title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 210 months in prison for receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, David Guzman, 44, knowingly received child pornography and, using his laptop and cell phone, searched for and downloaded files containing child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program called uTorrent. Of the files on his laptop, Guzman possessed 107 image files and 268 video files containing infants, toddlers, bondage, bestiality, and other sadistic acts. Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio executed a federal search warrant at Guzman’s residence on Nov. 30, 2022. He was arrested on Dec. 1, 2022, and was subsequently charged in a two-count indictment on Dec. 14, 2022. On April 10, 2024, he pled guilty to receipt of child pornography. In addition to the more than 17-year imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam sentenced Guzman to lifetime supervised release and ordered him to pay $65,000 in restitution. “Seeking out and downloading child pornography, as Guzman did, eternally victimizes the innocent children forced to engage in despicable acts and encourages the production of child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Protecting children from predators and criminal exploitation remains a priority in this district, and I thank our partners at HSI San Antonio for working with us to bring this predator to justice.” “Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to safeguarding children from exploitation and ensuring justice is served,” said ICE HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “This 17 ½-year sentence reflects the seriousness of crimes involving the receipt of child pornography and underscores our commitment to holding offenders accountable. HSI will continue working tirelessly with our partners to protect vulnerable victims and pursue those who prey on them.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bettina Richardson and Kirk Mangels prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Found Guilty by Jury for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

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

body_text: WASHINGTON –Guy Cummings, 29, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court of being a felon in illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Following a three-day trial, a federal jury found Cummings guilty on the one-count indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm by an individual previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Nov. 3, 2025. This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. According to court documents, on Jan. 18, 2025, about 1:30 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department Officers were patrolling the 300 block of 50th Street NE, in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. As officers approached a group gathered on the sidewalk, Cummings immediately turned away and ran. One of the officers pursued Cummings on foot through the snow, never losing sight of him. The officer saw Cummings make a tossing motion with his right hand over a brick wall. Shortly after, the officer apprehended Cummings and recognized him as someone who had been ordered to stay away from the neighborhood. Cummings had also been issued a barring notice from the DC Housing Authority Police Department for five years after being arrested for carrying a pistol without a license. Retracing Cummings flight path, officers found a loaded Glock 26 9mm pistol where it had landed in the snow after the officer had earlier watched Cummings make a tossing motion. The firearm had previously been reported stolen. In 2017, Cummings had been convicted and sentenced to 36 months in prison for robbery and for carrying a dangerous weapon, and therefore was prohibited from possessing any firearm. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Martin, Benjamin Helfand, and Jared English. 25cr44


title: Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Larry Lee Woodard, Jr. (30, Bradenton) and Jesse Leahy (49, Sarasota) each to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Woodard and Leahy previously pleaded guilty. According to court documents, Woodard and Leahy were involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County. They distributed more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Manatee County during the course of the conspiracy. This case was investigated by a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) which includes Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Central Florida Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which includes the Bradenton Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the North Port Police Department, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Palmetto Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman, David Sullivan, and Suzanne Nebesky. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Hammond Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Isaiah Castro, 23 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Castro was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on April 16, 2024, Isaiah Castro distributed pills containing fentanyl while possessing a firearm. A search warrant resulted in the recovery of the firearm. Law enforcement also recovered another firearm with an extended magazine, firearm magazines, ammunition, and cash. Castro was previously convicted of resisting law enforcement and was on probation at the time. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former semi-professional Rugby Player sentenced to prison for cryptocurrency mining Ponzi scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle –A 37-year-old former semi-pro rugby player was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 30 months in prison for wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Shane Donovan Moore operated Quantum Donovan LLC – a Washington company Moore claimed was purchasing and operating cryptocurrency mining equipment. In fact, the company never invested in such equipment and operated as a Ponzi scheme, with the investments from later investors being used to pay off earlier investors. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin told him, “Most people have suffered serious trauma like you, but you have also had many opportunities and advantages that many people have not.” Judge Lin also noted Moore “caused emotional and psychological damage to the victims” by his execution of his scheme. “Mr. Moore used the newness of cryptocurrency, to commit an age-old fraud – a Ponzi scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “He solicited more than $900,00 from some 40 investors claiming it would be used for ‘mining cryptocurrency.’ Instead, the money went to support a lavish lifestyle, and to pay off the earliest investors to keep the fraud going. He left a path of damaged relationships in his wake.” Between January 2021 and October 2022, Moore made fraudulent promises to obtain investor money. Moore claimed both verbally and in writing that the invested money would be used to purchase computers for a cryptocurrency mining operation. He told investors they would receive 1% of their investment daily based on the work of the mining machines. However, Moore never purchased the mining machines. He comingled the investor money with his personal accounts and used some of those funds to live a lavish lifestyle. Some of the funds were used to purchase cryptocurrency so that a portion of the funds could be sent to investors to lull them into believing the cryptocurrency mining operation existed. Early investors recruited their friends and family to invest, leading to anger and recriminations when the losses mounted. Moore recruited investors in Utah, Oregon, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington. Many of the investors are people he knew from his rugby activities. In asking for a three-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne wrote to the court, “Instead of purchasing cryptocurrency mining equipment, Moore comingled victim-investor funds with his personal accounts and used victim-investor funds to finance his lifestyle and pay his personal living expenses. … He used victim-investors’ funds to purchase luggage, travel, clothing, electronics, and pay for a deposit for a luxury apartment. All told, victim-investors suffered a loss of more than $387,000.” The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Wynne and Casey Conzatti.


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced for Violent Knife Attack Causing Serious Injuries

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a knife, causing serious injuries. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on November 2, 2024, Jane Doe, and her sister were stopped at a road construction zone when her ex-boyfriend, Tyrell Lee Johnson , 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached their vehicle. Johnson physically attacked Jane Doe, striking her head, stabbing her abdomen with a knife, and striking her with his vehicle as he fled the scene. Jane Doe sustained injuries, including an abdominal wound, bruises, and abrasions. Navajo Police located Johnson ’s vehicle in Cudei, New Mexico, identified by its damaged front bumper, and apprehended him after a brief pursuit. Officers recovered a black folding knife from Johnson ’s possession and confirmed he had no alcohol in his system during processing. Upon his release from prison, Johnson will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.


title: Investment Advisor Charged And Pleads Guilty To Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Edward Gallashaw, announced today the filing of an Information charging JOSEPH D’AMBROSIO with engaging in a scheme to defraud clients who believed they were investing in securities and other investments managed by D’AMBROSIO through a private investment fund he managed for friends and family. D’AMBROSIO also entered a guilty plea to the Information in a proceeding today before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, to whom the case has been assigned. “Joseph D’Ambrosio stole more than $5 million from his friends and family and hid this fraud until the money ran out,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fraudsters often prey on those close to them – friends, family, members of religious and social groups – using their trust to exploit them. This Office will bring those who violate that trust to justice and recognizes Mr. D’Ambrosio’s self-reporting and acceptance of responsibility.” “For years D’Ambrosio, using deceptive tactics, allegedly stole from people who trusted him all in the name of greed,” said USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Edward Gallashaw. “What makes D’Ambrosio’s alleged conduct especially appalling is that his victims were personal friends and family. The Postal Inspection Service will continue investigating fraud cases such as these and will hold individuals accountable who use their professional positions as a mechanism to steal from trusting investors.” According to the allegations contained in the Information: From at least in or about 2010, up to and including at least in or about December 2024, D’AMBROSIO was the operator of Hereford Holdings, a private investment vehicle for him, his family, and his friends. D’AMBROSIO told his investors that he had invested their Hereford funds in a private fund managed by an investment advisor for which D’AMBROSIO served as the chief investment officer. In reality, D’AMBROSIO misappropriated investor funds for his personal use. To deceive Hereford investors and keep the scheme going, D’AMBROSIO sent Hereford investors false investment performance letters and fraudulent K-1 tax forms that stated the investors had gained money, when they had not. When some investors sought withdrawals from Hereford, D’AMBROSIO used new investor funds to pay them in a Ponzi-like fashion to keep the scheme going. In December 2024, facing withdrawal requests he could not honor, D’AMBROSIO confessed to his crimes. D’AMBROSIO fraudulently obtained more than $5 million from investors during the course of his fraud scheme. * * * D’AMBROSIO, 66, of Bronxville, New York, is charged with one count of investment adviser fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the USPIS. Mr. Clayton further thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has separately filed civil charges against D’AMBROSIO. This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Shahabian is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Mexican National Charged in Federal Criminal Complaint with Staging Fake Immigration ‘Kidnapping’

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An illegal alien from Mexico has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with orchestrating a phony kidnapping – which she blamed on federal agents or people working with federal agents – to generate public sympathy and solicit donations, the Justice Department announced today. Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, of South Los Angeles, is charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers. Calderon, who is now U.S. immigration custody, is expected to make her initial appearance in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. “Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public and discredit our courageous federal agents,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The conduct alleged in today’s complaint shows this hoax ‘kidnapping’ was a well-orchestrated conspiracy. The defendant and all those involved will face the full consequences of their conduct under federal law. I thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and all federal agents facing unprecedented levels of assaults for once again providing cool heads and professionalism during these difficult times.” According to an affidavit filed with the complaint filed Wednesday, an attorney representing Calderon’s family held a press conference on June 30 to announce that Calderon had reportedly been kidnapped five days earlier at a Jack in the Box restaurant parking lot in downtown Los Angeles and brought to San Ysidro, where “she was presented to [a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] staffer” and “presented with voluntary self-deportation paperwork.” The attorney then said Calderon refused to sign the paperwork and demanded to speak to a judge and a lawyer. In response, “she was punished” and was sent to a warehouse in an undisclosed location. The press conference garnered media attention and stoked fear in the community. Meanwhile, Calderon’s daughter set up a GoFundMe page, requesting $4,500 and stating that Calderon “was taken by masked men in an unmarked vehicle…when she was on her way to work.” According to the complaint, this entire story was fabricated. On July 3, when Calderon was still purportedly missing, federal agents grew concerned after confirming that Calderon was not in immigration custody. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began searching for Calderon over the holiday weekend. On July 5, HSI agents tracked Calderon down in a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield. Calderon continued to falsely claim she was taken by masked men and held in custody with others. Video surveillance – including video of Calderon leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and getting into a nearby sedan – as well as telephone records demonstrate Calderon fabricated the entire story. Calderon and her family knew that law enforcement was searching for her and feared for her safety, but Calderon and her family did not come forward. Instead, Calderon created what law enforcement believe to be fabricated photos of her “rescue,” made to look as if she was abused while in ICE custody and planned to hold a press conference on July 6 to increase donations to the GoFundMe page and to obtain other benefits. “Diverting critical law enforcement resources is not only reckless and irresponsible, but it also endangers the community. Since early July, my office invested valuable time and resources working this alleged kidnapping investigation only to discover that it was a hoax,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “The real cost of a fraud like this is the amount of fentanyl not seized, child predators not removed from the communities, and human trafficking victims not rescued because law enforcement re-directed resources to recover the defendant. We want to assure the public that allegations of criminal activity will be thoroughly investigated by HSI and our law enforcement partners and that those who engage in fraud and deception will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Calderon would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years in federal prison on the false statements charge. Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles is investigating this matter with support from the Garden Grove Police Department. The Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Bristol, Virginia Man Sentenced to 96 Months on Federal Drug Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Abingdon in June 2025, was sentenced this week to 96 months in federal prison. Christopher M. Sullivan, 31, was convicted in June of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sullivan is the final defendant in this 20-member conspiracy to be sentenced. “Methamphetamine has ravaged Southwest Virginia for decades, causing cycles of addiction and misery in its wake,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “We must be vigilant in attacking this issue at its source and bringing to justice those who profit off the addiction of others. I am grateful to our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and all of our local partners for their work on this case.” “There has been a large increase in methamphetamine distribution in Virginia in recent years, especially the western part. Local gangs and drug trafficking organizations are not only mixing meth with other substances but are also transforming it into fake pill forms to enhance its marketability,” commented Shane K. Todd, Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Division. “I want to express my gratitude to the DEA teams, USAO-WDVA litigators, and our local and state partners for their hard work in investigating, arresting, and prosecuting this individual, who was a clear public safety threat to Virginians.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sullivan conspired with Christopher David Johnson – an inmate in a Georgia state prison – and numerous others to traffic and distribute kilograms of methamphetamine from Georgia into Southwest Virginia. Johnson used smuggled cell phones to operate a large-scale methamphetamine distribution operation from his prison cell in Georgia. Johnson regularly communicated with his co-conspirators using Facebook, WhatsApp, Signal, phone calls, and text messaging to coordinate drug deliveries, set pricing, manage drug quantities, handle recruitment, intimidation, and sales. Evidence showed that Sullivan regularly communicated with Johnson to accomplish the goals of the conspiracy. Sullivan also distributed methamphetamine for Johnson, wired money to Mexico at Johnson’s direction, and paid Johnson for methamphetamine. In December 2024, Johnson was sentenced for his role in the conspiracy to 20 years in federal prison – to run consecutive to his state prison sentence – and ten years of supervised release. The eighteen other defendants received prison sentences ranging from three to fifteen years. United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert and Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the DEA Washington Division made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and multiple law enforcement agencies in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia investigated the case, including the Bristol (Tennessee) Police Department, the Bristol (Virginia) Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Pierce and Corey Hall are prosecuting the case.


title: Snohomish man who provided tactical training to extremist groups sentenced to prison for illegal gun possession

body_text: Seattle – An Army veteran who illegally possessed high powered firearms was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Kyle Christopher Benton, 29, was arrested in September 2024, following an investigation of his activities both online and in person involving high-powered weapons. Benton possessed both unregistered, short barrel rifles and machineguns, weapons capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. Moreover, he used these weapons to further his standing with various racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist groups and groups espousing white supremacy. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “You not only illegally possessed extremely dangerous firearms, but you bragged about it and put on firearms trainings for others while doing so.” According to records filed in the case, Benton was investigated by the FBI after he was discharged from the United States Army and after he threatened to kill his wife. The investigation revealed Benton operated multiple social media accounts where he posted violent extremist content, neo-Nazi propaganda, and anti-Semitic materials. But it was not just online activity. Benton participated in “hate rallies” and other gatherings located in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in furtherance of his white supremacist views. Drawing upon his military training and veteran status, he led workshops about firearms for various white supremacy groups. On September 6, 2024, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Benton’s Snohomish home and seized a firearm resembling an M16 rifle that fired in a fully automatic fashion. They also seized an uninstalled drop-in auto sear (which makes a gun fire like a machinegun) and two rifles with overall barrel lengths of less than 16 inches. Such guns must be registered under the National Firearms Act. On March 28, 2025, Benton pleaded guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. In asking for a 30-month sentence Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne wrote to the court, “while Benton was in possession of these weapons, he was actively engaged with groups encouraging racially or ethnically motivated violence and white supremacy. Benton used the firearms along with his military experience to establish himself within the groups. While engaged with these groups he put on workshops about firearms and held tactical trainings for group members.” In his letter to the court, Benton now disavows his white supremacist views. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Wynne.


title: Jury-Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison Wednesday after a federal jury convicted him in February for one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dante Delray Vecera, 33, was found unresponsive in a locked and running vehicle blocking two lanes of traffic on the 410 frontage road. Police officers observed a bag containing white powder, a marijuana cigarette, and a bag of what appeared to be black tar heroin inside the vehicle. The officers provided Vecera with Narcan, fearing an overdose. While waiting for EMS to arrive on scene, officers looked for Vecera’s driver’s license in an attempt to identify him and located an unholstered, loaded pistol in the pocket of his pants. While officers were removing the weapon, Vecera regained consciousness. He refused all field sobriety tests and was taken into custody after being medically cleared. Prior to this arrest Vecera had been convicted of several violent felonies, including two prior Nevada convictions for burglary and sexually motivated coercion, and a Texas conviction for violation of a protective order and assault. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, San Antonio Police Department and the Castle Hills Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karina O’Daniel and Amy Hail prosecuted the case. This is a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Initiative case. VAWA was first enacted in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It initially focused on providing resources and training to improve the responses and policies of law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts, to support victim services, and to address crimes historically treated as private matters. Recognizing that domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking require a coordinated community response that extends beyond the justice system, Congress subsequently reauthorized VAWA, enhancing its policies and expanding grant funding streams, in 2000, 2005, 2013, and 2022. The Office on Violence Against Women has issued more than $11 billion in funding authorized by VAWA in its lifetime. ###


title: Former New York City Police Officer Sentenced to 40 Years’ Imprisonment for Sex Offenses Involving Minors

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Christopher Terranova, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 40 years’ imprisonment for sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit, and enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy. Terranova was employed as a police officer with the NYPD at the time of the charged conduct. A federal jury convicted Terranova of the charges in November 2024. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence. “The significant sentence the court imposed is a just outcome for the defendant’s abuse of his position as a police officer to groom and manipulate young boys, gain their trust, then sexually abuse and exploit them,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The victims showed courage in coming forward to expose this predator, and the sentence imposed ensures that no other child will be harmed by the defendant while he spends decades in prison.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance during the investigation. “Christopher Terranova, a former NYPD officer, targeted, and sexually exploited multiple minors, including some who were also victims in unrelated crimes,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Terranova’s unthinkable actions violated his sworn duty to protect this community and reflect an egregious abuse of authority to satisfy his twisted desires. May today’s sentencing reflect the FBI’s commitment to disrupting any sexual predator from further victimizing our city’s most vulnerable victims.” Between approximately December 2019 and May 2023, Terranova used social media to engage in sexually explicit conversations with underage boys and attempt to entice them into taking sexually explicit photographs of themselves and sharing them with Terranova. Terranova used popular social media applications to message and gain the trust of underage boys whom he encountered socially, online, or through his job as a police officer. For example, between March 2023 and May 2023, Terranova targeted a 15-year-old boy he encountered at the 121 st Precinct on Staten Island who was there to report that he had been robbed. Terranova obtained the victim’s cellphone number from the robbery complaint in an NYPD database and messaged him: “Hey… it’s Chris Terranova the cop you met at the 121 that day with mom, i just wanted to reach out to see if you were doing ok after the incident, I hate seeing these things happen to good Guys like yourself.” In subsequent messages, Terranova inquired about the investigation, referred to his role as a police officer, and asked the victim if he had any interest in the police department or its youth programs. Terranova also suggested, “If [sic] here too if you ever want to talk[.] I been through a lot myself over the years so just know that little bro.” Terranova then asked the victim to add him on “snap” or “the gram,” referring to Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, Terranova began asking the victim sexually explicit questions, sent the victim a photograph of Terranova’s genitals, and asked for a sexually explicit photograph of the victim. The victim informed his mother about the inappropriate messages and she reported the matter to police. Terranova also engaged in hands-on sex acts with two of his minor victims. One of those victims was the 15-year-old son of an acquaintance of Terranova. While giving that victim a ride home from a birthday party, Terranova brought the victim to a secluded location where he directed the victim to engage in sex acts with him. Terranova met a third 15-year-old victim, who lived in Texas, on social media. Terranova used his status as a police officer to gain the victim’s trust. Terranova traveled to Texas at least 16 times to visit the victim, engaged in sexual acts with him and purchased a house in the victim’s neighborhood. In one message, Terranova stated: “You being with me. . . and making love to me is more than a sign of everything happens for a reason.” Terranova also met a 12-year-old victim locally while Terranova was on-duty and in uniform. Terranova messaged the victim on Snapchat and began asking him sexually explicit questions and solicited sexually explicit photos. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The government’s case is being handled by Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Lauren A. Bowman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Chelsea Guzman. The Defendant : CHRISTOPHER TERRANOVA Age: 35 Staten Island, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-516 (KAM)


title: Justice Department Launches Investigation into Employment Practices at George Mason University

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Note : Read the letter here Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into George Mason University to determine whether it is engaged in discriminatory employment practices based on race and sex. The investigation stems from statements and policies made by the University’s president, which indicate that race and sex are motivating factors in faculty hiring and other employment decisions to achieve “diversity” goals. Multiple emails and internal documents suggest preferential treatment of certain races and sexes in hiring and other employment practices, including promotion and tenure of faculty members. “It is unlawful and un-American to deny equal access to employment opportunities on the basis of race and sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “When employers screen out qualified candidates from the hiring process, they not only erode trust in our public institutions—they violate the law, and the Justice Department will investigate accordingly.” The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section will investigate whether George Mason University is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, sex, and other protected characteristics, pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.


title: Former Voice of America Employee Indicted for Threatening Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment unsealed today in the District of Columbia charges a Maryland resident with influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, influencing a federal official by threat, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, and anonymous telecommunications harassment. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Michael G. Sullivan of the United States Capitol Police. Seth Jason, of Edgewater, Maryland, was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police and the Anne Arundel Police Department early this morning, July 17, 2025. Jason will make his initial appearance this afternoon before a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court According to the indictment, between Oct. 11, 2023, and Jan. 21, 2025, Jason made threatening calls to the Dalton and Rome District Offices for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R, Ga.). The U.S. Capitol Police investigation revealed that the phone calls were made from various phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at Voice of America headquarters, where Jason had worked as a longtime employee. In eight calls made over fifteen months, Jason threatened the use of firearms to kill Rep. Greene, her staff, and their families. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum penalty for influencing a federal official by threatening a family member and influencing a federal official by threat is ten years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure is five years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for anonymous telecommunications harassment is two years imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The investigation into this matter was conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police and State Department Office of Inspector General, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Anne Arundel Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Wolf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan of the Federal Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25-xx


title: Brooklyn-Based “Euro 380” Gang Members Indicted on Racketeering Charges and Firearm-Related Murder

body_text: Earlier today, in a federal court in Brooklyn, an 11-count superseding indictment was unsealed charging four Euro 380 gang members, Kashawn Mason, also known as “Jojo” and “Jojo Euro,” Daniel Horton, also known as “DayDay” and “DayDay Tz,” Ryan Nieves, also known as “Rocket” and “TooSturdy,” and Dylan Stanley, also known as “Brady,” with racketeering, firearm-related murder, multiple armed robberies, and assaults in-aid-of racketeering. Mason and Stanley are also charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Mason and Stanley were taken into custody today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Horton and Nieves are presently in federal custody and will be arraigned at a later date. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney; and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney announced the superseding indictment. “As alleged in the superseding indictment, the defendants carried out a litany of violent crimes, including a senseless murder in furtherance of their gang, putting the Bedford Stuyvesant community at extreme risk of harm and turning housing developments into war zones,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s superseding indictment speaks loudly about the commitment of our Office to reducing gun violence, making our communities safe for law abiding residents who have been living in fear of violent gangs and bringing gang members to justice. I commend our prosecutors and federal and state law enforcement partners for their tireless work dismantling gangs operating in Brooklyn and throughout the Eastern District.” Mr. Nocella also thanked the Nassau County Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections for their valuable assistance. “To enhance their gang’s status and intimidate rivals, these four defendants allegedly participated in a myriad of criminal activity, including a retaliatory murder,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Their alleged actions allowed tensions to violently erupt in a residential community and submitted bystanders to a senseless territorial gunfight. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI maintains its steadfast determination to disrupt any gangs’ reign of terror in our neighborhoods. This operation is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months.” “The defendants in this case allegedly treated our Brooklyn neighborhoods like a warzone, firing 34 rounds in broad daylight, killing one person and injuring others, all to settle a gang score,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “They robbed businesses, pushed fentanyl, and recruited teenagers to carry out violence. Today’s indictment makes clear that we will not let violent gangs turn our communities into battlegrounds. I want to thank our investigators and law enforcement partners for their relentless work to bring these defendants to justice.” “This was brazen, targeted violence that put entire communities at risk as these defendants allegedly opened fire near homes and businesses and robbed residents at gunpoint,” stated Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez. “Brooklyn saw record-low gun violence last year, and we are committed to holding accountable anyone who imperils our progress improving the safety of our neighborhoods. This indictment reflects the results of a strong collaboration between my Office, the NYPD, and federal law enforcement. I commend U.S. Attorney Nocella, his team, and all of our partners for their outstanding work." “Gun violence and gang-related crime know no borders, which is why strong law enforcement partnerships are crucial in the fight against them,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “My office is proud to have assisted the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our local partners in New York City, and the FBI, in charging these defendants for their alleged crimes. By working together across jurisdictions, we are sending a message that anyone who perpetrates violence in our communities will be met with justice.” As alleged in the superseding indictment and other court filings, Euro 380 gang is a violent street gang operating out of the Marcy Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Euro 380 is a subset of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (UGSN), a parent gang with members located in Brooklyn and elsewhere. Members of Euro 380 have a longstanding rivalry with another gang known as the Bloodhound Brims and, more specifically, a subset of the Bloodhound Brims known as “900,” which also operates out of Bedford-Stuyvesant in the Tompkins and Sumner Houses, also NYCHA developments located less than two blocks from the Marcy Houses. On September 30, 2023, Nieves, Stanley and two juveniles walked from the Marcy Houses to the Sumner Houses intending to shoot and kill rival 900 gang members after one of their fellow Euro 380 members was murdered three days earlier. After arriving at the Sumner Houses, Nieves and Stanley unleashed a fusillade of 34 rounds at a group of individuals they believed to be 900 gang members. Kyle Forde was killed and two other individuals suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds. The fatal shooting was allegedly ordered by Mason and another high-ranking Euro 380 member. Additionally, in September 2023 and November 2023, the defendants carried out three robberies in Brooklyn of individuals, a smoke shop, and a bodega during which they displayed firearms or what appeared to be a firearm. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, defendants Mason, Nieves, and Stanley face a maximum of life in prison. Horton faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Palacio, Raffaela S. Belizaire, and Megan Larkin are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants KASHAWN MASON (also known as “Jojo” and “Jojo Euro”) Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York DANIEL HORTON (also known as “DayDay” and “DayDay Tz”) Age: 23 Brooklyn, New York RYAN NIEVES (also known as “Rocket” and “TooSturdy”) Age: 20 Brooklyn, New York DYLAN STANLEY (also known as “Brady”) Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-261 (ENV)


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Arranging Utility Services for Thousands of Chicago-Area Properties

body_text: CHICAGO — A man who fraudulently arranged for more than $5 million in utility services to be provided to two thousand Chicago-area properties has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge. DAVID W. BROWN admitted in a plea agreement that he offered to arrange electricity and natural gas services for residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area in return for a fee. After finding property owners and tenants willing to pay him, Brown opened new accounts for utility services at their addresses, knowing that neither he nor the purported customer intended to pay for it, the plea agreement states. Brown knew it would typically take 90 days to several months for the utility companies to disconnect service for lack of payment, allowing the addresses to receive free services for significant periods of time. Brown opened the accounts using false customer names and identifying information to deceive the service providers and avoid financial responsibility, the plea agreement states. Once a utility company initiated the process to terminate, Brown fraudulently continued the service by opening new accounts in the names of different false customers at the same address, the plea agreement states. Brown typically received payments ranging from $50 to $150 every few months from the property owners and tenants who received the services, the plea agreement states. In total, Brown admitted in the plea agreement that from 2017 to 2024, he caused utility companies to fraudulently provide more than $5 million in services to more than two thousand residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area. Brown, 55, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge. The conviction is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt set sentencing for Oct. 15, 2025. The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick D. Young. brown_plea_agreement.pdf


title: Elizabeth Man Indicted for Making Antisemitic Threat to Injure Local Public Official and Making False Statements to FBI

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of making a threat to injure a local public official and making false statements to government agents, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment named Edward Arthur Owens Jr., 29, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment and an earlier federal criminal complaint (read the news release regarding the complaint here ), on or about May 20, 2025, Owens knowingly and willfully transmitted via a social media messaging app the following threat to injure a local public official: “We’re coming for you [emoji of person raising right hand] [German flag emoji] be afraid. Go back to Israel or better yet, exterminate yourself and save us the trouble. 109 countries for a reason. We will not stop until your kind is nonexistent.” The complaint explains that the reference to “109 countries,” according to the Anti-Defamation League, is an antisemitic assertion that Jews have been expelled from 109 different countries; it is used by antisemites to call for the expulsion of Jews from other countries and otherwise to promote hatred. The recipient of the message is a local official who regularly engages with the public. The Indictment further alleges that, on or about May 30, 2025, Owens made false statements to special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, telling the agents that his firearms—which included a .22 LR caliber rifle, an AR-15 style rifle, and a 9mm caliber Smith & Wesson pistol—were all in the custody of his mother, that he did not know where the firearms were, and that he did not have access to any of them. According to the Indictment, Edwards did, in fact, know that his 9mm caliber Smith & Wesson pistol was still in his custody and control (located inside of the vehicle Edwards drove immediately prior to making his false statements to the FBI agents), that he still had access to this pistol, and that the pistol was not in his mother’s custody. Owens remains in custody after being ordered detained by the Court at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office following the defendant’s arrest. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Mount Airy Man Sentenced For Cattle Theft Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – William Dalton Edwards, 26, of Mount Airy, N.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and three-years supervised release for his role in a scheme involving the theft of livestock from North Carolina stockyards and farms, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Edwards was also ordered to pay $334,350.46 to the victims of the scheme. Miles B. Davis, Special Agent in Charge, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-OIG), Southeast Region, Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, Sheriff Alan Norman of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, from April 2018 to October 2022, Edwards and his co-conspirator, Clint Clifford Sicking, conspired to defraud livestock markets, also known as sales barns, in Iredell and Cleveland Counties, North Carolina. The investigation determined that on multiple occasions Edwards and Sicking purchased cattle from sales barns in North Carolina. To pay for the cattle, Edwards and Sicking wrote checks that were worthless, knowing they did not have sufficient funds to cover the checks. Court records show that Edwards and Sicking arranged to transport the cattle out-of-state before the defrauded sales barns and financial institutions could determine their checks were worthless. The stolen cattle were then resold in Texas and Oklahoma. Over the course of the scheme, Edwards and his Sicking caused over $350,000 in losses to sales barns in North Carolina. The sales barns—which are family-owned in North Carolina—incurred these losses because they are required to pay farmers and ranchers immediately after the sale of their livestock. On August 2, 2024, Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and to violate the laws of the United States. One of the objects of the charged conspiracy was to hamper and impede the Packers and Stockyard Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its regulation of fair livestock markets. Other objects of the conspiracy included a scheme to obtain funds under the custody and control of federally insured financial institutions through false statements and representations; to steal livestock valued at more than $10,000; and to transport stolen livestock in interstate commerce. Sicking has also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also thanked the Stanly County District Attorney’s Office, the Packers and Stockyard Division of the USDA, and the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Stoughton Water Department Employee Sentenced for Tampering With Drinking Water

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former Stoughton Water Department employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for tampering with the Stoughton drinking water supply. Robert J. Bullock, Sr., 60, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to a period of time-served (approximately one day) to be followed by three years of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of one year and one day in prison. In March 2025 , Bullock pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a water system. Bullock was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024 . Bullock is a former employee of the Water Department in Stoughton. On the evening of Nov. 29, 2022, Bullock went into one of the Water Department’s pumping stations and turned off the pump that introduces chlorine into drinking water. As a result, insufficiently disinfected water was introduced into the drinking water system. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; and Kathryn Rivera, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Stoughton and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: California Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking and conspiring to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Marcos Haro, 40, of Sacramento, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 14 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2025 , Marcos Haro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; aiding and abetting. In April 2023 , Marcos Haro was indicted along with his brother Noel Haro. Noel Haro is a member and influential leader of the “Border Brothers” gang – a large-scale international gang known to be involved in drug, weapon and human trafficking in Southern Arizona with a presence in Nogales, Mexico and the Arizona prison system. Noel Haro is currently serving a life sentence following convictions in Arizona for drug distribution, conspiracy and money laundering. Noel Haro was previously serving his sentence at a facility in Arizona but was transferred to serve his sentence in Massachusetts upon being deemed a security concern due to his alleged influence over other inmates and repeated introduction of cell phones and narcotics into Arizona facilities. Beginning in or about April 2019, and investigation began into Noel Haro’s attempts to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics to Massachusetts. Investigators monitoring Noel Haro’s inmate calls learned that he was soliciting friends and family members to transport narcotics from Arizona to Massachusetts on his behalf. In April 2022, recorded inmate calls indicated that Noel Haro worked with his brother, Marcos Haro, to arrange drug deals outside of prison. In June 2022, Marcos Haro agreed to supply a cooperating witness with samples of multiple narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. Marcos Haro later mailed the narcotics concealed in a purple teddy bear inside a postal package. On July 13, 2022, the package was retrieved and found to contain powdered fentanyl, five counterfeit fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and approximately 3 grams of heroin. On July 25, 2022, during a recorded inmate call, Noel Haro and Marcos Haro discussed selling one pound of methamphetamine to the same individual. On July 27, 2022, investigators retrieved the package sent from Marcos Haro which contained approximately 446.6 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine. On Aug. 10, 2022, Noel Haro directed Marcos Haro to arrange the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine to the same individual. Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, investigators retrieved two packages sent from Marcos Haro, which contained approximately 892.3 grams of 86% pure methamphetamine and approximately 1,320.2 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine. In October 2022, Marcos and Noel Haro made arrangements to sell an individual 2,000 fentanyl pills. On Nov. 17, 2022, Marcos sent the individual a photograph of a United States Postal Service shipping box, label and receipt. On Nov. 20, 2022, investigators retrieved the package sent by Marcos Haro, which contained approximately 2,000 blue pills, which tested positive for approximately 215.3 grams of fentanyl. On April 2, 2023, Marcos Haro was arrested in Sacramento, Calif. following a motor vehicle stop. A 9mm handgun with eight live rounds in the magazine and approximately 2.9 grams of suspected fentanyl that field tested positive for the presence of opiates, were found during a subsequent search of the vehicle. Marcos Haro has a lengthy criminal history that includes 10 prior convictions, including a 2016 conviction for possession of a controlled substance while armed and illegal possession of an assault weapon with a large capacity magazine, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Marcos Haro is a known member of the Norteno gang which is a Mexican American gang located in Northern California, as well as the Bloods gang and the RideZilla prison gang. On July 10, 2025 , Noel Haro was sentenced to 188 months in prison. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Department of Correction’s Commissioner Shawn Jenkins made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sacramento Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Six Charged In Conspiracy To Defraud Veterans And VA Of Nearly $20 Million In GI Bill Benefits

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Zachary Somers Hiscock (41, Arizona), Timothy Slater (66, Illinois), Nikhil Patel (48, Missouri), Gangadhar Bathula (59, Virginia), and Arif Hasan Sayed (54, California) with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ten counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sixth conspirator, Kyle Blake Kotecha (38, Apopka), was charged by information and signed a plea agreement for his role in the conspiracy. According to the indictment, Hiscock, Slater, Patel, Bathula, and Sayed conspired with Kotecha to violate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations that prohibit predatory practices targeting veterans for their GI Bill tuition benefits. As a result of this conspiracy, Hiscock, Slater, Patel, Bathula, Sayed, and Kotecha defrauded the VA and veteran students of millions of dollars of their hard earned GI Bill benefits. Hiscock, Slater, Patel, Bathula, and Sayed operated for-profit, non-college degree schools across the United States. These schools purported to provide courses in cybersecurity and computer coding and were approved to receive GI Bill benefits. VA regulations prohibit schools that receive GI Bill benefits from compensating individuals who recruit and enroll veteran students with a portion of the tuition they secure. Despite this ban on commission-based recruitment, Hiscock, Slater, Patel, Bathula, and Sayed hired Kotecha to target and recruit veteran students to attend their schools and paid Kotecha approximately 25 percent of the benefits the schools obtained through the veteran students that Kotecha enrolled. The defendants undertook various efforts to conceal and obfuscate the nature of this recruitment from VA auditors, including by using coded terms, concealed payments, backdated and falsified contracts, and phony enrollment records. Some of the schools created false records of attendance of non-veteran students to legitimize and disguise the dramatic increases of veteran enrollments. Kotecha’s recruitment scheme was successful and pumped millions of dollars of GI Bill benefits into schools that had previously received little to none. The schools charged veterans tuition at or near the annual cap of $24,000 for instruction that lasted only 8 to 13 weeks. A small fraction of the veteran students went on to seek or obtain any certifications in programs purportedly taught. The schools are charged with forfeiting $19,232,390 of GI Bill benefits fraudulently obtained as a result of the conspiracy. Kotecha has agreed to forfeit $3,965,264.34 to the United States as an estimate of the amount he personally obtained from the scheme. “These charges serve as stark warning to those who would defraud the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits program,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The GI Bill has served millions of veterans since World War II and the VA OIG, along with our partners, will aggressively investigate fraud committed against this vital program.” An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah P. Dorman and Dana E. Hill. Indictment


title: Woman who traveled the country impersonating victims to commit bank fraud sentenced to six years in prison

body_text: Seattle – A leader in a nationwide $1.4 million bank fraud scheme was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Amber Towndrow, 36, was indicted along with coconspirator Darby Canfield, 35, in April 2024. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “This was not a simple crime of desperation, this was a sophisticated nationwide fraud…. It was not a momentary loss in judgement. Despite one arrest, you continued in the scheme…. You did not just steal money, you stole peace of mind.” “This was a sophisticated scheme using stolen information, fake IDs and business registration requirements across different states. This defendant was a primary actor for the operation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “She successfully impersonated her victims – indeed she memorized all the details of their lives. This significant federal sentence is aimed at setting her on a new, law-abiding path.” According to records filed in the case, Towndrow and her coconspirators acquired personal identifying information for at least 19 victims nationwide. In Western Washington, the co-schemers used that personal information to register businesses with the Washington Secretary of State. Armed with the business documents and false identification documents such as drivers’ licenses and passports, Towndrow would open business bank accounts at financial institutions where the victim already had a personal savings account. The bank system would link the new business bank account to the real customer’s bank account. The conspirators would then transfer money from the personal bank account to the business account. Towndrow would then use a business account debit card to purchase money orders and high value goods such as designer merchandise or electronics. Towndrow and other conspirators would use various fake IDs to cash the money orders at locations such as Money Tree outlets. With this scheme Towndrow committed bank fraud and identity theft in Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Washington D.C. Court records detail how Towndrow defrauded a victim living in Illinois by creating a company registered in Colorado. Towndrow listed the Illinois victim as the registered owner of the company. Towndrow traveled to a Chase branch in Seattle where she opened a business banking account for the fake company. Towndrow and her coconspirators used online banking to transfer $131,709 from the Illinois victim account to the business account. Towndrow used the business debit card to purchase 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $126,653. The money orders were made payable to various people the co-schemers could impersonate with their fake IDs. The conspirators then cashed several of the money orders at various locations in the Seattle area. The plea agreement admits similar conduct regarding a victim residing in Texas, who was defrauded of $75,000, of which $50,000 was used to purchase MoneyGram money orders across the Seattle area. Towndrow admits she opened at least 50 business bank accounts and attempted to obtain $1.4 million. She admits she successfully obtained $664,000. The crime has a significant impact on the individual victims – even when the bank ultimately replaces the money stolen from the account. One victim had $40,000 stolen from her accounts just weeks before her wedding – adding significant stress to what should have been a joyful time. And the impact doesn’t end when the money is replaced. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite wrote to the court, “for some victims, the impact may last a lifetime. Identity theft burdens victims with defending against debt collections, decreases in credit scores, and any host of expenses or liabilities that are unfairly associated with them. Victims often also encumber severe non-financial impacts, such as to their mental health and well-being.” The case was investigated by The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Seattle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.


title: Goodyear Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Check Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Cory Jermaine White, Jr., 31, of Goodyear, Arizona was sentenced on July 16, by United States District Michael T. Liburdi to 108 months in prison and ordered to pay $8,446,858.31 in restitution. White pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024, to conspiracies to commit bank and wire fraud, and money laundering. Six other co-defendants in this matter have already pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to varying years in prison. “White stole nearly $8.5 million in checks meant for legitimate businesses and used the money for lavish expenditures,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine, “His actions not only impacted the victims but also undermined the integrity of our financial systems. Let this case serve as a reminder that crime does not pay, and that we will do whatever we can to uphold the law and safeguard our communities.” “The fact this defendant and his co-conspirators would think that stealing business checks from the U.S. Mail and scheming ways to deposit them for their own use is mind-boggling,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The defendant conspired with others with total disregard for the consequences. Financial crimes have long been a staple of the FBI’s investigative efforts, and we will continue to meticulously investigate any and all fraudsters in pursuit of our mission of protecting the American people.” According to the court documents and statements made in court, White’s multi-year scheme involved several steps. First, a co-conspirator would steal a parcel of mail containing a legitimate check meant for a legitimate business. A second co-conspirator would then incorporate a sham entity using the same name as the legitimate company to whom the check was made out (often in another state to avoid detection). Using the sham corporate registration documents, co-conspirators would next open a corporate bank account in the name of the sham entity to deposit the stolen check. Finally, after the stolen check was deposited into the newly-opened bank account for the sham entity, the co-conspirators would quickly liquidate the funds and distribute the funds amongst themselves. The FBI Phoenix Division conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01749- PHX-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-120_White # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Undocumented Mexican National Indicted for Sex Trafficking a Minor, Drug Crimes, and other Charges

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging an undocumented Mexican national, living in the United States illegally, with federal crimes, including sex trafficking a minor, production of child pornography, and multiple drug and firearm crimes. Victor Manuel Sanchez-Chacon, aka “Speedy,” 31, of Mexico, living in Taylorsville, Utah, was previously ordered detained by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. According to the court documents, on November 9, 2024 and between August 27, 2023 and September 1, 2023, Sanchez-Chacon allegedly enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. Beginning on October 25, 2023, Sanchez-Chacon allegedly recruited and enticed a minor to engage in a commercial sex act. As alleged, between August 2024 and December 2024, detectives with the South Valley Special Enforcement Team (SET) opened an investigation into the trafficking of narcotics to juveniles at high schools in the Salt Lake Valley area. During the investigation, Sanchez-Chacon was identified as a trafficker. On May 15, 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and task force officers from SET conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Sanchez-Chacon was driving. During a search of the vehicle, officers seized drugs and other items. Subsequently, a residential search warrant was executed and law enforcement also seized three firearms, associated ammunition, and body armor. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations records check revealed Sanchez-Chacon does not possess valid immigration documents and entered the United States at an unknown date and time. Chacon is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, unlawful alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, production of child pornography, and sex trafficking of a minor. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by task force officers from the South Valley Special Enforcement Team (SET), Taylorsville City Police Department, Draper City Police Department and special assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Twice deported Mexican national indicted for unlawfully returning to the United States

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Tyler, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jose Luis Rosales-Betancourt, 39, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with unlawful reentry following removal. The indictment alleges that on July 8, 2025, Betancourt was twice previously deported in 2008 and 2013. Public records also indicate that Betancourt was previously convicted in 2006 of aggravated robbery in Smith County, after which he received a five-year prison sentence. Betancourt was again convicted in 2012 for illegal reentry following removal in the Eastern District of Texas, for which he was sentenced to 30 months. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Betancourt faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Armed alien, illegally living in Tyler, indicted on federal firearms violation

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Tyler, has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Marco Imanol Ferrusca-Ortega, 23, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on July 8, 2025, Ferrusca-Ortega was found illegally in the United States and in possession of a firearm This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Ferrusca-Ortega faces up to 15 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Tyler Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Armed Mexican national federally indicted in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Tyler, has been charged with a federal violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Luis Donaldo Villanueva-Tapia, 30, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on July 8, 2025, Villanueva-Tapia was found illegally in the United States and in possession of a firearm This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Villanueva-Tapia faces up to 15 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Tyler Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Prague Man Sentenced for Setting Ex-Girlfriend's  House on Fire and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Henry Joseph Arthur, Jr., 52, for Arson in Indian Country and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Frizzell ordered Arthur to serve 120 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2023, Arthur plotted and devised a plan to burn down his ex-girlfriend's home. Surveillance and GPS data showed Arthur was responsible for setting the house on fire and burning it to the ground. While on pretrial bond, Arthur violated the terms of his bond and failed to participate in the court-ordered substance abuse program successfully. The court issued a warrant for Arthur’s arrest, and the U.S. Marshals found Arthur illegally in possession of a loaded handgun. Court records show that Arthur has been convicted of 19 prior felonies, multiple protective order violations, domestic assault and battery, and crimes that endanger public safety. Arthur will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kellyville Fire Department investigated the case. The U.S. Marshal Service assisted in Arthur’s arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Undocumented Alien Sentenced in Federal Court for Using a False Social Security Number to Obtain Employment at Boise Hotel

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Lina Marcela Ospina Isaza, 24, of Bucaramanga, Colombia, was sentenced to time served of approximately 2 months imprisonment for the false use of a social security number, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin D. Whatcott announced today. U.S. District Court Judge Amanda K. Brailsford waived the fine and special assessment due to Isaza’s likely deportation. Isaza pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025. According to court records, Isaza, a Colombian citizen, unlawfully entered the United States near Otay Mesa, California on December 1, 2023. She was arrested and admitted to illegally crossing the international boundary without being inspected by an immigration officer at a designated Port of Entry. However, she was released from the custody of the Department of Homeland Security by “Order of Recognizance,” pending an immigration hearing. Isaza provided her address to a location in Massachusetts and was instructed that if she moved, she had five days to update her address with the Department of Homeland Security. Isaza instead moved to Boise and purchased a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent legal permanent resident card. She presented both to a Boise hotel in April 2024 to obtain employment and signed an I-9 form that contained the fraudulent social security card number. She subsequently changed jobs and admitted to using the same fraudulent social security card to obtain new employment at a downtown Boise hotel in May 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of Homeland Security Investigations, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Isaza is one of eight recent indictments returned in the District of Idaho of undocumented aliens using false social security numbers and fraudulent legal permanent resident cards to unlawfully obtain employment at various businesses in Boise. The Department of Homeland Security continues to inspect I-9 employment forms to identify employees who fraudulently use social security numbers and/or fraudulent lawful permanent resident cards. False use of a Social Security Number is a felony offense which carries up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. For employers, the Department of Homeland Security increased civil penalties for Immigration Reform and Control Act violations on January 2, 2025. The new civil penalty for knowingly hiring, recruiting, referral or retention of unauthorized aliens was increased to a maximum fine of $5,724 (per unauthorized alien) for a first offense and up to $28,619 (per unauthorized alien) for a third or subsequent offense. ###


title: California man convicted of fraud for operating call centers that preyed on struggling homeowners

body_text: Seattle –The operator of a web of boiler-room-type call centers was convicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle for defrauding over 1,000 distressed homeowners facing foreclosure, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Mohammed Zafaranchi, 43, aka ‘Mike Ferry’ was convicted of all twelve federal charges he faced: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and obstruction of justice. After a seven-day trial, the jury deliberated for about four hours before returning the guilty verdicts. Zafaranchi faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on October 21, 2025. “The defendant preyed on vulnerable homeowners who were desperate to avoid losing their homes in a difficult economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “He manipulated these people into paying him thousands of dollars they could not afford to lose. Mr. Zafaranchi demonstrated he knew his activities were illegal when he destroyed evidence just after learning the FBI had served search warrants at one of his call centers.” Zafaranchi’s fraud involved purchasing data that identified homeowners who were behind on their mortgages and at risk of losing their homes. Each week, Zafaranchi sent thousands of solicitation mailers falsely telling the distressed homeowners they were eligible for government programs that would reduce their mortgage debt by 30% and reduce their interest rate to 2%. The mailers told homeowners to call a phone number before a made-up deadline to get the mortgage modification. When homeowners called the call centers, operators followed a series of scripts telling homeowners that lawyers and underwriters had vetted their case and negotiated a modification with their lender. The scripts instructed operators to place callers on hold for a pre-determined amount of time to build suspense and make it appear a review was underway. The operator would then return to the line and tell each victim he or she was one of the very select few who qualified for the program—but only if the homeowner paid the call center a $3,000 legal fee to “finalize” the modification. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar said in closing arguments that “Each stage of the script was designed to entice the victim into the fraud and get them to pay the fee.” In fact, Zafaranchi’s businesses had no legal or underwriting staff. Instead, untrained workers simply scanned the homeowners’ financial records, completed a basic application form, and sent the documents to the banks. The homeowners did not receive the modifications promised in the mailers, and some lost their homes. After taking the victims’ money, Zafaranchi laundered the funds through shell bank accounts and withdrew the proceeds in cash. He was convicted of money laundering for this conduct. On March 29, 2018, the FBI served a search warrant on the call center in Everett Washington. After learning of this search, Zafaranchi told his California employees to remove the computers and other evidence from his California offices. That night, Zafaranchi destroyed all records associated with three email accounts he used to operate the businesses. For that conduct, Zafaranchi was convicted of obstruction of justice. Zafaranchi’s two coconspirators have already pleaded guilty. Mark Lezama is scheduled for sentencing on October 14, 2025. Josh Herrera is scheduled for sentencing on October 21, 2025. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson, Lauren Watts Staniar, and Dane A. Westermeyer. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General provided support in the case.


title: Franklin County Man Sentenced for Assaulting Girlfriend, Fatally Shooting Dog

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a convicted felon who violently assaulted his girlfriend and a neighbor and fatally shot his dog to 78 months in prison. Leslie Rector, 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in April to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on April 16, 2024, he assaulted his girlfriend and shot his dog while intoxicated. He later assaulted his neighbor while looking for his girlfriend. Pacific Police Department officers talked to the girlfriend early the next morning at a gas station. She had suffered extensive injuries to her face and head. Officers then contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, believing that the assault had occurred in their jurisdiction. Deputies talked to the victim and took her to the hospital. They went to Rector’s home and found a blood-spattered van, the body of a dog and four firearms. Rector is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Pacific Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former veteran’s service organization leader charged with federal program theft

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Brenham resident has been charged in a criminal information for misappropriating thousands in federal grant funding, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Clifford Wayne Robertson is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett July 28 at 10 a.m. Robertson allegedly misappropriated federal grant funding awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc. dba The Warrior’s Refuge, a nonprofit organization serving as a veteran’s homeless shelter and service facility. The charges allege that during his tenure as CEO and executive director, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL) between February and April 2020. The Warrior’s Refuge allegedly received approximately $1.3 million and $500,000 in VA and DOL grant funds, respectively, as a result of those applications. The information alleges that Robertson did knowingly and intentionally embezzle a portion of the federal grants awarded to the organization for unallowable personal expenditures and for counseling services that he never rendered to veterans. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine. VA - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DOL - OIG and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is prosecuting the case. A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Logan County Brothers Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Timothy Ray Gravley, 41, of Bruno, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and his brother Jessie Joe Gravley II, 42, of Bruno, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl and heroin. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 17, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residences of each brother. At Timothy Ray Gravley’s residence, officers seized a total of 559.69 grams of fentanyl found in multiple bags, a Ruger model LCP .380-caliber pistol, a Umarex/FN model 502 .22-caliber pistol, and $20,131. At Jessie Joe Gravley’s residence, officers seized 250.1 grams of methamphetamine “ice,” 40.18 grams of heroin, 53.7 grams of cocaine, and $19,243. As part of his guilty plea, Timothy Ray Gravley admitted that he possessed the fentanyl seized at his residence and that he intended to distribute it in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. He further admitted to selling a total of 6.64 grams of fentanyl for a total of $700 in two separate transactions, one on October 10, 2024, and the other on October 15, 2024, each time to a confidential informant in Bruno. As part of his guilty plea, Jessie Joe Gravley admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine seized at his residence and that he intended to distribute it in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. He further admitted to selling controlled substances to a confidential informant on two occasions in Bruno. On October 9, 2024, he sold 1.81 grams of fentanyl, 24.99 grams of methamphetamine “ice,” and 1.05 grams of cocaine for $680. On October 14, 2024, he sold 2 grams of fentanyl and 29.03 grams of methamphetamine “ice” for $620. Timothy Ray Gravley and Jessie Joe Gravley are scheduled to be sentenced on November 6, 2025. Each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force, which consists of members of the Mingo County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia State Police. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the cases. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:25-cr-37 (Jessie Joe Gravley II) and 2:25-cr-38 (Timothy Ray Gravley).