title: Two Venezuelan gang members arrested, charged with bank theft and conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Jose Gomez Cegarra, 24, and Jesus Segundo Hernandez-Gil, 19, both of Venezuela, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank theft and conspiracy to commit bank theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey E. Intravatola and Douglas A.C. Penrose, who are handling the case, stated that the defendants are members of the Tren de Aragua Gang, which has been designated by the White House as a Global Terrorist Organization. They are accused of participating in an ATM Jackpotting scheme. ATM Jackpotting involves removing an ATM’s cover and infecting the ATMs hard drive with malware or removing the hard drive and replacing it with an infected hard drive, which allows the operator to assume control of the ATM and cause it to dispense currency. According to the complaint, Gomez-Cegarra, Hernandez-Gil, and other co-conspirators successfully completed an ATM Jackpotting scheme at a Radius Federal Credit Union in Kenmore, NY, on October 5, 2024. Video surveillance shows that at approximately 4:05 p.m., a vehicle, driven by Gomez-Cegarra, approached the drive-up ATM, a co-conspirator exited the vehicle and opened the ATM utilizing a key, appeared to install something in the ATM, pressed buttons, and closed the ATM. The vehicle then left the area. Over the next several hours, the vehicle re-appeared multiple times at the ATM and conducted illegal withdrawals. Radius Federal Credit Union reported that $110,440.00 was stolen from the ATM during this ATM Jackpotting event. Gomez-Cegarra, Hernandez-Gil, and other co-conspirators are also believed to be responsible for ATM Jackpotting events St. Maly’s Federal Credit Union in Framingham, Massachusetts, on October 6, 2024, at First National Bank of Dryden in Dryden, NY, on October 17, 2024, and at two Community First Bank locations in Mount Vernon, Illinois, on November 11, 2024. During these events, approximately $187,000 was reported stolen. On November 11, 2024, the Mahomet, Illinois Police Department stopped Gomez-Cegarra and Hernandez-Gil in a vehicle together for suspicious activity. Both men presented Venezuelan identifications. They were arrested by the Mahomet Police Department, and ultimately charged by the Mount Vernon Police Department in relation to the incidents that occurred at the Community First Bank locations in Mount Vernon, IL. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Phillips, the Homer, NY, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Pitman, the Framingham, MA, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Lester Baker, and the Mahomet, Illinois, Police Department. 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: 25 Canadian Nationals Charged in Vermont in Connection with Nationwide Multimillion-Dollar “Grandparent Scam”

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 25 Canadian nationals with participation in a “Grandparent Scam” that defrauded elderly individuals in Vermont and more than 40 other states: Gareth West , a.k.a. “Buddy” and “Muscles,” (38 – Burlington, Ontario) Usman Khalid , a.k.a. “Paul” and “Pauly,” (36 – Les Coteaux, Québec) Andrew Tatto , a.k.a. “Chevy” and “Truck,” (43 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Stephan Moskwyn , a.k.a. “HK,” (42 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Ricky Ylimaki , a.k.a. “Ruffles,” (31 – Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Québec) Richard Frischman , a.k.a. “Styx,” (31 – Montréal, Québec) Adam Lawrence , a.k.a. “Carter,” (41 – Lasalle, Québec) Michael Filion , a.k.a. “Elvis,” (45 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Jimmy Ylimaki , a.k.a. “Coop,” (35 – Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Québec) Nicolas Gonzalez , a.k.a. “Brady,” (27 – Kirkland, Québec) Ryan Melanson , a.k.a. “Parker,” (27 – Montréal, Québec) Joy Kalafatidis , a.k.a. “Blondie,” (31 – Pointe-Claire, Québec) David Arcobelli , a.k.a. “Phil,” (36 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Jonathan Massouras , a.k.a. “Borze,” (35 - Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Québec) Nicholas Shiomi , a.k.a. “Keanu,” (42 – Montréal, Québec) Antonio Iannacci , a.k.a. “DJ,” (33 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Jonathan Ouellet , a.k.a. “Sunny,” (29 - Saint-Eustache, Québec) Kassey-Lee Lankford , a.k.a. “Lex,” (28 – Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec) Sara Burns , a.k.a. “Ginger,” (31 – Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Québec) Justin Polenz , a.k.a. “Happy,” (34 – Montréal, Québec) Ryan Thibert , a.k.a. “Toast,” (37 – Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec) Michael Farella , a.k.a. “Honda,” (29 - Sainte-Geneviève, Québec) Sebastian Guenole , a.k.a. “Tweeter,” (30 – Pierrefonds, Québec) Ryan Bridgman , a.k.a. “Clint,” (37 - Deux-Montagnes, Québec) Stephanie-Marie Samaras , a.k.a. “North” (29 – Laval, Québec) All but two of the above-named individuals were arrested in Canada on March 4, 2025. West and Jimmy Ylimaki remain at large. According to the Indictment, which was unsealed on March 4, 2025, between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024, the defendants engaged in a “Grandparent Scam” involving phone calls made from call centers in and around Montreal, Québec. During these phone calls, defendants falsely claimed to be an elderly victim’s relative, typically a grandchild, who had been arrested following a car crash and needed money for “bail.” Other defendants posed as an “attorney” representing the elderly victim’s relative. Elderly victims were often told that there was a “gag order” in place to prevent the elderly victim from telling anyone about their family member’s supposed arrest. Elderly victims were convinced to provide bail money to an individual falsely posing as a bail bondsman, who would come to the elderly victim’s home to collect the money. This money was later transmitted to Canada following cash deliveries and financial transactions, sometimes involving cryptocurrency, which, the Indictment alleges, obscured the source of the money and the identities of defendants. On June 4, 2024, when law enforcement in Canada executed search warrants at several call centers, many of the defendants were found in the act of placing phone calls to elderly victims in Virginia. The Indictment alleges the call centers were managed by West, Khalid, Tatto, Moskwyn, and Ricky Ylimaki, and also charges these five defendants with conspiring to commit money laundering. The conspiracy defrauded elderly Americans out of more than $21 million. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. West, Khalid, Tatto, Moskwyn and Ricky Ylimaki face up to 40 years of imprisonment if convicted, and the remaining defendants face up to 20 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. An additional nine individuals have previously been charged in the District of Vermont in connection with this grandparent scam, including Otmane Khalladi (32 – Miami, Florida), Jean Richard Audate (39 – New York, New York), Philippe Alvarez (34 – Montréal, Québec), Paul Conneh (37 – Guangzhou, China), Dave Leblanc (37 – Greenacres, Florida), Zavier Buchanan (27 – Wellington, Florida), William Comfort (29 – Los Angeles, California), Alejandro Garcia (34 – Miami, Florida), and Enmanuel Castillo (31 – Miami, Florida). “While the transnational criminal conspiracy described in the Indictment preyed on vulnerable victims throughout the United States, these charges are the result of painstaking investigatory work by Vermont-based agents from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation,” observed Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. “In addition, we recognize the extensive investigative assistance provided by Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.” Drescher also stressed the contributions of numerous other local, state, and federal investigators and agencies across the United States who assisted the investigation, and commended the contributions of the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs as well as the International Assistance Group at Justice Canada. “These individuals are accused of an elaborate scheme using fear to extort millions of dollars from victims who believed they were helping loved ones in trouble. Today’s arrests are the result of domestic collaboration as well as our critical international partnerships with our colleagues in Canada, Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Tackling transnational crime is one of our greatest priorities and we’re working hand-in-hand with our neighbors to dismantle organized criminal groups that threaten our safety and security,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s arrests demonstrate IRS-CI’s commitment to protecting the American people from bad actors, no matter where they are hiding.” said Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “West and his associates led a transnational criminal enterprise with the sole intent of defrauding hundreds of retirees of their life savings by preying on their emotions and deceiving them into thinking that their loved ones were in peril. IRS-CI is committed to continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners, both at home and abroad, to stop and deter anyone who seeks to profit off the hard work of U.S. citizens.” The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Nate Burris and Michelle Arra. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11). This hotline is a free resource created by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime for people to report fraud against anyone age 60 or older. A link to the Indictment can be found here .


title: Missouri Man Admits Child Pornography Charge, Sexual Contact with Teen

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Overland, Missouri on Tuesday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material and engaging in sexual contact with a teen he’d met online. James Donald Goings, 36, pleaded guilty to one felony count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted that investigators were alerted by CyberTipline Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after Goings uploaded child sexual abuse material to a Google account. On July 21, 2022, St. Louis County Police Department officers conducted a court-approved search of Goings' house and recovered computer equipment. Investigators then learned that Goings traveled to Illinois and engaged in sexual contact with a 15-year-old that he met via Grindr and was in contact with another teen that he’d also met on Grindr, Goings’ plea says. The second victim told investigators that on multiple occasions he had video calls with Goings during which Goings directed him to perform specific sexual acts, the plea says. Goings also possessed 2,500 images containing child sexual abuse material on a computer and 190 images in his Google account. Going is scheduled to be sentenced in June. The charge is punishable by five to 20 years in prison. He has also agreed to forfeit cell phones, computer equipment and storage devices. The St. Louis County Police Department and the Edwardsville (Illinois) Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Chapman is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican national sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearm

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 30-year-old citizen of Mexico was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, announced Acting United States Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jose Gerardo Rodriguez-Montoya was encountered twice by law enforcement – the first time while they were investigating a drug distribution ring bringing narcotics to the area from Arizona. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “These offenses are serious. You had large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs… Dealing in fentanyl is dealing in death.” According to records in the case, in March and April 2023, Rodriguez-Montoya was identified as a drug supplier by someone working as a confidential informant. Law enforcement learned that the trafficking organization was expecting a new shipment of narcotics from Arizona, and they saw Rodriguez-Montoya unload a large duffel-bag from a car with Arizona plates and take it into his Federal Way apartment. When law enforcement moved in, they recovered three kilograms of fentanyl powder as well as three kilograms of heroin and various smaller amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills. They also found a .45 caliber pistol in the apartment. Seven months later he was arrested coming out of Snoqualmie Casino after being linked to a burglary and car theft. At the arrest Rodriguez-Montoya was found to have a handgun in his right front pocket. Rodriguez-Montoya pleaded guilty to the two federal felonies in November 2024. In asking for the five-year sentence prosecutors noted for the court the latest statistics on fentanyl overdose deaths in our community. “In 2023, the King County Medical Examiner’s office reported 1,085 confirmed overdose deaths related to fentanyl, 778 deaths in 2024, and 99 fentanyl-related deaths in King County so far this year. Fentanyl is estimated to be fifty times stronger than heroin. Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can kill. And Rodriguez-Montoya knows personally the devastating impact of fentanyl. In 2021, his father passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose while living here in Seattle.” Rodriguez-Montoya has been in federal custody since his arrest in February 2024. Judge Whitehead imposed 4 years of supervised release to follow prison should Rodriguez-Montoya return to the U.S. The case was investigated by Seattle Police department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erika Evans.


title: Guilty Plea Secured in Conspiracy to Commit Firearms Trafficking

body_text: WASHINGTON – Juwon Anderson, 22, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 5, 2025. The defendant was arrested on December 15, 2023, and has been detained ever since. Others charged in the conspiracy are: Vincent Lee Alston, aka “Vedo,” 22, and Niquan Odumn, aka “Stickz” and “Debo,” 22, all of Washington, D.C., and Cy’Juan Hemsley, aka “Juan,” 18, of District Heights, Maryland, and Tyjuan McNeal, 28, of Washington, D.C According to the court documents, on December 13, 2023, the defendant and at least four co-conspirators drove from Washington, D.C. to the A & D pawn shop in Maryland in two vehicles. Once at the A & D pawn shop, one of the co-conspirators used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate covering the entrance to the A & D Pawn Shop. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door to the A&D Pawn Shop. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door to the A & D pawn shop. After breaking into the A & D pawn shop, the defendant and four other co-conspirators then entered the store, grabbed firearms from the store’s shelves and display racks, and left the store with firearms. In total, the defendant and his co-conspirators stole at least 34 firearms from the A & D Pawn shop. Anderson and his co-conspirators then used social media to advertise the sale of the stolen firearms. Two days after the burglary, on December 15, 2023, Anderson was arrested with two of the stolen firearms. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shehzad Akhtar and Ryan Lipes.


title: Previously convicted sex offender pleads guilty to federal exploitation & sex trafficking crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender who sexually exploited two minor females and forced one of the girls to engage in commercial sex acts with men at hotels pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today. Anthony Sims, 56, of Columbus, was scheduled to begin trial on March 17. He pleaded guilty today to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of sex trafficking a minor. The guilty plea includes a sentencing recommendation of 25 to 50 years in prison. Sims admitted that he raped a 12-year-old girl 40 to 50 times over the span of six months in 2020. Sims provided the girl marijuana and alcohol and talked her into getting high and drinking. At times, during the sexual assaults, Sims would hold down the victim’s arms or hold her in place. He also forced the girl to pose for photos in sexual positions either while nude or while wearing lingerie. Likewise, Sims convinced another, a 13-year-old girl, to smoke marijuana with him, and once she was high, Sims raped her. He also held down this victim. Sims would take nude photos of her and made her pose with stuffed animals or pillows. Sims also took the 13-year-old to various hotels to force her to have sex with men who paid Sims. The victim was forced to have sex with approximately 50 different men. Sims sold pornographic photos of the victim and coordinated the dates at the hotels. At the time of his most recent crimes, Sims was a registered sex offender with two convictions out of Michigan. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler J. Aagard are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Wake County Woman Involved in $2 Million International Romance Scam Sentenced to Two Years for Money Laundering and Tax Fraud

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake County woman who engaged as a money mule or “middleman” to defraud multiple victims in an international romance fraud scheme was sentenced today to 24 months, 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay $109,119 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Michon Griffin, age 46, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and making false statements on her individual income tax return Form 1040 on July 10, 2024. A romance scam is a type of internet-enabled fraud scheme that occurs when a fraudster adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The fraudster then uses the illusion of a romantic relationship to manipulate and exploit the victim for financial gain by stealing their money across international borders. Some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. According to court documents and other information presented in court, between 2021 to 2023 Griffin received over $2 million dollars from the international romance fraud scheme that she deposited into fictitious bank accounts she controlled, located at sixteen separate financial institutions. Griffin converted the funds into virtual currency and wired the funds to overseas accounts controlled by her coconspirators who were located in Nigeria. Griffin received approximately $300,000 in commissions for her role in the fraud scheme, which she did not report as income on her 2021 individual income tax return Form 1040. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced the defendant. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-173-BO. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Indicts 2 Illegal Aliens

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned indictments on March 4, 2025, charging 2 illegal aliens with federal criminal offenses. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement. According to the indictments: Vidal Ricardo Murillo-Zuniga , age 34, a citizen of Honduras, was charged with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about January 22, 2025, Murillo-Zuniga was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about May 29, 2013. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI and ICE/ERO. Roberto Diaz-Jarquin , age 35, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. On or about November 10, 2023, Diaz-Jarquin possessed 6 firearms in Jefferson County, Kentucky, with knowledge that he was an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI and ICE/ERO. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Ansari and Josh Porter are prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Chinese citizen who attacked Bellevue, Washington immigrant sentenced to 7 years in prison

body_text: Seattle– A 33-year-old citizen of China, who was residing in Los Angeles, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to seven years in prison for kidnapping, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Ji Wang was arrested on May 13, 2024, in the Los Angeles area. Wang was identified as one of the kidnappers linked to the May 27, 2023, abduction and assault of a worker at a hot pot restaurant in Bellevue, Washington. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robert said, “They not only kidnapped the victim, but brutally assaulted him… It did serious injuries and permanent damage…. It’s about as callous a set of circumstances and as malicious an assault short of actually killing someone.” According to records filed in the case, Ji Wang was connected to a ring smuggling people across the southern border into the U.S. for a fee. Wang had been illegally smuggled into the U.S. less than two weeks before the kidnapping. The investigation revealed that the victim referred people from China who wanted to cross into the U.S., for the smuggling services. The victim was supposed to collect and transfer smuggling fees from those who used the smuggling services. The victim did not collect as high a fee as the smuggling group anticipated. Wang and a co-schemer traveled to Bellevue in May and physically removed the victim from his work and forced him into a sedan. The men beat the victim and smashed his face into the cement and dragged him down a set of stairs. Witnesses quickly alerted Bellevue Police. Officers worked with the victim’s girlfriend who placed a video call to the victim’s cellphone. Wang answered the call and showed his face. Police recorded the call and were able to identify Wang. Wang and his associate dropped the victim at a service station in Bellevue. The victim was critically injured and needed emergency surgery for swelling of the brain. The victim was in a coma for six weeks. He has had four skull surgeries. He spent five months in Overlake hospital. He has lasting physical and cognitive damage from the assault. The medical bills from the assault are more than $1 million. In asking for the 8-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “the sentence should also be long enough to deter similarly situated defendants from engaging in such brazen and violent conduct to collect illegal smuggling debts.” Wang was not legally present in the United States and will likely be deported following his prison term. The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), and the U.S. Marshal’s Service Task Force.


title: Four Sentenced To Federal Prison For Cocaine Conspiracy Involving 89 Kilograms

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced four individuals to federal prison terms for their roles in conspiring to distribute kilograms of cocaine in central Florida. Each previously pleaded guilty. The conspirators also forfeited $464,031 in cash seizures in the case. Name (age, city of residence) Sentence Imposed Israel Miranda (36, Kissimmee) 10 years in federal prison Abiezer Laboy Lozada (36, Orlando) 10 years in federal prison Jorge Antonio Gonzalez de la Fuente (31, St. Cloud) 7 years, 3 months in federal prison Carlos Antonio Garcia Garcia (35, Kissimmee) 5 years in federal prison According to the plea agreements, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified a group of individuals working to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine and the proceeds of those sales during 2022. On May 1, 2023, the DEA surveilled Miranda as he distributed drugs to Laboy Lozada in a parking lot. In this and similar meetings during the conspiracy, Laboy Lozada admitted to obtaining 20-30 kilograms of cocaine from Miranda. On October 4, 2023, Miranda delivered a shoe box to Gonzalez de la Fuente, who delivered it to Garcia Garcia. When law enforcement stopped Garcia Garcia’s vehicle, he was found to be carrying that same box containing a kilogram of cocaine. Over the course of the conspiracy, Gonzalez de la Fuente met with his conspirators two or three times a month and was involved in distribution of 15 - 50 kilograms of cocaine. Gonzalez de la Fuente continued to engage in drug distribution after being charged federally and was detained when this was discovered. On October 13, 2023, Miranda delivered drug proceeds to an individual who was found to be transporting $262,257 in a brown paper bag. At the same time, Miranda texted a conspirator an image of the stacks of bills he was distributing with the message “should be 110k.” Similar enforcement actions resulted in the seizure of $51,989 from Miranda on November 7, 2023, and $149,785 from Miranda on March 6, 2024. Over the course of the conspiracy, Miranda distributed drugs or drug proceeds reflecting distribution of more than 89 kilograms of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Previously Convicted Murderer Found Guilty for an April 2021 Homicide

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darrell Moore, 47, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today, by a Superior Court jury, of first-degree murder while armed and other related firearm charges, in connection with the April 2021 murder of Julius Hayes, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Moore faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3:50 p.m. on April 3, 2021, Moore drove to the 300 block of 18th Street, NE, in a black sedan. There, Moore approached Mr. Hayes. The two began to argue, but Mr. Hayes walked away from the confrontation. Moore, however, ran at Mr. Hayes, pulled out a handgun and shot Mr. Hayes multiple times in the middle of the street. Moore then went back to the sedan where he paused for a bit, but decided to return to Mr. Hayes to continue the attack. Moore left the area driving south on 18th Street. Officers and medics responded to the scene and discovered Mr. Hayes lying between two parked cars. Mr. Hayes was pronounced dead after he was rushed to the hospital. Moore was arrested on May 11, 2021 and has been in custody since. In 1995, at the age of 16, Moore was tried as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder while armed, felony murder, and other charges for the brutal home invasion-killing of a child and the attempted murders of the child’s mother and aunt. Moore committed this crime with his twin brother, who was also convicted and remains incarcerated. On August 7, 2020, Moore was released, over the government’s objection, after receiving a sentence reduction under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA). Nine months after his release, Moore executed Mr. Hayes in broad daylight in the middle of the street. Moore was arrested on May 11, 2021 and has been in custody since. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin commended the work of those investigating the case from the MPD, United States Attorney’s Office, ATF Washington Field Division, FBI Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences, DC Department of Corrections, and the United States Marshals Service. Finally, the U.S. Attorney commended Assistant United States Attorneys Nebiyu Feleke and Michael C. Lee for their work in prosecuting this case.


title: Six Defendants Sentenced in Multi-State Gun Trafficking Scheme

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS – The final defendant was sentenced today in a case targeting the trafficking of firearms from Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois. Ronnell Pratt, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for firearms trafficking, conspiracy to traffic firearms, and retaliating against a witness. The investigation began after agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives noticed a high volume of firearms recovered in crimes in the City of Chicago, Illinois had been purchased in the Northern District of Mississippi. Some of the firearms involved in new crimes had been purchased as recent as one day prior to use in a new offense. Several of the firearms were recovered in violent crimes and had machinegun devices attached that converted the firearms to be able to fire automatically. In total, investigators identified over 60 firearms that were purchased illegally and transported to Chicago for resale by Pratt and others. While the case was pending, Pratt took harmful action against a witness for providing information to federal officers related to the offense. On March 4, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Pratt to 151 months in federal prison for the offenses to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Aycock imposed the 60-month sentence for the conspiracy violation to run consecutively to the 91-month sentence for firearms trafficking. Pratt was also sentenced to 120 months for retaliating against a witness to run concurrent to the 151-month sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Ultimately, six defendants were prosecuted for their roles in the trafficking conspiracy, with a federal jury convicting one defendant last fall. The other members of the enterprise received the following sentences for their roles: Derrick Stewart, Jr., of Chicago, Illinois, 120 months imprisonment for firearms trafficking and conspiracy; Jarvis Hood, of Belzoni, Mississippi, statutory maximum of 60 months imprisonment for the offense of conspiracy; Jalene Young, of Inverness, Mississippi, 31 months imprisonment for making false statements during firearms purchases; Herbert Scott, Jr. , of Belzoni, Mississippi, 14 months imprisonment for making false statements to federal agents; and Markeveon Brown , of Isola, Mississippi, 36 months of supervision for making false statements during firearms purchases. “The straw purchasing and trafficking of firearms in this case contributed directly to the gun violence that plagues Chicago, and I hope that the message is clear that people who illegally purchase firearms for felons become convicted felons themselves when they face the inevitable consequences for their actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I am extremely proud of AUSA Julie Howell Addison for leading this effort with our partners at ATF in Mississippi and Chicago to shut down this ring of people who were more than willing to take money to provide the means for violent criminals to terrorize a community.” “The severity of this sentence holds this defendant accountable for the illegal trafficking of firearms between Mississippi and Chicago,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “I commend the ATF Oxford Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi for their diligence in investigating and prosecuting this important case in cooperation with our ATF Chicago Field Division.” The case was investigated by the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the ATF Oxford, Mississippi Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Howell Addison and Samuel Stringfellow prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.


title: Ionia County Man Sentenced To 210 Months In Federal Prison For Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge today announced that Ethan Eversman, 25, of Ionia, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for the distribution of child pornography. In May 2024, at Eversman’s request, a 15-year-old child in New York created several sexually explicit videos and sent them to Eversman. A month later, Eversman sent two of those videos to another person online. Eversman was a corrections officer for the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office at the time. “Today’s sentencing of Ethan Eversman, a former Corrections Deputy, reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. Members from the FBI’s Lansing Resident Agency, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the Michigan State Police, worked tirelessly throughout this investigation, in an effort to halt Mr. Eversman’s predatory actions. I also want to express my gratitude to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Michigan for their vital role in ensuring this child predator faces justice.” This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials. The FBI and Michigan State Police investigated this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Roth. # # #


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Silvester Barcenas, 23, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 12, 2024, Barcenas arrived in Charleston, West Virginia, with approximately 3.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in a vehicle he had driven from South Carolina, where he was living at the time. Barcenas admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine, that a co-conspirator directed him to deliver the methamphetamine to another individual in Charleston, and that he delivered the methamphetamine to the individual as instructed. Barcenas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Barcenas and two other Mexican nationals were indicted by a federal grand jury as the result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston. The indictment against co-defendants German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 40, Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 31, remains pending. The indictment alleges the three Mexican nationals conspired to distribute quantities of methamphetamine in the Charleston area from in or about March 2024 to in or about October 2024. Trial is scheduled for April 15, 2025. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Israel Chaires-Villa, 22, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine as a result of the joint investigation and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2025. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-176. ###


title: Marshall County Residents Arrested for Payroll Protection Fraud

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Oxford, Mississippi – Two Marshall County residents were arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to their involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain government funds intended to protect employees of endangered businesses during the COVID pandemic through the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). According to court documents, Bridget Davis and Joey Davis, residents of Marshall County, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in the fraudulently application of PPP loans. The defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering by participating in wire transfers involving proceeds of the fraud scheme. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 years for the conspiracy and wire fraud violations and 20 years for the money laundering charges. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The alleged scheme in the instant case was initially uncovered during the course of a civil investigation. The federal investigative agencies that assisted with this investigation emphasized their ongoing commitment to hold accountable those citizens who seek to fraudulently and unfairly profit from federal pandemic relief programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. 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: Schenectady Man Sentenced for Assaulting Trial Witness’s Son

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Patrick Civitello, age 19, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for assaulting a 15-year-old boy in retaliation for the boy’s mother testifying in a federal criminal trial. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Patrick Civitello is the son of Jeffrey Civitello Sr. and the younger brother of Jeffrey Civitello Jr., both of whom were convicted of federal drug trafficking charges following a jury trial in Albany in April 2023 . A witness, identified in the indictment as V-1, testified at that trial. In pleading guilty, Patrick Civitello admitted that on the evening of May 19, 2024, while at a restaurant in Glenville, New York, he observed V-1, who was with her 15-year-old son (“V-2”). At the time he observed V-1, Patrick Civitello was speaking on the phone with Jeffrey Civitello Jr. (who was incarcerated), and Patrick Civitello told his brother that he had just seen V-1 walk into the restaurant. Patrick Civitello then said “I gotta rag this bitch, I gotta call you back,” meaning that he intended to retaliate against V-1 for her trial testimony. Jeffrey Civitello Jr. responded, “Ok run down, but do it away from everyone if you could.” V-1 and V-2 then exited the restaurant and headed to their vehicle in the parking lot. Patrick Civitello, who was following V-1 and V-2 out of the restaurant, briefly stopped in the parking lot to remove his watch and a cross-body bag. Having placed those items on the ground of the parking lot, Patrick Civitello charged in the direction of V-1 and V-2. He punched V-2 in the head, and continued to punch and kick V-2 after V-2 fell to the ground. V-2 suffered minor abrasions and bruises, including to his head, neck, and hand. FBI agents arrested Patrick Civitello on June 13, 2024, on a criminal complaint. As he was being transported to the FBI Albany Field Office, he asked agents, “Don’t you think the witness deserved it?” and “What do you expect when you betray family and people you trust?” United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino called the assault an “attack on the justice system” that sends “a chilling message to anyone who might be subpoenaed to trial” to testify. She ordered Patrick Civitello to pay a $5,000 fine and to serve a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Glenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Dustin Segovia prosecuted this case.


title: New Kensington Resident Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Barbara Miller, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that on or about January 15, July 6, and July 24, 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Miller acted as a straw purchaser when purchasing firearms from several federally licensed firearms dealers by stating that the firearms were being purchased for herself, when she was actually purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller.


title: Franklin Resident Convicted of Multiple Cyber Stalking Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal jury on Friday convicted McKenzie McClure a/k/a Kalvin McClure, 31, of Franklin, Tennessee, of cyberstalking, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendant, between February 2024 and April 2024, posted countless Tweets on X fixated on Christ Presbyterian Academy (“CPA”) and Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, school shootings, school lockdowns, guns, and other violent incidents. The defendant also visited the CPA school campus on Sunday, February 25, 2024, during the afternoon when almost no one would be present. During that time, the defendant was observed attempting to enter the locked doors of the church sanctuary three times, taking pictures of the maps of the school grounds, and flipping off the school campus while standing on the school crest. Then, on Sunday, March 24, 2024, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the day of the Covenant School shooting, the defendant then left a menacing five-minute voicemail on CPA’s main phone line. In the voicemail, the defendant referenced multiple historical violent incidents and expressed anger and hostility at the school. The voicemail also referenced the movie Deadpool 2 in which a former student attempts to go back to his school to exact revenge and kill the headmaster. Countless school officials and the headmaster die in that movie. As a result of the defendant’s conduct, CPA closed school on Monday, March 25, 2024. “Children, parents, teachers, administrators and staff need to feel safe from harm while at school,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Our office, and our law enforcement partners, are fully committed to keeping our school communities safe and will have no tolerance for those who would put our kids at risk.” "The defendant’s concerning actions and social media posts emotionally devastated the school and church community and threatened their safety,” said Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the communities we serve and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement.” “No one should have to worry about their safety at school—students, parents, and teachers deserve peace of mind. Because of that, the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security is committed to protecting our communities and making sure threats like this are taken seriously,” said Commissioner Jeff Long, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. “We’ll continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable and ensure Tennessee remains a safe place to live, learn, and work.” McClure will be sentenced on Monday, July 7, 2025. At sentencing, McClure faces a maximum term of incarceration of five years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Risinger and Joshua Kurtzman prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Mexican Citizen Sentenced in Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

body_text: PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Francisco Montalvo-Grenada, age 26, and a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Montalvo-Grenada admitted that on May 15, 2023, he traveled from North Carolina to Northern New York, along with four co-conspirators, and smuggled 16 citizens of Mexico who had illegally entered the United States from Canada. Following Montalvo-Grenada’s sentence, he faces deportation to Mexico by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers. The United States Border Patrol investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt prosecuted this case.


title: Fort Cavazos Soldiers Plead Guilty, Face up to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Human Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – Two Fort Cavazos soldiers, Enrique Jauregui and Angel Palma, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Alpine to one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. According to court documents, Jauregui organized a smuggling event, recruiting Palma and another co-conspirator, Emilio Mendoza Lopez. Jauregui provided Palma and Mendoza Lopez the location information to pick up illegal aliens to smuggle, supported them with encouraging messages and instructions, and intended to pay Palma and Mendoza Lopez after they dropped off the illegal aliens. On Nov. 27, 2024, Palma and Mendoza Lopez drove from Fort Cavazos to Presidio and picked up three illegal aliens before leading U.S. Border Patrol agents on a high-speed chase. At one point, the defendants hit a marked USBP vehicle with an agent inside, causing injuries. Palma and Mendoza Lopez, along with the three illegal aliens, fled the vehicle on foot. All were apprehended with the exception of Palma, who was located at a hotel in Odessa and eventually arrested. Jauregui and Palma are both scheduled to be sentenced on May 23. They each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. Mendoza Lopez pleaded guilty to the same aiding and abetting charge on Jan. 27 and is scheduled to be sentenced April 25. He also faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case. ###


title: South Texas drug dealer sent to federal prison for firearm violation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old Alamo resident has been sentenced for utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Emiliano Cabriales pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2024. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now handed Cabriales a 60-month term of imprisonment immediately followed by three years of supervised release. On May 29, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Cabriales was a passenger. During a routine search, they discovered a firearm concealed beneath the seat where Cabriales had been sitting. Further investigation revealed 14 grams of cocaine, packaged in individual baggies, hidden inside his pants. Cabriales admitted to possessing the cocaine and that he had the firearm in case he had to protect himself and the drugs. Cabriales has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alamo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Armed Carjacking Spree and Shooting at Police Officers Nets District Man 17 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tywan J. Cummings, 44, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 204 months in federal prison for an armed carjacking spree in May 2020 that led to a car chase with police, his firing shots on police officers, and his burglarizing an occupied residence where he was eventually caught hiding. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., for the District of Columbia, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Cummings pleaded guilty August 18, 2023, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to carjacking; using, possessing, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and assaulting, resisting, or interfering with a police officer with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Cummings to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on the morning of May 17, 2020, in the Trinidad neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., Cummings pointed an AR-style rifle at a man who was putting air into his tire of his BMW 325i on the 1200 block of Raum Street. Cummings took the vehicle at gunpoint. Cummings then drove the BMW, with the valve of the pump still attached to the tire, into Maryland and, minutes later, carjacked a nurse of her Hyundai Tucson at gunpoint outside a hospital in Prince George’s County. In the early morning hours of May 18, 2023, multiple Maryland law enforcement agencies from the Bowie, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County Police Departments pursued Cummings—who was by this time driving a stolen Honda Ridgeline—into Southeast Washington, D.C. MPD officers were also on scene to assist. At the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Alabama Avenue SE, Cummings crashed the Honda into another car near a gas station. On foot with police in pursuit, Cummings fired multiple shots on Maryland and MPD police officers with a handgun. Shortly after 2 a.m., Cummings broke into an occupied residence on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE and hid in an upstairs bedroom. Police declared a barricade at 2:28 a.m. Members of the MPD’s Emergency Response Team responded and apprehended Cummings. Officers recovered a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, the AR-style rifle from the stolen vehicle, and over 100 rounds of ammunition. No victim sustained physical injuries during the spree. Cummings has been in custody since his arrest. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance provided by the Bowie Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emory V. Cole and Paul V. Courtney. 20cr0115


title: Previously Convicted Peruvian National Arrested After 2 Prior Deportations

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – A Peruvian national with multiple prior violent crime convictions was arrested near El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. According to court documents, Joel Edgardo Flores-Reyes was allegedly found just over one mile west of the Paso Del Norte port of entry without immigration documents allowing him to legally be or remain in the U.S. He has been previously removed from the U.S. twice, the most recent occasion being on June 13, 2024. Flores-Reyes was convicted on four counts in three separate misdemeanor cases in Arizona between 2006 and 2010. Flores-Reyes is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The U.S. Border Patrol is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Irish And U.K. Nationals Charged With Multi-State Construction Fraud That Targeted Vulnerable Homeowners

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Leslie R. Backschies, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging JAMES DINNIGAN, a/k/a “Charlie Ward,” and MARTIN MAUGHAN, a/k/a “Lawrence Rogers,” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their participation in a multi-year, multi-state organized construction fraud scheme that targeted at least 24 victims, including numerous elderly and vulnerable victims. MAUGHAN was transferred from state custody to federal custody this afternoon and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Robyn Tarnofsky. DINNIGAN is in federal immigration custody and will be transferred to the Southern District of New York. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, these defendants and their co-conspirators carried out a brazen scheme to defraud vulnerable members of our community by posing as legitimate home repair contractors and tricking homeowners into paying for thousands of dollars in unnecessary and unwanted home repairs. Today’s charges should serve as a reminder that this Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who seek to enrich themselves by victimizing vulnerable members of our community.” Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie R. Backschies said: “James Dinnigan and Martin Maughan allegedly enticed prospective consumers with illegitimate home improvement advertisements before intentionally destroying their property to extort unanticipated additional costs. These illegal foreign nationals allegedly laid the foundation to prey upon a vulnerable population across the northeast, ultimately stealing a significant sum from elderly victims. The FBI remains committed to protecting our citizens from any fraudulent company attempting to cement false promises to garner illicit profits.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] Between at least in or around October 2023 through at least in or about February 2025, DINNIGAN and MAUGHAN participated in a construction fraud scheme involving dozens of victims in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and several other states. Participants in the scheme were usually foreign nationals from Ireland and the United Kingdom who were illegally in the U.S. and falsely posed as legitimate home repair contractors. The scheme generally proceeded as follows: To get hired by the victims, members of the scheme made false statements to victims about their operation of legitimate home repair businesses, their occupation as contractors or engineers, and about home improvement and construction projects the victims needed to obtain. After being hired, members of the scheme tricked victims into paying for additional unwanted or unnecessary home repairs and other construction, including by purposefully damaging or destroying the victims’ property. The perpetrators of the scheme then forced victims, including through threats, into paying them tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. DINNIGAN, MAUGHAN, and other perpetrators of the scheme communicated with victims using cellphones and email. The victims frequently wrote checks and transferred money to bank accounts controlled by members of the scheme, including into an account at a particular financial institution in Manhattan, New York. The perpetrators of the scheme also operated websites in the names of at least two purported construction companies: Local Masonry and Construction and Pine Valley Home Improvements, Inc. Below are screenshots from websites that the perpetrators used to lure victims into the scheme: The FBI has identified more than two dozen victims—many who are elderly individuals—who have lost at least $1 million as a result of this scheme. DINNIGAN entered the U.S. on or about April 4, 2023, using a tourist visa. A review of relevant records has revealed no known documentation showing that DINNIGAN departed the U.S. as required, or that DINNIGAN applied for and received authorization to legally remain in the U.S. On or about February 25, 2025, DINNIGAN was encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) in Champlain, New York. On or about August 9, 2023, MAUGHAN was encountered by CBP officers in the vicinity of Laredo, Texas. MAUGHAN was subsequently ordered removed from the U.S. to the United Kingdom on or about October 30, 2023. According to MAUGHAN’s order of removal, he was prohibited from reentering or attempting to reenter the U.S. for a period of five years. On or about February 7, 2025, MAUGHAN was found inside the U.S. when he was arrested at the Boston Logan International Airport moments before departing on a flight to Dublin, Ireland. If you believe that you have additional information about this scheme or if you believe you have been a victim of the defendants or their co-conspirators, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, and reference this case. * * * DINNIGAN, 27, of Ireland, and MAUGHAN, 31, of the United Kingdom, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York and Philadelphia field offices. Mr. Podolsky also thanked CBP; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Lower Merion Police Department; Cheltenham Police Department; Bernards Township Police Department; and Lambertville Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from paralegal specialist William A. Coleman IV. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._maughan_and_dinnigan_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact descried therein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Mexican Man Charged With Assaulting Border Patrol Agent

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Gerardo Tejada-Calleja, 22, of Mexico, was arrested by the United States Border Patrol on March 2, 2025, and charged with Assault on a Federal Officer and Illegal Entry Into the United States. The government’s complaint alleges that, on March 2, 2025, a United States Border Patrol agent responded to a report of suspected illegal aliens in the area of Vamori, Arizona. When an agent approached the area, Tejada-Calleja was found hiding under a tree, attempting to evade apprehension. Tejada-Calleja ran down a wash upon seeing the agent. After a brief pursuit, Tejada-Calleja and another individual were found hiding under a tree and some brush. During attempts to apprehend the two individuals, the agent reached for his radio to let other agents know he needed assistance. Tejada-Calleja grabbed the agent’s gun belt area and his radio in an attempt to rip it out of the agent’s hands. During the assault, Tejada-Calleja wrapped his arms around the agent, taking him down to the ground backwards and onto his back. Tejada-Calleja and the other individual were able to evade apprehension again until they were subsequently captured and taken into custody. United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Precup, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 25-04720MJ-1 RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-029_Tejada-Calleja # # # 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: Violent Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: TREVON WRIGHT, also known as “Tre,” 23, was sentenced today U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 300 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang, multiple shootings, and his murder of a rival gang member in 2020. Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick. According to court documents, statements made in court, and the evidence presented during a month-long trial, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Wright has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End. Due to the level of gun violence Bridgeport was experiencing, the investigation commenced shortly before East End members shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang, on January 26, 2020. The next day, in retaliation for these shootings, GHB/Hotz and O.N.E. members attempted to kill East End gang members and associates in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a state courthouse on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport that resulted in four victims being shot while sitting inside a car. Wright and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities. The investigation determined that on August 23, 2019, Wright shot and wounded an associate of the GHB/Hotz gang and a female companion; on September 15, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, also known as “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang; on December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, also known as “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang; and on January 26, 2020, Wright shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang. On December 5, 2023, a jury found Wright and three associates guilty of conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity. Wright has been detained since January 21, 2021. Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has and solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, Rahul Kale, and Karen L. Peck. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Convicted Mexican Felon Arrested for Alleged Illegal Re-Entry

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. According to court documents, Jaime Perez Salinas was allegedly located in El Paso without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the country legally. Salinas has been removed from the U.S. twice before, the most recent removal being Dec. 27, 2024. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 60 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Salinas is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The U.S. Border Patrol is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Intervenes in Lawsuit Against Illinois for Unlawfully Requiring Nonprofits to Publicly Post Race Based Data

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi moved to intervene in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Bennett . The lawsuit challenges Illinois’ first in the nation law that requires nonprofits to publicly disclose demographic information, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity, of its officers and directors. The intent of the statute is to encourage nonprofits to discriminate under the guise of making nonprofit boards more “diverse.” President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are dedicated to ending DEI and restoring merit-based opportunity nationwide, and in all sectors. Today’s intervention is an early step toward eradicating illegal race and sex preferences across the government. “The United States cannot and will not sit idly while a state denies its citizens equal protection under the guise of diversity,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Discrimination in all its forms is abhorrent and must be eliminated. The Department of Justice will continue to exercise its statutory right to intervene in cases whenever a state encourages DEI instead of merit.” “This is a case of immense public importance because, as the Supreme Court recognized, ending ‘discrimination means eliminating all of it,’” said Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle. “This intervention seeks to eliminate discrimination via DEI and ensure the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection is enforced.”


title: Recidivist felon sentenced to over nine years in prison after being arrested in possession of four firearms

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 19, 2024, agents with the FBI Capital Area Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Herman Leroy Mallory Jr., 40, on outstanding warrants from Louisa County. When agents removed Mallory from the vehicle, they observed in plain view a handgun on top of the speaker deck and another handgun partially covered with a t-shirt on the floorboard. During a search of the vehicle, investigators recovered two rifles, a 50-round drum magazine, and additional ammunition and firearm magazines. They also discovered a pack containing baggies of narcotics, including 27.51 grams of cocaine, 9.46 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, 0.62 grams of fentanyl, and 6.27 grams of a mixture containing heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Mallory previously was convicted of felony larceny, grand larceny, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering. As a previously convicted felon, he cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. On April 30, 2024, a victim reported to police that a rifle had been stolen from his home approximately three weeks earlier when Mallory had been a guest in his home. On June 9, 2024, the victim contacted police again to report that three other firearms had been stolen. Mallory admitted to law enforcement that the handgun observed on top of the speaker deck in his vehicle and one of the recovered rifles had come from the victim. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-149.


title: Prominent Los Angeles Tattoo Artist Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A prominent tattoo artist, once identified in the press as “Hollywood’s Go-To Tattoo Artist,” pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns through which he evaded the payment of more than $641,000 in federal income tax. Daniel Joseph Winter, 43, who uses the moniker “winterstone,” pleaded guilty to one count of subscription to a false tax return. Winter operated his tattoo business in the Los Angeles area, New York and Vancouver, Canada, specializing in single-needle fine-line tattoos and catering to high-end clients. His tattoos were expensive, and he earned substantial income from his work as a tattoo artist and related endeavors. According to his plea agreement, Winter earned at least $1.7 million from his tattoo business from 2021 to 2023. But he declared no wages, salaries or tip income on the tax returns he signed and filed with the IRS. For 2021, he reported taxable income of negative $3,442 instead of his actual taxable income of $501,710; for 2022, he reported taxable income of $1,105 instead of his actual taxable income of $347,159; and for 2023, he reported income of $14,852, instead of his actual taxable income of $850,447. By underreporting his actual income in this way, Winter reduced the taxes he appeared to owe by more than $641,000. At today’s hearing, Winter presented a cashier’s check in the amount of $641,959 to the court to pay the taxes he owed due to the underreporting of his income for 2021 through 2023. Winter also admitted in court today that he knew he was required to report all his income but willfully lied about it on his tax returns. He accepted payment for his tattoo services almost exclusively in cash, making it harder for the IRS to determine his true income. United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II scheduled an August 11 sentencing hearing, at which time Winter will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Ranee Katzenstein of the Criminal Appeals Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on February 10, 2025. Kaleb Mills, a/k/a Kayleb Mills, age 31, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. A federal grand jury indicted Mills in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024. The conviction stems from Mills sending a Facebook message to a 17-year-old female asking her if she wanted to hang out. She agreed and Mills found her a ride from her house to his house at Pine Ridge. That evening, he injected the female with methamphetamine. While she was under the influence of the methamphetamine and unable to consent to sexual activity, Mills engaged in sexual activity with her. Mills was previously convicted of a similar charge in 2013. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Mills was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Ex-Girlfriend of Crypto ‘Godfather’ Agrees to Plead Guilty to Tax Charge for Failing to Report More Than $2.6 Million in Illicit Income

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The former girlfriend of a cryptocurrency fraudster who dubbed himself “The Godfather” has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal tax charge for failing to report more than $2.6 million in ill-gotten gains she obtained via her then-boyfriend’s criminal activities, the Justice Department announced today. Iris Ramaya Au, 35, of Irvine, is charged in a single-count information with subscribing to a false tax return. Au has agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge and is expected to make her initial appearance in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming days. According to Au’s plea agreement, from 2020 to 2024, Iza committed a series of crimes, including fraudulently obtaining access to advertising accounts and lines of credit provided by Facebook Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. and selling access to those accounts. Iza obtained millions of dollars of unreported income as a result of these schemes. Separately, Iza engaged active Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies to provide private security for him and caused the deputies, among other things, to obtain court-authorized search warrants and confidential law enforcement information targeting people with whom Iza had financial and personal disputes. At Iza’s direction, Au created shell corporations and opened bank accounts in the names of those entities. She then used the illicit funds placed into those accounts to pay approximately $1 million to the deputies, mostly in cash, purchase or lease luxury real estate, cars, jewelry, and clothing, pay for recreational activity for Iza and herself valued at nearly $10 million, and acquire approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency for Iza. Au admitted in her plea agreement that she transferred more than $2.6 million from these various accounts to her personal bank accounts during the period 2020 through 2023, income that she willfully failed to report to the IRS on her federal tax returns. After pleading guilty, Au will face up to three years in federal prison. On January 30, Iza appeared before a federal judge and pleaded guilty to a first superseding information charging him with conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 16, at which time he will face up to 35 years in federal prison. Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. O’Brien and J. Jamari Buxton of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Jackson Police Department Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison  for Making a False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern


title: Memphis Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Patricia Johnson , 47 , has been sentenced to a total of 120 months in federal prison for committing identity theft and bank fraud, as well as violating the terms of her supervised release. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to evidence presented in court, on numerous occasions between May and June 2022 and in multiple locations in West Tennessee, Johnson impersonated other persons named “Patricia Johnson” who had existing bank accounts or who were authorized signees of accounts. Johnson obtained the victims’ bank account numbers and other personal information and then went to branches of the victims’ banking institutions, presented their personal identifying information, and made cash withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts. Johnson fraudulently obtained over $50,000.00 through this scheme. Prior to her participation in this identity theft scheme, Johnson had an extensive criminal history spanning thirty years. This history included numerous felony convictions for theft and fraud and several prior federal identity theft convictions. On May 16, 2024, Johnson pled guilty to a three-count information in the Western District of Tennessee. The information included one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. On February 25, 2025, Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Johnson to 106 months in federal prison on the bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges and 14 months’ imprisonment on her violation of supervised release from a previous case. She was sentenced to five years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: New Jersey Company Sentenced for Clean Water Act Violations that Caused Fish Kill in Cheshire, Will Pay $1 Million

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kathryn Rivera, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division for New England, announced that NATIONAL WATER MAIN CLEANING COMPANY (“NWMCC”) was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport for a felony violation of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) for knowingly discharging a pollutant into Cuff Brook while refurbishing a large culvert pipe in Cheshire, Connecticut, in July 2019. The company’s unauthorized discharge of uncured geopolymer mortar killed more than 150 fish and contaminated Cuff Brook. Judge Dooley sentenced NWMCC to a term of federal probation with environmental conditions for three years, a $500,000 federal penalty, and a payment of $500,000 to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“CT DEEP”) to fund aquatic ecosystem enhancement projects in the South Central Coastal Watershed, where both Cheshire and Cuff Brook are located. NWMCC is based in New Jersey and owned by Carylon Corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. According to court documents and statements made in court, NWMCC had submitted the lowest bid and entered into a contract with the Town of Cheshire (“Cheshire”) to repair a decaying 11-foot culvert pipe underneath Marion Road. Cheshire’s project specifications required that the work be done under dry conditions along with environmental controls to prevent uncured geopolymer mortar from leaking into Cuff Brook. With a Cheshire Department of Public Works (“DPW”) representative present each day, NWMCC began work on July 15, 2019. However, from July 16 to July 18, 2019, NWMCC sprayed geopolymer mortar onto the culvert pipe without the mandated environmental controls. On July 17, 2019, NWMCC crews continued to work despite heavy rain, which led to uncured geopolymer mortar seeping into Cuff Brook. On July 18, 2019, a Cheshire resident with property abutting Cuff Brook observed dead fish and discolored water with an oily sheen in the brook, and smelled a chemical odor similar to lighter fluid. CT DEEP responded and determined that NWMCC was responsible for the pollutant release, thereby killing more than 150 fish and contaminating the waterway. CT DEEP estimated that Cuff Brook would not return to its prior state for three to five years. The government’s investigation revealed that NWMCC was aware that its environmental controls were deficient, but did not remediate these deficiencies during the project. Although the company attempted to blame the pollutant release and fish kill on a single employee, the investigation showed that he had been inadequately trained, directed to complete the job in an unrealistic timeframe, and was never informed that the uncured geopolymer mortar was hazardous to the environment. The investigation also revealed that NWMCC lacked a meaningful and comprehensive environmental training program for its employees, particularly with respect to the CWA, even though NWMCC’s core business is repairing and rehabilitating infrastructure that interfaces with public waterways. In addition, NWMCC’s bonus policy incentivized site supervisors and executives to push their work crews to perform projects quickly and maximize the number of jobs completed. At the time of Cheshire project, NWMCC was operating under a Code of Conduct as part of a 2014 settlement with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office to resolve civil allegations involving environmental pollution. NWMCC pleaded guilty to the offense on January 17, 2025. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen with the assistance of EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Man Chak Ng.


title: Elk Mound Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Deena M. Hintz, 53, Eau Claire, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a year in federal prison for willful failure to pay employment taxes. Hintz pleaded guilty to this offense on December 17, 2024. Hintz owned and operated Jade Excavation and Trucking in Elk Mound, Wisconsin for nearly ten years. At times, Jade had up to fifteen employees who provided excavation, earth moving, and snow plowing services. Between 2017 and 2021, Hintz deducted over $400,000 in federal employment taxes from her employees’ payroll and instead of paying those taxes to the government, she kept the money for herself. Judge Conley noted that a prison sentence was necessary to reflect the scope and gravity of the amount of money withheld and then used by Hintz and her business partner for their own benefit. Judge Conley also ordered Hintz to pay restitution for tax losses in the amount of $482,185.46. The charge against Hintz was the result of an investigation conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson prosecuted this case.