 months in prison. The FBI Tampa Field Office is leading the investigation of the case with valuable assistance from the FBI Miami Field Office, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami Beach Police Department, Tampa Police Department, Boca Raton Police Department, Palm Beach Sherriff’s Office, Boynton Beach Police Department, Fort Pierce Police Department, and the Jewelry Security Alliance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Lakeita F. Rox-Love and Christopher D. Usher II of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20272. ###


title: Ukrainian National Sentenced in ‘Laptop Farm’ Scheme That Generated Income for North Korean IT Workers

body_text: WASHINGTON – Oleksandr Didenko, 29, of Kyiv, Ukraine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with a years-long scheme that stole the identities of U.S. citizens and sold them to North Korean workers so they could fraudulently gain employment at 40 U.S. companies, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Didenko, aka “Alexander Didenko,” pleaded guilty Nov. 10, 2025, before Judge Randolph D. Moss to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Didenko agreed to forfeit more than $1.4 million, which includes approximately $181,438 in USD and cryptocurrency seized from Didenko and his co-conspirators. Judge Moss also ordered Didenko to serve 12 months of supervised release and to pay $46,547.28 in restitution. “Defendant Didenko’s scheme funneled money from Americans and U.S. businesses, into the coffers of North Korea, a hostile regime. Today, North Korea is not only a threat to the homeland from afar, it is an enemy within. By using stolen and fraudulent identities, North Korean actors are infiltrating American companies, stealing information, licensing, and data that is harmful to any business. But more than that, money paid to these so-called employees goes directly to munitions programs in North Korea,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We should be holding accountable to the fullest extent of the law the individuals, like Didenko, who are knowingly assisting North Koreans so that they can amass more weapons to harm the United States and peace in our world. This is not just a financial crime; it is a crime against national security.” “Oleksandr Didenko’s fraudulent activity inflicted systemic and deliberate financial harm on U.S. companies and American citizens to benefit not only himself, but a hostile nation state,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The FBI will not tolerate North Korea’s sustained campaign to victimize American citizens, businesses, and financial institutions to fund its authoritarian regime. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that the FBI will pursue full accountability for anyone found complicit in our adversary’s efforts to defraud and undermine American economic security, and we ask all U.S. companies that employ remote workers to remain vigilant to this new and sophisticated threat.” According to court documents, Didenko ran a website using a U.S.-based domain, "Upworksell.com," designed to help overseas IT workers buy or rent stolen identities. Beginning in 2021, the IT workers used the identities to get hired on online freelance work platforms based in California and Pennsylvania. The work platforms allowed users to advertise themselves as contract gig workers, create free accounts, advertise their skills and bid on IT work contracts. Didenko paid individuals in the United States to receive and host computers at residences in Virginia, Tennessee and California. Through his company, Didenko managed as many as 871 proxy identities and facilitated the operation of at least three U.S.-based “laptop farms.” He enabled his overseas clients to access the U.S. financial system through Money Service Transmitters rather than having to physically open an account at a bank within the United States, which was then used to facilitate the transfer of employment income to foreign bank accounts. The IT worker clients were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work, much of which was falsely reported to the Department of Homeland Security, the IRS and Social Security Administration in the names of actual U.S. persons whose identities had been stolen. On May 16, 2024, the Justice Department seized the online domain, Upworksell.com, and diverted all traffic to the FBI. Polish authorities arrested Didenko and on Dec. 31, 2024, extradited him to the United States. “Oleksandr Didenko participated in a scheme that stole the identities of hundreds of people, to include United States citizens, which were used by North Korea to fraudulently secure lucrative IT jobs,” said Assistant Director in Charges James Barnacle of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “This massive operation not only created an unauthorized backdoor into our country’s job market, but helped fund the regime of an adversary. This case is an example of how the FBI continues to safeguard our critical infrastructure from foreign threat actors seeking to exploit our nation’s sensitive information.” This case was investigated by the FBI New York Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Norfolk, San Diego and Knoxville Field Offices. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Eastern District of Tennessee, and Eastern District of Virginia, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and Trial Attorney Jacques-Singer Emory of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance. 24cr261


title: Final man pleads guilty in multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme

body_text: HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Katy resident has admitted to his role in a scheme to defraud dozens of victims of over $17 million, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Christopher Knight Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. From May 2015 to January 2025, he and his brother, Jayson Lopez, conspired with others to defraud their clients by providing false information about the companies in which the clients invested. They used forged bank letters and fabricated account statements to mislead investors about the companies’ financial strength. They operated under several LLCs, to include Knight Nguyen Investments, Knight Advisory and Planning, Aevum Holdings Inc., Exempt Management LLC, and Ping An Financial Services Pte. The Lopez brothers misappropriated their clients’ funds for personal use and to pay purported returns to other investors to mislead their clients into believing their investments were profitable. Christopher and Jayson Lopez also admitted they falsely claimed access to $2 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. They told their clients they could use these funds to finance their clients’ businesses if the clients paid large advance fees. The brothers collected the fees from their clients but never issued the loans. The scam resulted in an approximate loss of $17 million for over 40 victims that included senior citizens and others looking to invest their retirement savings and children’s college funds, as well as local and international businesses. “These defendants turned an investment firm into their own personal piggy bank, leaving shattered futures in their wake. Christopher Knight Lopez’s clients trusted him with their life savings—he rewarded that trust with lies in the form of false promises, forged documents, and fictitious assets,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas can be counted upon to relentlessly pursue those who would financially prey on members of our community. Be warned; if your business model is nothing more than a scam, and your clients are nothing more than intended victims, you can expect a visit from us.” “For over a decade, Christopher Lopez shamelessly defrauded senior citizens, local businesses, close friends, and international acquaintances out of more than $17 million through deceit and lies,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston Jason Hudson. “Even after being federally charged, Lopez continued to scam victims, resulting in a superseding indictment. Today’s conviction is a testament to the FBI’s commitment to aggressively pursue fraudulent schemes that target members of our communities, especially our senior citizens.” U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea and set sentencing for May 7. At that time, Lopez faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Jayson Lopez, 43, Orlando, Florida, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. He is set for sentencing April 2, 2026. Nadir Abdel Torres 46, Mandan, North Dakota, was also charged and previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he assisted the brothers by helping them obtain the forged letters and bank statements. He faces up to five years at his sentencing, which is set for March 12. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison on Immigration and Sex Offender Registration Charges

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – Teodoso Gonzalez-Guzman, 40, an illegal alien and a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced earlier today to 18 months in federal prison after having pled guilty to one count of illegal re-entry of an illegal alien and one count of failure to register as a sex offender, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek. “This criminal alien who had been deported multiple times and failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements has now been held accountable, said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “This significant sentence demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice to protecting our community by prosecuting those who disregard court orders and return to our communities even after being deported repeatedly.” According to court records, before the events charged in the Indictment, the defendant had been convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon in domestic violence situations and of a penetrative sexual offense against a six-year-old girl. He received a 746-day sentence for his sexual crime, after which he was removed from the United States for the fourth time by immigration officials. In March 2025, law enforcement officers went to that family’s home in Lindenwood, New Jersey, and confirmed that the defendant had been living there for about a year in violation of a court order. The defendant then fled New Jersey and, on or about May 1, 2025, the Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force (MTTF) arrested the defendant on the outstanding warrant from New Jersey in Antioch, Tennessee. After the arrest, the defendant agreed to an interview and signed a waiver of rights form in Spanish. During the interview, the defendant admitted to residing in the Antioch, Tennessee area for about a month before his arrest, and that he never registered as a sex offender in any jurisdiction. The law in Tennessee requires that a sex offender must register with the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry within 48 hours of residing, working, or attending school in Tennessee. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Gonzalez-Guzman was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert L. Bunton III prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Inmate Serving Time for Assaulting Federal Officers Sentenced to Serve Additional 46 Months in Prison for Threatening Federal Officer

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – COREY JONES , 48, of New York, has been sentenced to serve an additional 46 months in federal prison for threatening a federal law enforcement officer at the Federal Transfer Center (FTC) in Oklahoma City, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on March 25, 2025, Jones, an inmate at the FTC, threatened to stab and murder an FTC prison guard. At the time, Jones was in federal custody for assaulting federal officers in both the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Illinois. On April 16, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Jones with threatening a federal law enforcement officer. Jones pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025, and admitted he threatened to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer by stabbing him to death. At the sentencing hearing on February 18, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Jones to serve 46 months in federal prison, to run consecutively to his existing prison terms. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman noted Jones’s pattern of criminal behavior while incarcerated, including the two prior assaults against federal officers and multiple custodial infractions. Judge Dishman emphasized the need to protect the public from further crimes by Jones. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Armed Church Intruder Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – FERNANDO JESUS VILLEGAS , 41, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 77 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on May 21, 2025, the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a metro church near the intersection of S. Shartel Avenue and SW 25th Street, on reports of an armed intruder. Church members told OCPD that the intruder, later identified as Villegas, forced his way into the basement of the church where there were multiple people, including children, and demanded they help hide him. Witnesses reported that Villegas brandished a handgun, pointing it at a member, and waving it in the air. When officers arrived, Villegas fled from the basement and exited the church but was located and arrested nearby a short time later. During the arrest, officers seized a handgun from his front pocket. On August 5, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Villegas with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Villegas pleaded guilty on October 22, 2025, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions. Public records reflect that Villegas has multiple felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including: possession of drug proceeds and possession of marijuana in case number CF-2003-3981; possession of methamphetamine in case number CF-2015-1908; and possession of methamphetamine and aggravated eluding a police officer in case number CF-2016-364. At the sentencing hearing on February 18, 2026, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Villegas to serve 77 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted its concern for protecting the public considering Villegas’ criminal history. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr., prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Franklin Ryan, 45, of Sparks, Nevada, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho. According to court records, Ryan sold large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho between March and September of 2024, including eight pounds of methamphetamine he sold to another person. Investigators recovered financial records that showed that over $100,000 in drug proceeds were funneled through accounts controlled by Ryan, indicating he was involved in a large-scale drug distribution operation. Ryan also illegally possessed and sold firearms as a part of his methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution business. Ryan pleaded guilty to the charge on August 26, 2025. Four other defendants are charged as co-conspirators in the same case. Their cases are still pending. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Ryan serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Idaho State Police, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted the case. This case was investigated through the Federal Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the Idaho State Police and the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the BADGES Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region. ###


title: Knox County Woman Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Barboursville, Ky., woman, Raven Broughton-Jones, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 25 years in prison for the production of child pornography. According to her plea agreement, on January 5, 2024, Broughton-Jones used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct - which Broughton-Jones herself participated in - for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. Under federal law, Broughton-Jones must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Greg Lucas, Barboursville Police Department, jointly announced the conviction. The investigation was conducted by HSI and Barboursville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. – END –


title: Leaders Of MS-13 Clique Sentenced To Prison as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force For Racketeering Conspiracy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two leaders of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang (known as MS-13) were sentenced in federal court today as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) for engaging in violent criminal conduct in support of the criminal organization, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. Fredy Mauricio Buruca, a/k/a “Piranha,” “Machete,” and “Insoportable,” 27, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Buruca pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and kidnapping a minor. Santos Guillermo Ramirez Mancia, a/k/a “Azazel,” “Timido,” and “Johnny,” 34, also of El Salvador, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mancia pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. “MS-13 is one of the most dangerous and ruthless gangs in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are working to eliminate this gang from existence, and I am proud to say this prosecution has completely dismantled an entire MS-13 clique known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique that operated up and down the eastern seaboard.” “MS-13 gang members feed on brutality, violence, and intimidation. No matter how committed they are to creating chaos in our communities, the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain laser focused to stop the threat. Today's sentences demonstrate our dedication to eradicate MS-13 from the top down,” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Davis. According to filed court documents and court proceedings, Buruca and Mancia were leaders and members of the MS-13 sub-unit, or clique, known as the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha Clique (the HLS clique), which operated in and around the Western District of North Carolina and other areas in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. From at least December 2018 and continuing through November 2022, as leaders and members of the HLS clique, the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise. The investigation into the gang’s criminal activity revealed that these criminal acts were committed to promote a climate of fear and intimidation within the gang; to maintain the gang’s control and to expand its territory; to enforce discipline within the gang and punish any acts of disrespect; to intimidate witnesses and discourage cooperation with law enforcement; and to retaliate against rivals. According to court documents, Buruca was “First Word,” or the leader of the HLS clique in Charlotte. As First Word, Buruca participated in and sanctioned a pattern of racketeering activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise, that consisted of multiple violent acts including extortion, robbery, and kidnapping. For example, on or about December 12, 2021, Buruca, in the presence of Mancia and other MS-13 members, threatened and demanded money from an individual identified as D.G.L. at a nightclub in Woodbridge, Virginia, in exchange for MS-13’s protection. When D.G.L. refused to pay the “protection money” and attempted to leave the nightclub, Buruca fired several shots at D.G.L., hitting bystanders. Then on February 19, 2022, Buruca, along with other MS-13 members, used firearms to rob A.Z.C. of his vehicle and other belongings in Monroe, N.C. On the same day, Buruca and other MS-13 members used firearms to rob three other victims in Charlotte. Buruca also kidnapped one of those victims, who was a minor, by forcing her into a vehicle at gunpoint. Buruca then made ransom demands for the kidnapped minor victim and instructed another individual on how to deliver the payment. According to court documents, Mancia also engaged in criminal activity in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise, including committing acts of violence against rival gang members. Court records show that, on December 2, 2018, Mancia shot and seriously injured an individual identified as J.G.J. because he was a rival, or “chavala,” with “Mara 18,” one of MS-13’s rival gangs. In late 2021, Mancia was promoted to “Frist Word” of the HLS clique, following Buruca’s arrest for the nightclub shooting incident in Woodbridge. According to court records, on November 6, 2022, Mancia along with two co-defendants, Christian Alejandro Garcia Santa Cruz, a/k/a “Crimen,” and Aderly Jose Veliz-Ronquillo, a/k/a “Chanchin,” were at a nightclub in Charlotte. Over the course of the evening, Mancia, Santa Cruz, and Veliz-Ronquillo got into an argument with several men, including W.G.M., at the parking lot of the nightclub. During the argument, Mancia identified himself as MS-13 to the other men. At some point, W.G.M. and Mancia shoved each other. Ronquillo then shot W.G.M. once and Santa-Cruz shot the victim three times, causing the victim to sustain fatal gunshot wounds. Mancia was later arrested in Annapolis, Maryland, for his involvement in the shooting incident. On April 16, 2025, Santa-Cruz and Veliz-Ronquillo were each sentenced to 35 years in prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in W.G.M.’s death. A fifth co-defendant and MS-13 member, Luis Fernando Guardardo Moreno, a/k/a “Fantasma” and “Scrappy,” was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison followe =d by three years of supervised release for RICO conspiracy. A sixth MS-13 member charged in this case, Juan Francisco Sanchez Estrada, a/k/a “Nene” and “Turbo,” was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Middle District of North Carolina, after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy, following a consolidation of federal cases against him in each district. The defendants will remain in federal custody until they are transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI, HSI, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kannapolis Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Prince William County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office, and the Annapolis (Maryland) Police Department for their invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting 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.


title: Two Tren de Aragua Members Sentenced In Connection With Armed Robbery Of Denver Jewelry Store

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jean Torres-Roman, 22, of Venezuela, and Newman Castillo Delgado, 23, of Venezuela were each sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to the armed robbery of the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store in Denver in June 2024. Torres-Roman was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison. Castillo Delgado was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. The court also ordered each defendant to pay restitution of $3,939,076.26. Torres-Roman, who pleaded guilty without an agreement, pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Castillo Delgado pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to one count Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Facts established in the plea agreement and at sentencing show that, on the afternoon of June 24, 2024, Torres-Roman, Castillo Delgado, and other suspects entered the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store on West 38 th Avenue in Denver. During the armed robbery, suspects pointed weapons at employees, brutally beat several employees with their weapons, and took nearly $4 million in gold and jewelry. Multiple victims were injured in the attack. The suspects were later located in the El Paso, Texas area. At sentencing, the court found that Torres-Roman and Castillo Delgado are members of Tren de Aragua (TdA). A separate indictment in United States District Court for the District of Colorado alleges that this robbery was approved and authorized by senior leaders of TdA, and that those leaders approved and directed that proceeds from the robbery be transported, laundered, and transmitted to enrich the leadership of TdA located outside the United States ( United States v. Brawins Dominique Suarez Villegas and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano , 25-cr-331-PAB). “Tren de Aragua members brutally robbed a Denver business and left multiple people with significant injuries,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am thankful to our team of federal prosecutors, special agents, and task force officers who are making real progress toward eliminating Tren de Aragua in Colorado, and I am grateful that these serious crimes were met with appropriately severe sentences.” “FBI Denver is focused on protecting our neighborhoods and communities from violent crime and the fear it creates," said Amanda Koldjeski, Acting Special Agent In Charge, FBI Denver. "Our Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to pursue the most violent and persistent offenders and hold them accountable.” United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencings. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Denver, the Denver Police Department, the FBI Denver Field Division, FBI El Paso Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, and West Texas Anti-Gang Center. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczack. Case Numbers: 24-CR-00247-NYW and 25-CR-00331-PAB


title: Former Shaw AFB Daycare Worker Indicted for Assaulting Children

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a seven-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Tyrel Mack, 29, of Florence, for physically assaulting minor victims. The indictment alleges that Mack was an employee at a child development and youth center on Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter. This center provides childcare to US Airforce service members and their families. In November 2025, Mack was assigned to work in a classroom serving children from ages 3-years-old to 5-years-old. The indictment charges Mack with assaulting four different minor victims on seven different occasions. Mack is alleged to have kicked, hit, struck, and intentionally stepped on the minor victims, all of whom were younger than 5-years-old. Mack faces a maximum penalty of one year for each of the seven charges. The case was investigated by the U.S. Airforce Security Forces Squadron. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Robert Redding, 43, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 35 years’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert for child pornography offenses. Judge Pappert also ordered Redding to pay $25,000 in restitution to the minor victims. The defendant was charged by indictment in March of last year with one count of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. In August, he pleaded guilty to all charges. As detailed in court filings and statements, Redding had previously served more than a decade in prison for hands-on sexual offenses committed against a 13-year-old girl, and after his release, was required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. While still under the supervision of Pennsylvania State Parole, Redding resumed his criminal activities, this time by participating in an online child pornography community, trading videos depicting children, including some as young as babies and toddlers, being raped by adult men, and uploading images of child sexual abuse to online accounts. The defendant committed some of these new crimes while residing at Kintock Residential Reentry Center as a condition of his state parole and used at least one electronic device unknown to and unauthorized by his parole officer, to commit some of the offenses. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Eileen Castilla Geiger.


title: Federal Charges Filed Against Sacramento Man for Possessing a Firearm in a School Zone

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: A criminal complaint was filed today against Brian Richard Girardot Jr., 20, of Sacramento, charging him with possessing a firearm within a school zone, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2026, Girardot, a previous student at St. Mary Parish School, dropped his younger relative off at St. Mary Parish School in Sacramento. Girardot returned at approximately 9:30 a.m. and walked onto the property of St. Mary Catholic Church/St. Mary Parish School. He walked to the front of the church building and attempted to enter with a loaded firearm. The church was in the process of holding an Ash Wednesday mass, which had begun at 8 a.m. Girardot had additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket in his vehicle, which he had parked nearby. Law enforcement conducted a search of Girardot’s home and found a series of handwritten notes in a stack in his bedroom that contained references to suicide and threats. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case. In addition to the federal charge, Girardot has been charged criminally in state court. If convicted, Girardot faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: U.S. Attorney Gerace announces Operation Take Back America enforcement actions

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today results of targeted enforcement actions in the Southern District of Ohio in support of Operation Take Back America. These results involve new charges, convictions and prison sentences for illegal aliens with prior criminal histories including violent crime, drug trafficking and sex offenses. “As our results over the last month have shown, my Office is laser-focused on prosecuting illegal aliens who illegally enter our country and commit crimes that threaten the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Our ability to hold these offenders accountable is the direct result of the painstaking efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners.” Today, Cenuhe Zepeda-Vibanco, 37, a convicted felon who is an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced in federal district court in Columbus to 170 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin to multiple counties in the Southern District of Ohio. Zepeda-Vibanco possessed more than 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer that is 100 times more lethal than fentanyl. At the time that he committed this offense, Zepeda-Vibanco was on federal supervised release for illegal reentry. Zepeda-Vibanco is the sixth illegal alien with a criminal history to be sentenced, convicted or charged in the Southern District of Ohio in the last month: Also in federal district court in Columbus today, Jaime Fernandez-Alacron, an illegal alien from Colombia, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after sustaining an aggravated felony conviction. Fernandez-Alacron has prior federal convictions for conspiracy to commit kidnapping in aid of racketeering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and illegal reentry. On Feb. 3, in Columbus, Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and possessing cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Velasquez-Avecedo fired multiple shots from a vehicle after an argument with another individual and was found to be in possession of a pistol and several baggies of cocaine and methamphetamine. He previously had been convicted of assault and operating a vehicle while intoxicated and had absconded from probation supervision prior to committing these offenses. On Jan. 27, a federal grand jury in Columbus indicted Luis Cabrales-Guerra, an illegal alien from Mexico, for allegedly conspiring to distribute fentanyl and for illegally reentering the United States following his previous federal conviction for an aggravated drug felony. Cabrales-Guerra was previously removed from the United States to Mexico multiple times in 2010 and 2011. In 2016, Cabrales-Guerra was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute heroin in the District of Minnesota. He was again removed from the United States to Mexico in 2019 after serving his sentence in that case. On Jan. 22, in Cincinnati, William Noe Cuellar Montufa, an illegal alien from Guatemala, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States. He was convicted in Warren County in January 2006 for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and in September 2007 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Cuellar Montufa was deported in 2008 following his terms of incarceration and is the subject of a warrant for homicide in Guatemala. On Jan. 15, in Columbus, Daniel H. Rodriguez-Andrade, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of heroin and illegally reentering the United States. He had been deported from the United States on four previous occasions and, at the time of the offense, was on supervised release for a previous federal illegal reentry conviction in Arizona. “We will continue to hold criminal illegal aliens accountable for their actions under Operation Take Back America. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that their unwelcome stay in the United States includes a trip to the Bureau of Prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Gerace. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz, Elizabeth Geraghty, Sheila G. Lafferty and Danielle E. Margeaux prosecuted the cases as 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: Oregon man sentenced for his role in cross country marijuana conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Robert Fiels, 38, City Falls, Oregon, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Fiels served as the source of supply for individuals that trafficked marijuana and marijuana-based products across the country. Fiels utilized individuals, including co-defendant Syed Ahmad and others, to deliver the marijuana and marijuana-based products. Others, including co-defendant Frank Vacanti, then distributed the marijuana to individuals such as co-defendant Vincent Lopresti, who then sold the marijuana and marijuana products across Western New York. Between late 2016, and June 2019, Fiels trafficked approximately 1,800lbs of marijuana to one individual. In January 2017, Fiels was stopped by DEA-Chicago and Amtrak Police while traveling from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, Illinois. After questioning and providing consent, DEA-Chicago seized $222,965.00 in drug proceeds located in Fiel’s suitcases. On December 31, 2017, in Morgan County, Illinois, local law enforcement and the DEA, recovered approximately 1,000 lbs. of marijuana from an RV driven by co-defendant Syed Ahmad and another individual. The marijuana belonged to Fiels and was destined for locations around the United States. On January 18, 2018, Fiels was stopped in a vehicle for traveling too fast for conditions in Hobart, Indiana by local law enforcement. During a search his vehicle, law enforcement seized $48,000 in drug proceeds. On February 10, 2020, law enforcement in Springfield, Oregon seized approximately $15,000 in drug proceeds sent to the defendant via USPS. On June 29, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants at three locations in the State of Oregon associated with Fiels, including his residence, work apartment, and the residence of his former girlfriend. Law enforcement recovered marijuana, marijuana-based products, USPS parcels, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, scales, psychedelic mushrooms, two firearms, and liquid steroids. Syed Ahmad, Frank Vacanti, and Vincent Lopresti were previously convicted and sentenced. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; HSI Portland, Oregon; HSI Springfield, Illinois; the Illinois State Police, under the direction of Director Brendan F. Kelly; the Oregon State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Casey Codding; the Morgan County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff’s Office Director Mike Carmody; the Hobart, Indiana Police Department, under the direction of Chief Garrett Ciszewski; and the Springfield, Oregon Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jami Resch. # # # #


title: Federal Jury Convicts Lexington Man for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SPARTANBURG, S.C. — William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Wooten was found guilty on one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.* Evidence introduced at trial showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was conducting a stolen valor investigation related to Wooten’s possession and use of a fraudulent form DD-214, a military discharge document. Wooten purported to be a combat veteran and to have earned a Purple Heart. In truth, Wooten had never served in the military. Wooten used the fraudulent document in an effort to obtain employment and to convince a single mother that he was an upstanding citizen who could be trusted around her young children. The FBI obtained a search warrant for Wooten’s phone and discovered child sexual abuse material, in addition to the fraudulent DD-214. FBI forensic examiners located 203 images depicting child sexual abuse. Search terms indicated Wooten was seeking images of young girls, including children being abused by adult males. Just eight months before the FBI found Wooten in possession of child sexual abuse material and the fraudulent discharge document, Wooten was found guilty in state court for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Approximately two weeks before his federal trial, Wooten pleaded guilty to possessing the fraudulent DD-214. Wooten faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years on the child sexual abuse material conviction, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence Wooten after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Watkins and Winston Marosek are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Troup County payroll manager sentenced for embezzling more than $500,000 in government funds

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: NEWNAN, Ga. - Wesleigh Gaddy has been sentenced for stealing more than $500,000 from the Troup County Board of Commissioners’ payroll accounts. “Gaddy stole more than half a million taxpayer dollars, misusing and abusing the personal information of dozens of former Troup County employees,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We and our agency partners will hold accountable any public servant who manipulates his or her position for unlawful private benefit.” “While Wesleigh Gaddy’s crime may not have caused physical harm, it severely impacted the lives of Troup County residents by betraying the public trust,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who steal from the public, and this sentence underscores the seriousness of such actions.” “Wesleigh Gaddy’s actions represent a serious breach of public trust and a deliberate exploitation of her position for personal gain,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This sentence sends a clear message that public corruption and financial crimes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in partnership with our federal and local partners.” “Wesleigh Gaddy’s theft of public funds is a grave betrayal of trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “As a public servant, her crime not only impacted hard working employees of the county, but it also undermines the integrity of government. Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to ensuring those who disregard the public trust for personal financial gain will be investigated and held accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2025, a Troup County deputy sheriff discovered that his employee portal showed several direct deposit payments that he never received and that were made during a period when he did not work for the county. Subsequent review of the county’s payroll data showed that, between May 2023 and April 2025, while Wesleigh Gaddy was Troup County’s Payroll and Benefits Specialist, hundreds of paychecks, totaling more than $550,000, were withdrawn from county accounts in the names of more than 60 former Troup County employees. None of the employees worked for the county at the time of the payments, and all the funds went into accounts controlled by Gaddy. Gaddy spent the stolen funds on inventory and staffing for her side business, Cedar Creek Ranch Boutique, which she had planned to expand into a feed store at the time her theft was revealed. Gaddy also used the funds to pay for three horses, a horse trailer, a horse trainer, expenses for her numerous rodeos, and everyday expenses, such as clothing and dining out. Also, during the period of her theft, Gaddy and her then-husband purchased a travel camper and a boat. Multiple Troup County employees provided written statements at Gaddy’s sentencing, explaining the direct impact her actions had on their lives, including causing their tax filings to be incorrect and forcing them to pay taxes on additional income they never received but that Gaddy reported in their names. These sentiments were echoed by Troup County Manager Eric Mosley and Troup County Human Resources Director Valerie Heard, who testified at Gaddy’s sentencing, telling the Court that Gaddy’s actions not only impacted the victim employees, but all Troup County citizens, who lost faith in their local public officials. Since Gaddy’s arrest, Mosley and Heard have fielded phone calls from Troup County citizens upset by Gaddy’s theft of their tax dollars. Mosley and Heard explained that the Troup County Board of Commissioners has been working hard to regain that trust by ensuring that Gaddy’s actions could not be repeated by anyone else in the future. Wesleigh Gaddy, 36, of Hogansville, Georgia, was sentenced to one year, six months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $558,943.17. Gaddy was convicted of theft from a program receiving federal funds on October 6, 2025, when she pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany L. Rupert prosecuted 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 .