title: Brookfield Man Charged with Money Laundering Conspiracy and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ankurkumar Patel (age: 41) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of substantive money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h) and 1957, respectively. The indictment alleges that Patel conspired with others to launder over $1 million from elderly victims in multiple states, including a victim in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who fell prey to a “Phantom Hacker Scam.” Phantom Hacker Scams are a type of fraud that primarily targets elderly victims. A participant in the scheme, who is often located overseas, poses as a customer service agent at a company or government agency. The purported customer service agent contacts the victim or induces the victim to contact the purported agent and falsely claims that the victim’s identity or bank account has been hacked or compromised. The fraudster then refers the victim to a co-conspirator posing as a law enforcement agent who directs the victim to move their funds, usually in the form of cash or physical gold, to a third-party or government account for safe keeping. The co-conspirator then coordinates the transfer of the victim’s funds to other participants in the scheme who act as couriers. The indictment alleges that Patel personally retrieved over $1 million from victims and conspired to launder it by distributing the money to other co-conspirators through anonymous, surreptitious transactions. If convicted of the money laundering conspiracy, Patel would face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. If convicted of the substantive money laundering count, Patel would face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000, or twice the amount of the criminally derived property. If you believe you or someone you know may have fallen victim to a similar scam, please contact the FBI at 414-276-4684. This case was investigated by the FBI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations in St. Louis, Missouri. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: 14 Members of a Violent Gang in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, Charged with Drug Trafficking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 27, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 14 gang members from the municipality of Arroyo with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Guayama Strike Force were in charge of the investigation of the case. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team (SRT) collaborated during the arrests. “These arrests show the relentless determination of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable criminal enterprises that use violence and intimidation to control drug territory,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to dismantle violent gangs and make our communities safer.” “The FBI will not allow violent gangs to dictate the quality of life or diminish hope for the people of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Our office, together with our partners, will continue to dismantle criminal organizations fueling terror in our streets. The deliberate efforts of thugs to destroy prosperity will be met with the FBI’s relentless efforts to crush violent crime and defend the homeland.” The indictment alleges that from 2020 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, fentanyl or a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of any analogue of fentanyl, and marihuana within 1,000 feet of the Isidro Cora Public Housing Project (PHP), and other areas nearby the municipality of Arroyo, all for significant financial gain and profit. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants established a drug distribution point operating within three apartments inside the Isidro Cora PHP, and that sellers would sell drugs through a window or balcony to avoid being seen and/or detected by law enforcement. Some of the defendants and their co-conspirators mixed fentanyl into the cocaine to be sold at the drug points as well as mixing xylazine with the fentanyl – a deadly combination. Court documents also reflect at least two overdose deaths of drug customers within the Isidro Cora PHP. The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to threaten rival drug trafficking organizations, and to discipline members of their own organization, to include giving beatings to other co-conspirators and residents of the housing projects, with different weapons, including horse whips, as a disciplinary measure if they stepped out of line. The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are: [1] Eduardo Contreras-Hernández, a.k.a. “Eddie/Paleta/Tipo/Paletita” [2] Juan Carlos Soto-Santos, a.k.a. “Juanka” [3] Jeremy E. Rodríguez-Cruz, a.k.a. “Gordo/Arabe” [4] Edwin García-González, a.k.a. “Tabaco” [5] José A. Torres-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Cholo” [6] José A. Ruiz-Morales, a.k.a. “Shano” [7] Yenaritza N. Escobar-Santiago, a.k.a. “Yuyo” [8] Hermenegildo Ruiz-Robledo [9] Mónica González-Rivera [10] Savon Lee-Ewin, a.k.a. “Gringo” [11] Joseph Rivera-Bustamante [12] José Melendez-Pizarro, a.k.a. “Cabrilla” [13] Victor Alexis Collazo-Bones, a.k.a. “Molle” [14] Anyeli Andreina-Medina Defendant [1] Eduardo Contreras-Hernández is also charged in Count Six with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Six, Contreras-Hernández faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $2,850,900. The FBI thanks the PRPB Guayama Strike Force for their assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice Daphne M. Cordero-Guilloty are prosecuting the case. 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: Romanian Admits Nationwide $130,000 Sleight-of-Hand Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A Romanian national on Tuesday admitted targeting stores across the country with a sleight-of-hand fraud that netted at least $130,000. Suras Rostas, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of wire fraud. Rostas admitted travelling the country between roughly April 2023 and October 2024, shortchanging Walmart cashiers by hundreds or thousands of dollars at a time. After cashiers scanned the merchandise or began processing an electronic money transfer, Rostas counted money into piles that added up to at least the full amount of the transaction and handed the piles one at a time to cashiers. He then took the cash back, gathered it into a pile and slipped bills from the bottom of the stack into his pocket. Rostas then regularly returned the merchandise for a full cash refund. Rostas on Tuesday admitted conducting at least 45 fraudulent transactions at Walmart stores in at least 18 different states, defrauding Walmart of at least $130,000 worth of money and property. Rostas is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. He will be ordered to repay the money and will likely be deported. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Arnold Police Department handled the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.


title: Indiana Inmate Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS – Yesterday, Roger King, 39 years old, of Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis after pleading guilty to two counts of mailing threatening communications, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. King was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. This sentence will run consecutive to the state sentence King was serving at the time of the offense and is still serving today. According to documents in the case, on November 9, 2021, while incarcerated on Indiana state charges at the New Castle Correctional Facility, King mailed a letter to the United States Supreme Court Clerk addressed to the “Republican Justices.” In the letter, King threatened to detonate a bomb at the United States Supreme Court building. King wrote that he was “very serious” and had “every intention to come to Washington to use a bomb” that would “blow up and kill all of you Republican Justices.” Almost five months later, on April 1, 2022, while still incarcerated at the New Castle Correctional Facility, King mailed a letter to the United States District Court Clerk in the Southern District of Indiana addressed to two federal judges who were presiding over a civil case King had filed. The letter contained a harmless white powdery substance accompanied by language suggesting it was anthrax or boric acid. The letter was opened by a judicial employee, prompting an extensive law enforcement and public health response to contain the threat. “Threats directed at members of the judiciary are not only criminal acts, but direct attacks on the rule of law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “No judge should ever have to fear that an adverse ruling will provoke an attack. Due to the outstanding collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, King was brought to justice for making these serious threats. My office will continue to hold those accountable who threaten and intimidate judges and other public servants.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Supreme Court Police, with valuable assistance provided by the United States Marshals Service, the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Department of Corrections, the Marion County Public Health Department, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. McGrath and Steven J. Lupa, who were appointed as Special Attorneys in the Southern District of Indiana.


title: Bristol Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking, Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Program

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TERRY COLLINS, 31, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl and for laundering funds received through misrepresentations to a COVID-19 relief program. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the Waterbury Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies determined that Gawayne Fisher, also known as “Fruit” and “Tank,” was trafficking narcotics in and around Waterbury while on federal supervised release. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fisher and others were selling large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as counterfeit oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax) pills. Collins supplied fentanyl to Fisher’s organization, and he maintained a location on Yale Street in Waterbury to store, process, and package narcotics. Collins, Fisher, and two associates were arrested on April 13, 2023. On that date, a search of the Yale Street location revealed drug-processing equipment, approximately three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and approximately 75,000 individual bags containing fentanyl. In addition, a West Main Street apartment in Waterbury that Fisher used as a stash location revealed approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, 125,000 individual glassine bags containing fentanyl, and $7,574 in cash, and a search of Fisher’s residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury, and his vehicle, revealed approximately $175,110 in cash. The investigation also revealed that Collins defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), a COVID-19 pandemic relief program established by the U.S. Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to provide financial assistance to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. In May 2021, Collins submitted documentation to the U.S. Small Business Administration that Platinum Liquor, a store he operated in Waterbury, had 14 employees and an average monthly payroll of $59,612. In fact, Platinum Liquor only had one employee and the store did not generate as much money as Collins claimed. Based on these misrepresentations, Platinum Liquor received a $149,030 PPP loan. Collins made additional misrepresentations in loan forgiveness documents and the loan was subsequently forgiven. On October 2, 2024, Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of money laundering related to the PPP loan scheme. Collins, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 28. Judge Bolden will determine Collins’ restitution obligation within 90 days. On January 27, 2025, Fisher was sentenced to 217 months of imprisonment for this drug trafficking offense and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden, East Haven, Branford, Shelton, and Bristol Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Crimes on Public Lands Yellowstone National Park John Nofsinger , 31, of Columbus, Ohio pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher and refusing to provide a breath test. On the same date Nofsinger was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration for refusing the official breath test, with credit for 2 days previously served. Nofsinger was sentenced to a 3-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Nofsinger was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 3 in Mammoth, Wyoming. Michael O’Connell , 54 of Canton, Massachusetts, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park under the influence of alcohol to the extent he was incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle and refusing to comply with an official breath test. For refusing to comply with the official breath test O’Connell was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 1 day previously served. O’Connell was ordered to serve the additional 6-day sentence immediately and was not released from custody after the sentencing hearing. O’Connell was also sentenced to a 2-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. O’Connell was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming. Kyle Decare , 30 of Brighton, Michigan, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a breath alcohol concentration of .08% and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Decare was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days previously served for driving the motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. For driving with a suspended driver’s license, the defendant was sentenced to a 2-year term of probation under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Decare was also sentenced to pay a total of $1,650 in fines and court costs because it was his second DUI conviction within one year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming. Drug Trafficking Calvin Eugene Stroup , 42, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in February 2024, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began an investigation into drug trafficking in Sheridan and Campbell Counties. Through the investigation, agents identified Stroup as a middleman, receiving large quantities from a source of supply and selling them to distributors in Wyoming. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Stroup was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 4. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00016 Collie Judson Warren , 49, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During an investigation into drug trafficking activities on the Wind River Indian Reservation and surrounding communities, Agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) observed Warren pick up suspected drugs from a known source of supply. Agents subsequently seized nearly two pounds of methamphetamine from Warren’s pickup. The FBI and DCI through the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigated the offense. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Warren was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on June 6. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00055 Violent Crime Matthew Jarrett Smith , 33, of Kinnear, Wyoming, was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on Dec. 5, 2024, law enforcement responded to an assault incident. The victim reported she had been assaulted by the defendant including being hit, kicked, and strangled, which resulted in extensive injuries to her neck and face, rib fractures, bruising and swelling, and a broken toe. The crime was investigated by the FBI and the BIA Wind River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. The defendant was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 2. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 21 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-00012 Drew Blackburn, Jr ., 18, from Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for making interstate threats to injure another person. According to court documents, between August and October 2024, the defendant was incarcerated in South Dakota for conduct related to an assault on his victim. During that time, correctional officers audited his phone calls and learned he had been calling the victim with whom he was not supposed to have contact. They also found over 1,000 texts, some of them containing threats. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Blackburn was indicted on March 20, and he pleaded guilty on June 3. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-00046 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Juan Flores-Pinuelas, 37, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan. 3, the defendant was arrested in Uinta County for domestic battery. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Flores-Pinuelas is a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Flores-Pinuelas had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in December 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 18 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00100 Jose Guadelupe Luna-Murillo, 29, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2024, the defendant was arrested in Sweetwater County for driving while under the influence. He provided a written statement that he was from Mexico and that he was in the U.S. illegally. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted and they took the defendant’s fingerprints. It was determined that Luna-Murillo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in September 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00009 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Preston Man Admits Distributing Child Sex Abuse Material

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOEL HUNTSMAN, also known as “Jay Huntsman, “Joel Feser,” and “Jay Blackburn”, 37, of Preston, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a child exploitation offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2022, the Kik mobile messenger application submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) that a user, subsequently identified as Huntsman, had distributed child sex abuse images and videos to another Kik user. On November 2, 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a court-authorized search of Huntsman’s residence and seized multiple items, including two mobile phones. Analysis of the seized phones revealed child sex abuse images and videos. Huntsman was arrested on January 26, 2023. Huntsman pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. He has been detained since his arrest. This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Nancy V. Gifford. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit https://report.cybertip.org/ .


title: Seattle gang member with history of gun violence sentenced to prison for illegal firearm possession

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A long-time member of a south Seattle street gang was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison, and three years of supervised release, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Samuel N. Rezene, 38, has a lengthy criminal history involving drug trafficking, promoting prostitution and firearms. Rezene was the target of multiple shooting incidents including one in February 2012, when Rezene’s then girlfriend was shot and killed while riding in the car Rezene was driving. At the sentencing hearing today U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said “As far as I can tell, this defendant wants to be taken out of society…. You don’t get a Glock 9 to protect yourself, you get that to be back in the trade.” “Less than three months after his release from a 92-month prison sentence, Mr. Rezene again had a firearm, drove dangerously, crashed his car in a high crime area, and fled from police,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The only thing that stops his criminal conduct is time behind prison bars. This sentence is necessary for community safety.” According to records filed in the case, Rezene was 83 days into his term of federal supervised release, when he crashed his parents’ car on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle and fled the scene, leaving a firearm in the car. Rezene was ultimately arrested and indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025. The firearm that Rezene left in the crashed car had his DNA on the magazine that was in the pistol. Analysis of the bullets fired by the gun reveal that it is linked to four shots fired incidents that occurred before Rezene was released from federal prison for a May 2017 conviction. The firearm is also tied to a September 3, 2023, homicide that occurred in Seattle’s Holly Park neighborhood a few weeks after Rezene was released from prison. Rezene has a lengthy history of being involved with gun violence. In 2011 and 2013, Rezene and one or more associates were involved in two different drug robberies of rival gangsters. In retaliation for these robberies, Rezene, his home and vehicles were repeatedly the targets of drive-by shootings. In retaliation, Rezene’s associates shot up a business associated with the rival gang. On May 15, 2014, Rezene was shot multiple times while at a gas station in Renton. Rezene grabbed a gun from the center console of his car and attempted to return fire and then collapsed. Rezene was taken to Harborview Medical Center and survived the shooting. His assailant has never been found. Even after the May 2014 shooting at the gas station, Rezene continued his violent ways. After being released from the hospital, law enforcement spotted him shooting at a business associated with a rival gang in October 2014. Rezene was sentenced to 31 months in state custody for a related firearms offense. He was charged federally in December 2014 and was found guilty at a bench trial in May 2017 and was sentenced to the 92-month prison sentence. Rezene has multiple felony convictions, including convictions for drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, promoting prostitution, and attempting to elude a police vehicle. These convictions as well as his federal convictions prohibit him from possessing a firearm. In asking for a sentence at the top of the guidelines range Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg wrote to the court, “The federal firearms statutes exist for the purpose of keeping firearms out of the hands of people like Samuel Rezene. Rezene has lived a reckless and dangerous lifestyle as a gang member and drug dealer. His commission of two drug robberies set off a violent chain of events that ultimately led to him being shot at the Shell station in 2014.” The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department with assistance from the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.


title: Member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club Pleads Guilty for Assault Against a Rival Motorcycle Club Member

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays for his involvement in an assault against a member of a rival motorcycle club. Mark A. Crump, also known as “Navajo,” 55, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty today to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering. On July 20, 2023, Crump, Jarrid A. Hammer, and another member of the Pagan’s assaulted a lone rival motorcycle gang member at a bar & grill in North Kansas City, Mo. Hammer told the victim that they were there to shut the victim’s club down, then flipped a table over knocking the victim to the ground. Once on the ground, Hammer, Crump and the other Pagan’s member began stomping, kicking and punching the victim. The victim later told law enforcement that those who assaulted him were wearing steel-toed boots. Crump, Hammer and the other Pagan’s member fled the bar & grill before any law enforcement arrived. The victim was later transported by ambulance to a local hospital, suffering from a head contusion (bruise on the brain), rib fracture, hemothorax (accumulation of blood in the area between the chest wall and lungs), a left pulmonary contusion (bruising of the lung), pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and a traumatic brain injury. Hammer pleaded guilty to the assault on June 18, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing. Under federal statutes, Crump is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Company Insider Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Fraudulently Obtaining Laboratory Research Products For Illegal Export To China

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Gregory Muñoz (47, Minneola) to 18 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $100,000, the proceeds of the wire fraud. Muñoz pleaded guilty on May 9, 2024. Muñoz’s co-conspirator, Pen Yu, pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison, later reduced to two years and six months in prison. Another co-conspirator, Jonathan Thyng, pleaded guilty in July 2024 and was sentenced to probation. According to court documents, beginning in at least July 2016 and continuing through at least May 2023, Yu ordered biochemical products from MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of multinational science and technology company Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, with help from Muñoz, a MilliporeSigma salesperson, by falsely representing that Yu was affiliated with a biology research lab at a Florida university. This fictitious affiliation led MilliporeSigma to provide Yu millions of dollars’ worth of discounts and other benefits, such as free overnight shipping, not available to the public. Yu gave Muñoz thousands of dollars in gift cards for facilitating these fraudulent discounted orders. When the products arrived at the university stockroom, a stockroom employee diverted the products to Yu, who repackaged them and shipped them to China. To avoid scrutiny, Yu made false statements about the value and contents of these shipments in export documents. This scheme continued until MilliporeSigma compliance personnel identified certain orders as suspicious, prompting the company to retain outside counsel who voluntarily disclosed the misconduct to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division one week later. MilliporeSigma made the disclosure well before its counsel had completed their investigation and understood the full nature and extent of the scheme. MilliporeSigma offered exceptional cooperation to the prosecution team, including by proactively identifying and producing documents to the Department that established probable cause to search residences and electronic devices of culpable individuals. MilliporeSigma’s cooperation allowed investigators to quickly identify the individuals responsible for the scheme, including Yu, Muñoz, and Thyng, and secure their felony guilty pleas. This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the cases.


title: Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between Aug. 7, 2022, and Oct. 3, 2022, Gonzales Grado executed a scheme to defraud credit unions. She unlawfully used the identity of a victim to obtain a car loan to buy a Mercedes-Benz, a second car loan to buy a Jaguar, and a personal loan for purported “medical expenses.” In a credit union account associated with these loans, Gonzales Grado also deposited two checks that had been stolen and altered to reflect the name of the victim as payee, thus allowing Gonzales Grado access to the funds. She also used the victim’s identity to open an account with a mobile phone provider and to lease an apartment. And she provided law enforcement authorities with the victim’s driver’s license in order to avoid a traffic citation. Gonzales Grado was caught when she drove to a meeting with law enforcement regarding probation terms; she drove the fraudulently obtained Jaguar to the meeting. On searching the Jaguar, law enforcement found a driver’s license, Social Security card, and several other debit and credit cards in the victim’s name, among other items. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case. Gonzales Grado is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 6, 2026. Gonzales Grado faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud charge, as well as a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge. In addition to pleading guilty, Gonzales Grado agreed to pay up to $150,000 in restitution to the victims of her crimes. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Georgia Woman Sentenced for $1 Million Wire Fraud

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Chisom Okonkwo, age 29, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced today to 7 months in prison for wire fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Okonkwo and another defendant created an email address that spoofed that of an employee at a Gilmer County business, causing a vendor to send more than $1 million to a bank account controlled by the defendants. Okonkwo and the co-defendant expended more than $600,000 of the stolen funds before the scheme was discovered. Okonkwo was ordered to pay $610,146.03 in restitution. The second defendant, Prince Boateng Adjei, 31, also of Lawrenceville, Georgia, will be sentenced at a later date. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Harrison County Doctor Sentenced for Improper Prescribing of Adderall

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A West Virginia doctor was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and for destroying evidence of his crimes. David Elwood Hess, 61, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was convicted of one count of improper prescribing and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation after a trial earlier this year. Hess wrote prescriptions for Adderall to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional practice. Once investigators seized Hess’s phone as evidence, Hess remotely wiped his iPhone. Hess will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Cogar and Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Kleeh presided.


title: Machinegun Trafficker Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Wolf Harper, 37, from Lansing, was sentenced to 83 months in prison for possession and transfer of machineguns and possession of a short-barreled rifle. Harper sold a short-barreled rifle with a silencer (shown below) and 74 machinegun conversion devices, or auto sears, to an undercover agent. A conversion device enables semiautomatic firearms to fire as fully automatic weapons, shooting up to 1000 rounds of ammunition a minute and allowing a magazine to be emptied with a single pull of the trigger. A conversion device is a machinegun under federal law. When investigators arrested Harper, he had 30 more conversion devices in his possession and approximately 20 more at home. Also in Harper’s home were nine silencers, numerous weapons, and tactical gear: Law enforcement found a sophisticated firearms manufacturing workshop in one bedroom: U.S. Attorney VerHey stated that he was pleased with the results of the case. “Street gangs and drug traffickers have recently escalated the danger they pose to our communities by choosing to carry machineguns rather than ordinary firearms when they can. This leads to tragic and predictable results: not only do the criminals harm and kill one another, innocent bystanders often get caught in the crossfire. Harper was willing to sell his deadly products to all buyers, no questions asked. My office will always put people like him at the top of the list of offenders we will investigate and bring to justice.” “Wolf Harper was motivated by money and his actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of others,” said James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division. “Machinegun conversion devices are inherently dangerous and represent a clear danger to public safety. In the hands of prolific shooters who terrorize our neighborhoods with gun violence, these devices represent tools of urban warfare. In this case, Harper selfishly put profit ahead of logic. He will have plenty of time to reflect on that while he sits in federal prison. ATF will identify and prosecute anyone who traffics in these illegal devices and work with our partners to hold them accountable.” This case was investigated by ATF. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Justice Department Charges Light Rail Attacker with Federal Crime

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte today, charging Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, with a federal crime in connection with the fatal attack of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system. Brown is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. “Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.” “The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family – as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals." According to allegations in the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint: On August 22, 2025, at approximately 9:55 p.m., officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) responded to a call for service related to an assault that occurred on the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte. Callers indicated that a woman had been stabbed by a male. Responding officers located the victim inside the rail car. The victim, subsequently identified as Iryna Zarutska, had sustained fatal stab wounds. A pocketknife and other items were collected from the scene. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that showed the victim entering the light rail car and sitting down in the row in front of Brown. Approximately four minutes later, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded it before striking the victim three times from behind. Following the attack, Brown walked away from the victim. Responding officers located Brown on the light rail platform and he was arrested. “This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most—Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family. But crimes like this also affect everyone who relies on mass transportation to get to and from work and go about their daily lives, and federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.” If convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. Ultimately, his sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. The charges against Brown are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. U.S. v. Brown, September 9, 2025, Criminal Complaint


title: Hiram Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Maintaining Drug, Weapons, and Money Stash

body_text: ROME, Ga. - Darrlin Vernard Warner was sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine while in possession of multiple firearms and more than $175,000 in drug proceeds. “Fentanyl and methamphetamine are wreaking havoc on north Georgia, leading to addiction, crime, and loss of life,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of key collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, a significant drug trafficker is out of the community. His deadly drugs are off the street, his weapons have been seized, and his drug proceeds now belong to law enforcement.” “Drug traffickers like Warner fuel addiction and violence by pushing fentanyl and meth into our communities while stockpiling weapons and cash,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the outstanding partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement, we have dismantled a dangerous operation and made northern Georgia safer.” “This sentencing is a significant victory in protecting the citizens of Georgia from the dangers drug traffickers bring into our communities. Traffickers of deadly substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine leave behind addiction, violence, and devastation that tear families apart,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, remains committed to ensuring these criminals face justice and that these dangerous drugs are removed from our communities.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In October and November 2024, Warner conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Paulding and Douglas counties. On November 13, 2024, federal, state, and local agencies searched Warner’s home and car, and seized more than two pounds of fentanyl, one pound of methamphetamine, five firearms, and $177,119 in cash. Earlier today, United States District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced Darrlin Vernard Warner, a/k/a “Juice,” 40, of Hiram, Georgia, to fifteen years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. As part of the sentence, Warner forfeited the cash seized from his residence. Warner was convicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on June 5, 2025, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paulding County Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III, Thomas M. Forsyth, III, and Jeffrey Brown prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood. Anyone with information about drug sales/trafficking in their area can report it to the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or DEA’s Atlanta Division Office at (404) 893-7000. Online tips can be submitted at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip . The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia encourages parents and children to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov , www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com , www.operationprevention.com/ , www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov , and www.dea.gov/onepill . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy in Stockton

body_text: Alberto Ojeda Lopez, 69, of Mexico, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Ojeda Lopez conspired with his wife and daughter, co‑defendants Maria Medina Silvas, 66, of Mexico, and Alecsa Ojeda de Oregel, 44, of Stockton, to distribute heroin in and around Stockton. In September 2022, Ojeda Lopez and Medina Silvas sold an ounce of heroin to an undercover officer. In August 2023, they sold a kilogram of heroin to the undercover officer. The next day, law enforcement seized 2 kilograms of heroin from Ojeda Lopez’s and Medina Silvas’s vehicle. Law enforcement then searched the Stockton residence of Ojeda de Oregel, which was used as a drug and money stash house for the conspiracy, and seized 2.8 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of heroin, almost a half of a kilogram of methamphetamine, and $83,119 in cash drug proceeds. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case. Medina Silvas and Ojeda de Oregel are scheduled for jury trial on Feb. 17, 2026. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Ojeda Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 27, 2026. Ojeda Lopez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Davis Man Pleads Guilty to International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in the United States and Canada

body_text: Parampreet Singh, 59, of Davis, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, opium, and ketamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Parampreet Singh and his co-conspirators, including co‑defendants Amandeep Multani, 37, of Roseville, and Ranvir Singh, 42, of Sacramento, coordinated cocaine, heroin, opium, and ketamine deals in Canada. They coordinated these deals from California over encrypted cellphone applications. Parampreet Singh was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy. In total, between October 2020 and April 2021, they coordinated sales to undercover officers of approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of opium, 2 kilograms of ketamine, and multiple samples of heroin, for a total of $637,600 in Canadian dollars and $75,190 in U.S. dollars, in deals in Canada and Sacramento. As part of his plea agreement, Parampreet Singh agreed to forfeit $2 million to the United States. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the York Regional Police in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Placer County Special Investigations Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Spencer and Haddy Abouzeid are prosecuting the case. Multani pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2025. Ranvir Singh is scheduled for a jury trial to begin on Oct. 6, 2025. The charges against Ranvir Singh are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Parampreet Singh is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 27, 2026. Parampreet Singh faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Whitley County Man Sentenced to 420 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Joel J. McClure, 38 years old, of Columbia City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. McClure was sentenced to 300 months in prison for the count of sexual exploitation of children, and a consecutive term of 120 months imprisonment for committing that offense while being a registered sex offender, for a total sentence of 420 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, McClure used the internet to solicit a fourteen-year-old girl to produce and send him child sexual abuse material, which he then shared with others on the internet. McClure then lured the child to meet with him in person and provided her vape pens and THC gummies in exchange for sexual contact. McClure was a registered sex offender at the time of this offense, having previously been convicted of an offense against children in Texas. “Joel McClure is a sexual predator of the worst kind,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He abused a child in Texas, was convicted of that crime, and was required to register as a sex offender. Yet those severe consequences failed to deter him from ensnaring another child in his web of lies and then exploiting that child for his own perverse gratification. In other words, he has shown that only a long prison sentence will keep our families safe from his depredations. Thankfully, the exceptional work of this Office and our Project Safe Childhood partners secured a 35-year sentence that will lock him away in a place where he can do no more harm to our nation’s children.” “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the lifelong impact they have on victims,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI will never stop working to protect children and hold predators accountable - we will relentlessly pursue anyone who seeks to harm the most vulnerable among us.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allen County Sheriff’s Department/FBI Task Force with assistance from the Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Department, the Schaumburg (Illinois) Police Department, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police, the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Cook County (Illinois) Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST MADISON MAN FOR DISTRIBUTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Alex Cornelius Smith, 47, of Madison, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Smith appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on September 5, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for October 27, 2025 at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Smith faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment with a maximum of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Harley W. Ferguson and Eric W. Welch. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Videos and Images

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN WILLIAMS, 34, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and 20 years of supervised release for possessing child sex abuse material. According to court documents and statements made in court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been investigating a network of individuals who have been using private groups on an internet chat application to share images and videos of child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that an account associated with Williams was an active member of one of these groups, and that Williams was convicted in 2015 in North Carolina of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree. On June 1, 2023, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Williams’ residence. Williams was arrested at that time after a preliminary review of his laptop revealed videos of child sex abuse. Subsequent analysis of his laptop and iPhone revealed more than 1,500 videos and 7,000 images depicting child pornography, including videos and images of sadistic and masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence and sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. Williams has been detained since his arrest. On August 15, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The penalties in this matter were enhanced based on Williams’ prior conviction in North Carolina. This matter was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, the Connecticut State Police, and the Hartford and Westport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit https://report.cybertip.org .


title: Repeat offender sentenced to 54 months in prison for illegal firearms possession

body_text: Seattle – A 42-year-old Seattle man with prior state and federal criminal convictions was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four and a half years in prison for illegal firearm possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Kenan Dejuan Brown was arrested October 20, 2023, after the vehicle he was driving hit a tree, and he was found passed out with a gun in the pocket of his jacket. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart noted that Brown claimed he “felt safe” with a firearm. “In my experience a gun is an invitation to get into trouble,” Judge Robart said. According to records filed in the case, Seattle Police officers responded after a 9-1-1 call reporting a car had left the roadway and hit a tree. Brown was behind the wheel of the car. He initially tried to speak with officers and then lost consciousness. Officers noticed the handle of a gun sticking out of Brown’s pocket. While taking Brown into custody, officers took possession of the firearm – a Glock 19 with an extended magazine and one round chambered in the gun. Brown has prior convictions in King and Kitsap Superior Courts for various domestic violence assaults, violations of court orders, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He has a federal court conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm on February 14, 2025. Judge Robart ordered Brown to undergo drug and alcohol treatment as part of his sentence. He will be on three years of supervised release following his prison term. The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne.


title: Local Gang Leaders Convicted For Facilitating Nationwide Prison Gang La Nuestra Familia

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian has handed down sentences to three local gang leaders for their roles in facilitating the criminal activities of a national prison gang called “La Nuestra Familia” (NF). Chief Judge Bastian sentenced Jacenir DaSilva of Moses Lake, Washington, to 120 months in federal prison on gun charges, Jesus Mirelez of Yakima, Washington, to 83 months in federal prison on gun charges, and Thomas Lee Weatherwax of Spokane, Washington, to 75 months in federal prison on money laundering and drug conspiracy charges, to be served after Weatherwax completes his current state prison sentence for Assault in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon. Each defendant will also be on federal supervised release for several years after serving his custodial sentence. Evidence showed that NF is attempting to make a targeted push to bring their “hardcore” principles and teachings to Washington State. NF doctrine dates back to the late 1960s and is encapsulated in multiple written documents, to include their own “constitution”. The rules of this criminal organization are mandatory and non-negotiable. NF leadership asserts they are engaged in this struggle for the betterment of Norteños – styled as “La Causa” or the “NF Movement”. Many individuals who have left the gang stated that La Causa is a ruse as its just about making money to perpetuate the criminal organization, which does not hesitate to use violence to achieve their objectives. This persistent prison gang is purposely targeting minors to recruit into the gang and then indoctrinates them into their myopic way of life. These children are taught that if they are worthy Norteños, they will commit crimes and will end up in prison – so they need to follow the NF rules to be in “good standing” to comfortably serve their inevitable prison sentence. To advance further, these children will “owe a body” to advance their lifelong “careers”. “These pervasive criminals intentionally seek out the next generation with the explicit goal of turning children into criminals (they call “soldiers”) with full knowledge that these children will be part of the gang for the rest of their lives, and commit crimes both inside and outside of prisons across the Nation to further a bill-of-goods they’ve been sold,” said Unit Chief Caitlin Baunsgard, the Assistant United States Attorney who handled this case. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will not stand idly by and watch this happen. We have and will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these predators.” The court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearings in the case showed the following. Jacenir Amezcua DaSilva (gang name “Serio”) DaSilva is the leader of the Moses Lake Norteño set Pancho Villa Loco (“PVL”). In this leadership role, he passed along the radical teachings of NF and the importance of Norteño adherence to NF’s “14 Bonds,” which is NF’s mandatory code of conduct for Norteños. He was also named the “channel” for Grant County by NF leadership, a highly prestigious position within NF’s hierarchy. As “the channel”, DaSilva oversaw Norteño and NF interests over all the Norteño sets in his geographic area. He also facilitated any activities necessary to ensure the success of the continuation of the NF criminal enterprise, including moving money, hosting gang meetings, discussing matters of common interest with other Norteño sets, passing along messages to the “street,” and participating in NF internal “investigations” into misconduct – that is, actions taken counter to the gang’s interests. Incarcerated Norteños would also reach out to DaSilva to pass along messages of Norteño import, which would include directing activities in “the streets.” In DaSilva’s case, this included assisting in the issuance of a “kill on sight” order for an individual some members of NF believed to be an informant. DaSilva was deeply vested in the continuation of the Norteño way of life. He ran Norteño interests in Green Hill School, a juvenile detention facility that has become a “training ground” for the next generation of Norteño gang members whom the gang has indoctrinated into hardcore NF doctrines. Multiple witnesses identified the Green Hill School as “Gladiator School” because of its large population of Sureño gang members – the sworn enemies of Norteños. Norteño youth know that at Green Hill, they will have to fight every day – and if they survive, they will be considered worthy NF gladiators. Some young Norteños have gone as far as committing new serious crimes with the specific intent to be sent to this juvenile facility. Jesus Antonio Mirelez (gang name “Dizzy”) Mirelez was previously sentenced in federal court for his unlawful possession of two firearms and high-capacity magazines in 2022. Notably, one of the firearms Mirelez pled guilty to possessing in 2022 was linked by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”) — a national database that stores digital images of ballistic evidence, including fired bullets — to six separate shooting scenes in the Yakima Valley in 2022: During the sentencing process in his 2022 case, he promised the Court he would not squander the opportunity to change his life. However, once he had served his 2022 sentence and was released on federal supervision, Mirelez continued his criminal conduct without pause. Only four months after being sentenced and promising change, he leaned into the radicalization of his Yakima-area Norteño gang set, La Raza (“LR”), and aligned them with the hard-core doctrine of NF. He was also appointed to a leadership position in LR – as the official “channel”. His penchant for victimizing the community also conducted. A few months later, he was drunk and mistook a random citizen as a Sureño and attempted to harm the citizen and follow the citizen into his residence. When he was rebuffed, he shot several rounds in the direction of the citizen’s residence. About a month later, Mirelez did the same thing again, resulting in a drive-by shooting that ended in him crashing his car. Both times, Mirelez ran from the police and threw away his firearms in locations where children could potentially find them, further endangering the community. Mirelez also assisted NF members with paying their mandatory NF taxes on profits of their illicit ventures. He even enlisted his mother, Melissa Mirelez, to get word to the “streets” after his arrest about who he believed the informant in his case was – for the specific purpose of ensuring that the individual would be killed. Thomas Lee Weatherwax (a/k/a “Wax”) While serving a 57-year state sentence for Assault in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon wherein he fired multiple rounds at multiple individuals he mistook for Surenos, Weatherwax continued to engage in criminal activity while inside the Washington State Penitentiary (“WSP”) in Walla Walla, Washington. Weatherwax, a member of the Spokane area Norteño gang set “Red Boyz,” chose to further his Norteño career by engaging in a scheme to smuggle drugs into the WSP to sell to other inmates and then to launder those drug proceeds. Weatherwax kept meticulous records of his inventory, his profits, and the “tax” payments that were made to NF. As a result of his conduct and being a good soldier for the NF cause, he was promoted by NF leadership to a position of authority in 2023 as a member of the NF Regimental Security Department Council at the WSP (the “RSD”). In that role, Weatherwax was one of three Norteño inmates in charge of overseeing NF interests and the success of the NF movement in all Washington Department of Corrections (“DOC”) facilities. Weatherwax was appointed as the head the “finance” department. As explained by NF leadership in a message sent and received via contraband cell phones: In his leadership role, Weatherwax oversaw “day-to-day” tasks within WSP, as well as managing overall responsibilities over all Norteños inside Washington’s DOC programs. Like a first-line supervisor in a mainstream business, Weatherwax managed his team (Norteños in the Delta Wing at WSP), and reported the team’s work to his NF supervisor: As a leader in WSP, Weatherwax was responsible for accounting for the controlled substances present in WSP to distribute to other inmates as well as for an accounting of the money owed to NF. In addition, Weatherwax and his RSD cohorts were also in charge of big picture operations of Norteños in all Washington DOC prisons, which included discipline decisions that had been blessed by NF leadership. For example, the RSD followed the directive to “remove” a Norteño named “Joker” from good standing in a Washington DOC facility based on his perceived rule transgressions. Weatherwax then reported the order being carried out by way of a “filter” (a small secretive writing) to NF management. Washington DOC confirmed that on March 19, 2024, “Joker” was beaten in prison by multiple Norteños until a non-lethal chemical irritant was deployed by guards. Overall, Weatherwax played a crucial role in the ongoing success of NF’s continuing criminal enterprise and ability to launder drug proceeds in furtherance of their criminal mission. United States Attorney Pete Serrano commented on the extreme danger posed by these gang members, “even removing these predators from our communities and putting them behind bars has not been enough to stop them from engaging in ongoing violent crimes and victimizing our communities”. Serrano highlighted the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to investigate this new NF threat and hold those responsible accountable: “The conduct of NF members is unconscionable, but it will always be outmatched by the dedication and commitment of the US Attorney’s Office, ATF, BOP and our federal, state and tribal partnerships. The significant sentences imposed in these cases reflects the lengths to which federal law enforcement will go to protect our communities from being preyed upon by dangerous gang members.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais highlighted the danger presented by NF: “These defendants and their criminal enterprise brought the blight of illegal guns, violence, and fear into our communities. Dangerous gangs like La Nuestra Familia think they can take root in our cities and operate freely, threatening our citizens’ safety. I am here with a clear and unwavering message: ATF and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to bring them and every single one of their co-conspirators to justice.” This case is being investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) Violent Crime Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the United States Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”), Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”), the Yakima Police Department (“YPD”), and the Washington State Department of Corrections (“DOC”). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Baunsgard and Benjamin Seal. 1:24-CR-2027-SAB


title: Convicted Felon from Northampton Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Narcotics Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Northampton, Mass. man pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield yesterday to firearm and narcotics offenses. The defendant was previously convicted in federal court of possessing a loaded ghost gun and ammunition. Gabriel Lebron, 35, pleaded guilty to one count each of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2025. On April 9, 2025, law enforcement Hadley responded to a 911 call about a man in the Howard Johnson hotel lobby brandishing a firearm where Lebron was found in possession of a Jimenez Arms, Model JA 25, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of .25 caliber ammunition, including one in the chamber, 10 “snap caps” of crack cocaine and two bundles of heroin. He was immediately taken into custody. At the time of his offense, Lebron was on federal supervised release for a Vermont firearms conviction for possessing a loaded ghost gun with a laser sight and multiple rounds of ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release in 2023. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Southwest Harbor Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Southwest Harbor man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of receiving child pornography and one of count possessing child pornography. According to court records, in October 2023, Gary Peters , 36, received child pornography he solicited online from two minors using a social media and messaging application. On March 27, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Peters’ home in Southwest Harbor, resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on electronic devices including his cell phone. Peters faces from 5 to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: 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’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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Religious Liberty Commission Hosts Second Hearing on Religious Liberty in Public Education

body_text: WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Religious Liberty Commission hosted President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, parents, and students to discuss religious liberty issues in public education. The hearing included several panels of students who shared stories of challenges to their religious liberty, and parents whose right to direct the religious upbringing of their children was challenged or abridged in the school system. The hearing’s objective was to understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in the public education setting, identify present threats to religious liberty in America’s public school systems, and identify opportunities to secure religious liberty in this context for the future. "Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God," said President Donald J. Trump. “We are one nation under God, and we always will be." "Our Founders believed every individual has the right to worship freely—without fear, without censorship, and without hostility from their own government," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi." Under President Trump’s leadership, this Department of Justice has returned to its core purpose: defending the Constitution and protecting the God-given rights of every single American." "Today was a special moment in history as President Trump spoke at the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty," said RLC Chair Dan Patrick, Lt. Governor of Texas. "No President since our nation’s foundation has put faith and freedom at the forefront of his entire agenda. President Trump’s emphasis on religious liberty will restore our nation, once again, to send a clear message to the world that we are a nation that was founded on the word of God. Thank you, Mr. President." President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the Religious Liberty Commission hearing. Chairman Dan Patrick, Lt. Governor of Texas, Attorney General Bondi, President Donald J. Trump, and HUD Secretary Scott Turner at the Religious Liberty Commission hearing The witnesses included: Shea Encinas : Former Student at La Costa Heights Elementary School in Carlsbad, California Shea was targeted and harassed by school administration and classmates after objecting to read a book glorifying transgenderism to a kindergarten student. Lydia Booth : Simpson County School District student Lydia was prohibited from wearing a “Jesus loves me” face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite nothing in the dress code banning religious clothing. Lydia’s family successfully sued allowing Lydia to once again wear her mask. Justin Aguilar : High School Valedictorian from North Carolina A school administrator struck through a number of instances of the word “God” and “Jesus Christ” in Justin’s valedictorian speech, despite the language being protected by the United States Constitution. Justin respectfully and successfully appealed to deliver the speech unchanged. Valerie Cleveringa : Former student at West Ward Elementary School in Allegan, Michigan Valerie was prohibited from singing a religious song, “That’s Who I Praise,” by popular Christian artist Brandon Lake, in the school talent show. After public outcry, the school reversed course and allowed Valerie to perform the song. Hannah Allen : Honey Grove School District student Hannah and a group of classmates decided to pray during lunch for a former classmate recently in a car accident. Their principal told the group “Y’all don’t do that again,” and said they could only pray on the stage behind the curtain, outside of the school building, in the gym with no one present. After being informed of the students’ constitutional rights, the school corrected the policy to allow students to pray publicly. Jeremy Dys : Senior Counsel for First Liberty Dys earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law in 2005. After law school, Dys clerked for the Hon. Russell M. Clawges, Jr., chief judge of the Circuit Court of Monongalia County in Morgantown, West Virginia. For six years prior to joining First Liberty Institute, Dys led a public policy organization where he led research and advocacy efforts on matters of life, marriage, and religious freedom. Lana Roman : Maryland Parent fighting the Montgomery County Board of Education Lana and other parents in Maryland are fighting back against the Montgomery County Board of Education for forcing pre-K and elementary-aged children to read controversial books promoting transgender and sexually-focused content. On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that parents have the right to opt their children out of books that push one-sided views on gender identity and sexuality that violate religious beliefs. Jennifer Mead : Mother of child who was secretly transitioned Dan and Jennifer Mead sued the Rockford Public School District in Michigan after district employees began treating the couple’s middle-school daughter as a boy without their knowledge or consent. Jenny Encinas : Mother of Shea Encinas Shea’s family is suing to bring accountability and seek a court order stating that the school district must notify parents in advance and allow opt-outs from teachings that violate religious and moral beliefs. Sameerah Munshi : RLC Advisory Board Member Sameerah has courageously spoken out against forcing children to learn radical gender ideology in schools. She testified before the Montgomery County School Board and has worked with the Coalition of Virtue and the Religious Freedom Institute. Alyza Lewin : RLC Advisory Board Member Alyza Lewin is the President of The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. Lewin is also a co-founder and partner in Lewin & Lewin, LLP where she specializes in litigation, mediation and government relations. Her experience includes criminal defense, civil litigation and anti-discrimination matters. Lewin served as President of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists from 2012 – 2017. David Cortman : Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. litigation for Alliance Defending Freedom David A. Cortman serves as senior counsel and vice president of U.S. litigation with Alliance Defending Freedom. He has been practicing law for nearly 30 years and currently supervises attorneys and legal staff who specialize in constitutional law, focusing on religious freedom, free speech, and the sanctity of life. Maggie DeJong : Former Graduate student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Maggie was silenced with no-contact orders from SIUE after students complained that her speech, including social media posts, messages to students, and class discussions on an array of topics was considered “harmful.” Maggie sued, and SIUE officials revised policies and the student handbook to ensure students with varying ideological and religious views are welcome on campus. Norvilia Etienne Cain : Pro-life advocate As a student, Norvilia requested to create a Students for Life Group at Queens College in New York. The school denied the request without explanation. The students sued, and Queens College officially recognized the group, but it took almost one year to update its policy to protect other students from the same type of discrimination. Chike Uzuegbunam : Former student at Georgia Gwinett College While peacefully sharing his Christian views with students on campus, college officials stopped Chike on two occasions, stating he needed permission in advance to use certain “speech zones” that were small and not open regularly. Chike followed the school’s policy, and was still stopped from speaking. Chike challenged the school’s policy all the way up to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in his favor. Kimberlee Colby : Attorney, Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom Kim Colby has worked for Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1981. She has represented religious groups in several appellate cases, including two cases heard by the United States Supreme Court. She has filed numerous amicus briefs in federal and state courts. In 1984, she assisted in congressional passage of the Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C. § 4071, et seq., which protects the right of secondary school students to meet for prayer and Bible study on campus. Ms. Colby has prepared several CLS publications addressing issues about religious expression in public schools, including released time programs, implementation of the Equal Access Act, and teachers’ religious expression. Watch the hearing HERE Attorney General Bondi delivers remarks at the Religious Liberty Commission hearing Chairman Dan Patrick and Vice Chair Dr. Ben Carson at Religious Liberty Commission hearing. The Religious Liberty Commission was established by President Trump under Executive Order 14291 and is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, increasing awareness of and celebrating America's peaceful religious pluralism, highlighting current threats to religious liberty, and developing strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.


title: Woman Who Committed Murder at an Ohio National Park to Spend More Than 22 Years in Prison

body_text: CLEVELAND – An Alexandria, Virginia woman has been sentenced to prison after admitting that she drove more than 300 miles across state lines to meet with a 31-year-old man whom she shot and killed at a national park in Northern Ohio. Chelsea Perkins, 35, was sentenced to 270 months (22.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. after pleading guilty in May to murder in the second degree and using or carrying and discharging a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence on federal property. She was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Restitution is to be determined at a later date. Court documents show that in March 2021, Perkins drove her husband’s Smart car from Virginia to Ohio to meet with the victim, Matthew Dunmire, whom she knew. After she picked him up, they spent the night at a vacation rental home. On the morning of March 6, Perkins drove Dunmire to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Valley View, Ohio. They hiked past a cemetery, across deep ravines, and off-trail into a wooded area. While on those federal park grounds, Perkins used a loaded firearm she brought with her and shot Dunmire in the back of the head, killing him. She then left the scene and drove to Michigan to get a tattoo of a noose on her forearm before driving back to Virginia. During the investigation, evidence linked Perkins to the shooting. Federal agents executed a search warrant at her home in Virginia and found three 9mm pistols, including one inside a woman’s purse that also contained Perkins’ photo identification. The firearm later tested positive for Perkins’ DNA. Investigators also found a deleted note on Perkins’ cellphone that appeared to be a fake suicide note purportedly written by Dunmire that Perkins created around the time that Dunmire’s body was found. Dunmire’s body was found by hikers several days after the shooting. This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, National Park Service Investigative Branch, Valley View Police Department, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Zarzycki , Margaret A. Kane , and Adam J. Joines for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for firearms trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Gicliff Rodriguez, age 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to 63 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In May 2025, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. On June 30, 2025, Rodriguez’ co-defendant, Rachael Cummings, was sentenced to 12 months of probation. “Federal law is clear: if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm, you cannot try to get around that restriction by having someone else buy one for you,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This defendant’s actions put the public in danger, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to sidestep the law at the expense of public safety.” “The illegal trafficking firearms always poses a risk to the public. Rodriguez placed firearms in the hands of criminals who used them to commit acts of violence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that risk to the public and should serve as a warning to everyone that the unlawful trafficking of firearms will not be tolerated. ATF also commends the exemplary work of our partners at the Lowell Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.” According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2024, Rodriguez and Cummings drove from Massachusetts to a firearms and ammunition store in New Hampshire, where Rodriguez instructed Cummings to purchase three semiautomatic weapons for him. As a previously convicted felon, Rodriguez could not legally own or possess firearms. Investigators later recovered two of the three handguns purchased for Rodriguez, after they were used in violent crimes in Massachusetts. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Cleveland Man Sentenced to Nearly 14 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Sell Fentanyl and Meth

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison for taking part in a drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout Northeast Ohio. Davion Shepherd, 31, was sentenced to 167 months (approximately 14 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko after pleading guilty to the following charges: One count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances Three counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Shepherd was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. According to court documents, from about Jan. 3-Feb 16, 2023, Shepherd and others intentionally conspired to distribute 10 grams or more of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance and 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Among the items that federal agents seized during a search warrant execution in Shepherd’s residence were 608.95 grams of a fentanyl analogue and 34.13 grams of methamphetamine. Co-defendant Jerome A. Brown, 31, of Twinsburg, Ohio, pleaded guilty to his lesser role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to serve four years of supervised release after imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison For Distributing Child Pornography on Social Media Platform

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for receiving and distributing sexually explicit photos of children through a social media platform. Adam Kline, 23, of Mogadore, Ohio, has been sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty in May to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to possession of child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Kline was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment, pay $23,000 in special assessments, and pay $3,000 in restitution to one identified victim. According to court documents, from on or about Jan. 9-May 21, 2024, Kline, knowingly distributed computer files that contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At least one image involved a prepubescent minor who had not yet attained 12 years of age. Federal agents discovered several accounts on a popular social media platform that were associated with Kline, where he was distributing child pornography. Investigators determined that approximately 675 sadistic and masochistic CSAM images were in Kline’s possession. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Akron Field Office. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.