title: First Degree Child Cruelty and Other Charges Filed in July 2023 Assault of Two-Year Old

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – William Woodson, 26, of Southeast Washington, D.C. was indicted today by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on three felony counts. Specifically, he is charged with one count of first degree child cruelty and one count of assault with significant bodily injury against a minor for his assault on a two-year-old victim, along with another felony charge from conduct directed at a separate adult the same day. The charges are in connection with an allegation that the defendant kicked a stranger’s two-year-old child down the escalator at the Mount Vernon Square metro station. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Woodson is detained while the case remains pending. According to the government’s evidence, presented in police affidavits, on July 24, 2023 around 11:20 a.m., the victim’s mother was walking down the escalator at the Mount Vernon Square metro station when the defendant came up behind them. He then (without any prior interaction or provocation) kicked the two-year-old child, causing him to fall down the escalator, hitting his head and face. Woodson exited the station and the victim’s mother followed him while carrying the now-injured child victim. The victim’s mother followed the defendant out of the metro station and called 911, providing law enforcement with information about the defendant. Responding MPD officers met the mother who gave them a lookout and, subsequently, officers stopped Woodson a short distance away. Medics arrived on scene and, noting that the two-year-old victim was bleeding from the head, advised the victim’s mother that he required transport to Children’s Hospital immediately. During transport, the victim lost consciousness. The victim remained hospitalized for approximately twelve hours and was diagnosed with a mild concussion before being sent home with his mother. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ballou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm with an Extended Magazine

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Mycal Davis, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced on April 1, 2025, to two years in federal prison. Davis received the prison term after a November 7, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle that Davis was a passenger in on December 21, 2023. During the traffic stop, officers conducted a search of the vehicle and ordered the occupants out of the vehicle. Davis exited the vehicle, and officers conducted a safety pat down for weapons and immediately noticed that Davis was armed with a firearm in his waistband. Davis admitted what officers felt was a firearm and admitted he was a felon. The firearm was equipped with a magazine containing 25 rounds of ammunition. Officers continued to search Davis’s property and located various pills, some which tested positive as methamphetamine, and over 50 grams of marijuana. Davis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Davis was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones was released on bond conditions previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on April 28, 2025. 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. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-61. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Bowie County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for fentanyl overdose death

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TEXARKANA, Texas – A Hooks man who sold fake prescription pills containing fentanyl has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Henry Wayne Milligan, 28, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on April 2, 2025. “The Eastern District of Texas will continue to aggressively prosecute those who distribute deadly drugs such as fentanyl in our communities and seek enhanced sentences commensurate with the tragic consequences and immeasurable losses suffered by victims and their families,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. According to information presented in court, Milligan pleaded guilty to selling the victim what were purported to be prescription pills, after which the victim was found dead in his home of what an autopsy later determined to be a fentanyl overdose. The pills sold by Milligan were tested and confirmed to be laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid commonly used as an analgesic or anesthetic that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Following his arrest, Milligan provided a voluntary statement during which he confessed. “We sincerely appreciate the unwavering commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting this case,” said Texarkana, Texas Police Department’s Public Information Officer Shawn Vaughn. “Their dedication to seeking justice for the victim and holding those accountable who distribute deadly fentanyl is invaluable in our ongoing fight against this epidemic. We also want to recognize Detective Daniel Linn for his outstanding work in leading this investigation. His relentless efforts and attention to detail were instrumental in identifying Milligan as the supplier of the fentanyl that tragically led to the victim’s death. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Texas Department of Public Safety for their invaluable assistance in this case. Their collaboration and resources played a crucial role in bringing this investigation to a successful resolution.” The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a public safety alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The public safety alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill. This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division; and Texarkana Texas Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. ###


title: Department of Justice and United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Honors Crime Victims and Survivors During 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

body_text: Cedar Rapids, Iowa — The United States Attorney from the Northern District of Iowa will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) from April 6 through 12, 2025. This year’s NCVRW theme—Connecting <KINSHIP> Healing—recognizes that shared humanity drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins. This annual observance challenges us to build a world where every connection built through KINSHIP — between survivors, advocates, and communities — holds the potential to heal. It asks us to ensure that resources are available to all survivors and that we show up for one another with empathy and intention. NCVRW 2025 will be commemorated in Iowa with many events across the state, including the following: Friday April 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: The 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Commemoration, Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid Ave., Des Moines, Iowa Saturday April 5 at 9:00 a.m.: Go the Distance for Crime Victims 5K Run/Walk at Thomas Park in Marion, Iowa Tuesday April 8 at 1:00 p.m and Thursday April 10 at 11:15 a.m.: From War to Wellness: A Journey of Resilience and Transformation on the Ankeny and Urban campuses of the Des Moines Area Community College. In the Northern District of Iowa, United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced winners for the following awards based on their service to victims in Iowa: The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Investigator Tracy Johnson from the Cedar Rapids Police Department. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer. Investigator Johnson is recognized for her excellent work investigating human trafficking and her work with a minor victim of trafficking. The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is also presented to Detective Chris Thomas of the Sioux City Police Department. Detective Thomas was nominated for his outstanding investigative and advocacy work that led to the successful prosecution of Bobby Ray Rhoden. Investigator Johnson was the lead investigator in a human trafficking case involving a minor victim, two individuals who were eventually charged and convicted, and numerous other men who paid to participate in abusing the victim. Investigator Johnson took a victim-centered approach to the investigation, developing a rapport with the minor victim and utilizing a trauma-informed interview style that gave the minor victim confidence that she was safe with Investigator Johnson. Investigator Johnson’s outstanding and compassionate work with the victim was crucial to the case. One of the charged defendants, Jarod Anderson, went to trial. The victim testified during the trial and was able to tell the jury what had been done to her. Investigator Johnson’s hard work during the investigation and prior to trial helped prepare the victim to face the difficult task of testifying in open court. As a result of the victim’s brave testimony and Investigator Johnson’s outstanding work, Anderson was found guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The second charged defendant, Tana Torres, pled guilty and was sentenced to up to eight years in prison. Rhoden victimized multiple individuals, including a former girlfriend. Roden initially manipulated his victim into believing that she was responsible for the abuse he inflicted upon her, including torturing her, threatening her with a gun, and recording his abuse. The victim eventually broke free, but Rhoden kidnapped her. He used threats to get his victim into his car to help him recover a phone she had taken. Over the next 36 hours, he brutalized her and drove her to at least two locations in an effort to find his phone. The victim escaped Rhoden by running away from him to a neighbor’s house. As she ran, Rhoden fired his gun at or near her. A subsequent investigation of the kidnapping revealed live ammunition and a spent casing in the garage where Rhoden lived, and one of the locations where he held his victim. Detective Thomas demonstrated outstanding investigatory skills and compassion for the victim while he was investigating the kidnapping. The victim was initially reluctant to trust or cooperate with law enforcement. But Detective Thomas persisted in working with the victim until the victim came to trust him and the criminal justice system. Thanks to Detective Thomas’s patience, the victim agreed to and was able to testify in very difficult circumstances during Rhoden’s trial. Without her strength in doing so, Rhoden may have remained free to victimize others. Detective Thomas’s compassion and care for the victim led directly to the victim having the strength to free herself from Rhoden’s hold and protect others from him by testifying. As a result, Rhoden was found guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2025. “These awards recognize the exceptional efforts of two law enforcement officers to provide assistance to federal and state victims in the Northern District of Iowa,” said United States Attorney Duax. “Ensuring victims feel safe while going through the difficult process of an investigation and trial is crucial to securing justice for the victims. The service of these officers, and other state and federal law enforcement officers and victim advocates, is a vital component of our criminal justice system.” NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims and survivors of crime, raise awareness of victims’ rights and services and recognize the dedication of those who work with crime victims. For additional information about this year’s NCVRW activities and more ideas on supporting crime victims, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov .


title: Man Who Mailed Fentanyl from Arizona to Iowa Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who mailed fentanyl powder, pills containing fentanyl, and “ice” methamphetamine from Arizona to Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Shawn Javier Lopez-Johnson, age 29, from Phoenix, Arizona, received the prison term after a November 1, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. From March 2023 through December 2023, Lopez-Johnson mailed re‑distribution quantities of controlled substances, including hundreds of fentanyl pills, from Arizona, to Dubuque, Iowa, to his co-conspirator, Alexander John Chapman who was previously sentenced for his role in the conspiracy. During this time, Lopez-Johnson mailed Chapman approximately $5,400 worth of fentanyl powder, pills containing fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Lopez-Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Lopez-Johnson was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Lopez-Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service, at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-01003. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Texas Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jackie Marie Peters, 53, of Mansfield, Texas, was sentenced on March 31, 2025, by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Peters previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud. From approximately January 2020 through April 2022, Peters’s co-conspirators hacked into an Arizona tax-preparer firm’s computer network and modified in-progress tax documents for more than 40 individuals without their knowledge or the knowledge of the firm. Peters then opened 10 bank accounts at different banks, and numerous tax refunds based upon the modified tax documents were deposited into those accounts. Peters ultimately transferred more than $2.5 million from the accounts that received fraudulent tax refunds to purchase cryptocurrency. The IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00948-PHX-GMS RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-047_Peters # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Sullivan Man Indicted for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Possession

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sullivan, Mo., man who was arrested in southwest Missouri with 16.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 4.7 pounds of fentanyl has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Tyler Kittrell, 38, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Kittrell on Feb. 24, 2025. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Kittrell was stopped on Interstate 44 by Joplin, Mo., police officers on Feb. 14, 2025. When officers searched his vehicle, they found $13,120 in cash and multiple packages containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers seized approximately 7,658 grams of methamphetamine and 2,142 grams of fentanyl from inside the vehicle. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Guatemalan man arrested, charged with illegal reentry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Wilson Oswaldo Galvan-Lope, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal reentry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 24, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations special agents were conducting surveillance on an Orange Street residence in Rochester, targeting Galvan-Lope, an illegal alien under investigation for being a found in the United States after being deported. As a truck exited the driveway of the residence, agents noticed that the driver appeared to resemble of the photograph of Galvan-Lope. They conducted a vehicle stop near the intersection of Whitney Street and Lyell Avenue. Through routine questioning of identity documents and record checks, the agents determined that Galvan-Lope and two passengers in the vehicle had no immigration status in the United States. All three were taken into immigration custody. Galvan-Lope was previously ordered deported from the United States in May 2023. 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. Galvan-Lope made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was ordered detained. The criminal complaint is the result of of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Billings man sentenced to over 7 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who possessed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 94 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Brice Judsen Bailey, 33, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that from September 2023 through January 2024, Bailey was one of approximately seven defendants in a drug distribution network in Billings. The group received methamphetamine from a drug trafficking organization in Washington state and funneled pounds of methamphetamine into the Billings area. Bailey was a significant source of supply for the group, distributing between a quarter-pound and a half-pound of meth each day. He arranged two controlled purchases totaling over one pound of methamphetamine. Not only was Bailey a significant dealer of methamphetamine, but he also provided several firearms to one of his co-defendants in exchange for meth. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the DEA. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . XXX


title: Federal grand jury indicts seven people for their roles in narcotics conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging seven defendants for their roles in a narcotics conspiracy. Named in the indictment and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and fentanyl are: Winnie Taru Woods a/k/a Ru, 50, of Buffalo Sharron McCullough a/k/a Black, 34, of Brooklyn, NY Marlon Holt, Jr. a/k/a Scooter a/k/a Professor, 51, of Buffalo Norman Patillo, 44, of Houston, Texas Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr., 50, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago Ian Dyer, 25, of Austin, Texas Shannell Gosine, 27, of Baytown, Texas In addition, defendants Woods, McCullough, and Holt are also charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between April 2023, and February 2025, the defendants conspired to sell cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. During the conspiracy, defendants Winnie Taru Woods and Sharron McCullough would purchase bulk quantities of narcotics from cartels in Mexico for later resale by others in Buffalo, New York City, and elsewhere. Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. was one of their sources of supply in Mexico. Defendants Holt, Patillo, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine, took numerous trips to and from Texas, New York, and other cities, transporting the narcotics and bulk currency. On May 7, 2024, Holt, while traveling back from Texas, was stopped by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office and arrested after being found in possession of nine kilograms of cocaine and 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his trunk. The defendants have all been arraigned. Defendants Woods, McCullough, Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr. and Patillo were detained. Defendants Holt, Dyer, and Shannell Gosine were released on conditions. “This case falls within the parameters of Operation Take Back America,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “The Operation Take Back America initiative focuses resources on the elimination of cartels, such as the ones allegedly involved in this case, in an effort to protect our communities from the members of these criminal organizations.” HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan stated, “As alleged, the defendants conspired with Mexican cartels to traffic deadly narcotics into the U.S., across the country and into our New York communities. The unified strength and versatility of the U.S. federal law enforcement system, together with our state partners, has once again stopped an allegedly dangerous drug trafficking organization in its tracks. Securing the homeland from dangers posed by foreign organizations and threats is among HSI’s top priorities. We are relentlessly prepared to confront bad actors seeking financial gain by whatever means necessary.” This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, the 23rd Judicial Taskforce, Tennessee, as well as Homeland Security Investigations in NY, and Houston and Austin, Texas. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Warrensburg Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years for Child Pornography

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Warrensburg, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing and possessing child pornography. William Aloys Wameling, Jr., 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a total sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wameling to a lifetime term of supervised release following incarceration. Wameling was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $99,000 to the victims of his offenses. On Aug. 27, 2024, Wameling pleaded guilty to the charges. Wameling has a prior conviction for possession of child pornography. Wameling will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and the Johnson Co. Missouri Sheriff’s Office. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Newington Man Admits Trafficking Narcotic Pills, Violating Supervised Release from Prior Conviction

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc. H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KYLE PETERSEN, 39, of Newington, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a narcotics trafficking offense and admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating suspicious packages that were being delivered to Petersen’s Newington residence. At the time, Petersen was on federal supervised release following a federal conviction in 2017 involving the trafficking of fentanyl and prescription pills. During the investigation, a court-authorized search of a package mailed to Petersen contained more than 400 grams of pills containing Protonitazene, a synthetic opioid typically more potent than fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Petersen had received approximately 34 similar packages mailed from the same source in Michigan, and also received approximately 46 packages from California and Oregon suspected to contain multiple pounds of marijuana. Investigators also made controlled purchases of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl from Petersen’s brother, Erik Peterson. Kyle and Erik Petersen were arrested on federal criminal complaints on April 3, 2024. On that date, a search of Kyle Petersen’s residence revealed more than a kilogram of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Xanax pills, a large quantity of Protonitazene, approximately 40 grams of cocaine, and $76,650 in cash. Kyle Petersen has been detained since his arrest. Kyle Petersen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and Protonitazine. He also admitted he violated the conditions of his supervised release and agreed to the forfeiture of the cash seized from his residence, an additional $57,530 in cash seized from a bank account, and a 2014 Porsche Cayenne. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for July 3, at which time Kyle Peterson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Erik Petersen, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New Britain and Newington Police Departments. The Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hamden, West Haven, Fairfield, Seymour, and Glastonbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.


title: Montville Man Who Made and Sold Firearms without a License Sentenced to Prison

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NICHOLAS DeFELICE, 33, of Montville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for operating an illegal firearm manufacturing business. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that beginning in approximately 2013, DeFelice manufactured and sold more than 200 firearms without a license to do so. DeFelice, through a business he called “DeFelice Defense,” sold his firearms to individual customers and to licensed firearms dealers, and also placed them on consignment at various commercial firearm dealers throughout Connecticut. As part of an undercover investigation, ATF agents purchased a firearm from DeFelice that he manufactured at their request. On February 17, 2022, a search of DeFelice’s residence revealed two short barrel rifles, 67 other firearms, a silencer with no serial number, more than 28 high-capacity magazines, and other firearm parts. DeFelice was arrested on July 12, 2023. On October 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.


title: Operation Not Forgotten Will Surge 60 FBI Personnel to 10 FBI Field Offices to Support Investigations of Indian Country Violent Crimes

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that it will surge FBI assets across the country to address unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country, including crimes relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons. FBI will send 60 personnel, rotating in 90-day temporary duty assignments over a six-month period. This operation is the longest and most intense national deployment of FBI resources to address Indian Country crime to date. FBI personnel will support field offices in Albuquerque; Denver; Detroit; Jackson, Miss.; Minneapolis; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; Portland, Oreg.; Seattle; and Salt Lake City. The FBI will work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions. FBI personnel will be assisted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, and they will use the latest forensic evidence processing tools to solve cases and hold perpetrators accountable. U.S. Attorney’s Offices will aggressively prosecute case referrals. “Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with US Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “The FBI will manhunt violent criminals on all lands – and Operation Not Forgotten ensures a surge in resources to locate violent offenders on tribal lands and find those who have gone missing,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Teal Luthy Miller added that “investigating and prosecuting crimes in Indian Country in collaboration with our tribal partners is critical to our shared mission of addressing public safety in our communities. We welcome the opportunity for continued collaboration as we seek justice on behalf of victims of violent crime.” Indian Country faces persistent levels of crime and victimization. At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, FBI’s Indian Country program had approximately 4,300 open investigations, including over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations. Operation Not Forgotten renews efforts begun during President Trump’s first term under E.O. 13898, Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. This is the third deployment under Operation Not Forgotten, which has provided investigative support to over 500 cases in the past two years. Combined, these operations resulted in the recovery of 10 child victims, 52 arrests, and 25 indictments or judicial complaints. Operation Not Forgotten also expands upon the resources deployed in recent years to address cases of missing and murdered indigenous people. The effort will be supported by the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which places attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the United States to help prevent and respond to cases of missing or murdered indigenous people.


title: Fourteen Individuals Charged with Conspiracy Involving Straw Purchases of 18 Belt-Fed Firearms and .50 Caliber Rifles

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

number: 2025-048_Quevedo, et al

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, announces a 20-count indictment against 14 individuals from Arizona, for Conspiracy to Submit a Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm and related charges. The indictment was unsealed today. The indictment alleges that between July 15, 2023, and December 23, 2023, 13 individuals were paid to buy belt-fed rifles and Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic rifles from licensed firearms dealers in and around Phoenix and Yuma for David Moreno Quevedo. As part of the conspiracy, these individuals lied on the Firearms Transaction Record, known as ATF Form 4473, claiming that they were purchasing the rifles for themselves. The charged conspirators include: David Moreno Quevedo, 26, of El Mirage; Mario Alberto Ayala, Jr., 23, of Maricopa; Randy Obed Valenzuela Chinchillas, 24, of Phoenix; Aidee Espinoza, 29, of Phoenix; Todd Robert Nuttall, 52, of Gilbert; Earl Marlow Burch, 49, of Mesa; Wyatt Michael Fernandez, 26, of Tempe; Jorge Luis Roman, 28, of Mesa; Dylan Morgan Burch, 21, of Eloy; Shawna Marie O’Shea, 56, of Tempe; Damaris Davila Moreno, 22, of Phoenix; Noelia Valenzuela Gomez, 25, of Chandler; Melissa Osorio Talamante, 31, of San Tan Valley; and Michael Andrew Wingate, 31, of Mesa. A conviction for the crime of Conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for the crime of Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, or both. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus W. Shand, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00432-PHX-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-048_Quevedo, et al # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Attorney Stephen L. Snyder Sentenced for Attempted Extortion

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Stephen L. Snyder, 77, of Baltimore, Maryland, to three years of probation with six months of home confinement, for one count of attempted extortion and seven counts of the Travel Act. A federal jury found Snyder guilty back on November 22, 2024, after a nine-day trial. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the evidence at trial, Snyder, a plaintiffs medical malpractice attorney in the Baltimore area, represented two medical malpractice claimants who allegedly experienced injury following organ transplants at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). From January 2018 through September 2018, Snyder attempted to extort the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) by threatening to “destroy” the UMMC transplant department unless UMMS paid him $25 million personally and separate from any settlement with his client. Specifically, Snyder threatened to launch a public-relations campaign that would falsely accuse UMMC of tricking unsophisticated patients into accepting diseased organs. He claimed that he would run a front-page ad in The Baltimore Sun, hold a press conference, and create an internet advertisement directing anyone searching for the UMMC transplant program to his law firm’s website. Snyder also threatened to create commercials conveying his false message and accusing UMMC of putting “profits over safety.” Snyder played these commercials during meetings with attorneys representing UMMS. Snyder claimed that the parties could enter into a sham consulting agreement that would provide cover for the $25 million payment. Snyder made his extortionate demands and threats over a series of meetings and phone calls with attorneys for UMMS in 2018. One of those meetings, which occurred on August 23, 2018, was recorded by Federal law enforcement using hidden video cameras. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Evelyn L. Cusson who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Palmer man sentenced for operating an unregistered aircraft without a license

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Palmer man was sentenced today to three years’ probation and is required to pay a $10,000 fine for operating an aircraft without a license and operating an unregistered aircraft. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, for roughly 30 years, William Marsan, 57, held an Airman Certificate as an Airline Transport Pilot issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He operated an aviation business out of Palmer, Alaska, transporting services, goods and people across Alaska on his Piper Cherokee aircraft. In June 2023, the FAA received a report that Marsan, as the pilot in command of the Piper Cherokee aircraft, failed to radio his intention to take off from Warren “Bud” Woods Palmer Municipal Airport and operated the aircraft against the flow of landing traffic, resulting in a near mid-air collision with another aircraft attempting to land. Law enforcement investigated the June 2023 incident and discovered that Marsan was operating an aircraft without a valid license or valid registration. The investigation revealed that in June 2022, Marsan sent a letter to the FAA revoking the registration of his aircraft. Investigators also discovered that Marsan allowed his medical certificate to lapse in 2020 and 2021, which was required to keep his pilot’s license. When FAA inspectors contacted him in July 2023 as part of the investigation, Marsan refused to provide his airman certificate, aircraft registration and airworthiness certificates, all of which are requirements through the FAA, and claimed he was not required to have any of those documents. As a result of the investigation, the FAA issued an Emergency Order of Revocation of Marsan’s pilot’s license in January 2024, which required the immediate surrender of his pilot’s license or the filing of an appeal of the decision within 10 days. Marsan failed to file an appeal or surrender his license but continued to fly his aircraft until his initial arrest in July 2024. Marsan was released pending trial. He failed to appear for multiple court hearings prior to his trial and he was rearrested in September 2024. On Dec. 4, 2024, Marsan was convicted of one count of operating an aircraft without a license and one count of operating an unregistered aircraft. “Alaska’s aviation industry is a vital part of our infrastructure, safely connecting people and goods across the state. Mr. Marsan’s actions—operating an unregistered aircraft without a license and nearly causing a mid-air collision—put lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “To prevent further violations and protect communities, Mr. Marsan will serve a significant term of probation under the relevant statutes and pay a fine for the money he made at the risk of others.” "Marsan's flagrant disregard for aviation regulations put countless lives at risk and undermined the integrity of Alaska's airspace," said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. "Such reckless, criminal behavior will not be tolerated by the FBI and aviation authorities." The FBI Anchorage Field Office and FAA, Alaska Region investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case. ###


title: Grand Jury Returns Indictment

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictment today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Madison Man Charged With Distributing Methamphetamine Rumont Kirkpatrick, 47, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that on January 9, 2024, Kirkpatrick distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, Kirkpatrick faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Elgersma and Louis Glinzak are handling the case.


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Medicare

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, FL - A Florida man pleaded guilty on Monday to purchasing Medicare identification numbers and using those numbers to cause over $8.4 million of false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare. Corey Alston, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and to illegally purchase Medicare beneficiary identification numbers in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare for COVID-19 test kits that were ineligible for reimbursement. According to court documents, Alston and his co-defendant, Latresia A. Wilson, conspired to unlawfully purchase Medicare beneficiary identification information (including Medicare Beneficiary Identification Numbers) and used that information to submit millions of dollars in claims to Medicare for COVID-19 test kits that the beneficiaries did not want or request. Over the course of just seven months, from July 2022 through February 2023, Alston, Wilson, and others, through companies they owned and controlled, submitted over $8.4 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare that were ineligible for reimbursement. Medicare paid over $2.6 million based on the false and fraudulent claims. Wilson previously pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to illegally purchase Medicare beneficiary identification. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15. Alston is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9. Alston and Wilson each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Shane Butland and Keith Clouser and Senior Litigation Counsel Catherine Wagner of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Acting Assistant Chief Justin Woodard assisted in charging 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 nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, 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: Boone Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Boone man was sentenced on March 28, 2025, to five years in federal prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a person he believed to be a minor. According to public court documents, Travis Lee Morgan, 40, used a Facebook account to communicate with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female, but was instead a law enforcement officer. Between June and August 2023, Morgan sent numerous videos and images to the female, including images of his genitals and himself engaged in a sex act, and discussed in-person sex acts Morgan desired to occur with the minor female. After completing his term of imprisonment, Morgan will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, the Altoona Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Boone Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff's Office. 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, 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 information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.


title: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Hanna J. Williams, 44, of Omaha, was sentenced April 2, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distributing methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Williams to 200 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Williams’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On November 15, 2023, a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source (CS) made a controlled purchase of 1 pound of methamphetamine. The CS first met with Hanna Faust aka “Williams” at a buy location in mid-town Omaha. Faust then made a call to her supplier, Daniellea M. Fedail, while the CS got in her car and waited for Fedail supplier to arrive. Fedail arrived a short time later and delivered 1 pound of methamphetamine with 99% lab confirmed purity to Williams who then gave the meth to the CS in exchange for money. Fedail previously pled guilty to distributing meth and was sentenced by Judge Buescher on December 19, 2024, to 120 months’ imprisonment. She will also serve a 5-year term of supervised release following her release from prison. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Charge

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Salvador Ochoa-Cuevas, 44, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced April 2, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Ochoa-Cuevas to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Ochoa-Cuevas will be subject to deportation to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen. On March 26, 2021, a confidential source (CS) working with law enforcement placed a recorded phone call to Ochoa-Cuevas for the purpose of obtaining meth. During the phone call the CS and Ochoa-Cuevas agreed to meet near Highland Park at 25th and C streets in Omaha to complete the drug transaction. That same day, the CS was outfitted with audio and video recording devices for the transaction. Surveillance was maintained on the CS as he arrived at Highland Park. Shortly thereafter, Ochoa-Cuevas arrived and delivered 388 grams of meth to the CS in exchange for $4,000. The recording device captured the transaction. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department.


title: Defendants Sentenced to Life in Prison for Deadly Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Three defendants were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a deadly murder-for-hire conspiracy, among other crimes. Another defendant was sentenced to 84 months for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle during a deadly carjacking attempt. According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-week federal jury trial in October 2024, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 31, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 21, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 31, each of Mobile, participated in a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. As part of the murder plot, McCarroll hired several shooters who attempted but failed to kill the intended target of the plot during multiple nightclub shootings. In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. Hollis directed payments to Fluker before and after the shooting. Fluker pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and received a 30-year prison sentence. In November 2022, Rowser used an illegally modified machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target of the plot inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed. Rowser later bragged to his coconspirators about perpetrating the shooting in voice messages he sent via Instagram. As part of the conspiracy, McCarroll directed Rowser and others to travel to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. After that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator, Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks, 21, traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking. In connection with that incident, Derks pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Later, in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser, Derks, and another coconspirator, Jimaurice Pierce, 21, traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and Pierce fired illegally modified machineguns into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims. Pierce pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire conspiracy. Following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, McCarroll attempted to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail. Following her conviction for murder-for-hire conspiracy and evidence tampering in October 2024, Hollis separately pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Specifically, Hollis admitted that she obtained nearly $20,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan proceeds designed to aid small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain the fully forgivable loan proceeds, Hollis lied to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) about operating a nonexistent hair-styling business. At the sentencing hearing on April 2, 2025, several victims of the defendants’ crimes addressed the court to provide impact statements. United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer noted the importance of the victims’ statements and the resilience they demonstrated. Judge Moorer sentenced McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis each to life in prison, which is the mandatory sentence required by federal law. Pierce, who also faces a mandatory life sentence, will be sentenced at a later date. Judge Moorer sentenced Derks to 84 months in prison. Derks faces pending accessory to murder charges in Harrison County, Mississippi, for which he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In addition to the lifetime prison terms, Judge Moorer ordered McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis to pay $1,243,397.72 in restitution to the victims of the murder-for-hire scheme. The court further ordered Hollis to pay $19,985.00 in restitution to the SBA for her fraudulent PPP loan, and ordered Rowser and Derks to pay $5,361.00 in restitution to the owner of the stolen vehicle. The court did not impose fines, but Judge Moorer ordered the defendants to pay a total of $1,300 in special assessments. “These criminals used illegal machineguns to murder, maim, and endanger innocent lives in our community,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Thanks to the relentless work and dedication of the federal agents, police, and prosecutors, these three will never be in a position to terrorize or harm anyone else. Together with our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and sentence violent criminals who hurt victims and threaten the safety of our community.” “The ATF recognizes that we are most successful when we work with our state, local, and federal partners. Together, we serve as a force multiplier in the efforts to combat violent crime. Our ability to protect American families, increases by having a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy in place. We will continue to focus our efforts to decrease violent crime and hold individuals accountable who relentlessly cause harm in the community,” said Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Nashville Field Division. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement and praised the extraordinary work of the federal and state law enforcement agents involved in the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Statement from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley Regarding Massachusetts Executive Office of the Trial Court v. Agent Brian Sullivan

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: “This afternoon the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Boston to vacate the April 1, 2025 order of contempt entered against an ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer by the Boston Municipal Court. Our motion is clear: the state court lacked authority to issue the unlawful and erroneous order. The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution immunizes federal officers from state prosecution—including contempt proceedings—for actions taken in the course of their official duties.”


title: Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Directing the Robbery of a Mail Carrier

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Lowell man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to aiding and abetting the robbery of a mail carrier, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Tyler Savinon, 18, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the robbery of a mail carrier. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2025. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Savinon directed two co-conspirators to rob the mail carrier to obtain a proprietary key that would unlock blue mail collection boxes in the Nashua area. Investigators determined that Savinon had used the stolen key to access at least two collection boxes in Nashua—one on Dunstable Road and one on Spring Street. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department and the Lowell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski is prosecuting the case. ###


title: McCurtain County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anna Marie Scoles, age 37, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by no less than 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5,000,000.00. The Information alleged that on August 4, 2024, Scoles knowingly and intentionally possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it. The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Scoles will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Vessel Owner Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Defraud the United States

component: USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands

body_text: Saipan – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Zhongli Pang, age 36, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was sentenced in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to three months imprisonment with credit for time served. Pang pled guilty for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and (v)(ii); 18 U.S.C. § 371. The court also ordered one year of supervised release, 50 hours of community service, and a $200 special assessment fee. In June 2024, Zhongli Pang and several co-conspirators paid $33,000 for a boat, which Pang registered. As part of the scheme, Pang agreed to transport a group of twelve other individuals, all Chinese nationals living without lawful status, from the island of Saipan to Guam. Pang and his co-conspirators knew they were not authorized to do so. Pang’s only experience operating a boat was two short excursions he had taken a few days before attempting the crossing to Guam. The overloaded boat ran out of fuel short of Guam, necessitating a sea rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard. During his sentencing hearing, Pang acknowledged that his actions put many lives at risk and expressed his deep regret. “We will continue to target illegal aliens unlawfully traveling between the CNMI and Guam,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The risk to personal safety is substantial. Those interdicted also face imprisonment and immigration penalties. We urge PRC nationals to fully comply with the CNMI’s parole program and return to China as agreed upon entry to Saipan. Enhanced enforcement efforts by DHS will result in the apprehension of those attempting to evade detection.” “The arrest of Mr. Pang is a testament to HSI’s continued efforts to deter the extremely dangerous and unlawful movement of illegal aliens within the CNMI,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “By holding criminals accountable, HSI works with state and local authorities to thwart future violations, ensuring the safety of our communities through continuing partnerships.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. O’Malley prosecuted the case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: Cuban National to Spend Nearly a Decade in Federal Prison for Human Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – A Cuban national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 111 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor aliens, and sexual assault of an alien. According to court documents, Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, 30, assisted in the harboring of illegal aliens and managed a stash house in El Paso. He also was an occupant in a vehicle that fled law enforcement that was transporting more than a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. An investigation revealed that Arriola-Rivero sexually assaulted one of the illegal aliens at the El Paso stash house. Arriola-Rivero was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2023 and was arrested Sept. 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2024. “It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman. “This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable.” “Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge for El Paso, Jason T. Stevens. “HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.” HSI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. ###


title: Macon Probationer Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A resident of Macon pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge this week for illegally possessing a firearm when he was taken into custody for violating his probation. Terico Jaques Balkcom, 46, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell on March 31. Balkcom faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our office is collaborating with our law enforcement partners to hold repeat convicted felons accountable when they are found violating federal law.” “Ensuring public safety is our top priority, the GBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who violate the law, especially those with a history of criminal behavior,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. According to court documents and statements made in court, Balkcom was stopped by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) for having an obscured tag on May 20, 2024. Balkcom was known to have an active warrant for violating state probation for a felony conviction out of Bibb County, Georgia, Superior Court. The GSP trooper could smell the odor of alcohol and performed a field sobriety test. Balkcom presented a false ID, claiming to be “Benjamin Brown.” When the officer asked for his date of birth, Balkcom answered that it was a different date from what was on the fake identification. A GBI agent familiar with Balkcom arrived and confirmed it was Balkcom. Balkcom was taken into custody based on the active probation warrant. Agents found a 9mm pistol inside a Crown Royal bag that also contained Balkcom’s prescription medication. Balkcom was recorded on a jail phone call discussing the gun and also three ounces of marijuana that officers found inside the vehicle. Balkcom has several prior convictions and probation violations in Bibb County Superior Court. He was on probation for a 2018 conviction in Bibb County for crossing state or county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants, or drugs without consent. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with assistance from Georgia State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government


title: North Dakota Felon Charged with Minnesota Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: BEMIDJI, Minn. – Jerami Cody Leno, a North Dakota man, has been indicted for multiple criminal charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, from February 2024 through July 24, 2024, Jerami Cody Leno, 48, intentionally conspired with others to possess and distribute methamphetamine in and around Minnesota. On February 7, 2024, Leno was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Because Leno has a prior felony conviction in Yellowstone County, Montana, for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The indictment charges Leno with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby on March 4, 2025. “Methamphetamine is flooding Minnesota. This includes our small towns in greater Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “I appreciate the partnership of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilkin County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office serves every corner of this state. We will continue to rely on our state and local partners so that together, we can identify those who peddle deadly poison to our communities and bring them to federal justice.” This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wilkin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: All Three Defendants Plead Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Automobile Auction

body_text: NASHVILLE – On Monday, March 31, 2025, defendant Brian Baker, 53, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., pled guilty to all charges against him for a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud an automobile auction business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The other co-defendants, Stephanie Louise Baker, 54, of Mount Juliet, Tenn. and Jerry W. Hutchins, 50, of Dowelltown, Tenn., each pled guilty last week to all charges against them stemming from their involvement in the same wire fraud and money laundering scheme. “I commend the effort of the prosecutors from our office who are holding these thieves accountable for their crimes,” said Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. “We will continue to tirelessly seek justice for those affected by economic crimes here in our community.” “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling intricate financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the original source of their money,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation, along with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney's Office, will vigorously pursue those individuals who willfully try to enrich themselves by fraudulent means.” “These defendants used fake transactions to operate a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to illegally enrich themselves," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "The FBI remains vigilant in the fight against fraud and will bring those who cheat and steal to justice.” The federal indictment, returned by the grand jury in October 2023, had charged Stephanie Baker and Brian Baker, who are married, and Hutchins with a wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment also charged all three defendants with substantive offenses for acts of money laundering. According to the indictment, between February 2017 and November 2018, Stephanie Baker was the General Manager of the Dealers Auto Auction Group’s Murfreesboro auction location. Brian Baker and Jerry Hutchins each owned and operated used car dealerships and did business at the auction. The defendants devised a scheme to defraud Dealers Auto Auction Group, LLC by creating fake transactions to make it appear that the defendants’ businesses had sold cars at the auction and were entitled to receive funds from Dealers Auto Auction Group, when in fact the defendants had not sold vehicles at the auction. Based on the fake transactions, Stephanie Baker caused Dealers Auto Auction Group to issue checks to Brian Baker’s and Hutchins’ businesses. Then, on a rolling basis each month, the defendants would create additional fake transactions using the same vehicles in order to conceal the original fraud and avoid detection. Brian Baker and Hutchins then converted proceeds of the fraud scheme for their own personal use and benefit. As a result of this scheme, the defendants defrauded Dealers Auto Auction Group of more than $2 million. The three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2025. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy, the money laundering conspiracy, and the concealment money laundering offenses, and up to 10 years in prison for domestic transaction money laundering. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the crimes, including a money judgment in the amount of at least $2,041,170 from Stephanie Baker, $1,357,310 from Brian Baker, and $683,830 from Jerry Hutchins. This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Suedekum and Nani M. Gilkerson are prosecuting the case. # # # # #


title: Little League Coach Sentenced To Ten Years For Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Joseph Rocco Quaranta (48, Dunnellon) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Quaranta entered a guilty plea on November 19, 2024. According to court documents, on July 25, 2024, an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Quaranta contacted the detective’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Quaranta then arranged to meet the child at a predetermined location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity. When Quaranta arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested. After his arrest, Quaranta admitted to deputies that he had been volunteering as a local youth baseball coach. “The sentencing of this former Little League baseball coach serves as a reminder that predatory action against children will not be tolerated, and we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that justice is served,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is unwavering in its commitment to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit them.” This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Two Woodward County Residents Resolve Allegations of Submitting a False Claim for COVID Funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – BREANNA PARADA and MONICA MONTES of Woodward, Oklahoma, have agreed to resolutions to resolve civil claims stemming from allegations that Parada submitted a false claim for COVID funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. In a Consent Judgment entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ( United States v. Parada , Case No. CIV-25-00136-JD), Parada admitted that she submitted an application for COVID funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority in which she falsely represented she was renting a home when she in fact owned it. In support of her application, she submitted a fraudulent lease agreement signed by her and Montes, fraudulent eviction notices related to the same home, and delinquent utility payment notices for the same home. Based on the submission of the false claim, Parada received $5,564.84, and Montes received $200.00, in Emergency Rental Assistance funds to which they were not entitled. To resolve the claims, Parada agreed to the entry of a Consent Judgment against her in the amount of $19,025.00, and Montes settled the claims against her by paying the United States $1,000.00. By entering into a Settlement Agreement, Montes did not admit liability, and the United States did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The Consent Judgment and Settlement Agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case. Investigative assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General, and Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.


title: Mount Dora Man Found Guilty Of Possessing And Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Following a bench trial, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber found Brett Eugene Baldwin (43, Mount Dora) guilty of one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and three counts of receiving CSAM. Baldwin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count, with a 5-year minimum sentence on each receipt count. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Baldwin was indicted on December 20, 2023. A superseding indictment was returned on February 6, 2024. According to evidence presented at trial, on November 28, 2023, Baldwin’s cellphone was seized during an unrelated state investigation. Pursuant to a search warrant, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reviewed an extraction of Baldwin’s cellphone that revealed Baldwin had thousands of files depicting CSAM, primarily of young children. After his first cellphone was seized by law enforcement, Baldwin obtained a second cellphone. The second cellphone was later seized and searched pursuant to a warrant. FDLE found that Baldwin had downloaded thousands of files depicting CSAM onto his second cellphone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mount Dora Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty To Illegal Reentry Into The United States

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Elfego Rolando Domingo-Ruiz (32, Guatemala) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. As a previously deported felon, Domingo-Ruiz faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Domingo-Ruiz was arrested on a criminal complaint on December 27, 2024, and ordered detained. According to court documents, Domingo-Ruiz is a citizen and national of Guatemala. He was convicted of a felony offense on November 5, 2012. Domingo-Ruiz was previously removed from the United States on December 5, 2012, and February 20, 2014. Domingo-Ruiz was found voluntarily back in the United States on December 18, 2024, when he was encountered by law enforcement in Orange County. Domingo-Ruiz had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian.


title: Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced For Illegally Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Alan Ellis Gillespie, Jr. (31, Ocala) to four years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Gillespie to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Gillespie entered a guilty plea on November 12, 2024. According to court documents, on August 27, 2024, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle. Gillespie exited that vehicle through the passenger door and fled on foot. During the chase, Gillespie threw a backpack to the ground. Once Gillespie was apprehended, a search of his backpack revealed an AK-47 style pistol loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Gillespie had multiple prior state felony convictions, including battery, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of cannabis more than 20 grams. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty To Illegal Reentry Into The United States

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Rosel Jimenez-Martinez (34, Mexico) has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Jimenez-Martinez faces up to two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Jimenez-Martinez was arrested on a criminal complaint on December 23, 2024, and ordered detained. According to court documents, Jimenez-Martinez is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on February 28, 2020. Jimenez-Martinez was found voluntarily back in the United States on December 2, 2024, when he was encountered by law enforcement in Orange County. Jimenez-Martinez had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Ocala Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Attempting To Entice A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Francisco Alvarez-Tello (28, Ocala) to 12 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Alvarez-Tello pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024. According to court documents, in July 2024, Alvarez-Tello responded to an ad on an online dating app from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 13-year-old child. Alvarez-Tello engaged in sexually oriented conversation, telling the undercover officer in detail what he planned to do with the child. When Alvarez-Tello arrived at a pre-determined location to engage in sex with the child, law enforcement arrested him and found a firearm inside his vehicle. During an interview with officers, Alvarez-Tello admitted to sending the messages and told officers that he was trying to have a “freaky Friday” and they had “ruined that.” “HSI and our law enforcement partners are continually monitoring and combating the dangerous misuse of social media that puts our children at risk,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, in collaboration with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, remains steadfast in our mission to safeguard children from predators who exploit them for their perverse desires.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Directs Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement: “Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.” As alleged, Luigi Mangione stalked and murdered UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024. The murder was an act of political violence. Mangione’s actions involved substantial planning and premeditation and because the murder took place in public with bystanders nearby, may have posed grave risk of death to additional persons. Following federal murder charges handed down on Dec. 19, 2024, Attorney General Bondi has now directed Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky to seek the death penalty in this case. This is in line with Attorney General Bondi’s Day One Memo as Attorney General entitled Reviving The Federal Death Penalty And Lifting The Moratorium On Federal Executions


title: Centralia man sentenced to 10+ years’ imprisonment for possessing firearms as a felon

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Centralia man to 125 months in federal prison for possessing three firearms as a convicted felon in three separate incidents with police. Lamar R. Bennett, 33, pleaded guilty in July to three counts of felon in possession of a firearm. “Three brushes with the law by one defiant felon—this sentence of more than a decade in federal prison sends a strong message that repeat offenders who defy the law can expect to face certain justice in the federal system,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. According to court documents, Bennett was convicted as a felon in possession of a firearm in Marion County Circuit Court in 2020, further barring him from legally possessing firearms. Bennett was the driver of a vehicle in a single-car crash in Washington County on April 21, 2023. Following the accident, Bennett placed a Smith and Wesson 9-millimeter pistol behind a concrete barrier on the side of the highway. Law enforcement recovered the firearm. On Oct. 14, 2023, emergency personnel and law enforcement responded to Bennett’s residence in Jefferson County. Officers observed a Glock 43X pistol in his sweatshirt and recovered the firearm. On November 23, 2023, law enforcement tried to conduct a traffic stop on Bennett’s vehicle in Marion County, but he fled. Ultimately, Bennett was apprehended and law enforcement recovered one Ruger SR9C pistol from him. “This investigation and sentencing are a direct result of FBI Springfield Field Office’s dedication to disrupting and dismantling violent threats in our territory,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This sentencing is a direct warning to those who continue criminal activity in our area.” Following imprisonment, Bennett will serve three years of supervised release. The FBI Springfield Field Office, Centralia Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson prosecuted the case.


title: Serial Robber Pleads Guilty to Multiple Armed Robberies

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – David Crocker, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to multiple armed robberies and firearms charges stemming from a series of robberies near Anacostia Park in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor, of the United States Park Police, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Crocker pleaded guilty yesterday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Crocker also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a silver and black pistol on November 10, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2025, before the Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld. As part of his sentence, Crocker will be required to register as a gun offender. According to the government’s evidence, the defendant robbed two individuals at gunpoint on December 18, 2023, in the vicinity of Anacostia Park. In the first offense, the defendant robbed an individual at gunpoint in the 2200 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE. Crocker brandished a black and silver pistol and took the victim’s phone, keys, and wallet before demanding the PINs to the victim’s Cash App account and credit cards. Later the same day, the defendant robbed a different individual on the Anacostia Railroad Bridge. Crocker brandished the same silver and black pistol and took the victim’s bicycle, cell phone, keys, and wallet. The defendant again demanded the PINs to the victim’s Cash App account and credit cards. United States Park Police officers stopped and arrested Crocker moments later. They recovered the proceeds of the robbery and the silver and black pistol from the defendant. This case was investigated by the United States Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Ahalt for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.