title: Mexican Felon Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Multiple Firearms, Selling Methamphetamine

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today to 384 months in prison for selling methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal re-entry into the United States. According to court documents, Ricardo Mujica-Calderon, 36, sold methamphetamine from his vehicle at a motel in San Antonio in January 2022. During a search warrant on his residence in April 2022, Mujica-Calderon fled through his backyard and was located approximately one block away. He falsely identified himself with a Mexican ID card in another person’s name. During his transport to jail, Mujica-Calderon slipped his left handcuff and became violent with a law enforcement officer, who was able to re-secure Mujica-Calderon. In the search of Mujica-Calderon’s home, Drug Enforcement Administration agents found 13 kgs of methamphetamine in a guest bedroom closet and five firearms in the master bedroom, several of which were loaded with extended magazines. Also in the master bedroom, DEA agents discovered a safe containing approximately 192.5 grams of methamphetamine and 227.7 grams of cocaine, as well as $12,725 and a semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen. Mujica-Calderon was named in a six-count indictment on May 4, 2022. On Oct. 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 kgs of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of illegal re-entry into the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Jason K. Pulliam presided over the case. “This successful prosecution of a felon with multiple convictions for illegal re-entry, assault of a family member, and a DWI with a child under 15 years of age is a great example of the level of collaboration that can be achieved between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “In the Western District of Texas, we will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to hold criminal illegal aliens accountable for poisoning our communities and committing violent crimes.” “Mujica-Calderon profited from peddling poison in our San Antonio neighborhoods,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division Miguel Madrigal, "When DEA agents searched his home, they found not only lethal drugs but also numerous firearms, some of which were stolen. We've seen time and time again that when drugs and guns are together, violence is always looming. There will never be a place for those who bring about devastation to our communities.” “ICE will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify illegal aliens who are not only illegally present in this country, but also commit crimes and endanger our communities,” said ICE San Antonio Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Miguel Vergara. “ICE placed a detainer on this criminal illegal alien. Upon his release from custody, he will be transferred to ICE and deported to his home country.” The DEA, ICE, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Devine Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Man Sentenced to 25 Months in Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 20, 2026. David George Flute, III, 36, was sentenced to two years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Flute was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 20, 2025. Flute was previously convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. Due to this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Flute has seven prior convictions for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and is well-aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current. Following his most recent release from federal prison on November 11, 2024, Flute decided to abscond from probation and remain on the lam until located and arrested by United States Marshals in Sioux Falls on May 21, 2025. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Flute was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Russian-U.S. National Sentenced for Attempting to Illegally Export Aircraft to Russia

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: WASHINGTON — On Jan. 15, 2026, Sergey Nechaev, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was sentenced in federal court to 41 months in prison with three years of supervised release for his role in attempting to illegally export aircraft to Russia. Nechaev, 49, was arrested in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025 to attempting to export controlled goods without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law, and causing the submission of false and misleading information in Electronic Export Information paperwork submitted through the Automated Export System. “Export control laws exist to protect our national security and prevent sensitive items from falling into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia. “When individuals evade these laws, they undermine the safety of our country and its allies. The Southern District of Georgia will continue to aggressively prosecute those who do so.” According to court documents, between September 2022 and March 2023, Nechaev engaged in a scheme to violate and evade U.S. export control laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle two Cessna aircraft from the United States to Russia by transshipping them through Armenia. Specifically, after the U.S. government imposed stricter controls on Russia in February 2022, Nechaev attempted to export a 1968 Cessna 172K and a 1973 Cessna, valued together at approximately $170,000, to a purported Russian flight school, without the required license or authorization from the Department of Commerce. Nechaev wrote to a Russian co-conspirator (Russian Co-Conspirator 1): “I continue the dialogue (fight) with brokers. I have an idea to send it on our own to Turkey, but I’m afraid it can get stuck.” Nechaev’s co-conspirator told him: “Maybe don’t risk it?” To conceal the true end user and destination of the aircraft, Nechaev falsely represented that the end user and destination were in Armenia. Specifically, Nechaev first told a U.S. based freight forwarder that the end user of the planes would be a company in Türkiye. When questioned, Nechaev changed the end user to another company in Türkiye, and then to a company located in Armenia. The U.S.-based freight forwarder noted that “the only company with this name is in Moscow,” and Nechaev replied “I am on the phone with them now . . . [C]ompany is registered in Armenia, definitely I agree with you 100% with that Moscow reference. is not good at all.” Nechaev then sent the finalized falsified export paperwork to co-conspirators at a Russia-based shipping company and communicated with the Russian shipping company employees about trans-shipping the aircraft to Russia from Türkiye or Armenia. In that correspondence, Nechaev provided the Russian shipping company with Co-Conspirator 1’s contact information and wrote “Please include [Co-Conspirator 1] in the correspondence” and “He will conclude the contract.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Aviation Administration. 03-26


title: Monessen Resident Indicted for Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms Laws

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Monessen, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The three-count Indictment named Anthony Crews, 52, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about June 25, 2025, Crews possessed with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The defendant is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of multiple prior felonies, including on state aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and firearm offenses. Crews also was previously convicted on a federal drug trafficking offense. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $5.5 million or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this 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.


title: Clairton Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Sex Offense Laws

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal sex offense laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Joseph Primiero, 27, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Five of the Indictment before United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about January 24, 2022, Primiero produced images, and a video of a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Then on or about June 27, 2022, Primiero once again produced an image and videos of another minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for June 3, 2026. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Primiero. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Operation Tidal Wave: Seven Indicted in $7.1 Million Money Laundering Conspiracy Following Investigation That Resulted in One of the Largest-Ever Firearms Seizures in the History of the Northern District of New York

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Iziah Cox, 38, of Albany, Kaya Cox, 41, of Albany, Sincere Cox, 26, of Albany, Davion Carrington, 38, of Albany, Jahmell Manso, 27, of Albany, Tiffany Banks, 42, of Albany, and Tamicca Jennings, 34, of Troy, New York were charged last week with conspiring to launder $7.1 million in proceeds of a complex fraud scheme with victims from all over the world, according to an indictment unsealed earlier today. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), made the announcement. The indictment is the latest result in the Operation Tidal Wave investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Albany Regional Financial Crimes Task Force that resulted in the seizure of 135 firearms last August. See https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/two-albany-men-charged-fraud-investigation-resulted-one-largest-ever-firearms-seizures . According to the indictment and documents previously filed in the case, Iziah Cox and his coconspirators were part of a scheme to defraud businesses, individuals, and financial institutions and launder over $7.1 million in illegal proceeds through transactions designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of their ill-gotten gains. The victims of the fraud were located all over the world, and many of them were businesses that were victimized by business email compromises (“BECs”). Through these BECs, the businesses received an email that appeared to be from a legitimate company with which they had an ongoing financial relationship. But the email accounts were controlled by members of the conspiracy, who instructed the businesses to wire future payments to bank accounts controlled by other coconspirators. To make the bank accounts appear legitimate and trick the victims and financial institutions into authorizing the payments, the conspirators registered “doing business as” (“DBA”) entities, in Albany County and elsewhere, in the names of real companies from all over the world. Those DBA registrations were then used by the conspirators to open bank accounts in the names of those companies, which in turn were used to receive and rapidly disburse the fraud proceeds. The investigation began last summer after a local financial institution, headquartered in Albany, New York, alerted the FBI to a series of account openings and fraudulent financial transactions at its Capital Region branches. On August 19, 2025, the FBI’s Albany Regional Financial Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of members of local, state, and federal agencies, executed search warrants at numerous locations throughout the Capital Region. In executing those warrants, agents uncovered and seized a total of 135 firearms, including machineguns, high-capacity magazines, and firearms with obliterated serial numbers. Iziah Cox was separately charged by the grand jury with illegal possession of a firearm as a felon in connection with the firearms seizure. “I commend the tireless work of my Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the FBI, the IRS, and the Albany and Troy Police Departments in spearheading this investigation and terminating this worldwide fraud scheme,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone said. “I also thank our local banking partners for their hawkish effort in spotting this scheme, which ultimately led to law enforcement seizing scores of dangerous firearms and getting them off our streets. We have all saved lives here.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “This meticulous investigation produced one of the largest weapons seizures in the Northern District of New York, and today’s indictments illustrate the staggering depth of the alleged financial fraud that led to that seizure. The alleged scheme was complex, but thanks to our invaluable private sector and state and local law enforcement partnerships – especially the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center – these individuals are all facing serious federal charges and our communities are undoubtedly safer. This investigation should send a very strong message that the FBI will not tolerate any criminal looking to fund their illicit business on the backs of hardworking Americans.” Troy Police Chief Dan DeWolf said “the excellent partnerships with our Federal, State and local law enforcement partners are the reason for this very successful investigation. The arrests of several unscrupulous defendants and the large seizure of firearms certainly help make our communities much safer. I’m proud and grateful for the hard work of all those involved in bringing this investigation to a triumphant finish.” Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “Operation Tidal Wave indictment represents the culmination of an extensive multi-agency investigation. The message is clear, criminal activity of this magnitude will not be tolerated. We are grateful for our strong partnership with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, whose combined efforts were critical in the success of this operation.” The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The firearm charge against Iziah Cox carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI and its Albany Regional Financial Crimes Taskforce is investigating the cases, with assistance from Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Comptroller’s Office, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the Albany Police Department, the Troy Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center and the New York State Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark, Matthew M. Paulbeck, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.


title: Venezuelan Nationals Convicted in ATM Jackpotting Scheme to Be Deported

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Luz Granados, 34, and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, both illegal aliens residing in the United States are set to be deported after being convicted of conspiracy and computer crimes in an ATM Jackpotting scheme. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that that Jimenez and Granados targeted older model Automated Teller Machines (ATM) throughout the southeastern United States to steal money after business hours. The defendants would approach an ATM at nighttime and remove the outer casing of the machine and then connect a laptop computer to install malware which overcame the ATM’s security protocols. Once installed, the ATMs dispersed cash to the perpetrators until the ATM’s funds are exhausted. The dispersed funds were not tethered to any specific customer accounts but rather taken from the bank that owned the ATM. Targets included banks in Rock Hill and Columbia, as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The District of South Carolina also provided information from this case to the District of Nebraska which aided in their indictment of 54 people in a similar ATM jackpotting scheme. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Granados to time served and she remains in custody awaiting deportation. She was also ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution. Gonzalez-Jimenez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $285,100 in restitution. He will be deported once his sentence is complete. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Computer Crime Center, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case. ###


title: Round Rock Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Building, Possessing Machineguns

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

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Round Rock man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin today to 30 months in prison for possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, Ashton Blake Donaldson, 22, knowingly built an illegal machinegun—specifically a fully-automatic .300 AAC Blackout caliber AR-platform pistol—and kept it in a commercial storage unit that he used and controlled. Donaldson was arrested on May 22, 2025, after he sold multiple privately manufactured machineguns to an undercover agent. He was charged with two counts of possession and transfer of a machinegun and one count of possession of a machinegun. Donaldson pleaded guilty to the third count on July 24, 2025. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Round Rock Police Department, and Austin Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former airman pleads guilty to sex crimes against children

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former airman stationed at Scott Air Force Base appeared in district court to plead guilty to federal charges for sexually exploiting minors and distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Michael E. McCay, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography. “Sex crimes against children are a profound betrayal of everything decent because they exploit the innocent, shatter trust, and inflict lasting harm. This former airman has deeply dishonored himself and the military he served,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our military institutions and servicemembers command the highest respect, and we are proud of our strong partnership with Scott Air Force Base. Together we remain committed to protecting our country and holding this offender fully accountable under the law.” According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant on McCay’s residence on Scott Air Force Base related to receipt and distribution of child pornography in February 2023. Agents reviewed McCay’s cell phone and identified more than 4,000 known images and videos of CSAM and more than 18,000 unidentified images. Agents also found communications with purported minors on McCay’s cell phone. He admitted to requesting sexually explicit images of the minors, sending threatening messages and distributing the received CSAM. “The exploitation of children has a lasting and profound effect on everyone involved, from the victims to the investigators,” said Special Agent Elijah Bell with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “Through the collaboration between our agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our international and local law enforcement partners, we were able to swiftly pursue justice.” In January 2024, a second search warrant was executed on McCay’s new cell phone. Agents again located thousands of images and videos of CSAM and additional communications with minors. Law enforcement identified at least two minor victims, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old, that McCay was sexually exploiting through online applications, including Roblox, Kik, Snapchat and Likee. Convictions for sexual exploitation of a minor are punishable by a minimum of 15 years up to 30 years’ imprisonment and distribution of child pornography is punishable by a minimum of 5 years up to 20 years. McCay’s sentencing is scheduled for April 7 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.


title: Armed Carjacker Sentenced To Over Eleven Years In Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Armoni Tyree Moody (24, Davenport) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to 11 years and 9 months in federal prison for carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the carjacking, and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Moody was found guilty by a federal jury on October 22, 2025. The court also ordered Moody to forfeit the firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition used in the commission of the offense. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, Moody arranged to meet the victim of the carjacking over social media to purchase marijuana. Moody entered the passenger seat of the victim’s car, brandished a loaded handgun, and pressed it against the victim’s head. Moody then forced the victim to hand over the victim’s two cellphones and told the victim to get out of the car or that he would shoot him, before driving away with the victim’s car. The following day, a search warrant was obtained for Moody’s residence. The victim’s belongings and the loaded firearm were recovered from Moody’s bedroom, and the victim’s car was found nearby. Upon further investigation, detectives recovered text messages from Moody’s cellphone where he discussed his intent to commit the robbery and videos of Moody in possession of the same firearm on his social media account. Prior to the offense, Moody was convicted of robbery with a weapon for which he was still serving a term of probation at the time of the carjacking. This case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Ithaca Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearms Offenses

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Zachary Jackson, age 38, of Ithaca, New York, was sentenced on Friday, January 16, 2026, to 15 years (180 months) in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), New York Enforcement Division, made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson admitted that on November 19, 2024, he possessed a kilogram of cocaine and a Glock handgun which he used to protect himself while distributing controlled substances in the Ithaca and Auburn, New York areas. Jackson could not legally possess a firearm because he had been previously convicted of assault with intent to cause serious physical injury with a weapon, a felony offense for which he served over 10 years in prison. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Drug dealers, especially ones with violent criminal histories like this defendant, should know that law enforcement in the Northern District of New York will find them and put them behind bars. Thanks to the investigative efforts of local agencies and the DEA, our communities are now safe from this dealer, his drugs, and his gun.” “Once again, DEA’s New York Enforcement Division and our partners removed a repeat drug trafficker who relied on violence to fuel his criminal enterprise,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The sentencing of Zachary Jackson sends a clear message to those who look to poison our communities; that the DEA will target you and bring you to justice! We are committed to preserving public safety and remain focused on keeping our neighborhoods safe.” United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed an 8-year term of supervised release to begin after Jackson is released from prison. DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); New York State Police; the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force (FLDTF); the Auburn Police Department; the Ithaca Police Department; and the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tompkins County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Former Suburban Chicago Police Officer Convicted of Federal Corruption Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A former suburban Chicago police officer has been convicted of federal corruption charges for conspiring to steal cash and drugs from occupants of vehicles during traffic stops. ANTOINE LARRY was serving as a patrol officer for the Phoenix, Ill. Police Department when he conspired with another officer to corruptly solicit cash and drugs from the occupants of vehicles during traffic stops in exchange for reducing, dropping, or declining to press charges or allowing the vehicles to avoid impoundment. The officers falsified police reports to conceal their corruption. The criminal conspiracy began in at least 2020 and continued until 2022. After a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, a jury on Friday convicted Larry, 49, of Bolingbrook, Ill., on all four counts against him, including charges of conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion. The extortion and attempted extortion charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness set sentencing for April 22, 2026. The other officer—JARRETT SNOWDEN, of Lansing, Ill.—pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge prior to trial and admitted his role in the scheme. Snowden is awaiting sentencing. The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Morgan, Ramon Villalpando, and Prashant Kolluri.


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced To 30 Years In Federal Prison For Drug And Firearm Offenses

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Quentes Durrelle Simpson (33, Melbourne) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 30 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Simpson to forfeiture firearms and ammunition, which were used in the offense, and $600 which constituted proceeds from his drug distribution. Simpson was found guilty by a jury on October 23, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Palm Bay Police Department used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of drugs from Simpson at his home, totaling over 220 grams of pure methamphetamine and about 7 grams of fentanyl. A search warrant was then executed at Simpson’s residence, resulting in the recovery of more than 700 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 46 grams of fentanyl, over 40 grams of cocaine, drug processing materials, two loaded firearms, a loaded drum magazine, and more than $36,000 in cash. At that time of the search, Simpson had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including carrying a concealed firearm, resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Simpson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Palm Bay Police Department, the Melbourne Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Convicted felon sentenced to 13 years in prison for being caught with a firearm six months after release from murder sentence

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Dec. 2, 2024, Henrico Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Charles Bryan Alexander, 50, was a passenger. Alexander was the subject of outstanding arrest warrants. During the stop, Alexander was in possession of a loaded handgun with a 17-round magazine and a round in the chamber. On July 29, 2011, Alexander was convicted in the Circuit Court of Henrico of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery, for which he was sentenced to 60 years with 45 years suspended. As a previously convicted felon, Alexander cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Alexander was released from prison only six months before he was found in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Henrico County Police Division investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-39.


title: New Jersey Man Charged With Federal Hate Crimes For Targeting Jewish Victims

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Terence G. Reilly, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ALAZIM BAKER with two counts of committing hate crimes in connection with his assaults of Jewish victims in Manhattan on October 27, 2025. BAKER was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. “As alleged, Alazim Baker deliberately targeted Jewish victims with violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Violence motivated by antisemitism or any other anti-faith bias has no place in this great city. Our collective strength as a city is the result of mutual respect for each other’s beliefs and rule of law. The women and men of our Office are dedicated to protecting life, property and faith.” “Alazim Baker allegedly committed despicable hate crimes against multiple members of the Jewish community,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “Hate crimes like those in this indictment tear at the fabric of our communities. The FBI remains dedicated to holding perpetrators of these offenses accountable to deliver justice for victims and reaffirm to the American people that targeted violence will not be tolerated.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, other public filings, and statements previously made on the record in this case: [1] On October 27, 2025, BAKER approached a visiting Israeli rabbi (Victim-1) while Victim-1 was walking on the block of a well-known kosher restaurant in Manhattan. BAKER repeatedly and aggressively asked Victim-1, “What is your religion?” When they approached the restaurant, BAKER refused to let Victim-1 enter. BAKER then grabbed Victim-1’s yarmulke and threw it on the floor. He then stomped on the yarmulke and spit on it before punching Victim-1 in the face. The punch caused Victim-1 to fall to the ground and into the bike lane. While Victim-1 was lying on the ground and bleeding, Baker yelled toward Victim-1, in sum and substance: “let me spit on that Jew.” The punch left bruises on Victim-1’s face and knee and resulted in Victim-1 suffering a brain bleed. BAKER also made antisemitic statements to two individuals who sought to intervene to help Victim-1—both of whom were wearing yarmulkes. BAKER yelled, in sum and substance: “your people own everything,” “I want my reparation,” and “I’m going to jail today.” BAKER punched one of the intervening individuals (Victim-2) in the head, causing pain and swelling for several days. The other individual (Victim-3) observed brass knuckles on BAKER’s hand. After punching Victim-2, BAKER aggressively pursued Victim-3, who collided with a large, hard object while evading BAKER. The collision caused serious swelling and bruising on Victim-3’s leg for several days. During this part of the interaction, Victim-1 ran for safety into the restaurant. * * * BAKER, 29, of Irvington, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of committing hate crimes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Police Department, and the Port Authority Police Department for their assistance. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Emily A. Johnson are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Local Restaurateur Sentenced for Filing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The former owner of two restaurants was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for filing false tax returns. Remigijus Mikelenas, 55, of Gilford, N.H., formerly of Canton, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Mikelenas was also ordered to pay more than $800,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and more than $100,000 in restitution to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In August 2024 , Mikelenas was arrested and charged with three counts of filing false tax returns. Mikelenas was the owner of a café and a juice bar in Canton. Between approximately 2012 through 2020, Mikelenas deliberately failed to report more than $3.5 million in gross receipts at his businesses to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As a result, Mikelenas avoided paying more than $820,000 in federal income taxes. During the investigation, Mikelenas told an undercover agent posing as a prospective buyer for the businesses, that he regularly underreported his gross receipts to the IRS and showed the agent a copy of the “real” books that reflected the businesses’ true earnings. During the meeting, Mikelenas asked the agent whether he worked for the IRS, and added, “If I get caught, I’ll be screwed.” United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: High-ranking members of two Mexican cartels appear in the Southern District of Texas on drug trafficking indictments

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Two members of prolific transnational criminal organizations have appeared in Houston federal court for significant drug trafficking offenses and/or allegedly running a continuing criminal enterprise, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Mexican national Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-27,” 42, and Ricardo Cortez-Mateos aka “Billeton,” 41, were transferred to U.S. authorities Jan. 20. Saldivar-Farias is set for a detention hearing Friday Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Cortez-Mateos made his appearance and will be transferred to Brownsville for his arraignment. Both remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings. The alleged cartel members were indicted in separate cases in 2021. Saldivar-Farias was allegedly a Los Zetas plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico, while Cortez-Mateos was a high- ranking member of the Cartel del Gulfo (CDG), according to the charges. Court documents allege the Zetas were a drug trafficking and money laundering organization which imported and distributed marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and controlled miles of Mexican territory along the border of Mexico and the United States, including the cities of Zapata as well as Nueva Cuidad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Saldivar-Farias case allegedly oversaw all narcotics moving through the area. Throughout the conspiracy, Saldivar-Farias and other Zetas members and associates, secured, maintained and regulated the transportation routes used to import marijuana from Mexico to the United States across Falcon Lake, according to the allegations. Saldivar-Farias allegedly charged and collected a “piso” or “tax” for permission to store and transport marijuana and other controlled substances through the transportation routes and areas he controlled. The indictment alleges individuals who did not pay the “piso” or “tax” faced a potential consequence and potentially would be threatened, beaten, kidnapped, tortured or murdered. According to the charges, Saldivar-Farias caused the delivery of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine for importation into the United States during the nine-year conspiracy. Cortez-Mateos was involved in significant drug trafficking between 2015 through 2021, according to his indictment. Those charge also allege CDG is a violent transnational organization based in northeast Mexico involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, human smuggling and other illicit activities. CDG employs violence, including assassinations of civilians and government officials to intimidate the public and control territory. Saldivar-Farias is charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and importation and distribution of cocaine and marijuana. He faces up to life in prison as does Cortez-Mateos if he is convicted of conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 50 grams of meth, more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation into Saldivar-Farias with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety, while DEA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation into Cortez-Mateos. The Department of State, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Government of Mexico provided invaluable assistance resulting in their transfers into U.S. custody. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case against Saldivar-Farias while AUSA Lance Watt is handling the Cortez-Mateos matter. Both cases are now part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The cases are also a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $3M for Taxpayers and Victims in 2025

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee collected $3,169,425.23 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of that amount, $2,967,893.83 was collected in criminal actions and $201,531.40 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the Western District of Tennessee worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $30,090.26 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. “Collecting restitution and other criminal and civil debts is a vital part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. “We will continue to prioritize collections in order to hold criminals accountable, collect debts owed to the government, protect the U.S. Treasury, and recover compensation for victims of crime.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $628,023 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Among the collections this year were proceeds from the sale of a property belonging to Christopher Crawford. Mr. Crawford was convicted of wire fraud and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,812,226.08. In 2025, a writ of execution on his residence in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was granted by the Court and enforced. The property was sold and proceeds in the amount $603,624.83 was applied towards the restitution balance. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. ### 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: Fayette County woman sentenced to prison for committing identity theft, money laundering

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Fayette County woman to 30 months’ imprisonment for working as a “money mule” within a foreign-based scam conspiracy to defraud victims out of tens of thousands of dollars and use their stolen identities. Elizabeth Conrad, 55, of Ramsey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of access device fraud, one count of money laundering – concealing nature of fraudulent proceeds and one count of aggravated identity theft. She was ordered to pay $78,480.26 in restitution to the victims. “Foreign-based fraud conspiracies rely on money mules residing within the U.S. to receive their illicit proceeds and distance themselves from prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Elizabeth Conrad knowingly supported the fraud conspiracy, ignored multiple warnings from law enforcement and laundered proceeds from victims.” According to court documents, Conrad served as a “money mule” for foreign scammers in a conspiracy to defraud U.S. victims from 2019 through 2022. Money mules are people who, at someone else’s direction, receive and move money or valuables obtained from victims of fraud. Money mules add layers of distance between crime victims and criminals, which makes it harder for law enforcement to accurately trace stolen funds. Conrad accepted packages at her home sent through the mail from victims containing cash, checks, gift cards and electronics. Knowing the goods were fraudulently acquired, Conrad would then repackage the items and send them off to co-conspirators. On two occasions, Conrad received deposits from fraudulently acquired PPP loans into her bank account. Conrad also attempted to deposit checks and wired funds in cryptocurrency to her co-conspirators. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge, Mary Johnson, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile Office. Conrad’s convictions for access device fraud, identity theft and money laundering stem from her and conspirators using victims’ names to acquire debit cards. Conrad received the debit cards in other people’s names at her home in Ramsey and used them to make withdrawals in the Ramsey and Vandalia area. Conrad and conspirators used at least 69 fraudulent debit cards to rack up over $30,000 in charges. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service St. Louis Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.


title: TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Colombian ATM Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former New Jersey-based employee of TD Bank, N.A., Oscar Marcel Nunez-Flores (Nunez), pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes in return for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of over $26 million to Colombia through TD Bank accounts. “The defendant afforded his co-conspirators unfettered access to TD Bank, while lining his own pockets in the process,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our financial professionals are vital gatekeepers against money laundering and other crimes in the financial services industry. The Criminal Division will hold banking professionals who abuse their positions to account to ensure the protection of our financial system.” “This case shows how complex money laundering schemes often depend on insiders who are willing to bend — or break — basic safeguards,” said Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello. “Our office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who turn financial institutions into vehicles for large-scale criminal activity.” “Transnational criminal organizations exploit borders, geography, and communities but they cannot exploit our resolve,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Miranda of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Field Division. “In the DEA Caribbean Field Division, we intercept threats before they reach American streets. This is not regional work. This is national security. Our agents, analysts, and partners stand on that front line every day with discipline, courage, and purpose.” “By exploiting his position at TD Bank for his own gain, Mr. Nunez enabled the movement of millions of illicit dollars overseas,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “This case underscores the critical role IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners play in dismantling complex financial schemes that threaten the integrity of our banking system.” “The defendant in this case abused his position as an employee at TD Bank by accepting bribes in return for enabling a money laundering network’s movement of millions of dollars from the United States to Columbia,” said Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), New York Region. “The FDIC OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable bank insiders who violate their positions of trust and commit financial crimes that threaten the safety and soundness of our Nation’s banks.” According to court filings, beginning in March 2021 and until his arrest in October 2023, Nunez, 34, of Plainfield, New Jersey, then a TD Bank employee in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, accepted bribes and leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s expatriation of over $26 million from the United States to Colombia. Nunez opened dozens of accounts in the names of shell companies and often opened the accounts without any purported customer present. The accounts Nunez opened for laundering received over 600 debit cards, which Nunez largely issued himself. These debit cards were used to make over 120,000 withdrawals at ATMs throughout Colombia. Nunez also shipped debit cards directly to a co-conspirator in Colombia. He also registered shell companies in New Jersey and then opened accounts in their names at TD Bank in exchange for a fee ranging from approximately $500 to $2,500, which was typically paid either in cash or through a peer-to-peer digital payment network. Nunez pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and for receipt of bribes by a bank employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or three times the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. The department also thanks the Morristown Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance with the investigation. Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.


title: Ponzi Schemer Admits Bilking Investors in Missouri, Elsewhere out of $25 Million

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former Texas-based investment adviser on Wednesday admitted running a Ponzi scheme that cost investors in Missouri and elsewhere more than $25 million. Siddharth Jawahar, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of wire fraud. Jawahar ran a Texas-based investment company called Swiftarc Capital LLC. He initially invested in a diverse array of securities, but in 2015, began investing client funds in a single investment, Philip Morris Pakistan (PMP). Eventually, 99% of client funds were consolidated into PMP. When the value of PMP declined, Jawahar did not tell investors, instead claiming that shares were trading at a much higher price and that they were making profits. Jawahar used money from new investors to repay older investors and to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included flights on private planes, stays at luxury hotels and expensive outings at fancy restaurants. Jawahar on Wednesday also admitted misleading investors by falsely entering into agreements in which he agreed to invest their money in a specific company or companies, including one Missouri investor who gave him $175,000, another Missouri investor who gave him $75,000, a New York investor who handed over $350,000 and an Ohio investor who gave him $250,000. Jawahar never made the promised investments. From about July 2016 through December 2023, Jawahar took in more than $35 million from Swiftarc investors but invested only about $10 million. Jawahar also managed additional entities that he utilized during his scheme, including Swiftarc Fund LP, Swiftarc LLC, Swiftarc Holdings, SJ Investment Holdings LLC, Order of Magnitude Ventures LLC, Extra Sensory Perception Inc., Swiftarc Growth Fund LP, Swiftarc Opportunities Fund LP, SJ Investment Holdings LLC, SV Labs SPV 1 LP, Swiftarc Venture Labs Fund GP LLC, SJDB Ventures LLC, Swiftarc Ventures LLC, Swiftarc Venture Labs Fund LP, Swiftarc Telehealth Labs Fund LP, NI Stubbs LLC and Swiftarc Beauty Fund LP. Jawahar is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21. The wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. He will also be ordered to repay investors. The FBI and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Franklin Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A Franklin man was sentenced on January 20, 2026, for multiple child exploitation offenses. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin W. Jackson of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sheriff Jere Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. Joseph Roush, 27, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release, for one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The Court ordered Roush to pay $69,000 in restitution, $3,000 to each of the identified victims. Over the course of several years, Roush possessed and distributed tens of thousands of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Investigators located approximately 20,000 images and videos across his numerous devices. Roush participated in the hands-on sexual exploitation of children in other countries via an online streaming platform and used a child entrusted to his care to produce images containing child sexual abuse material. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “While our prosecutors sadly see the worst in humanity, Roush stands out as particularly sadistic. Roush systematically abused and forever altered the lives of innocent children throughout the world. The destruction that Roush left in his wake cannot be overstated. His 60-year sentence is essentially a life sentence. My hope is he spends every last day of his life incarcerated and reflecting upon his despicable acts. And to every other pedophile out there, I hope that you look at Roush and immediately stop your immoral and horrific conduct because we will find you and you will spend the rest of your life in prison next to Roush.” “I was impressed with the spirit of cooperation between our Detective and the Federal Agents he worked with. The joint effort led to making our community a safer place,” stated Sheriff Jere Hopson. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by HSI and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” ###


title: Roofing Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced ANGELO DELMARO, 49, of Farmington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to eight months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for tax evasion. Delmaro also must perform 200 hours of community service while on supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least 2012, Delmaro has owned and operated commercial roofing businesses in Connecticut, initially doing business as “Value Roofing,” then “Roofing Services of New England,” and most recently as “Roofing Services.” The businesses also provided paving services. None of Delmaro’s companies registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State or had a federal Taxpayer Identification Number. From 2012 to 2022, Delmaro’s companies earned approximately $12.7 million in customer receipts, but Delmaro paid his workers in cash, never filed income or payroll tax returns for himself or the business, and took several steps to conceal income and operating expenses from the IRS. As part of his tax evasion scheme, Delmaro and others associated with his business cashed checks from customers at various check cashing businesses instead of depositing them into bank accounts. Delmaro provided the check cashers with addresses associated with UPS mailboxes rather than his home address. When the check cashers filed Currency Transaction Reports (“CTRs”), the IRS only had a UPS mailbox location to try to identify source of income. Delmaro also had customers file false Forms 1099 made out to a family member, rather than his business, or made out to Delmaro himself, making income attribution more difficult. At times, when a customer requested that Delmaro provide a completed Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, Form W-9, Delmaro worked with his father to prepare a false W-9 that included the name and social security number of his father and a UPS mailbox address. Delmaro sometimes provided customers with W-9 forms using false identities, such as “Harvey Rubino” or “Tony Stano,” which the customers used on the 1099. Delmaro’s father used an alias, which differed from the name and information Delmaro provided to the customer. Judge Nagala ordered Delmaro to pay restitution of $630,869 to the IRS. Delmaro pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025. This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.


title: Passaic County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: A New Jersey man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents and statements made in court, William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues. Panzera and other members of the conspiracy agreed to import and distribute controlled substances and analogues, including fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone and ketamine. The co-conspirators placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. In total, they imported over a metric ton of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs into the United States. They also sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs. Panzera was convicted at trial in January 2025. Eight other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in related cases. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey made the announcement. The Newark Field Division of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, with assistance from HSI in Philadelphia, the FBI Newark Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Newark Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New Jersey, New York and Kentucky, the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Stephen Sola of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra for the District of New Jersey. Financial Investigator Kathryn Montemorra of MNF supported the investigation.


title: Jury Convicts Fayetteville Man on Drug and Gun Offenses at Fort Bragg

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury in Wilmington found Muwsay Ibn Ibrahim Tulu, of Fayetteville, guilty of possessing fentanyl and cocaine while armed and with the intent to distribute the drugs, and felon in possession of a firearm. “We appreciate the partnership with the Fort Bragg Police, Army CID, ATF, and the Fayetteville Police Department to get this Big Shark Bad Boy off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to focus on making Eastern North Carolina safer for the good citizens who proudly live here.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on July 13, 2023, military police found Tulu passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle in the middle of the road on Fort Bragg with drugs and a loaded ghost gun with an extended magazine at his feet. Months later, agents executed a search warrant at a Fayetteville residence linked to Tulu and recovered more drugs, a firearm, ammunition, scales, and ledgers consistent with drug trafficking. At trial, Tulu argued that although he possessed the guns and drugs, he was only a user and not a distributor. Tulu now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, with a maximum of life, when sentenced later this year. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The Fort Bragg Provost Marshals Office, Army CID, and the ATF investigated the case with the assistance of the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Newby and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Stark are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00108.


title: Violent Sex Offender from Blytheville Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: JONESBORO—A Blytheville man involved in drugs, guns, and child pornography will spend the next 20 years in federal prison. Jeremy Barnett was sentenced to 240 months’ incarceration today after being convicted for illegally possessing firearms and production of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr. On October 5, 2023, Barnett, 36, of Blytheville, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a three-count Indictment with being a felon in possession of firearms, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On March 6, 2025, a two-count Superseding Information was filed charging Barnett with being a felon in possession of firearms and production of child pornography. On that same day, Barnett pleaded guilty to the counts in the Superseding Information. Judge Marshall sentenced Barnett to 20 years in federal prison for his conviction for production of child pornography. Barnett’s also received a 10-year sentence for being a felon in possession of firearms, with the two sentences to be served concurrently. Judge Marshall sentenced Barnett to five years’ supervised release, which includes three years’ supervised release for being a felon in possession of firearms. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that Barnett was trafficking methamphetamine and other controlled substances. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Barnett’s residence and during the search, recovered multiple firearms, marijuana, 94 methamphetamine pills, suspected oxycodone, suspected alprazolam, and other pills. At the time of the search, Barnett had previous convictions for violent offenses, including battery in the third degree and domestic battery in the second degree. While awaiting trial on the original Indictment, officers obtained information that Barnett had recorded himself engaging in various sex acts with a minor on multiple occasions. Officers obtained a search warrant for Barnett’s phone and recovered videos of Barnett engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim. Barnett’s criminal history includes convictions for criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, carrying a weapon, battery in the third degree and criminal mischief, and domestic battery in the second degree. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Little Rock comprises agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, and the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office and the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Two Massachusetts Residents Charged for Alleged Roles in Bank Fraud Ring

body_text: BOSTON – A Massachusetts man and woman have been charged and arrested in connection with a scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts. William Shaw, 67, of Boston, was indicted on four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Rosemary Parks, 59, of Hopkinton, was indicted on three counts of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. According to the charging documents, from at least December 2022 through at least March 2025, Shaw allegedly impersonated at least 11 bank customers, and between at least August 2024 through at least October 2024, Parks allegedly impersonated at least eight bank customers. Shaw and Parks allegedly used fake driver’s licenses with the customers’ information but their own photos and presented bank tellers with withdrawal slips that listed the customers’ names and account numbers. While posing as real bank customers, Shaw allegedly withdrew more than $674,000, and Parks allegedly withdrew more than $536,000, from the customers’ accounts in the form of cashier’s checks and cash withdrawals. In July 2025 , six men were charged as part of related investigation into a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two year prison sentence consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Connecticut State Police, the Glocester (RI) Police Department, the Sutton Police Department, the Concord (MA) Police Department, the Dracut Police Department, the Westwood Police Department and the Abington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Two Mexican Nationals Transferred from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges of Manufacturing and Distributing Fentanyl and Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Carlos Alberto Guerrero Mercado and Guillermo Isaias Perez Parra, who are Mexican citizens, were arraigned on a superseding indictment charging them with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to manufacture and distribute listed chemicals, and money laundering conspiracy. Both defendants were ordered detained pending trial. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. The defendants were transferred to the United States from Mexico on January 20, 2026. The defendants are among 37 Mexican nationals who were transferred to the United States from Mexico yesterday to face a range of federal criminal charges around the country. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the arraignment. “As alleged, these defendants played a key role in manufacturing the fentanyl poisoning our nation,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants and their co-conspirators obtained the chemicals necessary to manufacture vast quantities of fentanyl—also known as precursor chemicals—from companies in China. Now they will face American justice for their callous crimes. Our Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals responsible for the fentanyl scourge at all levels of the production and distribution of this lethal drug.” Mr. Nocella thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance. “As alleged, these two individuals are among the worst kind of predators: traffickers who poison our communities with staggering quantities of deadly fentanyl, manufactured with chemicals funneled from overseas and unleashed on American streets. HSI has relentlessly targeted every link in this lethal supply chain — from the chemical brokers in China to the cartel chemists in Mexico and the global traffickers — and will continue to do so with unflinching focus on our mission to protect our homeland. HSI and the HSTF New York will stop at nothing to investigate, identify and arrest those who profit from this epidemic of death, wherever in the world they may hide,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants obtained the chemical building blocks of fentanyl from suppliers in China, often transporting the chemicals to Mexico through border towns in the United States. Once in Mexico, the defendants converted these precursor chemicals into massive quantities of fentanyl, which were later distributed and sold in the United States. When law enforcement interrupted the flow of precursor chemicals from China, the defendants conspired to manufacture their own precursor chemicals. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison. This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys William P. Campos, Chand Edwards-Balfour and Adam Amir are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : CARLOS ALBERTO GUERRERO MERCADO Age: 47 Mexico GUILLERMO ISAIAS PEREZ PARRA Age: 41 Mexico E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-287 (S-1) (EK)


title: Minneapolis Gang Member Convicted of Murder and RICO

body_text: Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Minneapolis convicted William Johnson today for his involvement in a violent Minneapolis street gang and a gang-related murder in August 2021. “This is the Criminal Division’s fifth successful trial against members of this violent Minneapolis gang,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department’s firm resolve to stop violent crime in Minneapolis and around the country remains a top priority of this Administration. We will continue to obtain justice for crime victims in Minneapolis and around the country to halt senseless gang killings wherever they occur.” “This conviction reflects sustained effort by investigators and prosecutors,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “These cases do not end with a single verdict. ATF and our partners will continue holding every individual involved in this RICO conspiracy accountable for their actions.” “Criminal gangs who threaten and terrorize our communities will be tracked down and held accountable by the FBI and our partners,” said Acting Assistant Director Mark Remily of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The danger the Highs have brought onto our streets will not be tolerated. Today’s conviction is another step in dismantling these criminal enterprises and stopping their acts of violence.” “William Johnson and the Highs criminal street gang did not simply commit isolated acts of violence — they imposed control through killings, robberies, and assaults, leaving the entire community to live under threat,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chicago Field Office. “This conviction holds Johnson accountable for a murder carried out to advance a violent criminal enterprise that treated fear as a tool and human life as disposable. IRS-CI will continue working alongside our federal, state and local partners to dismantle these organizations at every level. We will follow the money, expose the structure behind the violence, and help ensure that gangs that terrorize communities in Minnesota are brought to justice.” “Today’s conviction should put violent gang members on notice. The U. S. Postal Inspection Service will target anyone who uses the U. S. Mail to conduct and fund illegal criminal enterprises,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service Denver Division. “Residents deserve to feel safe in their communities. We remain dedicated to tracking criminals down and bringing them to justice, no matter their affiliation.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, William Johnson, 35, of Minneapolis, was a member of the Highs — a criminal gang that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Highs members committed murders, firearms crimes, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the gang. As part of his membership, the gang expected Johnson to retaliate against their rivals, namely, the Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue. As proven at trial, the gang war between the Highs and Lows escalated when on Aug. 7, 2021, a prominent Highs member was shot and killed by a Lows member at a gas station — a notorious High’s hangout. The next day, Highs members organized a memorial for the deceased member at the gas station. During the memorial, they distributed firearms and told one another to retaliate against Lows members for the murder. Defendant Johnson and other Highs conspirators all attended. Later that day, Johnson and two other Highs members went looking for Lows members to shoot and kill. Johnson drove himself and others to Skyline Market, a well-known favorite Lows’ hangout. Seeing the victim and mistakenly believing him to be a Lows member, they shot at him inside of the store. The victim ran from the store and into the street where another Highs member was driving two juveniles in a stolen Porsche. The juveniles exited the vehicle and chased the victim into a nearby alley where they fired additional shots at him. He died at the scene. Johnson drove the two Highs members away and back to the memorial site. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. His sentencing date has yet to be set by the court. Two other defendants in prior trials in this case, Dantrell Johnson and Gregory Hamilton, have already been sentenced to life in prison. A third co-defendant, Keon Pruitt, was sentenced to over 37 years in prison. Numerous other Highs members have been sentenced to penalties in excess of ten years. To date, 42 Highs members or associates have been convicted of federal charges. The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U. S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U. S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation. Trial Attorneys Brian Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section and Assistant U. S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion, Carla J. Baumel, and Rebecca E. Kline of the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.


title: USPS Employee Admits Stealing $250K in Postal Money Orders

body_text: David X. Sullivan, Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, announced that MIGUEL CRUZ QUILES, 34, of East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to an offense stemming from his theft of more than $250,000 from the U.S. Postal Service. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in 2012, Cruz Quiles was employed in various positions by the U.S. Postal Service, including as a window clerk providing customer service and as a USPS human resources safety clerk. In 2024, Cruz Quiles issued himself more than 250 fraudulent money orders from the service counters at the Blue Hills Post Office in Hartford and the Bishops Corner Post Office in West Hartford. Most of the fraudulent money orders were issued in the amount of $1,000. To execute this scheme, Cruz Quiles used the authorization credentials of another USPS employee to access the USPS computer system at the service counter and fraudulently coded the transactions to conceal his theft. Some of the transactions occurred when the post office service counter was closed to the public. He then cashed the money orders or deposited them into his personal bank accounts. On December 9, 2024, Cruz Quiles issued to himself 30 fraudulent money orders each in the amount of $1,000. Cruz Quiles pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property, admitting that he unlawfully cashed or deposited at least $250,320 in government funds. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for April 15, at which time Cruz Quiles faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Cruz Quiles is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.


title: Lead Narcotics Distributor for the Violent H-2 Drug Trafficking Organization Transferred From Mexico to Face Narcotics Trafficking and Firearms Charges in Federal Court in Brooklyn

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jair Francisco Patron Tobias, also known as “Crixus,” “Junior,” and “Gannicus,” was arraigned on an indictment charging him with participating in a large-scale narcotics distribution conspiracy and using one or more firearms in connection with those narcotic offenses. The defendant, a Mexican citizen, was arrested in Mexico on a provisional arrest warrant issued from the Eastern District of New York and transferred from Mexico to the United States on January 20, 2026. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. The defendant was ordered detained pending trial. Patron Tobias was among 37 Mexican nationals who were transferred to the United States from Mexico yesterday to face a range of federal criminal charges around the country. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, III, Associate Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Northeast Region (DEA), and Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Los Angeles Field Division which oversees the Las Vegas District Office (DEA), announced the arraignment. “As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendant was one of the lead drug distributors for a vicious cartel responsible for sending massive quantities of dangerous drugs into the United States,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s arraignment in a U.S. courtroom is the first step in holding him accountable for his serious crimes and the immense harm that he has caused. Our Office is working with federal and international partners to dismantle drug cartels and prosecute high-level drug traffickers responsible for flooding our country with dangerous drugs that leave death in their wake.” Mr. Nocella thanked the DEA’s offices in Mexico City, Mexico and New York, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Government of Mexico for their invaluable assistance. “Once again we see the power of collaboration between our DEA’s offices, the HSTF, and our law enforcement partners in holding accountable those who traffic illicit narcotics while using violence, intimidation, and fear as a means to push their poison into American communities” stated DEA Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “The DEA is committed to targeting those drug trafficking organizations and individuals, like Jair Francisco Patron Tobias, who are responsible for causing the most harm. This is the DEA’s focus, both here and abroad, and we will continue this fight until we have a drug-free America.” “In recent years and through today, our country has suffered one of the biggest and most destructive drug crisis ever imagined. DEA is tackling this problem head on, and with urgency. Working in conjunction with national and international partners, we are intent on dismantling these violent global drug networks. They unleash poison onto our streets, lining their pockets with no regard to human suffering. Make no mistake, the heads of these drug emporiums will be held accountable. Today’s indictment of an alleged narcotics kingpin is just one example of more to come,” stated DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Chrysanthis. According to the indictment and other court filings, the defendant was a lead distributor for the H-2 Drug Trafficking Organization (the H-2 DTO), a violent Mexican drug trafficking organization based in Nayarit and Sinaloa, Mexico. The H-2 DTO was previously led by the defendant’s father, Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez, also known as “H-2,” who was killed in 2017. After Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez’s death, his brother Jesus Ricardo Patron Sanchez (the defendant’s uncle) assumed principal leadership over the H-2 DTO. The H-2 DTO had numerous distribution cells in the United States, including in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Ohio, Minnesota, and North Carolina. The DEA estimates that between January 2013 and February 2017, the H-2 DTO distributed, on a monthly basis, hundreds of kilograms of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as thousands of kilograms of marijuana, into the United States and earned millions of dollars in illegal proceeds in return. The H-2 DTO used firearms and physical violence in furtherance of its drug trafficking operation. Between June 2013 and December 2016, the defendant directed the distribution of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana from Mexico throughout the United States, including the Eastern District of New York. The defendant also coordinated money laundering activities of the H-2 DTO to ensure the proceeds of their drug trafficking were transferred back to Mexico. The defendant worked closely with his father and uncle to expand the H-2 DTO’s power and territory by prohibiting rival drug trafficking organizations from manufacturing heroin. This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nomi D. Berenson, Raffaela S. Belizaire, and Andrew D. Wang are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JAIR FRANCISCO PATRON TOBIAS Age: 31 Mexico E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-241 (S-2) (CBA)