title: Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Depositing Counterfeit Treasury Check and Theft of Government Money

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to depositing an altered U.S. Treasury check and stealing government money, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Andre Pitts, 21, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone to one count of uttering counterfeit obligations or securities and one count of theft of government property. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 12, 2023, Pitts deposited an altered version of a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $62,211. The check had been issued in February 2023 to another individual related to that person’s income tax return, with the memo line of the check identifying both the individual and tax year of 2021. The payee information and memo line of the deposited check had been altered to identify Pitts, his residence, and a tax year of 2022. Following his deposit of the altered check, Pitts quickly made several transactions, including withdrawing $500 in cash and having a $25,000 cashier’s check issued to himself. Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for August 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the uttering counterfeit obligations or securities count and up to 10 years of prison on the theft of government property count, a fine of up to $250,000 at each offense, 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 Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pitts.


title: Fresno County Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession Ammunition

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Luis Enrique Trevino, 32, of Coalinga, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Feb. 7, 2026, Trevino was the front passenger of a vehicle associated with a prior call for a disturbance. When law enforcement officers conducted a stop of the vehicle, Trevino immediately opened the vehicle door and fled. In an open compartment of that passenger door, law enforcement observed a 34-round, high-capacity magazine loaded with 16 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition. After a brief pursuit, Trevino was apprehended. A search of Trevino’s path of flight revealed he discarded a backpack in a trash can. Inside the backpack, law enforcement officers found a privately manufactured P80 “ghost” 9 mm handgun. Surveillance showed Trevino take off the backpack and attempt to conceal it in the trash can as he fled from pursuing officers. Trevino is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions including being a felon in possession of a firearm, threatening crime with intent to terrorize, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and vandalism and was serving a grant of Post-Release Community Supervision at the time of his arrest . The Coalinga Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Karp is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Trevino faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Mercer County Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Farrell, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Aurienn Jones, 31, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Jones, who had previously been convicted of a felony, possessed a firearm and ammunition on January 27, 2025. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 1, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 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 offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Farrell Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jones.


title: Visalia Felon Indicted for Possessing Safe Full of Firearms

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pete Alvarez, 45, of Visalia, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, during an investigation into a shooting, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Alvarez’s residence. There, they located a safe in Alvarez’s bedroom with 17 firearms, including several short-barrel firearms without serial numbers that were in the process of being manufactured. Alvarez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County including, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a deadly weapon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; and the Tulare Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: York County Man Charged With Sexual Exploitation of Children Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Rivera Pesante, age 25, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on child exploitation charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Rivera Pesante coerced and enticed a minor to engage in prostitution and other sex offenses in December of 2024. The indictment further alleges several counts of receiving child pornography on dates ranging from August of 2024 to earlier this year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen W. Dukes is prosecuting 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. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is a lifetime term of imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Kansas City Man Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing Sawed-Off Shotgun

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a sawed off, Winchester 12-gauge shotgun. Christopher W. Abrams, 52, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to fifty-four months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of an unregistered firearm. On Feb. 10, 2024, officers were called to the area of Independence Avenue and Van Brunt Boulevard regarding a possible armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers encountered Abrams. During a frisk of Abrams, officers located a sawed off, Winchester, Model 37, 12-gauge, single-shot shotgun inside the front waistline of his jeans. The shotgun’s stock had been cut down to a wood pistol grip, with black duct tape. The barrel had multiple saw marks and appeared to have been cut short. The shotgun was loaded with a live shotgun shell. Abrams, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of twelve prior felony offenses before today’s hearing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America 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: Felon Charged in Alleged Plot to Help Inmate Escape

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses following an FBI investigation into an alleged plan to arm ainmate for an escape from custody. According to court documents, on February 13, 2025, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at three residences in northwest Albuquerque associated with Crisantos “Ventex” Garcia , 34, a suspected West Side Locos gang member and convicted felon. Garcia allegedly attempted to flee by jumping from a second‑story window, breaking multiple bones before being taken to the hospital, where agents seized his cell phone. Screenshots of Garcia taken from a music video, titled “Streets” During the searches, agents recovered more than a dozen firearms, including a Draco‑style pistol and multiple rifles and pistols, thousands of rounds of ammunition, ballistic vests, high‑value vehicles including a Dodge “Hellcat,” and approximately 151 grams of fentanyl pills. Laboratory testing later identified Garcia’s DNA on two of the seized firearms, and a search of his cell phone revealed photographs of firearms and messages discussing rifles, ammunition, and pill sales. Investigators further allege that Garcia stockpiled firearms, ammunition, cash, and a stolen vehicle to support an escape plan devised by Dakota Briscoe , an Albuquerque man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for a violent crime spree linked to a 2020 double murder and multiple armed carjackings. According to investigators, Briscoe allegedly directed Garcia to hide a firearm behind an ATM on the second floor of the University of New Mexico Hospital. Additional firearms, cash, and a stolen car were to be staged nearby as part of the escape effort. Investigators believe Briscoe’s plan involved faking a medical emergency during a scheduled court appearance on April 15, 2026, prompting his transfer to the hospital. A letter recovered by investigators further directed others to coordinate by phone to ensure the presence of a vehicle and firearm at the designated location. Agents also learned that Briscoe ultimately intended to flee to Mexico. Note from Briscoe directing Garcia to make sure he is at designated location with firearm and vehicle to aid in Briscoe’s escape On April 14, 2026, the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office Desert Hawk Fugitive Task Force executed an arrest warrant for Garcia at a residence in Phoenix. Garcia again attempted to flee from law enforcement by jumping walls, running through buildings, parking lots, and across heavily trafficked streets, all while accompanied by his minor stepson. When agents caught up, Garcia abandoned the child and was subsequently captured. Garcia is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Garcia faces not less than 10 and up to 40 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Services, Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Detention Center and Rio Rancho Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdf SW App Packet Garcia.Padilla.Dow_.Green_. V2.pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Admits to Feloniously Using His Vehicle To Impede, Intimidate, and Interfere With the Work of Federal Immigration Agents During Operation Midway Blitz

body_text: CHICAGO – A man has admitted in federal court that he used his vehicle to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the work of federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, and then filed a false police report after the collision. The statutory maximum sentence for this conviction, which is a felony, is three years in federal prison. On Oct. 3, 2025, ANTHONY GONZALEZ ALVAREZ joined a caravan of vehicles that was following a vehicle driven by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on the Southwest Side of Chicago. Gonzalez Alvarez admitted in a plea agreement that he drove his Ford pickup truck into the rear passenger-side of the CBP vehicle in order to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the CBP officers’ immigration operation. To conceal his involvement in the collision, Gonzalez Alvarez filed a false report with the Chicago Police Department, claiming that his truck had been stolen on the morning of the collision, the plea agreement states. Gonzalez Alvarez, 27, of Lyons, Ill., pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of misprision of felony. U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt set sentencing for July 22, 2026. The guilty plea was 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. gonzalez_alvarez_plea_agreement.pdf


title: Colombian national sentenced to eight years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Colombian national residing in Virginia was sentenced today to eight years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Jorge Antonio Escobar, 50, downloaded and saved images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of prepubescent minors. In September of 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into those sharing CSAM on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing network, which identified an IP address traced back to Escobar’s residence in Leesburg. Escobar admitted to using BitTorrent to search for images of young girls. Escobar pleaded guilty to receipt of CSAM on Dec. 30, 2025. HSI Washington, DC, investigated the case with assistance from the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndi McVey for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 1:25-cr-283.


title: Member of the U.S. Coast Guard charged with unlawful activities including aggravated identity theft and falsification of records

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 30, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Carlos Esteves-Salinas with 12 counts of unlawful activities of officers and employees in claims against and other matters affecting the Government, 12 counts of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations, and 12 counts of aggravated identity theft, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Southeast Region. Defendant Carlos Esteves-Salinas, a Marine Inspector Senior Verifying Officer with the United States Coast Guard Sector San Juan, was arrested on April 14, 2026, for charges alleging that he unlawfully acted as an agent for individuals attempting to obtain merchant mariner credentials, obstruction of justice for falsifying merchant mariner application documents, and aggravated identity theft in connection with the application documents. According to court documents, Esteves-Salinas accepted personal payment from merchant mariner credential applicants for his assistance in obtaining, completing, and submitting applications. Esteves-Salinas provided these services outside of his employment with the United States Coast Guard, and without the Coast Guard’s knowledge or consent. Generally, federal employees are prohibited from acting as an agent for someone else, outside of their official duties, before a federal department or agency, in connection with a “particular matter” in which the United States has a direct and substantial interest, including preparing and submitting a federally regulated certification application, such as the merchant marine credential application. According to the court documents, on at least twelve occasions, Esteves-Salinas used a counterfeit physician’s stamp and forged a physician’s signature to complete required medical certificates on behalf of his clients who were seeking merchant marine credentials. “These charges highlight a grave disregard for the duties and standards expected of those in positions of authority,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “We remain dedicated to enforcing the law and maintaining accountability without exception.” If convicted, Esteves-Salinas faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody A. McKinney from the U.S. Coast Guard is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Woman Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Threats

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Ashley Moore to one year and one month in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for making threats to commit a mass shooting in Raleigh, NC. On January 14, 2026, Moore pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. “We will not tolerate threats to our citizens. Too often, threats take the first step to actual violence, and we will protect the safety of our community. No one is above the law in EDNC.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. Inmate Moore is a woman who claims to be transitioning to become a male. Inmate Moore had received treatment from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) in Michigan and moved to Raleigh, NC, without coordinating the transfer with the VA. When Inmate Moore could not immediately receive the treatment she wanted in Raleigh, she sent a number of threatening emails and texts, including, “This will make national news.” “I am taking as many souls as I can with me. Random people.” “I will FINALLY kill.” “Time for homicide and suicide.” Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan handed down the sentence. The VA Office of Inspector General investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Brad Devoe prosecuted 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. 5:25-CR-24-FL.


title: Takahata Precision Tennessee, Inc. Agrees To Pay $2.5M Following Improper Receipt Of PPP Loan

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Takahata Precision Tennessee, Inc. (“Takahata TN”) has agreed to pay $2,582,576.10 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by applying for, receiving, and obtaining forgiveness of a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) for which it was not eligible. Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to provide relief to small businesses experiencing economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 27, 2020, the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (“Economic Aid Act”), enacted on December 27, 2020, subsequently authorized the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to guarantee second-draw PPP loans. To be eligible for second-draw PPP loans, borrowers were required to have no more than 300 employees, among other requirements. On May 21, 2020, the SBA published an Interim Final Rule clarifying that affiliated foreign employees were to be included when a borrower calculated their total number of employees for purposes of determining PPP loan eligibility. The United States contends that Takahata TN failed to include employees of its foreign affiliates through common ownership when it applied for a second-draw PPP loan and forgiveness thereof. Had Takahata TN included the employees of its foreign affiliates, as required, it would have exceeded the 300-employee size limitation applicable to second-draw PPP loans and would not have been eligible to receive the loan. This Settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the qui tam , or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and receive a share of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Takahata Precision Tennessee Inc. , No. 3:24-cv-391 (E.D. Tenn.). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexa Ortiz Hadley and Ben Cunningham represented the United States, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. “This settlement is another example of our office’s commitment to holding accountable those who disregard program requirements and obtain federal funds they are not entitled to,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office remains proud to work with the SBA and other federal partners in this effort.” Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Member of the U.S. Coast Guard charged with making false statements, fraudulent claims against the United States, wire fraud, and theft of government property

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 30, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Mario Guzmán with four counts of false statements, four counts of fraudulent claims against the United States, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of theft of government property, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Southeast Region. Defendant Mario Guzmán, an active-duty Petty Officer Second Class Maritime Enforcement Specialist in the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) was arrested on April 1, 2026, for making a series of fraudulent Temporary Lodging Allowance claims and unlawfully receiving payments he was not entitled to receive. According to the charges, on four separate occasions, Guzmán fraudulently claimed to the USCG, when applying for Temporary Lodging Allowance funds, that he and his family incurred reimbursable expenses by residing at a location called “Tony’s Place,” when in fact Guzmán and his family did not reside at Tony’s Place, or incur in the claimed expenses. By making the fraudulent claims, Guzmán illegally stole approximately $32,260.00 in USCG housing allowance funds that he was not entitled to receive. “The charges announced today reflect a serious abuse of responsibility and trust,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “Members of our armed forces are held to the highest standards, and when those standards are violated, we will act decisively. No one is above the law.” “The Coast Guard is built on the fundamentals of honor, respect, and devotion to duty,” said Assistant Director Joshua Packer, Coast Guard Investigative Service, “We demand accountability from every member, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise our mission or the public’s trust.” If convicted, defendant Mario Guzmán faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody A. McKinney from the U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Federal Judge Revokes Citizenship of Immigration and Identity Fraudster

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Department of Justice has secured the denaturalization of Gurdev Singh Sohal, also known as Dev Singh, also known as Boota Singh Sundu, who naturalized in 2005 despite having been ordered deported in 1994. After receiving a deportation and exclusion order under the name Dev Singh, Sohal failed to leave the country, and, instead, acquired a new identity with a different and fictitious name, date of birth, and date of entry into the United States. Sohal naturalized under the new and assumed identity. Sohal withheld his prior immigration history under the Dev Singh identity in any of his immigration applications or proceedings under the new identity. “This case shows this Administration’s strength and commitment to ensuring the sanctity of U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The cooperation between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security reflects a strong partnership to protect the nation against immigration and identity fraud.” This case was investigated as part of the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project, an ongoing national initiative between the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Expert analysis in February 2020 confirmed that the fingerprints submitted under both identities came from the same individual. The analysis was only made possible after DHS digitized the paper fingerprint submission documents from older immigration files. On April 13, the court found that Sohal illegally procured his U.S. citizenship because the unlawful acts he committed in hiding his prior identity rendered him unable to show that he had the requisite good moral character to naturalize. This case was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from USCIS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.


title: Another Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Convicted at Trial

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Fernando Brown, also known as “Nino,” 33 of Columbus, Georgia, a repeat offender, was convicted today by a federal jury of distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana while armed. A total of 30 defendants have now either been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty to drug charges resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in and around Columbus, Georgia, as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels. Following a four-day trial, the jury found Brown guilty of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 100 pounds of marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22. There is no parole in the federal system. “This defendant was responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in the Columbus, Georgia area,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His crimes fueled violence and harmed the community until federal, state, and local law enforcement worked together to dismantle this criminal organization. The Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting those who traffic dangerous drugs and threaten the safety of our communities.” “Although this case closes a significant chapter in Operation Sweet Silence, our commitment to dismantling armed drug trafficking organizations is unwavering,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Together, law enforcement and prosecutors will continue to pursue those who threaten the safety of the communities we serve and bring them to justice.” “Criminal Street gangs were responsible for a wave of violent crime in and around Columbus,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Richard Bilson of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. “Columbus is a safer place now that the FBI and our partners have effectively dismantled this armed drug trafficking organization. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep our streets safe.” “This investigation represents the very best of law enforcement collaboration,” said Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Federal, state, and local partners worked side by side for years to uncover the full scope of this criminal enterprise and ensuring every individual responsible faces justice. With the conviction of this defendant, we are getting closer to holding all individuals involved accountable. Our communities are safer today because of the dedication and teamwork of the investigators and prosecutors, and we are committed to bringing this case to a successful conclusion.” According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from August 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. Agents discovered that Brown, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to dominate the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. Trial evidence revealed that Brown was captured on a wiretap discussing the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. During the execution of search warrants at Brown’s drug trap house on 10th Street and his residence on Rosewood Street, both in Columbus, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and seven firearms. Cocaine hidden under a sink and seized at trap house Semi-automatic pistol and ammunition seized at trap house Other defendants, all from Columbus unless otherwise indicated, were indicted across nine separate indictments and have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, with some already sentenced by the court. Operation Sweet Silence defendants are: Freddie Bowens , also known as Profit, 27, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machine gun. LaBrandon Brown , 31, was sentenced to four years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Jantzen Carter , 40, of Waverly Hall, GA, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Ulises Cervantes , 33, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Anthony Champion , 46, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Clemons , 48, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Dequindre Dawson , 33, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Nicholas Fitzpatrick , 30, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Terry Gash , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Undrae Hayes , 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison for drug conspiracy. Roderick Hicks , 59, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Christopher Hill , 36, was sentenced to two years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Marquez Holloway , 32, was convicted at trial of drug conspiracy and drug distribution and is awaiting sentencing. Darius Jenkins , 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Jeffrey Kimbrough , 29, was sentenced to three years of probation for drug conspiracy. Hykeem Lomax , 33, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Quadarius Lusk , 30, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Aundray Morgan , 39, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Tommie Mullins Jr ., also known as TJ, also known as Bo, also known as Mini, 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Javonta Paden , 25, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Adrian Palmer , also known as AP, 25, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Adrian Pleasants , 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for drug conspiracy . Derrick Porter , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Dahvontay Richardson , 28, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Thomas , also known as Bubble, 25, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo , 41, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Corey Turner , also known as Lito Red, 33, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Jhy’Keith Williams , 24, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun. Malik Williams , 27, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Leonard Campbell , 36, of Columbus, is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison. 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. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Muscogee County, Georgia Sheriff’s Ofﬁce with critical assistance from the Harris County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Leominster Man Charged with Transportation of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Leominster man has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Camden MacLean, 25, charged with one count of transportation of child pornography. MacLean was arrested today and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 21, 2026. According to the charging documents, MacLean was flagged for secondary screening at Boston’s Logan Airport upon arrival from Toronto, Canada in August 2025. It is alleged that during a review of MacLean’s cell phone, media files depicting CSAM were found in his Telegram Messenger app. A subsequent forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed additional media files depicting CSAM that appeared to have been exchanged over Telegram and Kik Messenger, including images showing the sexual abuse of toddlers. The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Alien from Guatemala Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to reentering the United States after a prior removal. According to court records, on March 12, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Franklin County were driving near Stratton when they observed a white box truck heading north towards the U.S.Canadian border. Elmer Enrique Ramirez-Ardon , 33, was in the truck’s passenger seat. After observing the truck and its occupants, the agents suspected it contained aliens. They stopped the truck after it reversed direction and began travelling south towards the interior of the state. During a subsequent roadside immigration inspection, agents determined that the truck’s two occupants were, in fact, aliens without lawful authority to be in the country. They were transported to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station for processing, at which time agents determined that Ramirez-Ardon, a citizen of Guatemala, had been ordered deported and removed from the country in 2014. Ramirez-Ardon faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Operation Take Back America : 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 Who Declared “Death to You All”  and Attempted to Commit Mass Murder Sentenced

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: FLINT – An Owosso, Michigan man fixated on mass murderers was sentenced today to 7 years in federal prison for attempting to commit his own attack, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Detroit Division. Mack Davis, 23, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count under the federal hate crime statute. According to court documents, Davis became infatuated with other mass murderers and planned to conduct his own mass murder. Among other things, Davis drafted a list of weapons and tactical gear for his plan. Davis’s own writings show that he surveilled churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, hospitals, and supermarkets. In his writings, Davis expressed his “hate for this world and for the people in it, all people, I hate you all the same.” Davis posted selfies of himself making a Nazi salute and holding a copy of Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic manifesto, Mein Kampf . As he began to plot his own mass murder, Davis focused on attacking two locations in close proximity to one another: a political party’s county headquarters and a bar, both of which he believed would contain homosexuals. He also explained that he would “fire on anyone and anything” near those locations. Leading up to his attack, Davis test-fired approximately 60 bullets into his neighbors’ cars, one of which he had previously vandalized with an anti-gay slur. Law enforcement’s investigation of the shooting led to their disruption of Davis’s attempt to commit the mass shooting. During the search of his home, police found that he had an arsenal that included an illegally sawed-off rifle, a shotgun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow and arrows, bomb-making parts, tactical gear, and knives. On one of the knives, Davis wrote a foul anti-gay slur on one side of the blade and “Death to you all” and a swastika on the other side of the blade. Davis also defiled an Israeli flag. “Davis devised wicked plans. He said he would kill ‘anyone and anything’ that crossed his path and planned to attack homosexuals. And his venom for Jews is part of the sickening rise in antisemitism and attacks against believers. But we will protect every American,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said. "There is no room for targeted hate crimes against any citizen on American soil, including in our community of Owosso,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “We are grateful for the strong collaboration between our FBI Flint Resident Agency, the Owosso Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Michigan State Police in disrupting this hate-inspired plot before anyone was harmed. Let this sentence serve as a notice that if you target others with hate or violence, you will face the full weight of justice under federal law." This case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Field Office, Flint Resident Agency, in collaboration with the Owosso Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Michigan State Police. The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division assisted in the prosecution.


title: Tidewater inmate sentenced to three years in prison for a series of fraud schemes

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

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man currently in prison for a federal firearms conviction was sentenced today to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with major disaster benefits, making false statements, and bank fraud. This is the third federal felony conviction for Raymond Antoine Wyche, 34. According to court documents, Wyche was sentenced on Jan. 17, 2017, to four years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. After completing his prison term for that conviction, Wyche was again incarcerated in 2020 at Western Tidewater Regional Jail for a violation of his federal supervised release. Wyche received $33,592 in response to an unemployment benefits claim application filed. The application falsely stated that he lost his job at a barbershop in Chesapeake as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that he was ready, willing, and- able to work. The claim was recertified weekly through September 2021, including while Wyche was incarcerated and after his release from custody while he was employed. While in jail, Wyche also provided the personal identifying information of other inmates to a co-conspirator who used that information to file additional unemployment benefit claims during the COVID pandemic. In sum, the conspiracy resulted in six successful unemployment claims in the names of inmates for a total of $112,508 in unemployment benefits. Wyche and his co-conspirator kept most of the benefits, providing little or nothing to the inmates whose names and information were used in the claims. The conspiracy also involved fraudulent claims using stolen identities of non-inmates. After his release from Western Tidewater while on supervised pretrial release, Wyche provided his personal information to another co-conspirator who used it to file a loan application through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was administered by the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest financing to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs for eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the pandemic. The application falsely stated that Wyche was the sole proprietor and employee of a landscaping business called “Wyche Services” with a gross annual income for 2020 of $98,740. A fraudulent IRS Form 1040, Schedule C, was attached as purported supporting documentation. In response to the application, on May 13, 2021, $20,570 was disbursed to Wyche’s credit union account. In December 2021, while he remained on supervised pretrial release, Wyche deposited a counterfeit check purportedly made out to Wyche in the amount of $4,500 from the bank account of a Hampton Roads car dealership. Wyche attempted to deposit another counterfeit check for $2,000. On July 18, 2022, Wyche again pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and on Dec. 12, 2022, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The three-year sentence imposed today will run consecutive to the sentence Wyche is currently serving. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and the Chesapeake Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 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 Nos. 2:25-cr-138, 2:22-cr-55, and 2:15-cr-16.


title: U.S. authorities conduct cyber operations as part of global crackdown on DDoS-for-hire services

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Justice Department today announced court-authorized actions taken to disrupt some of the world’s leading Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Internet of Things (IoT) botnet services. U.S. authorities continue to focus resources on charging DDoS botnet administrators and seizing infrastructure, like websites, that allow paying users to launch powerful DDoS attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet. In recent years, DDoS, aka “booter,” services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. DDoS services, such as those named in this action, allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, critical infrastructure, including Department of War resources, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections. In the District of Alaska, U.S. authorities seized services associated with eight DDoS-for-hire domains, including “Vac Stresser” and “Mythical Stress,” which both purport to launch tens of thousands of DDoS attacks per day. The District of Alaska also conducted searches of DDoS-for-hire backend servers. United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; Case #: 3:26-mj-00248 Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting known DDoS sites, shutting down large numbers of them simultaneously, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years, more than 11 defendants have been charged in Anchorage and Los Angeles for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 100 domains associated with such services have been seized. In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities. “Criminal DDoS-for-hire services impact internet services for victims across the country, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to combat cybercrime services like booter providers. We continue to prioritize addressing these threats through collaborative domestic and international partnerships to safeguard critical internet infrastructure and services for all Americans.” “Today’s announcement is the result of continued partnership between law enforcement and the private sector, targeting criminal DDoS services that threaten the integrity of the internet,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the DCIS, Cyber Field Office. “DDoS is a clear threat to the Department and will continue to be a target of our investigative efforts.” For additional information on DDoS services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks . This law enforcement action was taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Alaska and Central District of California; DCIS; FBI’s Anchorage Field Office; HSI’s Columbus Field Office; the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) attorney advisor, who is based at Eurojust in The Hague; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others. Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort and The ShadowServer Foundation, The University of Cambridge and Unit 221B. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander of the District of Alaska is prosecuting this case. United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; Case #: 3:26-mj-00248 ###


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced for Armed Robberies, Carjacking, Assaulting Federal Officer

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to federal prison for his role in robbing multiple local commercial businesses and then later assaulting a Deputy U.S. Marshal while at the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Sharif Northington, 23, of Baltimore, to 10 years in prison for interfering with commerce by robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Northington also received one year in prison, consecutive to the 10-year sentence, for intentionally assaulting an officer and employee of the United States. In September 2024, following a court proceeding at the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore, Northington threatened and then assaulted the Deputy U.S. Marshals escorting him to his cell. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland (USMS); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). According to court documents, in November 2022, Northington conspired with co-conspirators Devin Grimes, 27, of Baltimore, and John Hyman, 21, of Baltimore, to commit armed commercial robberies and at least one armed carjacking. During each robbery and carjacking, the co-conspirators used a firearm while demanding money, a vehicle, and/or other items. On November 29, Northington, Grimes, and Hyman — who were wearing masks and hoods — entered a Northeast Baltimore 7-Eleven convenience store. Grimes brandished a handgun and then proceeded to rob the store with Northington and Hyman. The suspects stole money from the cash register and then fled the store. But unknown to the suspects, the stolen cash included a money tracker which helped law enforcement officers track their movements. In response, both BPD and BCPD dispatched officers, detectives, and aviation squads to locate the suspects. The co-conspirators then went to a carry-out restaurant, less than a mile away. Upon entering, Grimes went to the back of the restaurant and brandished a handgun. He then confronted a delivery driver and robbed the man of the keys in his pocket. Then Grimes returned to the register and demanded the cashier open the register. Grimes then removed money from the register before the three co-conspirators fled the store in the delivery man’s vehicle. BPD and BCPD aviation units soon located and apprehended the co-conspirators. During the arrests, law enforcement recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, money, and a money tracker from Grimes. Law enforcement also discovered additional cash in the vehicle. In December 2024, Judge Hollander sentenced Grimes to 10 years in federal prison. Then in September 2025, Judge Hollander sentenced Hyman to 10 years in prison for his role in the crimes. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the ATF, USMS, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sippel who prosecuted this federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Transient Man Living in Tulsa Sentenced for  Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A transient man was sentenced today for failing to register as a sex offender after being arrested living near more than 10 childcare facilities in South Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Kenneth James Sequichie, 47, to 20 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon his release, Sequichie will be required to register as a sex offender. Court records show that Sequichie was convicted of lewd molestation in two separate State court cases. In 2000, he received a 10-year suspended sentence. After his second offense in 2003, he was ordered to serve 15 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Sequichie has a lengthy criminal history and has been convicted of 28 offenses, including physically abusing a child, violently assaulting others, possessing illegal firearms, dealing drugs, escaping custody, and failing to maintain his sex offender registry. After being released for his latest conviction of child abuse and aggravated assault and battery, he registered as a sex offender and claimed that he was living in Tahlequah. However, Cherokee Nation Marshals discovered that Sequichie had left Tahlequah and was homeless. When marshals began investigating Sequichie's whereabouts, they discovered that he had registered for SNAP benefits and claimed to be living in Bunch, Oklahoma. However, he was primarily buying food at gas stations in South Tulsa, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. When Sequichie was arrested by Tulsa Police officers in South Tulsa, he was living under a bridge, near more than 10 childcare facilities or schools. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service investigated the case with the assistance of the Tulsa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Military contractor sentenced to federal prison time for providing faulty parts

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The owner of a company that fraudulently provided nonconforming critical application parts to the United States military was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 24 months in prison. Andrew C. Nolan, 46, of Riviera Beach, Florida, and formerly of Westerville, defrauded the government of more than $800,000 by providing nonconforming parts through nearly 150 Department of War (DoW) contracts. “Nolan knowingly provided cheaper, nonconforming parts to the U.S. military for use as critical application items on aircraft and other weapons systems,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “His actions dangerously disregarded the safety of our troops in pursuit of higher profits and he now will rightfully spend time in federal prison.” “Outcomes of this nature protect the DoD from financial loss and operational risk, directly strengthening national defense capabilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “This result demonstrates the value of vigilant oversight and reinforces DCIS’s steadfast commitment to aggressively countering fraud, corruption, and misconduct that threaten military readiness.” According to court documents, Nolan was the sole owner and operator of Nolan Manufacturing, LLC, a DoW contractor that supplied a variety of military parts from at least 2012 through 2020. To execute his fraud scheme, Nolan intentionally supplied military parts that did not conform to his contracts with DoW. Instead of complying with the contracts, Nolan instead purchased the parts from unapproved manufacturers and then fraudulently shipped them to a third party to laser-etch the approved part numbers onto them before turning them over to the DoW. In total, Nolan caused a loss of $829,512 through 148 contracts. Nolan was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to wire fraud and money laundering. Nolans’s sentence was imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Twombly and Tyler Aagard are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Justice Department Announces Completion of Compliance Review After Illinois Removes Unlawful DEI Criteria from Loan Repayment Program

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced that it has closed a compliance review of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). The Department opened this review based on a provision of the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program that required ISAC to set aside at least 30% of funding for applicants who are of “African American or Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian, or Native American origin.” After the Department notified ISAC of the compliance review, Illinois removed this DEI criteria from the Program as well as a number of other programs administered by ISAC. “State agencies may not accept funds from the Department of Justice and then use race, color, or national origin to decide who benefits from them,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department appreciates that the State of Illinois has recognized that ISAC cannot lawfully base its funding decisions on unlawful criteria and has removed them from this program and others administered by ISAC.” Title VI prohibits race, color, or national origin discrimination by recipients of Federal financial assistance, including the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Additional information about the Civil Rights Divisions is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt .


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Recording His Sexual Abuse of 5-Year-Old

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Thursday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual abuse of a five-year-old to 30 years in prison. When Marshall Williams, 41, pleaded guilty in November to one count of production of child pornography, he admitted sexually abusing the victim and recording the abuse with his cell phone in March of 2024. After the victim’s aunt found the videos, she alerted the victim’s mother and they confronted Williams, who fled to Columbia, Missouri, where he was arrested. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Robbery with a Firearm and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Justin Alan Seymour (37, Tampa) guilty of Hobbs Act Robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in October of 2024, while robbing a pizza store in Tampa, Seymour pointed a gun at the store clerk. Law enforcement obtained their first break in the case when they obtained dashcam video from a delivery vehicle parked outside the store, then utilized the video to ascertain specific unique characteristics of the suspect’s vehicle. Two days later, law enforcement pulled over the vehicle being driven by Seymour, who had a firearm in his waistband. Seymour’s cell phone data placed him near the pizza store at the time of the robbery. Seymour has a prior felony conviction for attempted robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon; therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with the cell phone analysis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.


title: Colombian National Sentenced to Eight Years for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: A Colombian national residing in Virginia was sentenced today to eight years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Jorge Antonio Escobar, 50, had downloaded and saved images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of prepubescent minors. In September of 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into those sharing CSAM on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing network, which identified an IP address traced back to Escobar’s residence in Leesburg, Virginia. Escobar admitted to using BitTorrent to search for images of young girls. Escobar pleaded guilty to receipt of CSAM on Dec. 30, 2025. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. The HSI D.C. Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndi McVey for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Scheme Designed to Obtain Fraudulent Visas to Bring Aliens to the U.S. for Unlawful Fundraising

body_text: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday to criminal charges arising from a 13-year conspiracy to induce foreign nationals to come to the United States through fraudulently obtained visas as part of an unlawful work scheme, and for his failure to pay taxes on the income he obtained through the unlawful scheme. According to court documents, Hyung Ki Kim, 60, of New Jersey, served as the Director of the International Leadership Training Program (ILTP), an organization that Kim promoted as a leadership training and character development program. Kim and his co-conspirators used ILTP as a vehicle to bring foreign nationals to the United States to illegally obtain their labor. “The Criminal Division will investigate and prosecute those who, like the defendant, violate our immigration and tax laws while unlawfully exploiting the labor of young persons who came to the United States and worked tirelessly for meager wages because they mistakenly believed that the money they raised was going to charitable causes,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Schemes that exploit our immigration system and abuse vulnerable individuals strike at the core of the Administration’s enforcement priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Our Office is committed to working with our federal partners to hold accountable those who manipulate visa programs, evade taxes, and exploit unlawful labor, and to protect the integrity of our immigration system and the people it is meant to serve.” “Not only did Kim lie to the victims that he illegally employed to raise money about where their fundraising proceeds were going, he compounded his crimes by committing visa and tax fraud,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI and our federal partners are committed to identifying and disrupting anyone abusing the federal immigration system and other programs for personal gain.” “This case demonstrates the importance of the strong interagency collaboration between the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and our law enforcement partners in protecting the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian K. Wood of the DSS New York Field Office. “We are committed to working with our federal partners to identify and dismantle schemes that exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine U.S. law.” “Mr. Kim not only orchestrated a years-long scheme built on visa fraud and deception, he also diverted more than a million dollars in illicit proceeds to his own bank accounts,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “This case underscores IRS-CI’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover financial crimes that exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine the integrity of our tax system.” Kim and his co-conspirators recruited young members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), founded by Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954, from different countries to join ILTP. Kim directed the effort to get B-1/B-2 visas for ILTP members through the submission of false and misleading statements throughout the visa application process. Once the visas were approved, Kim coordinated the members’ travel to the United States and purchased their airline tickets. Members, who entered the country pursuant to nonimmigrant visas, could not lawfully work in the United States. However, Kim required members to travel throughout the country and “fundraise” for ILTP while living in a van with three or four other people. Kim and his co-conspirators set a daily fundraising goal for each member and required members to solicit donations for long hours each day. Members worked until they met their monetary goal during fundraising cycles that lasted several months. In return, members received only $100 per month to cover their expenses and about $25 per day to pay for meals. Kim controlled all revenue from members’ fundraising work. While the members thought that the money they raised was to support charitable projects in their home countries, Kim actually diverted over a million dollars of the fundraising proceeds to his personal bank accounts and later failed to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service on this unreported income. Kim pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to enter and reside in the United States and tax fraud. As part of the plea, Kim paid $735,000 in restitution to former ILTP Members and $223,536 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for his tax fraud scheme. In addition, Kim agreed to forfeit to the United States approximately $1,265,036 that he obtained through the visa fraud and alien harboring conspiracies, as well as an automobile he purchased with proceeds of his criminal conduct. Kim is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Kim faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The FBI, DSS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and IRS-CI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Olimpia E. Michel of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Lyons for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.


component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK — A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday to criminal charges arising from a 13-year conspiracy to induce foreign nationals to come to the United States through fraudulently obtained visas as part of an unlawful work scheme, and for his failure to pay taxes on the income he obtained through the unlawful scheme. According to court documents, Hyung Ki Kim, 60, of New Jersey, served as the Director of the International Leadership Training Program (ILTP), an organization that Kim promoted as a leadership training and character development program. Kim and his co-conspirators used ILTP as a vehicle to bring foreign nationals to the United States to illegally obtain their labor. “Schemes that exploit our immigration system and abuse vulnerable individuals strike at the core of the Administration’s enforcement priorities. Our Office is committed to working with our federal partners to hold accountable those who manipulate visa programs, evade taxes, and exploit unlawful labor, and to protect the integrity of our immigration system and the people it is meant to serve.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “The Criminal Division will investigate and prosecute those who, like the defendant, violate our immigration and tax laws while unlawfully exploiting the labor of young persons who came to the United States and worked tirelessly for meager wages because they mistakenly believed that the money they raised was going to charitable causes,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Not only did Kim lie to the victims that he illegally employed to raise money about where their fundraising proceeds were going, he compounded his crimes by committing visa and tax fraud,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI and our federal partners are committed to identifying and disrupting anyone abusing the federal immigration system and other programs for personal gain.” “This case demonstrates the importance of the strong interagency collaboration between the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and our law enforcement partners in protecting the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian K. Wood of the DSS New York Field Office. “We are committed to working with our federal partners to identify and dismantle schemes that exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine U.S. law.” “Mr. Kim not only orchestrated a years-long scheme built on visa fraud and deception, he also diverted more than a million dollars in illicit proceeds to his own bank accounts,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office. “This case underscores IRS-CI’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover financial crimes that exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine the integrity of our tax system.” Kim and his co-conspirators recruited young members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church), founded by Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954, from different countries to join ILTP. Kim directed the effort to get B-1/B-2 visas for ILTP members through the submission of false and misleading statements throughout the visa application process. Once the visas were approved, Kim coordinated the members’ travel to the United States and purchased their airline tickets. Members, who entered the country pursuant to nonimmigrant visas, could not lawfully work in the United States. However, Kim required members to travel throughout the country and “fundraise” for ILTP while living in a van with three or four other people. Kim and his co-conspirators set a daily fundraising goal for each member and required members to solicit donations for long hours each day. Members worked until they met their monetary goal during fundraising cycles that lasted several months. In return, members received only $100 per month to cover their expenses and about $25 per day to pay for meals. Kim controlled all revenue from members’ fundraising work. While the members thought that the money they raised was to support charitable projects in their home countries, Kim actually diverted over a million dollars of the fundraising proceeds to his personal bank accounts and later failed to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service on this unreported income. Kim pled guilty to a conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to enter and reside in the United States and tax fraud. As part of the plea, Kim paid $735,000 in restitution to former ILTP Members and $223,536 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for his tax fraud scheme. In addition, Kim agreed to forfeit to the United States approximately $1,265,036 that he obtained through the visa fraud and alien harboring conspiracies, as well as an automobile he purchased with proceeds of his criminal conduct. Kim is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Kim faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The FBI, DSS, and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Lyons for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Olimpia E. Michel of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Grand jury indicts illegal alien from Mexico for illegally possessing firearms

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Mexican illegal alien who fired a shot in the garage at his residence has been indicted by a grand jury for illegally possessing firearms. Armando Rivera-Sereno, 41, was originally charged by a federal criminal complaint in November 2025. According to charging documents, on Sept. 9, 2024, Columbus police officers were dispatched to Holly Hill Drive in Columbus on reports of shots fired. They discovered Rivera-Sereno in his garage, where they also found a pistol, loaded magazine, rifle, box of ammunition, spent shell casing, suspected narcotics and numerous empty beer cans. Rivero-Sereno, who has also gone by Armando Rivera-Sanchez and Alejandro Aguirre, was convicted in 2022 of unlawfully reentering the United States as an illegal alien. He had been removed five other times before his arrest in that case. Today’s two-count indictment charges him with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and illegally possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, which each carry a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez is representing the United States in this 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. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office invites communities across Wyoming to join in recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) this April. The observance highlights the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect while encouraging individuals, families, and organizations to work together to support children and strengthen families. National Child Abuse Prevention Month serves as a reminder that safe, stable, and nurturing environments are essential for children to thrive. Research consistently shows that positive childhood experiences—such as feeling safe, supported by family, and connected to community—lead to improved health outcomes, higher educational attainment, and greater economic stability over a lifetime. These experiences also help reduce long-term reliance on public systems. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith emphasized the critical role communities play in prevention efforts: “Protecting children starts long before a crisis occurs. When we invest in strong families, supportive communities, and early intervention, we not only safeguard children today, we build safer, more resilient communities for generations to come. Prevention is not just a social priority; it is a shared responsibility and one of the most effective tools we have to reduce future harm.” Smith joined Mayor Patrick Collins on Tuesday, April 14 for the Mayor’s Proclamation on Child Abuse Prevention Month at Wyoming Child and Family Development, Laramie County Headstart. He will also join the Laramie County Commissioners at the Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, April 21, for their proclamation. For more information and resources about National Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit the official campaign page. https://preventchildabuse.org/ Image caption : U.S. Attorney Darin Smith holds a small child while attending a proclamation for National Child Abuse Awareness Month with Mayor Patrick Collins at Laramie County Headstart on April 14, 2026. Image credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming


title: Federal Jury Convicts Dallas Man for Mailing Threats to Federal Judges and Hoax Biological Weapons to Fort Worth Federal Courthouse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Dallas federal jury convicted a man for mailing threatening communications and hoax biological weapons, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Following a two-day trial and only one hour of deliberation, the jury convicted Donald Ray McCray, 67, of Dallas, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, of three counts of mailing threatening communications to several United States District Court Judges in the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of New York, and one count of sending hoax biological weapons to the Fort Worth, Texas Federal Courthouse. “Threats and disruptions to the orderly functioning of our federal courts will not be tolerated. And anyone who threatens a NDTX federal judge or NDTX employee will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “With this verdict, North Texas residents held the defendant accountable for his threats and attempts to undermine our judiciary.” “The FBI takes threats to federal officials and courthouse personnel seriously. We would like to thank our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners who assisted in this investigation. This collaborative effort ensured that this offender was held accountable for threatening our judicial system,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. According to evidence presented at trial, McCray, while incarcerated in a Texas state prison, sent multiple threatening letters containing white powder to the clerk of courts at the Fort Worth and Amarillo federal courthouses in March 2025. In those letters, McCray threatened to kill multiple state and federal government employees, including federal district court judges. After being indicted in June 2025, McCray appeared at a hearing in federal court and made further threats against various government employees and district court judges. The jury also heard evidence that when one of McCray’s threatening letters contained white powder was received at the federal courthouse in Fort Worth, it effectively shut down the courthouse and required a full HAZMAT response from multiple agencies before it could be rendered safe for its occupants and the public. Evidence at trial further established that in 2019, McCray was convicted in a Texas state court of threatening a Texas state judge under similar circumstances. Among other exhibits, the government introduced McCray’s threatening letters, transcripts of the previous court hearing where he made additional threatening statements, and evidence related to the HAZMAT testing of the white powder sent by McCray. McCray is set for sentencing on August 19, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr, who presided over the trial. McCray faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count of mailing threatening communications and up to five years in federal prison for the hoax biological weapons conviction. He also faces a $250,000 fine. This case was investigated and coordinated by multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspectors Service, Ft. Worth Police Department, Ft. Worth Fire Department, Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services, Tarrant County Department of Public Health, the Texas Tech Biological Threat Research Laboratory, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Chad E. Meacham prosecuted the case.


title: Two Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Working with Cartels to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced for working with the cartel to distribute drugs around Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Today, U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Ventura Rivera Arteaga , 41, for Drug Conspiracy and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. He was ordered to 46 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Rivera Arteaga’s co-defendant, Ruben Amador Meza Medina , 21, pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy in November 2025. He was previously sentenced to 46 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Agents were investigating the distribution of fentanyl in the Tulsa area and executed a search warrant on a home in east Tulsa. Inside the home, agents found a large quantity of fentanyl, more than $25,000 in cash, digital scales, and cellphones. The defendants admitted that they worked with each other and others within the cartel to package and distribute fentanyl throughout Tulsa. Meza Medina told agents that he came into the United States seeking employment, but distributed drugs instead. When Rivera Arteaga entered the United States, he met up with Meza Medina to help distribute fentanyl. Both defendants admitted that they were unlawfully inside the United States, and court documents show that Rivera Arteaga was previously removed in 2024. Both defendants will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and are expected to face removal proceedings after being released from prison. The Tulsa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.


title: Southfield Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of  Fake IDs and ID-Making Equipment Used to Cause over $500k in Fraud Losses

body_text: DETROIT – A Southfield man pled guilty today to illegally possessing social security cards, driver’s licenses, and equipment to make fake documents – all of which were ultimately used to cause over half a million dollars in fraud losses, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations-Detroit. Pleading guilty was Jerome Antwan Andrews, 41. In his plea agreement, Andrews admitted to possessing the social security numbers and driver’s license information for over 250 people, as well as an identification card printer, an embosser, a laminator, and a card cutter. Andrews also admitted that his business model was to create and sell fake social security cards and driver’s licenses in the names of real people, and that his conduct caused more than $550,000 in fraud losses. Having pled guilty, Andrews faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss. Sentencing will occur before United States District Judge Terrance G. Berg. “My office and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling the networks that allow fraudsters like Mr. Andrews to flourish.” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated. “We will aggressively prosecute identity theft and fraud.” “Identity theft causes lasting harm to innocent victims and fraudulent identification documents undermine the security of our communities,” said HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these criminal operations and protect Americans from these schemes.” “Jerome Antwan Andrews and his criminal associates stole more than $1.5 million by submitting hundreds of fraudulent claims to a pandemic program intended to help unemployed American workers. Today’s conviction of Andrews represents yet another attack in our war against fraud. It sends a stern warning that my office will relentlessly investigate those bad actors greedily lining their pockets with U.S. taxpayer funds,” said Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “If you try to game the system, we will investigate you and hold you accountable.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor — Office of Inspector General. Significant investigative assistance was provided by the Wayne County Airport Authority Police Department, and the United States Secret Service Southeast Michigan Financial Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Craig Welkener.