title: Portland Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer Near Local ICE Office

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— A Portland man made his first appearance in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer on Monday near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland. Deni Jungic Wolf, 19, has been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury. According to court documents, on June 16, 2025, approximately 25 people gathered in protest at an ICE office in South Portland where some individuals trespassed onto federal property and erected a make-shift shield wall that blocked vehicle traffic. At approximately 11:00pm the same evening, the crowd was advised that the property was closed and were directed to disperse. Additional federal officers, including Customs and Border Protection Tactical Unit (BORTAC) agents, were dispatched to the location to clear the barricade. Federal officers approached the barricade holding shields to clear the obstruction. As the officers encountered the barricade, Wolf pushed into the shields with his body. A federal officer grabbed Wolf to prevent him from falling backwards and Wolf punched the officer’s head, knocking the officer’s mask from his face. The officer was exposed to pepper spray and pepper-ball dust that had been deployed to assist in clearing the barrier. Surveillance footage of the incident showed the assailant wearing distinctive red gloves, and Wolf was wearing red gloves when he was arrested. Wolf made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on conditions pending future court proceedings. Assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the FBI and Federal Protective Service (FPS). It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Check Fraudsters and Identity Thieves Sentenced in Federal Court

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Ten defendants were sentenced for their roles in an organized scheme to commit bank fraud and identity theft. According to court documents, Jaden Travier Lollie, 24, of Bremerton, Washington, Ralph Tyrone Griffin, Jr., 21, of Mobile, and several codefendants committed widespread bank fraud and identity theft between November 2021 and March 2024. The scheme involved checks stolen from the U.S. mail, which the defendants later altered and deposited at various financial institutions. The fraudulent checks bore the personal identifying information of numerous victim businesses and individuals in the Mobile area and elsewhere. Lollie, Griffin, and their coconspirators used social media and other means to recruit individuals with accounts at various banks, who provided their account information, debit cards, and other support to further the scheme. Victims of the scheme suffered more than $49,000 in actual financial losses, and the scheme involved intended losses of more than $250,000. On several occasions in the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024, bank surveillance video captured Griffin and his codefendants making dozens of fraudulent transactions involving counterfeited checks in the Mobile area. Agents executed numerous search warrants at residences associated with the defendants, seizing laptops, printers, cell phones, counterfeited and stolen checks, debit cards belonging to other people, and other evidence of the fraud scheme. Agents also obtained voluminous text messages and social media communications between and among Lollie, Griffin, and their codefendants discussing the scheme and recruiting others to take part in it. The evidence showed that Lollie, who based in the Seattle area, generated counterfeited checks that he sent to Griffin and others, who used them to victimize businesses and individuals in Mobile. United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Lollie and Griffin to serve 42 months and 18 months in prison, respectively. In addition to their prison terms, Judge DuBose ordered Lollie and Griffin to serve five-year terms of supervised release upon their release from prison, during which time they will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Lollie and Griffin to pay $49,201.30 in victim restitution jointly and severally with their codefendants, and a total of $200 in special assessments. For their roles in the scheme, the court sentenced Lollie’s and Griffin’s codefendants as follows: Jhykez Labarron Adams, 20, who was arrested in possession of an illegal machinegun (57 months); Jamarion Ant’Jwan Licharles Adams, 23 (25 months); Tamarcus Santreal Napier, 24 (25 months); Noraa Loisann Bracy, 24 (25 months); Reginald Maurice Spencer, Jr., 25 (18 months); Khadijah Lashay Kimbrough, 23 (nine months); Jamaal Isiah Kidd, 22 (one day); and Kareer Dewayne Morris, 21 (time served). The court also ordered each of those defendants to serve supervised release terms and pay restitution and special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson Police Department, and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: “Operation Showdown” Targeting Violent Crime In Fort Worth Results In 76 Defendants Arrested For Firearms And Drug Offenses

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

body_text: June 18, 2025 FORT WORTH – Following a two-month targeted initiative called “Operation Showdown” to reduce violent crime in Fort Worth, Texas, 76 individuals have been arrested for federal and state firearms and drug offenses. Wednesday's announcement was made by Nancy E. Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives (ATF), who led the investigation. Other critical partners in this operation include: • Eduardo Chavez, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration • Keith Brown, Executive Director, Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area • Chief of Police Robert Alldredge, Fort Worth Police Department • Phil Sorrells, Tarrant County District Attorney • Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County Sheriff • Marco Villarreal, United States Marshals Service for the Northern District of Texas, represented by Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Toby Reed • Texas Department of Public Safety • U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations Federal Defendants: Fifty-six defendants have been arrested on federal charges. Offenses with which individuals have been charged include illegal firearms trafficking, unlawful possession and transfer of machineguns, unlawful possession of firearms, using a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. The potential sentences of these federal defendants, if convicted, range from 10 years to up to life in prison. Reference is made to public records, including related, recently unsealed federal complaints, for additional information. State Defendants: Twenty defendants have been charged in Tarrant County District Court with possession of controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl. Reference is made to public records for additional information. Seizures: In addition to charging 76 defendants, law enforcement recovered the following items: • 287 firearms, including: o 91 Pistols o 6 Revolvers o 17 Rifles o 1 Shotgun o 25 Machineguns, and o 147 Machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) • 14.8 kilograms of cocaine • 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine • 480 grams of fentanyl • 13 grams of heroin • 1.4 kilograms of marijuana Please note these numbers are the collective recoveries over the course of Operation Showdown and are not attributable to each individual defendant. Machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” unlawfully convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns). The possession, manufacturing, and sale of MCDs violates federal law as illegal possession of a machinegun. Those charged with MCD-related offenses face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Examples of those arrested, as discussed during today’s announcement, include: • A complaint charged Darrick Carter, Maya Bradshaw, D’Morion Holleman, Charles Blackshire, and Raul Penalver. All five are convicted felons. All are alleged to have participated in trafficking methamphetamine. Charles Blackshire is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Criminal histories of these individuals include: o Blackshire has four felony convictions: 3 family violence assaults, the last one in 2019, and unlawfully possessing a firearm. The complaint charges him with selling a pistol for $850 in May, with his promise of future firearms sales. o Carter mentioned during one of his drug sales that he was likely going to jail soon for a narcotics offense and that he was currently on parole. In this case, he is alleged to have brokered methamphetamine transactions and helped facilitate Blackshire’s firearm sale. o Bradshaw has three felony convictions in Texas; two for possession of a controlled substance, and a robbery in 2016. She is charged in this case with supplying methamphetamine. o Holleman has two felony convictions. One is a state conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and the other is a federal conviction for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in 2018. o Penalver has a prior state felony conviction for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Bradshaw identified him as her source of supply. • Another complaint charged Anthony Wilson, a convicted felon on probation as of January 2025 for second-degree robbery in California. He is charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The complaint alleges that Wilson sold a pistol and ammunition for $850 in May. He had a child in the backseat of his car during this gun sale. • A third complaint charged eight illegal aliens from Venezuela. They are: Edixon Urdaneta-Colina, Rodrigo Riquel Cardozo, Carlos Moreno Olivero, Luis Garcia-Zamora, Darwin Ayala-Ochoa, Benito Castro Marrufo, Elwin Manama Rodriguez, and Kenny Manama Perez. These defendants are charged with trafficking mixtures of powder cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy). They referred to the narcotics they sold as Tusi, which had a distinct pink color, usually indicative of drugs tied to Venezuela. Four of these defendants are also alleged to have sold numerous 9-millimeter and .380 caliber handguns at the same time or in the surrounding dates of the controlled drug buys. On May 21, 2025, all eight defendants showed up that day to provide armed protection for what they believed to be a 50-kilogram methamphetamine transaction, which was actually a ruse arranged by agents. They were charged with firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking. Moreover, at arrest, agents saw and photographed crown and star tattoos on three of the defendants, Manama Rodriguez, Castro Marrufo, and Urdeneta-Colina. Members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational criminal organization (TCO) known for violence, often bear these types of tattoos. “This operation highlights the tremendous work of our law enforcement partners in dismantling criminal networks—located within and outside our borders—that flood our communities with deadly drugs and tools for violence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson. “We are committed to returning safety and order to our neighborhoods through rigorous prosecutions of these types of crimes. I thank each and every law enforcement officer and agent involved that contributed to the success of this mission.” “Every day, someone living throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is affected by gun violence. And the effects of it are spread throughout the victims’ families and the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “The tremendous effect that violent crime has on our communities is why coordinated efforts like this Operation Showdown are so important. ATF is committed to disrupting the violent crime in our communities. With the help of our partners here today, we were successful.” “There is no debate that guns and drugs in the hands of criminals is everybody’s problem,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, DEA Special Agent in Charge over operations in Fort Worth. “Since April, through a strategic and targeted approach by our DEA Fort Worth and ATF partners, we have successfully taken kilos of illicit drugs and hundreds of weapons off of Fort Worth neighborhoods while arresting dozens of those victimizing our Tarrant County residents. We want children to play safely at community parks and ride bikes around neighborhood streets. This joint operation was a giant, positive step toward that goal this summer.” “This is about protecting our families and making sure drug dealers know: Tarrant County is not open for business. We are sending a simple message today: if you choose to poison our streets, you will be met with the full force of the law — no exceptions, no excuses,” said Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our federal partners, with law enforcement at every level, and we will keep doing the job the people entrusted us to do. My office is firm in our resolve, if you bring this poison into our communities, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you in prison.” “The Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program has two primary, yet simple objectives: facilitate cooperation among law enforcement at all levels and to apply taxpayer funding to law enforcement operations that increase public safety, combat violent crime and saves lives nationwide. When approached by ATF, DEA, and all of our law enforcement partners to support this initiative last year, I jumped at the opportunity. As the saying goes, this wasn't our first rodeo together. Law enforcement has a track record of cooperation and success working together in the North Texas, and this operation is not a finale, it is just the beginning. As these results show, if you want to live as a gangster, I wouldn’t get too comfortable,” stated Texoma HIDTA Director Keith Brown. This Operation is the result of collaboration and partnership between ATF, DEA, Fort Worth Police Department, ICE-ERO, Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texoma HIDTA, and U.S. Marshal’s Service. This investigation 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 OCDETs and Project Safe Neighborhoods. The public is reminded these charges are merely allegations, and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Grand Island Man Charged with Attempting to Damage Federal Property with Molotov Cocktail

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eulisis P. Martin, 20, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was charged on June 16, 2025, by criminal complaint with one count of attempting malicious damage to federal property using explosive materials. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100. Martin was arrested on June 16, 2025. Martin is alleged to have utilized a Molotov cocktail near a federal building housing Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Grand Island on June 9, 2025. Martin is also linked to a spray-painted sign on the federal building stating, “Kill ICE” on June 9. Aware of the vandalism at the HSI building, a Grand Island Police officer, while on patrol, observed an individual wearing dark clothing running along the fence of the HSI building on June 14. Upon further investigation, Grand Island Police officers located government vehicles with slashed tires. Law enforcement identified a vehicle belonging to Martin in the area of the building at the time of vandalisms and Molotov cocktail event. Law enforcement located Martin’s vehicle and observed in plain view inside the vehicle a dark brown coat, several gloves, a protest-style sign, a scarf, and two bags under the scarf resembling a tactical-style bag. Open-source information revealed a phone number assigned to Martin. Law enforcement was able to place Martin’s cellphone in the area of the HSI building on June 9 and June 14. Surveillance of Martin’s vehicle and his residence revealed that Martin was showing signs that he was a target of an investigation and took measures to dispose of his vehicle by relocating it to a rural property. Martin appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca in Lincoln, Nebraska on June 18, 2025, for his initial appearance. “The FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue, identify, and apprehend anyone who maliciously attempts to damage federal property,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. He added, “Many members of our community work in federal buildings and serve the public, and they deserve to do so free from the threat of harm and violence. We respect and protect the right of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms but will not tolerate individuals inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity and violating federal law. We appreciate the support of the Nebraska State Patrol, Grand Island Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and Federal Protective Service in bringing Martin to justice.” United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods said, “The United States Attorney’s Office vows that violence, intimidation, and threats of violence against federal law enforcement officers, federal investigative agencies, other federal employees who are just doing their jobs and enforcing the laws will not be tolerated in Nebraska. Federal law enforcement officers do not make the laws, but they are tasked with enforcing them, and they must be able to do so safely. Anyone who chooses to target law enforcement officers and agencies will be held accountable.” This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Protective Service, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Grand Island Police Department.


title: Former Employee Of Global Security And Aerospace Company Admits To Lying About Military Service

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Omar Naziry, a former employee of a global security and aerospace company, pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, in connection with a scheme to defraud his former employer by falsely claiming to be on military deployment. Naziry, 40, of Mountain View, Calif., was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 24, 2024. According to his plea agreement, Naziry’s former employer (Company 1) had a policy under which it paid a differential to any employee who went on military leave. The differential was the difference between the employee’s company pay and military pay. The policy—which, according to the indictment, was first instituted following the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks and later expanded to cover all forms of military leave—ensured the employee experienced no reduction in income because of his or her military service. Naziry admitted in his plea agreement that, although he was not and had never been in the U.S. military, he fraudulently obtained differential pay and other benefits from Company 1 between August 2016 and April 2022 by falsely claiming to be on military deployment. In support of his August 2016 request for differential pay, Naziry submitted false military orders and a military leave and earnings statement. In July 2017, Naziry renewed his fraudulent differential pay request, falsely claiming his nonexistent military deployment had been extended by four years and submitting false military orders. In reliance on Naziry’s misrepresentations, Company 1 awarded Naziry differential pay following these requests. In June 2021, Naziry made a third fraudulent request for differential pay, which Company 1 did not award because Naziry had already reached the five-year limit for differential pay. Naziry further admitted that, in January 2022, he used a fake identity to request additional differential pay from Company 1. In March of that year, Company 1 sent Naziry a letter advising him it had reason to believe his military orders were fraudulent. In response—and for the purpose of convincing Company 1 to reverse its decision and award him additional differential pay—Naziry mailed Company 1 a letter falsely representing that his military orders were valid and that he was stationed in the Middle East. Naziry also admitted in his plea agreement that he caused Company 1 a financial loss of between $250,000 and $550,000. Naziry separately admitted in his plea agreement that, between January 2021 and October 2022, he fraudulently obtained $35,093 in federal housing assistance payments from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by knowingly misstating his income to be significantly lower than it actually was. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and John Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office, made the announcement. Naziry is currently released on bond. Naziry’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts. Naziry faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine (or twice the gross gain). However, any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Arash Rezaei is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DCIS and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.


title: Three Arizona Business Associates Now Charged With Operating Fraudulent Medical Clinics and Prescribing Unapproved Drugs to Treat Cancer

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that a superseding indictment (“indictment”) was filed earlier this month, charging Mary Blakley (aka “Marye Blakley,” “Mary Blakely,” “Mary Blakeley,” “Mary Davis,” “Mary Venable,” “Mary Cammer,” “Rosemary Cammer,” “Rosemary Davis,” “Yvonne Davis,” and “Mary Blaksley”) and Fred Blakley (aka “Fred Blakely” and “Floyd Blakely”) with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). In addition to the Blakleys, both charged previously , the superseding indictment also charged Janmarie Lanzo with conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the FDA. All three defendants are residents of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The indictment alleges that the Mary Blakley, who described herself as “Doctor Mary,” and Fred Blakley were the principals of a medical clinic business that charged clients throughout the United States approximately $300 for conducting what the defendants described as “full body scans” by use of an ultrasound machine. Janmarie Lanzo was a business associate of Mary and Fred Blakley, who worked in the clinics and sold products to clients that were recommended by Mary Blakley as a result of the scans. The defendants falsely claimed that, through the deployment of a “smart chip technology” supposedly invented by defendant Mary Blakley and purportedly added to the ultrasound machines, their “full body scans” could diagnose a wide variety of human diseases and medical conditions, including cancers. Based on the results of these “full body scans,” the defendants falsely and fraudulently prescribed to their human clients various supplements, creams, and veterinary products. The indictment alleges that the defendants promoted and sold Aetheion, a product marketed as a cosmetic cream, to treat cancer, gastric hernias, and various other conditions. The defendants also promoted and sold fenbendazole, a veterinary antiparasitic, to treat cancer in humans. The indictment alleges that to conceal their scheme, the defendants: Falsely claimed they were only doing research, when they were actually performing services and distributing and selling products; Falsely claimed that the products and services they were performing, distributing, and selling were of a type for which regulatory requirements were less onerous or nonexistent; Used coded language and coached others to take deceptive measures; Disguised the nature of the clinics as a religious organization, health club, and private membership organization; and Required clients to execute confidentiality agreements. If convicted, Mary Blakley and Fred Blakley face a maximum possible sentence of 165 years in prison. If convicted, Janmarie Lanzo faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Office of Criminal Investigations of the Food and Drug Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Paul G. Shapiro. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: PENSACOLA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CYBERSTALKING AND SENDING OBSCENE MATERIALS TO MINOR FEMALES

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Charles M. Schmaltz, 28, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty in federal court for cyberstalking and sending obscene materials to minor females. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Protecting children from online exploitation and abuse is of paramount importance, and my office will aggressively pursue, prosecute, and seek punishment to the fullest extent of the law for those who prey upon our most innocent, vulnerable populations. My message to offenders is clear: if you prey upon our children, you had better pray we don’t find you.” Court documents reflect that Schmaltz communicated with multiple minor females between 2022 – 2024 by utilizing ten or more social media accounts to contact them. The minor females, and later their parents, repeatedly requested that Schmaltz cease communicating with them. Instead, Schmaltz sent sexually explicit content to the minor females, including extremely graphic communications about engaging in sexual acts with the minors and images of his own genitals. The minor females in this case ranged in age from 9 – 15 years old. Schmaltz was eventually caught through the work of a multi-agency investigation in North Florida and South Alabama, where some of the victims were located. Schmaltz faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment, and lifetime supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office as well as Dothan Police Department in South Alabama. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 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: Justice Department Requires Safran to Divest Assets to Proceed with Acquisition of Raytheon Assets

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Safran, S.A. and Safran USA Inc. (Safran) to divest its North American actuation business and related assets to resolve antitrust concerns arising from its proposed $1.8 billion acquisition of Collins Aerospace’s actuation and flight control business from RTX Corporation (RTX) (formerly Raytheon Technologies). The divestiture resolves concerns that the transaction would recombine assets that were divested as part of the Division’s settlement of United Technologies Corporation’s (UTC) acquisition of Rockwell Collins in 2018. UTC merged with Raytheon Company in 2020, forming Raytheon Technologies. The Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the Division filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the Division’s competitive concerns. “Today’s settlement is a structural solution to an acquisition that would have harmed competition for important aircraft components that are critical to passenger safety. The proposed divestiture to Woodward, an established provider in the aerospace industry, ensures that American customers will continue to benefit from competition, and the incentives of Woodward, the merging parties, and their customer base are aligned with the remedy’s success,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This settlement is another example of our commitment to transparency and relief that secures robust and enforceable commitments from the merging parties that account for industry dynamics. The Antitrust Division will apply heightened scrutiny to transactions that propose to recombine assets divested in response to the Division’s prior enforcement actions, taking appropriate consideration for changes in competitive conditions.” As detailed in the complaint, Safran and RTX are two of the leading suppliers in the market for trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs) for large aircraft. A THSA helps an aircraft maintain the proper altitude during flight and is critical to the safety and performance of the aircraft. Safran and RTX compete head-to-head to develop and sell this critical component. Without the proposed divestiture, Safran’s acquisition of RTX’s actuation and flight control business would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation to the detriment of customers and American consumers. The proposed divestiture of Safran’s North American actuation business includes the assets Safran had acquired under the Division’s 2018 settlement with UTC and Rockwell Collins. Safran has since operated these assets as a viable competitor in the market for THSAs. The proposed settlement requires Safran to divest its North American actuation business, including THSAs and secondary flight control actuators, and its Canada-based electronic control unit, to Woodward Inc., an American company with significant experience in the aerospace industry, including serving large aircraft manufacturers. The divestiture assets also include the tangible and intangible assets necessary to produce and sell THSAs, secondary flight control actuators, and electronic control units. Woodward is expected to hire certain key Safran employees that today support the divested business lines. The Antitrust Division, the European Commission, and the Competition and Markets Authority cooperated closely throughout the course of their respective investigations. Safran is a French multinational company with its headquarters in Paris, France. Safran produces a wide range of products for the aviation, space, and defense sectors. In 2024, Safran had revenues of approximately €27 billion. RTX is an American multinational company, incorporated in Delaware and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. RTX is a major provider of aerospace and defense products and systems. In 2024, RTX had revenues of approximately $80 billion. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the Department’s competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 8700, Washington, D.C. 20530 or via email at ATR.DIA.Information@usdoj.gov. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon finding that it is in the public interest.


title: Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Conspiracy to Obtain Driver’s Licenses for Ineligible Applicants

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national illegally residing in Waterbury, Conn. pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025 to conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally illegal aliens. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, and one count of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2025. In December 2024 , Cesar Agusto Martin Reis was charged along with four co-conspirators. From in or about November 2020 through in or about September 2024, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators fraudulently procured driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who resided in states that prohibited illegal aliens from obtaining driver’s licenses. Prior to July 2023, illegal aliens residing in Massachusetts were not permitted to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Beginning in 2019, illegal aliens residing in New York became eligible to obtain New York driver’s licenses. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators conspired to fraudulently obtain New York driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in New York, including Massachusetts residents, and after July 2023 to fraudulently obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in Massachusetts. In exchange for fraudulently obtaining the driver’s licenses, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators typically charged approximately $1,400 per customer. In New York, before obtaining a driver’s license, applicants were required to pass a written permit test and complete driver’s education coursework from a New York driving school. Online permit test-takers were required by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) to take a picture of themselves with a web camera during the test. This was to ensure that the test-taker was indeed the applicant and that there was not a person sitting with and helping the applicant with the test. To avoid the customers having to take the permit tests, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators obtained several pictures of the customers sitting down, making it look as if the customers were taking the tests. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to complete the permit tests for the customers online and, when prompted by the NY DMV to take pictures during the tests, and to upload the pictures that the customers previously provided – purporting to show that it was the customers who were taking the tests, not the defendants. The defendants also allegedly created fraudulent driver’s education certificates of completion, purportedly from New York driving schools, forged the signatures of driving school staff on the fake certificates and gave these documents to the customers to provide to the NY DMV. The NY DMV also required that applicants appear at a NY DMV location and provide documents to prove their identity and residence in New York. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to meet Massachusetts-based customers at locations in Massachusetts – typically several customers at a time – and drive them to NY DMV branch locations. When they arrived at the NY DMV locations, the defendants allegedly gave the customers fraudulent documents falsely purporting to demonstrate that the customers resided in New York. The customers provided these fake records to the NY DMV staff, and the NY DMV relied on the misrepresentations to issue New York driving permits to the customers. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to arrange for the NY DMV to mail the permits to locations in New York that were controlled by the defendants and provided the permits to the customers in-person. Additionally, the defendants allegedly conspired to schedule road driving license tests for the customers with the NY DMV and, again, drive the customers to New York for them to take the road tests. If the customers passed the tests, the NY DMV sent the driver’s licenses to mailing addresses in New York that the defendants allegedly controlled, and the defendants then provided the licenses to the customers. The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for out-of-state residents, in generally the same manner as they allegedly obtained the New York licenses for Massachusetts residents. In Massachusetts, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain purported foreign passports to provide to the customers to use as proof of identity with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in support of customer driver’s license applications. Collectively, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators fraudulently applied for licenses for more than 1,000 customers, obtained licenses for more than 600 of the customers, and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars. The charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents carries up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000; and the charge of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents, carries up to 15 years in prison, supervised release of up to 3 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Kelly Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the NY DMV Division of Field Investigation; the Boston, Danbury (Conn.) and Waterbury (Conn.) Police Departments; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut; and the New York State Inspector General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Announcement

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday that it has reinvigorated efforts to protect American seniors from transnational schemes that cost seniors billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, DOJ prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters and domestic actors who have knowingly facilitated foreign-based crimes. “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who would exploit our elderly friends, neighbors, and family members. We appreciate the efforts of our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to identify elder abuse in all its forms, physical, psychological, and financial. But we also need everyone’s help by checking on older adults, especially those with few family members close by, and watching for signs and abuse or unusual financial transactions. U.S. Attorney Alme said. See the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Service Announcement on Elder Fraud: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/video/district-montana-elder-fraud-psa-60-seconds . The DOJ is highlighting a number of recent prosecutions, including one here in Montana, to protect American seniors. These include cases against those who engage in, and knowingly facilitate, romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible. Recently in Montana, an FBI and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office investigation resulted in the arrested a man allegedly involved in an India-based scheme that claimed to be U.S. Marshals targeting the elderly and resulted in the theft of over $1 million from an elderly victim. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/india-based-amazon-scam-leads-almost-1-million-dollar-loss-elderly-victim-missoula Recovering Victim Loss Victims face many challenges in financially recovering from fraud schemes—and that is even more true for elderly victims. Many retired seniors are no longer earning income and cannot count on market appreciation to grow their retirement savings. Perpetrators may have already spent or forwarded victim funds beyond the reach of United States law enforcement. Victims may not have the resources to pursue legal action or hire legal representation. These, and other reasons, make it critically important that the DOJ work hard to achieve substantial victim restitution in cases we investigate and prosecute. National Elder Fraud Hotline 2025 WEAAD Campaign The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a free, national resource for older adults and their loved ones experiencing financial fraud. Supported by the DOJ Office for Victims of Crime, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is staffed by professionals who have experience working with older adults. Staff are continuously updated on the latest scams, are trained to make referrals and warm hand-offs for resources and services in the older adult’s local area and can assist older adults in placing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a report which has the potential to freeze funds (although freezing funds cannot be guaranteed). The DOJ urges individuals to be on the lookout for fraudulent lottery, prize notification, sweepstakes, and psychic scams. If you receive a phone call, letter or email promising a large prize in exchange for a fee, do not respond. Fraudsters often will use official-sounding names or the names of real lotteries or sweepstakes or pretend to be a government agent purportedly helping to secure a prize. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This DOJ hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the DOJ’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The DOJ provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . The DOJ notes that for all cases discussed above, facts included in a Complaint, Information, or Indictment are only allegations, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Oregon Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: An Oregon business owner pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, Joyce Leard owned and operated Mr. Tree Inc., a Happy Valley-based company that provided tree removal and landscaping services to customers. Mr. Tree advertised itself as being in business for thirty years, and the company employed approximately 50 to 75 employees each year. From 2017 through 2024, Leard also owned and operated Wall 2 Wall Hardwood Floors Inc, another Happy Valley-based company. Leard was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from the wages of her employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year. From the fourth quarter of 2018 through the fourth quarter of 2020, Leard collected and withheld taxes from her employees’ wages but did not pay the funds over to the IRS or file quarterly payroll tax returns as required by law. Instead of paying over these payroll taxes, Leard used funds in her business bank account to purchase approximately $3.5 million of real estate, which was titled in her name. In total, Leard caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.5 million. Leard is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys J. Parker Gochenour and Megan E. Wessel of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Arrest Warrants Issued for Father of Missing Union City Child

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Arrest warrants have been issued for Jose Inocencio Fraire Chavez, 39 . The warrants are related to incidents which occurred in Obion County, Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the issuance of the arrest warrants today. Chavez has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm; willful failure to comply with removal procedures in violation of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1253(b); and flight to avoid prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement are working together in coordination with the Union City Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to safely locate Chavez and his child, who have not been seen in the Union City area since May 2, 2025. “Since issuing a statewide Endangered Child Alert on May 5th, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has remained committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to bring Tah Yah Yona Chavez home safely,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “At the heart of this investigation is an innocent child who deserves to be safely reunited with her family in West Tennessee. We are truly grateful for the invaluable teamwork of our law enforcement partners in these efforts.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham. The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Embezzlement, Filing False Tax Return

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Pantaleo “Leo” Pellegrini, the former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Services, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for embezzling money from the City of Hoboken and filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Pellegrini previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement and filing a false tax return before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: While working for the City of Hoboken, Pellegrini embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by diverting approximately $223,500 in payments intended for the City of Hoboken to bank accounts he controlled. Pellegrini also embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by submitting approximately $234,432.60 in his personal expenses, which the City of Hoboken unknowingly paid. Additionally, Pellegrini did not report the embezzled money on his personal tax returns, and thereby made and subscribed a false personal tax return and avoided approximately $119,972.60 in taxes due. Pellegrini’s oversight responsibilities related to certain public recreational facilities, including soccer fields that could be reserved by both Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents for a fee paid to the City of Hoboken. Through this arrangement, the City of Hoboken Department of Parks, Recreation & Public Works sponsored a non-profit recreation soccer league open to Hoboken youth (the “Youth Soccer League”), which was funded by the City of Hoboken and participant fees. Also during the charged time period, an adult soccer league open to Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents (the “Adult Soccer League”) was in operation, which was funded from participant fees. Pellegrini developed a scheme to divert the Adult Soccer League’s participant fee payments intended for the City of Hoboken to a business account on which he was a signatory which was registered to a soccer-related entity linked to him. During the relevant time period, Pellegrini was also the Owner and President of a private travel soccer club. Pellegrini also submitted or caused the submission to the City of Hoboken invoices associated with his private soccer club, which Pellegrini falsely or fraudulently represented to the City of Hoboken as invoices eligible for reimbursement by the City of Hoboken. As a result, the City of Hoboken—at Pellegrini’s direction—unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to the Pellegrini’s private soccer club vendors for its expenses, and also unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars directly to Pellegrini through his private soccer club. Pellegrini used the embezzled funds on personal expenses including meals, entertainment, and gambling, allowing him to live far beyond his means. Moreover, Pellegrini intentionally did not disclose and report the income from the above-described embezzlement scheme, thereby causing his tax returns to understate a substantial amount of the income he received. In addition to the prison term, Judge Farbiarz ordered restitution of $439,972.60 to the City of Hoboken, restitution of $119,464 to the Internal Revenue Service, and forfeiture of $439,972.60. Judge Farbiarz also ordered a term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. McCarren and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division. ### Defense Counsel: John D. Lynch, Esq., Union City, NJ


title: Cell Phone Service Provider Agrees to Pay $500,000 for Imposing Unlawful Charges on Military Servicemembers

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Teleguam Holdings, LLC (GTA) has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing fees on over 1,300 military servicemembers who terminated their cell phone service contracts because they had received military relocation orders. “Servicemembers will not be penalized because of their patriotic service to our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously prosecute companies that refuse to abide by federal law that protects our great men and women in uniform who actively serve to protect our Nation.” GTA will pay $450,000 in compensation to servicemembers, including double damages to servicemembers who paid GTA’s early termination charges, and a $50,000 civil penalty; and GTA will revise its policies to ensure that eligible military servicemembers can end their cell phone service contracts without illegal early termination charges. The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $482 million in monetary relief for over 148,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 110 Months for Trafficking Cocaine and Illegally Reentering the United States for a Third Time

body_text: Camden, N.J. – A Mexican national was sentenced to 110 months in prison for trafficking cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after previously sustaining an aggravated felony conviction, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, 41, of Mexico, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On November 6, 2023, Santiago Chaparro was caught by law enforcement transporting a backpack that contained over 10 kilograms of cocaine. Santiago Chaparro admitted that the cocaine was intended for distribution. Additionally, Santiago Chaparro had been deported from the United States to Mexico three times and previously sustained a conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kiel sentenced Santiago Chaparro to three years of supervised release and ordered Santiago Chaparro to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding his deportation proceedings. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel, and from the Drug Enforcement Administration New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Victor A. Afanador


title: Florida Man Facing Federal Interstate Communication Harassment Charges

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment, charging Jackson Traylor, 26, of Dania Beach, Florida, with one count of utilizing a telecommunications device without disclosing his identity with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. According to public filings, between July 9, 2024, and April 10, 2025, Traylor — using a series of different phone numbers — sent more than 10 Antisemitic and harassing messages to a Jewish individual who is originally from Maryland. Messages included, “Go burn in an oven like your ancestors”, “Burn in a god damn oven . . . . Stupid jew”, and “Hey Jew, been a while since we spoke. Let me burn you alive like your ancestors. Hail Hitler.” If convicted, Traylor faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sarma who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Gloucester man sentenced to over four years in prison for  trafficking drugs and firearms

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Gloucester man was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison for dealing firearms without a license and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2024, Daniel Shaun Smith, 37, brokered a transaction in which another individual delivered a stolen handgun to a buyer in Smith’s presence. At the same time, Smith also delivered a shotgun to the buyer. On Jan. 18, 2024, during a controlled purchase conducted at Smith’s residence, Smith sold the buyer another shotgun and ammunition. During this transaction, Smith asked if the buyer wanted to use methamphetamine with him, but the buyer declined. On Feb. 8, 2024, during another controlled purchase at Smith’s residence, Smith sold the buyer a sawed-off shotgun, a handgun, 1,971 rounds of assorted ammunition, four rifle scopes, a Tactacam scope, and 1.62 grams of methamphetamine. Another individual present during the transaction provided the buyer 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recovered the firearms and ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Heath prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-57.


title: Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Leading a 250 Kilogram Meth Trafficking Ring from Prison

body_text: SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Jonathan Adam Sarratt, 38, an inmate incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sarratt has been serving a sentence for trafficking methamphetamine, burglary, and possession of a stolen vehicle since 2019. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that since at least early 2023, Sarratt, while incarcerated in SCDC, was facilitating the distribution of at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking ring within the Upstate. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Sarratt to 300 months of incarceration consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving and a five-year term of supervision following his release. Sarratt is projected to be released from SCDC in 2026. Additionally, the Court ordered a judgment against the defendant for $1 million. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins has already sentenced Sarratt’s co-defendants with the final co-defendant, Daniel Wentz, awaiting sentencing. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations– Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case ###


title: Maryland Man Charged With Mailing Threatening Communications to Jewish Organizations, Including a Jewish Institution in Philadelphia

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Clift A. Seferlis, 55, of Garrett Park, Maryland, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with mailing threatening communications. As alleged in the complaint, from at least March 1, 2024, through the present, the defendant is alleged to have sent numerous written threats through the mail to Jewish organizations and entities located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Many of these letters threaten the Jewish institutions and contain references to Gaza, Israel, or events in which Jewish people were killed or otherwise attacked. The letters then suggest that the recipients might become victims of similar acts of violence. One of these communications came from a typewritten letter, postmarked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 7, 2025. The envelope was addressed to Victim Jewish Institution 1, to the attention of a person with the initials J.G., an employee of Victim Jewish Institution 1 at the time. The letter began, “ Hello [J.] ” and continued: I just wanted to say you are going to have to be more reliant than ever on your donors. But at some point that money too will become less and less. The hatred toward you all, your [institution], and especially the nation of Israel is at an all time high and is only getting worse. Do you – deep down – reallycare [sic] – really – about what is going on in Gaza? Will it take something happening to your beloved [institution] to make that happen. This Victim Jewish Institution 1 received numerous additional messages since April 1, 2024, which contained a threat to physically destroy the institution. Prior to the receipt of the May 7, 2025, mailing, Victim Jewish Institution 1 and its employees had received very similar-looking letters, believed to have been sent by Seferlis, which referenced Victim Jewish Institution 1’s “many big open windows,” “Kristallnacht,” “anger and rage,” and a future need to “rebuild” the institution following its destruction. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia, with assistance from FBI Baltimore, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s Greenbelt office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Eight Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Mail, Wire, and Bank Fraud Conspiracy, and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On June 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging eight individuals with conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The following agencies partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate the case and execute the arrests today: U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Guaynabo Municipal Police, San Juan Municipal Police, and Bayamón Municipal Police. According to court documents, defendants Enrique K. Falcón-López, a.k.a. “Gordo/Náutica” Luis Pagán-Torres, a.k.a. “Luiso” Francisco Martínez-Mendoza, a.k.a. “Pito” Dennis H. Ditran, a.k.a. “Dennis H. Ditran Phillips/Dennis Ditren” Tomás Bermúdez-Monroig Iván González-Costa Jesús M. Cruz-Martínez, a.k.a. “Chobi” and Karelys Olmo-Rodríguez conspired to unjustly enrich themselves by stealing means of identification of other people and using it to defraud the home improvement retailer Home Depot and Bank A. To execute the fraudulent scheme, the defendants stole identifying information from unsuspecting victims, created hundreds of fraudulent Puerto Rico drivers’ licenses that contained some combination of stolen means of identifications including names, dates of birth, and drivers’ license numbers, along with photographs of the faces of members of the conspiracy. The defendants used the fraudulent licenses to open accounts at Home Depot and purchased thousands of dollars in merchandise, to then sell it. “Financial fraud is one of the largest challenges facing American citizens and businesses today. Prevention and prosecution of crimes of this nature will remain a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “The defendants took advantage of the victims to steal their credit, fraudulently purchase merchandise, and then sell it to enrich themselves. We understand there may be more victims, so if you suspect you could be one, please contact HSI at (787) 729-6969.” The defendants will make their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos-Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Olinghouse and Manuel Muñiz-Lorenzi, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Special Assistant United States Attorney Edwin Caban Jr. 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: Former Hotel Manager Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return

body_text: A former Texas hotel manager pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Derek T. Gilliland to filing a false income-tax return. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2014 to 2022, Hieu Duc Tran embezzled more than $1 million from the Hewitt, Texas hotel where he was a manager. To accomplish this, Tran would charge hotel guests’ credit cards using a payment processing system that he controlled, instead of the hotel’s own system, and keep the funds for himself. He would also deposit checks hotel guests wrote to pay for their stays into his own bank account. Though Tran knew that the money he embezzled was taxable income, he did not report any of that income on the tax returns he filed for 2014 through 2021. In total, Tran caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $200,000. Tran will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Curtis J. Weidler of the Tax Division is prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.


title: Previously Convicted Firearms Felon from Virginia Sentenced to 27 Months for Possession of Two Pistols in the District

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joshua Eduardo Hurtado, 25, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 27 months in federal prison for being a felon in unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition while on supervised release following a previous federal firearms conviction. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge William McCool of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Hurtado, aka “Migo,” pleaded guilty on October 10, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 27-month prison term, Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Hurtado to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on November 6, 2022, about 2:40 a.m., MPD officers responded to the intersection of 1700 Rhode Island Avenue and Saint Matthews Court NW, to assist United States Secret Service officers with a firearm recovery. The Secret Service officers spotted a black firearm with an extended magazine in plain view, sticking out of the rear pocket of the front passenger seat in a parked and unoccupied Chevrolet Suburban. About 30 minutes later, officers made contact with the driver of the Suburban. The driver stated that he was a rideshare operator and that the items were left in the SUV by a passenger he knew only as “Migo.” The driver consented to a search of the Suburban. Officers recovered two firearms from the pocket behind the front passenger seat – a Glock 23, .40 caliber pistol loaded with 22-rounds; and a Glock 19 pistol loaded with 17-rounds. Migo was identified as Joshua Hurtado. An FBI forensics DNA test linked the Glock 23 to Hurtado. At the time of the offense, Hurtado knew he previously had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for possession of two firearms in his apartment in Woodbridge, Virginia. That previous conviction stemmed from an incident in November 2020. Alexandria Police Department officers found the victim of a homicide inside a vehicle registered to the Hurtado’s father. The decedent’s cellphone contained conversations indicating that Hurtado was involved in narcotics trafficking. On December 8, 2020, the police executed a warrant at an apartment that Hurtado had apparently rented under a stolen identity, in which he resided alone. Alexandria police seized a pill bottle containing 42 morphine pills; about 1,500 light blue pills that appeared packaged for distribution but were later determined to contain no controlled substances; and two loaded firearms: a loaded Glock 26, 9-mm pistol with an extended magazine; and a loaded Aero Precision X15 AR-type pistol. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jared English with significant assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Courtney. 23cr0373


title: Central Ohio woman sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for $2.8 million pandemic relief fraud scheme

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Westerville woman who claimed affiliation with Dayton-area pizza restaurants to obtain nearly $1.9 million in COVD-19 relief funds was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 70 months in prison. Lorie A. Schaefer, 63, also assisted a co-defendant in fraudulently receiving more than $980,000 pandemic relief loans in exchange for payment, causing a total of $2.8 million in fraud. According to court documents, Schaefer opened new bank accounts in December 2020 prior to registering a fictitious business name with the State of Ohio in March 2021. Schaefer fraudulently claimed affiliation with the Flying Pizza restaurants in Dayton, Centerville and Fairborn. When notified that a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for nearly $1.9 million had been filed in the name of Flying Pizza, individuals at the family-owned business said their restaurants could not justify such a large loan. Schaefer claimed to have 98 employees and submitted altered bank records as part of her application. Schaefer also claimed the business was established in March 2021, even though the original Flying Pizza was established in 1984. Additionally, she claimed not to be under indictment despite having pending theft charges in Meigs County. Schaefer attached multiple fraudulent documents to her PPP application, including a bank statement, tax records, and a letter from the IRS. Bank records indicate Schaefer improperly used PPP funds for personal expenses, for example, nearly $26,000 on liposuction, a $10,000 check for a “newborn baby gift,” and more than $900,000 to purchase and renovate a home in Westerville. Schaefer also made purchases at Wayfair, Lamps Plus, Kroger, KFC, Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s and Olive Garden. Evidence also suggests Schaefer used the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles in Ohio and property in Australia. After being charged in this case, Schaefer committed new offenses and violated her pre-trial release multiple times, leading to the revocation of her bond. She pleaded guilty in July 2024 and twice attempted to withdraw her guilty plea. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Attempted Extortion

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Glenn Boyd was in prison at the time he committed this offense. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Alexis Sanford today announced that Glenn Daeward Boyd, 36, of Kershaw, South Carolina, was sentenced to a total of 272 months in the Bureau of Prisons. A jury convicted him in February of attempted extortion, stalking, and five counts of wire fraud. Boyd was serving a sentence at a prison in South Carolina for voluntary manslaughter, assault with intent to kill, assaulting a correctional employee, and inciting a riot. According to the evidence at trial, Boyd used a contraband cell phone to pretend to be “Jad,” an 18-year-old girl from Grand Rapids, Michigan on the dating application “Plenty of Fish.” As “Jad,” he communicated with B.G. beginning in August 2023. Two days after their first communication, Boyd, continuing to pose as “Jad,” told B.G. he was a 15-year-old girl. Boyd then assumed the identity of “Jad’s grandparents,” threatening B.G. that “they” would contact police and B.G.’s family to report B.G. as a pedophile if B.G. did not send money. Boyd also used a Facebook profile to post on an account related to B.G.: “He is a pedophile I have all the evidence if anyone wants to see it.” In response, and on the same day of the threats, B.G. reported Boyd’s extortion scheme to the police and died by suicide. B.G. was 22 years old. “Yesterday’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the grave nature of Mr. Boyd’s predatory actions specifically, his heinous crimes of sexual exploitation and extortion that have tragically resulted in a profound loss of life,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “As we stand in solidarity with the victim’s loved ones, the FBI is unwavering in its commitment to deliver justice. We will collaborate with our law enforcement partners throughout the state to identify and hold accountable those who perpetrate acts of online exploitation.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming Police Department, South Carolina Department of Corrections, South Carolina Department of Corrections - Office of Inspector General, Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department, and Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Constance R. Turnbull and Jonathan Roth prosecuted it. The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes: Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you. Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers. Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims. Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform. Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next. Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov . More information is available at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion .


title: Leessa Augustine, Former Sewerage & Water Board Special Agent and New Orleans Police Officer, Pleads Guilty to Multiple Fraud Schemes

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LEESSA AUGUSTINE (“AUGUSTINE”) age 46, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025, to several charges related to her involvement in fraud schemes while employed as a Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (“S&WB”) Senior Special Agent. In this role, AUGUSTINE was tasked with investigating the alleged misconduct of other Sewerage & Water Board employees. According to court records, in one scheme, AUGUSTINE , who also served as a New Orleans Police Department reserve officer, billed a police detail customer for hours not actually worked. During some of the times AUGUSTINE was supposed to be working the police detail for the Downtown Development District, she used her S&WB-issued computer to conduct a second fraud scheme, that involved obtaining a mortgage loan and federally funded assistance for low-income homebuyers. In that home-purchase scheme, AUGUSTINE created fake documents, including a fake W-2 form, fake pay stubs, and fake bank statements. In a third scheme, AUGUSTINE obtained federally funded unemployment benefits by concealing her Senior Special Agent income. Finally, in a fourth scheme, AUGUSTINE obtained federally funded emergency rental assistance from the City of New Orleans, by submitting a fake lease and a termination letter from a fictitious employer. At various times during the schemes, AUGUSTINE provided her S&WB-issued cellphone number as a contact number for three different persons she impersonated. As a result of her fraud schemes, AUGUSTINE pled guilty to three counts of wire fraud. She also pled guilty to one count of making false statements, for lying to investigators. The wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment, which may be followed by up to five years of supervised release. The false statement charge is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, which may be followed by up to three years of supervised release. Each count may also include a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for September 16, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson expressed his appreciation for the valuable assistance and contributions of the New Orleans Office of Inspector General, and the New Orleans Police Department in connection with this case. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Labor, and the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Drug Trafficking Organization Faces Federal Charges

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney, announced a federal indictment charging 21 individuals from Indianapolis to Phoenix, Arizona for their alleged roles in an Indianapolis-based drug trafficking organization led by Eric Robinson. On Friday, June 13, 2025, a multiple-agency operation consisting of 19 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies served search and arrest warrants at 21 locations in Indianapolis and Phoenix, Arizona, ultimately leading to the arrest of 19 individuals. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately 56 firearms, $12,000 in currency, 75 pounds of methamphetamine, eight kilograms of cocaine, two pounds of fentanyl, 100 suspected fentanyl pills, one-half pound of heroin, 2 ounces of crack cocaine, and one-half pound of hallucinogenic mushrooms. The following individuals were apprehended and charged on Friday: Defendant Charge(s) Eric L. Robinson, 55 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Jonhy Chacon-Hernandez, 28 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Genaro Tapia, 25 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Monte D. Scruggs, 44 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Joshua P. Sheehy, 32 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Heather A. Hill, 40 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Richard N. Irwin, II, 39 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances William Cox, 54 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Michael P Brandenburg, 35 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Eliud Chavez-Delgado, 45 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Theodore Sweat, 67 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Andrea Clayton, 36 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Jeremiha Dailey, 46 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Aaron Mooney, 37 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Hirohito Causeway, 61 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Michael Graham, 61 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Lawrence Davis, 50 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Timothy Barnes, 51 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances Cory J. Alcorn, 45 Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances According to the indictment, Eric Robinson was the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization that operated in Indianapolis. Robinson received methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and Xanax from primary sources of supply in Texas and Arizona and alternative sources of supply in Indianapolis. Robinson then delivered the controlled substances to numerous other individuals in the Indianapolis area for redistribution. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and recent warrant execution possible: Drug Enforcement Administration Internal Revenue Service Indianapolis Metropolitan Drug Task Force Hamilton Boone Drug Task Force Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Department of Homeland Security U.S. Marshal Service Indiana State Police Beech Grove Police Lawrence Police Brownsburg Police Fishers Police Carmel Police Greenfield Police Plainfield Police Whitestown Police Zionsville Police Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley A. Blackington and Matt Barloh, who are prosecuting this case. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This operation is part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Six Defendants Indicted For Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy And Gun Crimes

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A 13-count indictment was unsealed on June 11, 2025, charging five men and one woman for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and gun offenses. Alex Gonzalez, also known as “Luis Carlos Caloca-Castenada;” Aaron Wolski; Richard Allen Williams, also known as “Steve Watley;” Shane Kunkle; Charles Wade McCall; and Maria Paola Ortiz-Sanchez are each charged with one-count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Additionally, Wolski is charged with one-count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and five-counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Kunkle is charged with one-count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, two-counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and seven-counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Williams is charged with two-counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Gonzalez is charged with three-counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Ortiz-Sanchez is charged with one-count of distribution of methamphetamine. McCall is charged with one-count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine According to allegations contained in the indictment, from about June 2024, and continuing to June 10, 2025, the defendants conspired with each other to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. As alleged, from about February 14, 2025, and continuing to May 20, 2025, Wolski and Kunkle, not being a licensed dealer, engaged in the business of dealing firearms. Additionally, Kunkle allegedly possessed firearms despite having prior felony convictions in Clark County, Nevada; Ector County, Texas; and the Western District of Texas. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. A jury trial is scheduled for August 11, 2025, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. If convicted, they each face up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar for the FBI Las Vegas Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Buenaventura, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Brister and Tina Snellings are prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Texas Man Charged Federally for Receipt and Transport of Explosives Intended for Use Against Law Enforcement

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing powerful explosives in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during riots in California. According to court documents, on June 12, 2025, Grzegorz Vandenberg , 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to purchase fireworks. During the transaction, Vandenberg requested assistance in selecting fireworks that could be thrown directly at people to cause harm. He told store employees that he was prior special forces military and claimed he could make pipe bombs. Vandenberg further stated that he was traveling to Los Angeles, California, for the riots, with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials. Store staff reported that Vandenberg asked for the largest explosives available and invited an employee to join him and his platoon in California. He also claimed to have mortar explosives in his possession and reiterated his plan to use them at the riots to kill officers. Vandenberg purchased six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 large fireworks before leaving the store in a vehicle with Montana license plates, heading west on Interstate 10. Vandenberg is charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with the knowledge and intent that they would be used to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals. He will remain in custody/on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Vandenberg faces up to 10 years in federal prison. “This man allegedly intended to use the chaotic riots in Los Angeles as an opportunity to commit deadly violence against law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Threats like these strike at the heart of law and order — we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement or endanger the safety of our communities.” “Our message is clear: If you come after law enforcement officers, the FBI will spare no effort to find you and bring you to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This defendant allegedly intended to use explosives to attack police officers currently conducting law enforcement operations in Los Angeles and – with the help of a store cashier who took down his license plate information - we were able to put a stop to that plan. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve the American people and the FBI will always do our part to protect them.” “Targeting law enforcement with violence is not protest--it’s a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Anyone who attempts to harm officers or undermine public safety will be held accountable. Protecting the safety of our communities and upholding the integrity of lawful demonstrations are priorities, and those who cross the line into violence will be prosecuted swiftly and to the fullest extent of the law.” "Anyone who seeks to turn a lawful demonstration into a stage for violence, especially targeting law enforcement or government officials, poses a serious threat to public safety," said Philip Russell Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. "This arrest sends a clear message; we will not tolerate anyone who plans to use fear or force harm public servants. The FBI remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of all." U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office and Heith Janke, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joni Stahl and Grant Gardner are prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Vandenberg)_0.pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: The Justice Department Files Complaint Challenging Kentucky Regulation Providing Reduced In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today the United States is challenging a Kentucky regulation that provides reduced in-state tuition for illegal aliens. This law unconstitutionally discriminates against U.S. citizens, who are not afforded the same privilege, in direct conflict with federal law. The Department of Justice has filed the complaint in the Eastern District of Kentucky. This challenge builds upon a recently successful lawsuit against the state of Texas on a similar law. “No state can be allowed to treat Americans like second-class citizens in their own country by offering financial benefits to illegal aliens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice just won on this exact issue in Texas, and we look forward to fighting in Kentucky to protect the rights of American citizens.” In the complaint, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of a Kentucky regulation that requires public colleges and universities to provide reduced in-state tuition rates for illegal aliens who are deemed to be Kentucky residents. Federal law prohibits public institutions of higher education from providing benefits to illegal aliens that are not offered to U.S. citizens. This regulation blatantly conflicts with federal law and thus is unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This lawsuit follows two executive orders recently signed by President Trump that seek to ensure illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens Read the complaint HERE .