title: New Jersey Man Admits to Stealing More Than $1 Million in Investment Fraud Scheme involving Elderly Victims

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey man admitted to a scheme to defraud elderly and other victims out of more than $1 million that he told the victims he would invest on their behalf or otherwise use for their benefit, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Antonio Petrosino, a/k/a Anthony Petrosino, 60, of Union City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler on March 25, 2026 to Count One of an Indictment charging him with wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: From in or around January 2016 through in or around November 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victims to transfer investment funds, mortgage payments, and other money to Petrosino. As part of the scheme to defraud, Petrosino held himself out to be a financial services professional to his victims and falsely led them to believe that he would invest the victims’ money in brokerage accounts and other investment products or otherwise use it for their benefit. To perpetuate his fraud, Petrosino provided one elderly victim with falsified investment statements that purported to show that she had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited in various investment accounts in her name. Petrosino also made various statements to victims assuring them that their money had been invested or used as promised. In reality, Petrosino failed to invest the victims’ funds or otherwise use victim monies for the victims’ benefit as promised. Instead, Petrosino misappropriated the money to pay for his personal expenses, including gambling, credit card payments, and rent on his luxury apartment unit. When confronted by victims about the status of the money they sent to Petrosino, he provided the victims and their family members false reassurances about the status of the victims’ funds to cover up his fraud. In total, Petrosino stole approximately $1.1 million from the victims. The wire fraud charge that Petrosino pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; and the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy, with the investigation leading to Petrosino’s indictment. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar, Co-Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Michael A. Thomas, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark petrosino.indictment.pdf


title: Ten Foreign Nationals Charged In An International Operation Targeting Cryptocurrency Market Manipulation

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Federal grand juries indicted ten executives and employees of four different cryptocurrency financial services firms (known as “market makers”) for orchestrating fraud schemes to artificially inflate the trading volume and price of cryptocurrencies. Three defendants, including two chief executive officers, were arrested and extradited from Singapore and made their initial appearance in federal court in Oakland today. Employees from the four firms, Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian, have been charged in three separate indictments. The indictments allege that the defendants not only conspired to inflate the trading volume and price of cryptocurrencies but also profited through the sale of the cryptocurrencies at inflated prices to unwitting investors. These so-called pump-and-dump schemes caused losses to investors in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to the three extradited defendants, two others have already pled guilty and were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. More than $1 million in cryptocurrency has been seized to date. The indictments and arrests were the result of an undercover operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) targeting illicit “wash trading” in the cryptocurrency industry. As part of the undercover operation, the FBI created several cryptocurrency tokens. According to the indictments, all of the schemes followed a similar pattern. The defendants acted as illicit market makers by “wash trading” the cryptocurrency to artificially inflate the trading volume and price. As described in the indictment, wash trading occurs when a single trader, or a number of traders, working in coordination, act as both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction or a series of transactions. This fraudulent trading tactic creates the appearance that these cryptocurrencies have more active, organic trading than really exists, thereby inducing investors to purchase the cryptocurrencies at artificially inflated prices. On March 25, 2025, a federal grand jury in San Francisco, California indicted Taiwanese national Antoine Tsao (Business Development Manager for Gotbit), Russian national Ian Sofronov (Sales Manager for Gotbit), and Serbian national Nemanja Popov (Account Manager for Gotbit) on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud for a scheme to artificially inflate the price of a cryptocurrency token. Tsao was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 30, 2025. On June 2, 2025, Tsao pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in Oakland, California. Nemanja Popov was arrested at San Francisco International Airport, and pled guilty and was sentenced on February 10, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. On August 28, 2025, a federal grand jury in Oakland, California indicted Russian nationals Gleb Gora, 24, (Chief Executive Officer of Vortex), Sergei Ryzhkov (Chief Financial Officer of Vortex), and Michael Vogel (Business Development Manager for Vortex) on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud for a scheme to artificially inflate the price of a cryptocurrency token while planning to liquidate their holdings once trading reached a high price. Gora was arrested in Singapore on October 2, 2025, at the request of the United States. Gora made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today in Oakland following his extradition from Singapore. On September 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in Oakland, California, indicted Indian nationals Manu Singh, 34, (Chief Executive Officer of Contrarian), Kushagra Srivastava (Chief Financial Officer of Contrarian), Vasu Sharma, 26, (Business Development Associate at Contrarian), and Sabby Singh, a Business Development Manager at a Contrarian partner firm Antier Solutions Private Limited. The defendants were charged with wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy for a scheme to pump up the price of a cryptocurrency token while at the same time planning to dump their holdings of the token when it reached a high trading price. Defendants Manu Singh and Vasu Sharma were arrested in Singapore on October 2, 2025, at the request of the United States, and made their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today in Oakland following their extradition from Singapore. Defendants Gora, Singh, and Sharma are currently in federal custody. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo, and IRS-CI Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Attaché’s Office in Singapore and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, working with the Singapore Police Force and Attorney General’s Chambers, for securing the arrests and extraditions of Gora, Singh, and Sharma to the United States. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin K. Kleinman, Daniel M. Pastor, and Molly K. Priedeman are prosecuting the cases with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by the FBI with the assistance of IRS-CI.


title: Prior felon going to prison on drug and gun charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Rivera, 39, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute of 400 grams or more fentanyl and being felon in possession of ammunition, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who handled the case, stated that on March 14, 2024, the Niagara Falls Police Department was executing a search warrant at an Ontario Avenue residence. Shortly after entering the residence, an investigator looked out the back door and saw a male throw a shopping bag over a fence, jump over the fence, and run, before entering an abandoned garage next door with the bag, and then exiting without the bag. The male looked back toward law enforcement vehicles, while attempting to hide. Investigators quickly located the male identified as Rivera. A narcotics detection K-9 dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the back of the garage, where investigators located the bag Rivera was seen holding. Investigators seized approximately 18 grams of cocaine and fentanyl, 642 grams of heroin and fentanyl, approximately eight grams of cocaine, 1511 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, magazines, and ammunition. In March 2007, Rivera was convicted in Erie County Court of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Albion man going to prison for receipt of child pornography

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Norman Kelly, 69, of Albion, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that on October 20, 2023, Kelly arrived at the Port of Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Michigan, on a flight from Incheon, South Korea. During an inspection of his baggage, Kelly removed a cellular phone from his pocket, and had a computer bag, which contained a laptop computer, and four USB thumb drives. Due to a lack of eye contact during questioning, inconsistencies in his travel story, and nervous behavior, the devices were authorized to be examined. A Customs and Border Protection officer examined the cell phone, laptop and one of the thumb drives and discovered what appeared to be suspected child pornography. Subsequent investigation determined that between March 12 and September 20, 2023, Kelly used his laptop computer to entice minors to engage in sexually explicit behavior for the purpose of producing images, which he would receive via the internet. On March 12, 2023, Kelly received a sexually explicit image of a female child, approximately 10-12 years old. On July 20, 2023, he received a sexually explicit video file of an infant female, approximately 1.5 to three years old. Kelly possessed approximately 475 image files and 377 video files of child sexual abuse material. Some of the images included depictions of violence against children. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. Additional assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, Michigan. # # # #


title: Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced  For Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CARLOS RENE MEDINA-AYALA (“MEDINA-AYALA”) , age 49, was sentenced on March 12, 2026, after pleading guilty on January 29, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on June 2, 2025, MEDINA-AYALA was found to have reentered the United States after being previously deported on or about November 7, 2013. U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced MEDINA-AYALA to an imprisonment term of time served and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. MEDINA-AYALA was also ordered to be transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately following his sentencing for removal to Honduras. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Former Postal Employee Charged With Mail Theft

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AHMAD BANKS , age 26, a resident of New Orleans, was charged on March 24, 2026 with mail theft by a United States Postal Employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1709, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, at the time of the offense, AHMAD BANKS was employed as a letter carrier, delivering U.S. mail in Metairie, Louisiana. On or about January 26, 2024, he took a letter from the mail on his delivery route that he was entrusted to deliver that day, intending to remove and keep the contents for himself. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored Trucks

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mujahid Davis, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer on two counts of Hobbs Act robbery (Counts One and Five), attempted Hobbs Act robbery (Counts Three and Seven), and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count Six). The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January, along with Dante Shackleford, 26, also of Philadelphia. As detailed in case filings and admitted to by the defendant, Davis, with others, participated in the following crimes: the July 2, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4 and faces a maximum possible term of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of seven years’ imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $1,500,000 fine. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.


title: Texas Fugitive Apprehended and Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for $61M Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Texas man was sentenced Wednesday to 150 months in prison and two years of supervised release for organizing and leading a $61.5 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who were the victims of deceptive telemarketing were sent thousands of orthotic braces, foot baths, and genetic tests they did not need. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Robert “Bobby” Leon Smith III, 50, of Archer City, Texas, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida, Texas, and Maryland through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for orthotic braces and foot baths that beneficiaries did not need. Smith also owned a marketing company based in Texas that he used to conduct deceptive telemarketing campaigns that targeted Medicare beneficiaries for medical services they did not need. Working with an offshore call center located in the Philippines, Smith and his co-conspirators peddled medically unnecessary orthotic braces, foot baths, and genetic tests to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. In audio recordings presented at trial, Smith was heard pressuring beneficiaries to accept these products even after the beneficiaries protested that they did not need or want them. Smith obtained doctors’ orders for these products by paying kickbacks and bribes to illegitimate telemedicine companies. He then sold these doctors’ orders to other medical suppliers that he knew used them to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. In another recording presented at trial, Smith was heard complaining about instances in which he bought doctors’ orders he could not sell, calling the orders “trash” and “junk.” Smith’s former business partner testified that they eventually began using “fake” doctors’ orders that contained forged signatures of doctors who were unaware of the scheme. After four days of a jury trial, Smith pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and one count of health care fraud. Smith absconded and failed to appear for sentencing. He remained at large for over a month before he was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service. At sentencing, the Court ordered Smith to pay $30,158,608.25 in restitution and to forfeit $9,215,225 as well as real estate located in Texas. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Tallahassee Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Drug Distribution Conspiracy Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Edward Lee Cromartie, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison following his conviction on charges relating to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this local drug trafficking operation has been dismantled. This substantial prison sentence ensures our community will be safe from this dangerous criminal for many years to come. Our citizens deserve safe, drug-free streets, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who threaten the health and safety of our communities until we send every last peddler of this deadly poison to federal prison.” Court documents reflect that in July 2025, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Leon County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the trafficking of cocaine in Leon County. During the investigation, agents conducted undercover drug purchases from Cromartie and his co-defendants, leading to the recovery of more than 167 grams of methamphetamine. Agents also identified a suspected drug stash location for the conspirators and, upon execution of a federal search warrant at a storage unit connected to Cromartie, seized approximately 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with multiple firearms, including a stolen .45 caliber handgun. “The Panhandle of Florida has been on DEA’s radar for quite some time regarding cocaine and, in particular, methamphetamine trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “We have made significant arrests and dismantled drug trafficking organizations throughout this region and will continue to do so.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Homemade Silencer

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

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Dean Allen Harper, 55, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of an unmarked and unregistered silencer, which qualifies as a firearm under federal law. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to remove dangerous, armed criminals from our streets. My office will continue to back up their hard work on the front lines with aggressive prosecutions under the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative to keep our communities safe from violent criminals.” Court documents reflect that on November 21, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Harper was driving. The vehicle that contained numerous firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. In total, Harper was in possession of two rifles, two pistols, multiple magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing ammunition. One of the pistols also had an automotive oil filter converted into a homemade suppressor/silencer attached to its barrel: The threaded barrel had an aftermarket attachment which allowed the oil filter to be attached. The homemade silencer did not have a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. At sentencing, the defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Camden Woman Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Meth

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Angela Peterson Black, 53, of Camden, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Black distributed methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement officers in November 2022 with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On two occasions, she sold almost 200 grams of “ice” to officers. In June 2023, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department located additional narcotics in her vehicle during a traffic stop and in her home during a search warrant at her residence. Black was arrested on these charges in December 2023 and was granted a bond. While on bond, Black attempted to use a fraudulent urine sample by concealing a bottle containing a yellow substance on her person. Her bond was revoked. Black has prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, first degree criminal domestic violence, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Black to 160 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case. ###


title: Waco Babysitter to Spend Remainder of Life in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Young Children

body_text: WACO, Texas – A Waco man was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 960 months in prison for three child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Kevin Duane Pridemore, 41, made at least 50 posts on a child pornography website, leading law enforcement officers to execute a search warrant at his residence on March 24, 2025. An FBI agent reviewed an SD card seized during the search, which revealed a 15-minute video in which Pridemore engaged in sexual activities with a fully nude girl between the ages of five and seven years old. FBI examiners also viewed a series of videos produced in October 2024, which also showed Pridemore sexually abusing a minor female who was approximately five years old at the time. A complete forensic examination revealed Pridemore possessed approximately 23,728 images and 155 videos of child sexual abuse material. The images included prepubescent images, including infants and toddlers. The FBI also discovered at least four known victims who were sexually abused and recorded by Pridemore at various times when he babysat the victims. Pridemore was named in a two-count indictment on April 8, 2025. Prosecutors filed a superseding information on Nov. 24, 2025, charging Pridemore with one count of possession of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors and two counts of production of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all three counts the following day. U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright sentenced Pridemore to 360 months for each production charge and 240 months for the possession count, totaling 960 consecutive months in federal prison. Judge Albright also ordered Pridemore pay $207,000 in restitution. “While nothing makes up for the harm caused by this defendant, the 80-year sentence handed down by Judge Albright highlights the egregious nature of the abuse in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Thanks to the FBI for vigilantly investigating this case. While we unfortunately cannot undo the harm this vile child predator brought to his many young victims and their families, we absolutely hope they find some peace in knowing he will surely spend the rest of his life behind bars and will never again be able to treat a child like he treated the children in this case.” “The FBI has zero tolerance for those who commit these heinous crimes against children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “This case is particularly egregious and represents a profound abuse of trust, as the defendant exploited hisposition as a babysitter to harm the very children he was entrusted to protect. Those who exploit children online or in our communities will be relentlessly pursued, and the FBI will use every available resource to hold child predators accountable and keep them from ever harming innocent children again.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . ###


title: Three Men Sentenced to Prison in Multimillion Dollar Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: Three family members were sentenced today to prison following a jury trial that resulted in convictions for their roles in a multimillion-dollar tax refund fraud scheme. David Hunt was sentenced to 92 months in prison, his son Baylon Hunt was sentenced to 38 months in prison, and Baylon’s half-brother Corey Burt was sentenced to 94 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to file tax returns in the names of purported trusts they controlled. A fourth family member who was also convicted at trial is scheduled to be sentenced in May. According to statements made in court and evidence presented at trial, the Hunts, of Arlington, Texas, Burt, formerly of Long Beach, Mississippi, and another family member orchestrated a scheme to file tax returns in the names of purported trusts they controlled. In total, they sought more than $8.5 million in tax refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. As part of their scheme, Baylon Hunt and the other family member submitted additional fake documents to the IRS including falsified financial instruments and altered money orders. Even after receiving warning letters to discontinue their fraudulent submissions, they continued filing false returns and other documents with the IRS. As a result of the scheme, the co-conspirators received over $1.7 million in fraudulent proceeds from the IRS, which they shared and used to purchase luxury goods, furniture, cryptocurrency, a Cadillac Escalade and a house in Mississippi. All four defendants were convicted at trial of conspiracy to defraud the United States. David Hunt, Burt, and the other family member were also convicted of multiple counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Baylon Hunt was acquitted of two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, the defendants were jointly ordered to pay $1,774,864 in restitution to the United States. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McDonald of the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case.


title: Producer of Child Sex Abuse Material Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A Levelland, Texas man who produced child sexual abuse material was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Camilo Reyes Castillo, 47, pled guilty in October 2025 to seven counts of production of child pornography. He was sentenced on March 26, 2026, to 720 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix. According to court documents, in early 2025, agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) learned that Castillo was likely producing and trading child sexual abuse material online. DPS investigated Castillo and his online presence and confirmed that he was involved in producing and sharing sexually explicit material involving young boys. In June 2025, DPS executed a search warrant at Castillo’s residence in Levelland. Court documents reflect that Castillo agreed to speak with agents. Castillo claimed he “groped” the two male children over their clothes and recorded one of the children in the shower. Agents searched the contents of Castillo’s cell phone and located approximately 170 photos and videos of child pornography in the deleted folder. Amongst the files were seven videos of child pornography Castillo produced of the two male children he claimed he groped. Date and timestamps from the videos revealed they were produced on March 11, 2025. The videos depicted Castillo sexually abusing two male children, ages 9 and 12. The children were identified and interviewed and described Castillo sexually abusing them. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office (Lubbock Resident Agency) and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”


title: Newport Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Threatening to “Shoot Up” and “Skin” Black Preschoolers

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Zachary Charles Newell, 26, to two years in federal prison for communicating online threats. Newell threatened to “shoot up” a preschool and murder “black babies” on YouTube. He pleaded guilty to the charges. “Inmate Newell threatened to become the next school shooter—at a preschool no less. Targeting babies for murder—simply because of the color of their skin—is disgusting and unacceptable in civilized society. The FBI quickly responded, preventing a shooting and brought a dangerous man to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Inmate Newell became obsessed with extremist content on the internet. He posted scores of threatening comments on YouTube directed at racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. On August 27, he wrote, “I’m gonna shoot up a black preschool. 20 black babies will be shot and then skinned.” Immediately upon learning of the threat, the FBI identified and arrested Inmate Newell on a federal criminal complaint ensuring he was detained and removed from the ability to carry out his threats. Inmate Newell admitted to posting the threat and ultimately pleaded guilty. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-95-D-BM.


title: Indiana Man Charged for Coercing Minor to Engage in Self-Harm and  Possession of Images of Child Sexual Abuse

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Indiana man was charged with stalking a minor child in the District of New Jersey over the internet and enticing her to harm herself, and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Billy Joe Holman, a/k/a “William Holman,” 26, of West Lebanon, Indiana, was charged in a two-count complaint with cyber stalking and possession of child pornography. He had an initial appearance yesterday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott J. Frankel in federal court in the Northern District of Indiana and was ordered detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Holman met the minor female victim (“Victim 1”) in or around October 2025 on a social media platform. Holman systematically targeted Victim 1—whom he knew to be 12 years old—by grooming, coercing, and otherwise compelling her to carry out his orders. Holman used coercive control, a pattern of behavior used to dominate another person through manipulation, including the weaponization of affection followed by verbal abuse or threats, to direct Victim 1’s actions. Over the course of approximately a month, Holman coerced Victim 1 to harm herself by, among other things, carving Holman’s initials into her skin and punching herself in the stomach on video and sending that video to Holman. Holman also demanded Victim 1 to take photographs of herself that constituted images of child sexual abuse materials and sending them to Holman. The charge of stalking carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Holman is also facing a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the Newark and Indianapolis Joint Terrorism Task Forces of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James M. Gannon, and the Dover Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jonathan Delaney, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, under the direction of United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. 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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit in Newark, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: West Tennessee Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Federal Methamphetamine Offense

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Jonathan Ray Forrest, 43 , has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possessing over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine with intent to distribute. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. In June 2024, Forrest was found in possession of 165 grams of methamphetamine, 2.7 pounds of marijuana, 395 grams of mushrooms, 90 Xanax pills, and half a gram of heroin during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Kenton, TN. This was Forrest’s sixth felony drug offense involving his illegal distribution of methamphetamine, and he was on probation for the last of his prior offenses when he committed the instant drug offense. Following his guilty plea to the one-count indictment, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Forrest to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Recidivist drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by methamphetamine deserve significant punishment, and this sentence does just that." This case was investigated by members of the West Tennessee Violent Crime & Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Cleveland Man Indicted After Federal Drug Bust

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 57-year-old man has been charged with committing several violations of drug trafficking laws after a nearly year-long federal investigation. A grand jury returned an indictment charging Marcus Hopper, of Cleveland, with Possession with the Intent to Distribute cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine base (crack). According to court documents, federal agents executed search warrants in February 2026 at two residences after an intensive, multi-state investigation that was conducted over several months. Locations on Edgehill Road in Cleveland Heights, and Penrose Avenue in East Cleveland, were identified and suspected of being used to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking operations throughout Greater Cleveland. Among the items that federal agents seized were: More than 15 pounds of MDMA (ecstasy) Nearly 12 pounds of cocaine 21 grams of cocaine base (crack) 10 grams of fentanyl Bulk amounts of marijuana More than $211,000 in cash 1 cocaine brick press and several smaller presses If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Border Patrol Agent Charged with Civil Rights Violation and Evidence Tampering

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has indicted a U.S. Border Patrol agent for allegedly assaulting a handcuffed detainee and later concealing evidence to obstruct an investigation. According to court records, on May 22, 2023, Eduardo Prat , 40, allegedly strangled John Doe while performing his official duties as a Border Patrol agent in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. John Doe was handcuffed at the time of the alleged assault. Subsequently, between May 22 and June 12, 2023, Prat allegedly concealed and covered up a body camera recording of the assault. Prat is charged in federal court with deprivation of rights under color of law and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation. He is on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Prat faces up to 20 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, and the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment (Prat).pdf An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Monmouth County Man Convicted of Defrauding Social Security Administration

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was convicted of defrauding the Social Security Administration following a four-day trial, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Steven D. Stankovits, 57, of Matawan, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury on March 5, 2026, of four counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements to the Social Security Administration, all related to his receipt of Disability Insurance Benefits, following a trial before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In May 2010, Stankovits was found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, and received benefits retroactive to 2007. This finding of eligibility was based on lies to the Social Security Administration, including that Stankovits was unable to work, could not comfortably sit for more than 15 minutes, could not bend down to put on his clothes, struggled to lift a carton of milk, and had been forced to give up skiing. Stankovits failed to correct and reiterated these lies through statements and written submissions to the Social Security Administration over the next ten years. As a result, the Social Security Administration paid more than $585,000 in disability benefits. In fact, Stankovits was a licensed funeral director working at two different funeral homes. Stankovits’s work included gardening, shoveling snow, carrying 160-pound caskets down a flight of stairs, and climbing a ladder onto the roof to install a sign. In addition, Stankovits took long flights to go skiing in Cortina, Italy, Lake Tahoe, and Park City, Utah, and purchased a skiing season pass in Killington, Vermont. All of this conduct was incompatible with Stankovits’s repeated lies to the Social Security Administration for nearly 15 years. “For nearly 15 years, Steven Stankovits exploited the Social Security Administration’s disability insurance program,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer. “By repeatedly lying about his work and physical disability, Stankovits collected more than half a million dollars in fraudulent benefits. This conviction sends a clear message: those who lie to obtain government benefits will be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice.” “Today’s guilty verdict holds Steven Stankovits accountable for a nearly 15-year scheme that exploited Social Security’s disability insurance program for personal gain. By committing wire fraud and making false statements to the Social Security Administration, he stole funds intended for individuals who truly depend on these benefits,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and pursue those who attempt to defraud Social Security programs and ensure they are brought to justice.” The wire fraud charges carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. The false statements charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment. Both charges carry a maximum potential fine equal to the greatest of $250,000, twice the gain to the defendant, or twice the loss to the Social Security Administration. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Conor Washington, and the Social Security Administration’s New Jersey-based Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Gilberto Camilo. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli Jacobs and Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. ### Defense counsel: Charles Alvarez, Esq. stankovits.indictment.pdf


title: Clearfield County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Westover, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. James Gill, 40, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines to Count One of the Superseding Indictment on March 26, 2026. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in and around February 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gill distributed fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gill.


title: Zuni Man Pleads Guilty After Shooting Into An Occupied Vehicle

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man pleaded guilty after firing a shotgun into an occupied vehicle and seriously injuring a passenger. According to court documents, March 20, 2025, Shane Austin Loretto , 32, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, fired a shotgun at the car John Doe was a passenger in, with intent to do bodily harm. John Doe was hit in the face and neck with multiple pellets and required medical treatment. Law enforcement tied Loretto to the shooting through witness statements and subsequently located the shotgun and ammunition in a safe inside a shed adjacent to Loretto ’s residence. During a subsequent interview, Loretto claimed he had heard about the shooting but did not know where the gunshot came from. Loretto pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and faces not less than five years and up to life in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Loretto).pdf


title: Submariner Smugglers Extradited from Colombia to Face International Cocaine Distribution Charges

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: This afternoon, in federal court in Brooklyn, Elkin Armando Alomia Quiñones, Luis Alberto Arboleda Escobar, Diego Luis Obregon Aguirre, Edwin Obregon Castro, Juan Matias Obregon Castro, Rodrigo Obregon Saavedra and Narjel Paredes, all citizens of Colombia, will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho on an indictment charging them with violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and international cocaine distribution conspiracy. The seven defendants were extradited yesterday to the Eastern District of New York from Colombia where they were previously arrested in March 2025. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Associate Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Northeast Region, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) announced the extraditions. “As alleged, the defendants are members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization who sought to clandestinely traffic tons of cocaine on semi-submersible vessels to Mexico, ultimately for distribution in the United States,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “With these arrests and extraditions, the defendants’ smuggling scheme has been sunk and holding them accountable in a U.S. courtroom demonstrates the Administration’s resolve through Operation Take Back America and the Homeland Security Task Force to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from these evildoers.” Mr. Nocella praised the outstanding investigative work of DEA New York’s Task Force, DEA Bogota and HSI New York’s Homeland Security Task Force Cartel Investigations Group. Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to Colombia’s Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, the Colombian Navy, DEA Puerto Rico, DEA Madrid, HSI Bogota and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their substantial assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided significant assistance in this matter. “The extradition of these seven individuals underscores DEA’s global pursuit to identify and target those responsible for trafficking illicit narcotics destined for the United States,” stated DEA Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “Using submersible vessels in a calculated attempt to evade law enforcement doesn’t make you invisible! Whether you attempt to hide beneath the surface or above, the DEA, alongside our domestic and international partners, will relentlessly pursue and defeat those drug trafficking organizations threatening our communities and killing Americans.” “Today, seven alleged drug smugglers are facing charges in the United Stated after years of unchecked cocaine trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations’ international footprint gives us the ability to track bad actors back to the source and, through our partnerships, bring them to justice,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “These drugs have done untold damage to millions of families across the country. HSI works alongside our law enforcement partners every day to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and stop the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.” According to the indictment and court filings, the defendants were members of an international drug trafficking organization (DTO) which conspired to traffic more than five tons of cocaine in self-propelled semi-submersible vessels, like submarines, launched from the Pacific coast of Colombia towards areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The drug trafficking organization conducted a sophisticated maritime drug distribution operation, managing each step of the process. First, members of the conspiracy found investors to finance multi-ton cocaine loads and to finance the construction of semi-submersible vessels. Next, members of the conspiracy built semi-submersible vessels capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cocaine. The trafficking organization also hired crew members to fill the semi-submersible vessels with cocaine and then transport the cocaine to Mexico. Members of the conspiracy also conducted countersurveillance on the high seas by strategically positioning fishing vessels on the same routes as the semi-submersible vessels. These countersurveillance ships attempted to spot military and law enforcement ships that might intercept the semi-submersible vessels. On June 27 2023, the Colombian Navy seized approximately 2,312 kilograms of cocaine from a DTO semi-submersible vessel near the Colombian Pacific coast, which, based on a coordinate chart located aboard the vessel, was en route to Mexico (pictured below). EDNY On October 7, 2023, the Colombian Navy seized approximately 3,300 kilograms of cocaine from another DTO semi-submersible vessel near the Colombian Pacific coast, which was en route to Mexico (pictured below). EDNY The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New York comprises agents and officers from HSI; the FBI; DEA; the New York City Police Department; IRS Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Secret Service; with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York leading this prosecution. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lorena Michelen and Katherine P. Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : ELKIN ARMANDO ALOMIA QUINONES Age: 40 Colombia LUIS ALBERTO ARBOLEDA ESCOBAR Age: 53 Colombia DIEGO LUIS OBREGON AGUIRRE Age: 47 Colombia EDWIN OBREGON CASTRO Age: 41 Colombia JUAN MATIAS OBREGON CASTRO Age: 49 Colombia RODRIGO OBREGON SAAVENDRA Age: 69 Colombia NARJEL PAREDES Age: 56 Colombia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-462 (EK) detention_letter.pdf


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on March 23, 2026. Joseph Carpenter, 38, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Carpenter was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 2, 2026. The case arose on February 13, 2025, when law enforcement in Sioux Falls searched a hotel room where Carpenter had been staying and discovered ammunition of various types. Carpenter is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a previous felony conviction. This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Carpenter was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.


title: Armed Felon Convicted of Carmel CVS Robbery; Accomplice Sentenced to Nine Years

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has convicted Mikhal Hamilton, 25, of Indianapolis, of interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Co‑defendant David Washington, 23, of Arcadia, Indiana, was previously sentenced in October 2024 to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on June 25, 2023, Hamilton and Washington robbed the CVS Pharmacy on Rangeline Road in Carmel, Indiana. During the robbery, both men used firearms to threaten an employee and stole prescription medications, including Oxycontin, Oxycodone, and various amphetamine stimulants. They fled the scene in a blue Chevrolet Impala. Carmel Police Department officers conducted a high‑risk traffic stop shortly afterward, arresting both men and recovering the stolen pills, pill bottles, a Glock handgun with an extended magazine and obliterated serial number, and a Polymer80 homemade firearm, otherwise known as a “ghost gun.” Hamilton’s criminal history includes felony convictions for carrying a handgun without a license and synthetic identity deception, which prohibits him from legally possessing a firearm. The Carmel Police Department and FBI Indianapolis Field Office investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker presided over the trial and will sentence Hamilton at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Kelsey L. Massa and Nate Walter, who are prosecuting this case, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Sarah Helbig and Victim Witness Coordinator Johnna Preidt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Former Rosemead Resident Who Fled U.S. on Eve of Methamphetamine Trafficking Trial Extradited from Singapore

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former San Gabriel Valley resident who fled the United States on the eve of her May 2022 methamphetamine trafficking trial has been extradited from Singapore, the Justice Department announced today. Demi Pham, 44, a.k.a. “Diem Thi Ly,” a dual U.S.-Vietnamese citizen formerly of Rosemead, arrived Thursday evening at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight from Singapore. She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana. Pham is charged with one count of conspiracy to export controlled substances, two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of attempted exportation of methamphetamine. She pleaded not guilty to these charges in October 2021. According to a four-count indictment, from November 2018 to May 2019, Pham and a co-conspirator enlisted couriers to transport methamphetamine and cocaine in luggage from the United States to Australia, concealing the drugs inside candles and toy boxes. In total, law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms (44.1 pounds) of methamphetamine from couriers and found more than 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of methamphetamine at Pham’s then-residence in Rosemead. In May 2022, Pham failed to appear for a hearing the day before her trial was to begin, and United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson issued a bench warrant for her arrest. Pham was arrested in Singapore in November 2025 at the request of the United States. Singaporean authorities transferred her to the custody of the United States Marshals Service, who escorted her to the United States today. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, Pham would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating this matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks U.S. law enforcement partners at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, including the HSI Attaché Office and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for their assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, working with the Singapore Police Force and Attorney-General’s Chambers, provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Pham to the United States. Assistant United States Attorneys David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section and David C. Lachman of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Utah School Bus Driver Admits to Setting a School Bus on Fire

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A former Utah school bus driver admitted to setting a bus on fire with a cigarette lighter while driving it. The bus was owned by a local school district receiving federal funds. Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was indicted on February 21, 2024. According to court documents and admissions made at Ford’s change of plea hearing, he intentionally set a Granite School District school bus on fire with a cigarette lighter on April 7, 2023. Ford was captured on video igniting the bus and continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. In other court documents, prosecutors described evidence of Ford as having attempted to tamper with the bus’s video surveillance system in the days preceding the April 2023 arson. On a separate occasion in February 2022, Ford was also accused of setting a Granite School District school bus on fire that had 42 children inside and did so while driving in traffic. See prior press release: Former School Bus Driver Accused of Igniting a Bus Full of Children is Indicted and Detained. “It is our hope Ford is sentenced to the term of imprisonment that will protect our community from his careless disregard for safety and the law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Children are among our most vulnerable population. When someone intentionally threatens their safety through violent crimes involving fire, it is especially disturbing and such cases will always remain a top priority for our agency,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “Our agents worked tirelessly on this investigation, utilizing all available resources to ensure those who commit such callous acts are held fully accountable and our community is protected from further violence.” Ford is scheduled to be sentenced June 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant United States Michael J. Thorpe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.


title: Armed Felon Who Pointed Gun at Police Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: ATLANTA - Lee Milton Reeves, a multi-convicted felon who threatened employees and police officers at gunpoint in the bathroom of a Riverdale, Georgia restaurant, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. “This case shows precisely why convicted felons are prohibited from possessing guns,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Had Reeves pulled the trigger, this case could have ended in tragedy. My office will never stop working towards making Georgia safe by removing armed felons from the community.” “The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to convicted felons prohibited from possessing firearms: ATF’s top priority remains keeping our communities safe,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to target individuals who unlawfully possess firearms.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 17, 2024, officers from the Riverdale Police Department responded to an emergency call about a man with a gun at a fast-food restaurant. Once there, officers found Reeves holed up in a bathroom, where Reeves pointed at gun at them. Subsequent investigation revealed that, the day before, Reeves had fired that same gun inside a trailer where a mother and daughter lived. On March 26, 2026, Lee Milton Reeves, 40, of Mechanicsville, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Reeves pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on December 17, 2025. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Riverdale Police Department and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hwang 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 further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Two Family Members Federally Indicted in Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

body_text: A mother and son who are tax return preparers were federally indicted on March 24, 2026, for their roles in filing fraudulent tax returns with the IRS, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. According to the indictment, during the years 2020 through 2024, Jessie Badillo, 60, of Lancaster, Texas, and her son, Manuel Badillo, 37, also of Lancaster, allegedly conspired to file false tax returns through their businesses, JES Financial Service and Manny Financial Services located in DeSoto, Texas. The charges state that the fraudulent tax returns filed by the Badillos sought false refunds by fabricating itemized deductions, such as medical and dental expenses, and/or by fabricating businesses with large losses. In addition to conspiracy to defraud the United States, Jessie Badillo was charged with 40 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns as well as two counts of subscribing to her own false tax returns. Manuel Badillo was charged with 25 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and one count of conspiracy. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the other charges. “Tax preparers occupy a position of trust in our system. We trust that they will accurately and honestly prepare tax returns. When that trust is violated, through the fictitious creation of deductions and expenses, they don’t just fail their clients, they fail the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This is theft from the honest American taxpayer. The indicted defendants are alleged to have done that, and we will vigorously prosecute this case and other tax cheats in North Texas.” “During the filing season, it is especially important that taxpayers are able to trust their return preparers,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, of the Dallas Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Jessie and Manuel Badillo allegedly violated that trust in an attempt to line their own pockets. IRS-CI will continue to pursue return preparers who exploit their clients and undermine the tax system.” IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacio Perez de la Cruz is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The IRS has published the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2026. Those can be accessed here: Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2026 .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces MS-13 Trial Set to Begin

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is set to begin presenting evidence in the trial involving alleged members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly referred to as MS-13. This phase of the trial is scheduled to begin on March 30, 2026, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. As alleged in a 34-count third superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury, Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, aka Molesto; David Arturo Perez-Manchame, aka Walter Melendez, aka Herbi, and aka Catracho; and Joel Vargas-Escobar, aka Momia, are alleged members and associates of MS-13. Charges include murder, attempted murder, and/or kidnapping in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, causing death through the use of a firearm, and aiding and abetting. The FBI investigated the case. A Superseding Indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm and Marijuana

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON — Ashaad Anthony Turner, 24, a previously convicted felon, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 30 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a stolen, loaded firearm while intending to distribute marijuana in Northwest Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Turner pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to two counts: unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In addition to the 30-month prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered Turner to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2024, Metropolitan Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of a BMW at a gas station in the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW. Turner, who was driving, provided officers with a false name. As he stepped out of the car, he dropped 30 blue round pills that weighed 4.85 grams and contained a detectable amount of heroin. A search of the vehicle and Turner's co-defendant revealed a stolen Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol, loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine. Police also recovered additional quantities of cocaine base and marijuana and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution. The Sig Sauer pistol had been reported stolen from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. Turner previously had been convicted in D.C. Superior Court of assault with a dangerous weapon after he chased a man and fired at him, and in Prince George's County Circuit Court of illegal possession of a firearm, making this case his third conviction involving a firearm in the past five years. At the time of his August 2024 arrest, Turner was on probation following the Maryland firearm conviction. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English and former AUSAs Megan McFadden and John Parron. 25cr129


title: Former Riverside School Paraeducator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Multiple Minor Victims

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern


title: Maryland Man Arrested for Facilitating Multimillion-Dollar International Romance Fraud Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Maryland man was arrested on March 25, 2026, after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a multimillion-dollar romance fraud scheme. According to court documents, Kwame Boahene, 63, and his co-conspirators orchestrated an international romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims across the country, including elderly victims and a victim in Delaware. The cybercriminals created fictitious online personas to develop romantic relationships with the victims. Once trust was established, the scammers convinced the victims to send money for fabricated reasons, such as helping to secure an inheritance or paying for medical expenses. To advance the fraud, Boahene used bank accounts opened under the names of limited liability companies to receive several million dollars in fraudulent proceeds from the victims. He then transferred the illicit funds through various domestic and international bank accounts to conceal the money’s fraudulent origins. Boahene is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, Boahene faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency is investigating the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-128. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty ###


title: Four Illegal Aliens Face Federal Charges After Drug Busts

body_text: Atlanta – Pablo Soria-Porras, Sergio Solano-Sanchez, Eduardo Benitez-Jacinto, and Jesus Diaz Iniguez, who are all illegal aliens from Mexico, face federal charges after law enforcement seized approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms in drug trafficking operations in and around Douglasville and South Fayetteville, Georgia this week. “The swift prosecutions of these illegal aliens send the strong message that we will work together with law enforcement partners to take deadly drugs off the street and prosecute drug traffickers who are illegally present in our country to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “These arrests are the result of coordinated and collaborative law enforcement efforts aimed at disrupting the flow of methamphetamine and illegal firearms,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We remain committed to protecting our communities and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On February 25, 2026, Porras and Jacinto allegedly sold over two pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent in a Lithia Springs, Georgia parking lot. Agents then identified a residence in Douglasville, Georgia where Porras, Jacinto, and Sanchez allegedly received methamphetamine from Mexico and processed the narcotics for distribution in the Atlanta area. During a search of the residence on March 24, 2026, agents arrested Jacinto and Sanchez and seized approximately 33 pounds of methamphetamine and a large sum of U.S. currency. One day before the seizure in Douglasville, agents observed Iniguez drive off after allegedly attempting to conduct a suspected drug transaction with an individual in South Fayetteville, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, a Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped Iniguez’s vehicle and found approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine inside. After taking Iniguez into custody, DEA agents searched a residence in McDonough, Georgia and seized two firearms that Iniguez allegedly possessed there. Sergio Solano-Sanchez, 26, of Mexico, and Eduardo Benitez-Jacinto, 25, of Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 25, 2026, on a criminal complaint charging them with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jesus Diaz Iniguez, 29, of Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The three men remain in federal custody pending further proceedings. Pablo Soria-Porras, 23, of Mexico, is currently a fugitive. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Porras, please contact your local law enforcement agency. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Johnny Baer and Daniel Grill are prosecuting the cases. 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. These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Vanderwagen Man Charged with Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Vanderwagen man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that reportedly left the victim with serious injuries. According to court documents, on March 10, 2026, Larry Wilbur Begay , 66, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly struck the victim multiple times with a metal workout bar inside a residence in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. The victim then fled to a nearby residence and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his right femur, left fibula, right wrist, and maxillary bone, as well as a deep laceration to the left side of his head that required staples. Begay is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Begay faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dominican National Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Extradited to U.S.

body_text: ANGEL DELAROSA, 40, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, has been extradited to the United States to face narcotics and firearms trafficking charges. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and the Homeland Security Task Force New Haven (HSTF New Haven) have been investigating a narcotics and firearms trafficking organization led by Delarosa while he resided in the Dominican Republic. Delarosa, a former resident of Waterbury, coordinated the distribution of narcotics and firearms in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey through multiple redistributors in those locations. During the investigation, investigators made more than 30 controlled purchases from redistributors totaling more than one kilogram of fentanyl, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, and 17 firearms. Laboratory analysis of the purchased fentanyl revealed that some of it was mixed with bromazolam, which is a relatively new synthetic benzodiazepine that was unscheduled at the time it was sold, and which is increasingly found as a component in mixtures of drugs resulting in overdoses. It is alleged that the Delarosa made statements to sources suggesting that he had the ability to direct violence against individuals in the U.S. On July 8, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment under seal charging Delarosa with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. On December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment charging six of Delarosa’s alleged co-conspirators with related offenses. On January 30, 2026, Delarosa was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States. He appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was ordered detained pending trial. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. This investigation was assisted by FBI New York, FBI Newark, FBI Tampa, FBI Orlando Resident Agency, FBI Legal Attaché (LEGAT) Office in Santo Domingo, and the New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Milford, and Waterbury Police Departments. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Dominican authorities provided significant assistance in securing Delarosa’s arrest and extradition. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.


title: Hoboken, New Jersey Man Charged with Possession and Making of Molotov Cocktails

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Hoboken, New Jersey man was charged with unlawful possession and making of destructive devices, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Alexander Heifler, 26, was charged by a two-count complaint with one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices and one count of making destructive devices. Heifler’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Stacey D. Adams is scheduled in Newark federal court at 2:00 pm. As alleged in a criminal complaint, a Hudson County man has been charged in connection with a plot to construct and use improvised incendiary devices targeting another individual’s residence. This is an ongoing investigation. There is no current threat to the community. We thank our law enforcement partners for their work in identifying and removing this potential threat to the citizens of New Jersey. The charges of unlawful possession of destructive devices and making of destructive devices each carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the New York and Newark Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle in New York, New York and Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and the Hoboken Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Aguiar with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, under the direction of United States Attorney Jay Clayton. The government is represented by Timothy M. Lanni, Acting Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, with assistance from the Office’s National Security Unit. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### heifler.complaint.pdf


title: Three Accused of Defrauding the Elderly via Gold Bar Scam

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Three people accused of involvement in a conspiracy that stole $8 million from elderly victims have been federally charged in St. Louis and arrested. Raj Chauhan, 33, Monarch Sachdev, 28, and Elon Harper, 27, were each indicted on Feb. 4, 2026, with one count of wire fraud. Chauhan was the final defendant to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, where he pleaded not guilty Friday. All three were arrested in February outside Missouri: Harper was arrested in Maine, Sachdev in Texas and Chauhan in northern Illinois. The indictment says co-conspirators outside of the U.S. contacted elderly victims via telephone calls and electronic messages and claimed that the victims’ financial accounts had been compromised. Victims were told to liquidate their savings and retirements funds, purchase gold bars and gold coins, and hand the gold over to “government” couriers. The indictment says Chauhan, Sachdev and Harper were couriers and Sachdev also managed the pickups of other couriers, including his co-defendants. In one example in the indictment, Sachdev instructed Chauhan to pick up gold from an elderly resident of Cedar Hill, Missouri, who had been told that she had erroneously been sent money via PayPal and would have to pay income taxes unless she bought $200,000 in gold. Chauhan also worked as a courier in St. Louis and elsewhere, the indictment says. Harper worked as a courier in locations including Dallas and Lindale, Texas; Orrick, Mo.; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Bonita Springs, Fla.; and Norman, Okla., the indictment says. Sachdev managed pickups in Houston; Canon City, Colo.; Quincy, Ill. and St. Louis. Detention motions say Sachdev was personally responsible for retrieving fraud proceeds on at least 65 different occasions, resulting in losses of at least $5.4 million. He also facilitated the pickup of at least $4.2 million in fraud proceeds by others, the motion says. Harper was responsible for at least 20 pickups, it says. The call center where the scam originated is in India, the motion says. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. Restitution is mandatory. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting and provide resources and referrals. Reporting frauds can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. The Federal Trade Commission can also be contacted at 877-FTC-HELP and at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov .