title: Foreign National Arrested for Making False Statement During Attempted Firearms Purchases

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued this week charging an illegal alien with making false statements during multiple attempts to purchase firearms as well as falsely claiming to be a U.S. Citizen. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, made the announcement. According to the complaint, Ulises Macario Gonzaga-Guillen, age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with making multiple false statements during attempts to purchase firearms from licensed dealers between January 15 and February 16, 2025, in McCracken and Marshall Counties, Kentucky. Gonzaga-Guillen, during one of the attempted purchases, also falsely claimed to be a U.S. Citizen. Gonzaga-Guillen was not able to successfully purchase a firearm from any of the firearm dealers involved. This case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Satellite Office and the HSI Paducah Office. The defendant was taken into federal custody this week and will make his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on April 28, 2025. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 43 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 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: 5 Defendants Arrested on Complaints Alleging They Submitted Fraudulent Claims Seeking FEMA Funds for Wildfire Disaster Relief

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Five defendants have been arrested on federal criminal complaints alleging they fraudulently obtained federal disaster-relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged in the wildfires that struck Los Angeles County in January 2025, the Justice Department announced today. The allegedly false claims were made in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires that started on January 7. Together, the wildfires burned nearly 60,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and resulted in the deaths of 30 people. As a result, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims. Victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including renters who lost their residences, could qualify for a one-time payment of $750 noted as a FEMA relief payment, $43,600 for other needs assistance (personal property, transportation, medical, etc.), and housing assistance for up to 18 months at varying rates. Homeowners are also potentially eligible for additional relief up to $43,600 for home repair. Each defendant listed below – four of whom were arrested on Thursday; one of whom was in state custody in Arizona on Wednesday – is charged with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. United States v. Hogan Deanniah Hogan, 32, of Compton, on January 26 allegedly submitted a false claim for federal disaster assistance related to the Palisades Fire, listing an address in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles as the purportedly damaged dwelling in which she claimed to live and rent. After approving the application, FEMA sent a total of approximately $17,351 to Hogan, including for personal property damage and displacement assistance. The actual Pacific Palisades homeowner – and resident who lost the property in the fire – later confirmed to law enforcement that the property was not being rented out at that time. Hogan was arrested and made her initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered her released on $10,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 20. Assistant United States Attorney Solomon Kim of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. United States v. Johnson Delvonne Dashon Johnson, 31, of the East Hollywood area of Los Angeles, on February 4 allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim for FEMA benefits related to the Palisades Fire, listing an address in Pacific Palisades as his purported dwelling that he owned. Later in February 2025, FEMA sent Johnson a total of approximately $64,138 in federal disaster relief. On April 2, law enforcement interviewed the property’s actual owner, who stated she had lived at that residence since 2015, that it was her primary residence, and she was living there at the time of the Palisades Fire. She also said she never rented the property out to anyone and did not know Johnson. She further said when she submitted a disaster assistance application to advise authorities that her house had been destroyed, FEMA notified her that someone already filed such a claim on her property’s behalf. Johnson was arrested Thursday and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Assistant United States Attorney Steven M. Arkow of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. United States v. Lowe Keandre Lowe, 21, of Long Beach, on January 22 allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim for FEMA benefits, claiming that he rented an Altadena property that was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. By February 13, FEMA had submitted approximately $28,286 in disaster relief to Lowe. The actual property owner later confirmed to law enforcement that they were residing in the home at the time and since 2007 had not rented the property out to anyone. Lowe was arrested and made his initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered him released on $10,000 bond. Lowe’s arraignment is scheduled for May 27. Assistant United States Attorney Steven M. Arkow of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. United States v. McIntre Zenalyn McIntre, 38, of Sherman Oaks, on January 20 allegedly submitted a false claim for federal disaster relief by claiming that she was a renter of a residence in Pacific Palisades that was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Eight days later, she submitted additional documents online to FEMA, including her California driver’s license – which listed a Sherman Oaks address – and a natural gas utility bill that appeared to be fake. Based on her false claim, FEMA distributed approximately $25,229 in disaster-relief funds to McIntre. McIntre was arrested Thursday and is scheduled to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah S. Lee of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. United States v. Woods Katrina Woods, 33, of Maricopa, Arizona, on January 30 allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim for disaster assistance, listing a nonexistent Altadena address as her primary residence that purportedly was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. FEMA eventually disbursed approximately $23,441 in disaster relief to Woods, who also made reservations through FEMA to stay at two hotels – one in downtown Los Angeles, the other in Hawthorne – during February and March of 2025 paid for by FEMA. On March 10, FEMA discontinued lodging for Woods at the hotel in downtown Los Angeles where she was staying. Woods has been in state custody in Arizona since Wednesday on an unrelated matter and is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court in the coming weeks. Assistant United States Attorney Steven M. Arkow of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. Complaints contain allegations of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. One defendant arrested last month , Hedeshia Robertson, 36, of Lakewood, is scheduled to plead guilty on May 2 to one count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits. Robertson admitted in her plea agreement that she filed a fraudulent application for FEMA benefits on January 28, seeking disaster relief for a Pacific Palisades property that she neither owned nor rented. As a result of her fraudulent application, Robertson fraudulently obtained approximately $24,899 in FEMA benefits. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Paetty and Roger Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case. Another defendant, Jaime Arturo Carrillo, 48, of South Los Angeles, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits. On January 13, Carrillo falsely stated to FEMA on an application for wildfire-relief benefits that he rented property in South Los Angeles – approximately 20 miles from the Palisades and Eaton fires – and had suffered personal property damage and a disruption in his utilities. Carrillo was not renting at the South Los Angeles residence. As a result of Carrillo’s false statements, FEMA authorized him to receive transitional sheltering assistance. Using these benefits, Carrillo received free lodging for 13 nights at two Los Angeles County hotels, with a total cost of approximately $2,173. Carrillo also charged approximately $107 to the room paid for by FEMA at an El Segundo hotel for food and incidental costs. Carrillo’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 11. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth S.P. Douglas of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. The cases announced today were investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California, including the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG). To report fraud related to FEMA disaster-relief public assistance, please contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) hotline at (800) 323-8603. The HSI tip line may be contacted at (866) 347-2423.


title: Four Defendants Sentenced for Violent Robbery of Hopkins Grocery Store

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – The fourth defendant in a Hobbs Act Robbery case has been sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for their role in an “inside job” armed robbery of a grocery and tobacco store, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, Darius Curtis Elam, 30, Ryan Michell Elam, 30, Katrice Rene Sanders, 32, and Kynesha Jhaunae Jones, 34, conspired together to rob the U.S. Grocery and Tobacco store in Hopkins, Minnesota. On February 15, 2024, Darius and Ryan Elam entered the store before 10:00 p.m., both armed with firearms. They bound three employees’ hands to their eyes with duct tape, demanded the code to the safe, and pistol-whipped the manager. According to court documents, the robbery was planned over a period of two weeks. Jones worked at the store and provided details about the store layout and how cash was handled. Sanders helped plan and owned the getaway vehicle used after the robbery. The robbery resulted in a $45,000 total loss to the store. Sanders was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court. Jones was previously sentenced to 32 months in prison; Darius Elam received a sentence of 112 months, and Ryan Elam was sentenced to 109 months. Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, and all were sentenced by Judge Donovan W. Frank. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Hopkins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.


title: Windham Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Scheme to Defraud the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Windham man was sentenced today in federal court in connection with his ownership of an international technology (IT) company that contracted with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (United Way) while being employed by United Way, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Imran Alrai, age 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 36 months in federal prison and 1 year of supervised release. Alrai was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2.3 million. In October 2024, Alrai was convicted by a federal jury of 12 counts of wire fraud and 6 counts of money laundering. “For six years, the defendant carried out a calculated and sophisticated scheme to steal millions from a non-profit dedicated to uplifting our most vulnerable communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “He exploited the organization’s trust, fabricating companies, employees, and invoices– all to line his own pockets at the expense of those the non-profit was meant to serve.” “The usual reward of nonprofit work is personal fulfillment, not financial enrichment,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Imran Alrai, however, treated the United Way of Massachusetts and Merrimack Valley like his very own ATM, stealing millions of dollars and shortchanging their efforts and the community in the process. To anyone else engaged in a scheme like this, know that the FBI will work to shut you down and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.” “Alrai’s ploy to enrich himself with millions of dollars stolen from an organization focused on improving the lives of those in need ended today. He used his technical expertise to craft an elaborate fraud scheme that went undetected for years, allowing him to siphon millions to fulfill his own greed,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “After today’s sentence, he’s finally facing the consequences of his crimes— a long term in federal prison.” Between 2012 and June 2018, Alrai, an IT professional at the United Way, obtained approximately $6.7 million in payments for IT services supposedly provided to United Way by an independent outside contractor, DigitalNet Technology Solutions, Inc. Alrai misrepresented material facts about DigitalNet and fraudulently concealed that he owned and controlled DigitalNet. Through DigitalNet, Alrai overcharged United Way for the services he provided. In early 2013, Alrai rigged the bidding process for a major contract to provide managed IT services at the United Way so that DigitalNet was chosen. Alrai then gave fake references and false information about DigitalNet to United Way. For the next five years, while serving as United Way’s Vice President for IT Services, Alrai steered additional IT work to DigitalNet, so that his company soon became United Way’s second largest outside vendor, receiving more than $1 million annually. Alrai concealed his connection with DigitalNet from his colleagues. He routinely sent emails with attached invoices from a fictitious person to himself at United Way. After the fraud came to light, in June 2018, officials at the United Way confronted Alrai and terminated him. Federal agents executed search and seizure warrants and seized incriminating documents and data from Alrai’s home office in Windham, as well as approximately $2.2 million in fraud proceeds in bank and investment accounts. Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. The Internal Revenue Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and John J. Kennedy prosecuted the case. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Indicts 7 Foreign Nationals For Money Laundering and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned a multi-count indictment on April 16, 2025, charging seven foreign nationals with money laundering related offenses and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Jose Malagon Castro , 49, a citizen of Mexico, operated three grocery stores in the Western District of Kentucky and offered, among other things, international money transmission services at each location. Yeimi Hernandez Barahona , 34, Kenia Hernandez Barahona , 35, Kelin Hernandez Barahona , 31, all citizens of Honduras, and Suri Rosmeri Hernandez Del Cid , 27, a citizen of Guatemala, were employed by Castro and conducted wire transfers as part of the money transmission service. Vanessa Avila Galaviz , 28, and Jose Martin Romero , 32, both citizens of Mexico, along with other individuals, were narcotics traffickers, who directed monetary wire transfers conducted at Castro’s stores to send drug proceeds to Mexico. The indictment alleges that between at least January 2020 and continuing until at least December 2024, all the named defendants engaged in a conspiracy to knowingly conduct, and attempt to conduct, millions of dollars’ worth of financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce, knowing that the transactions were designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the drug proceeds and to avoid federal and state reporting requirements for the transmission of those proceeds. The indictment further alleges between August 6, 2024, and August 30, 2024, all the named defendants, aided and abetted by each other and others, knowingly conducted financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce, which involved approximately $62,042 in proceeds from the sale and distribution of controlled substances knowing that the transactions were designed in whole and in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds of the drug trafficking and to avoid Federal and State reporting requirements for the transmission of those proceeds. The indictment further alleges that on April 23, 2024, Jose Malagon Castro , Kenia Hernandez Barahona , and Suri Rosmeri Hernandez Del Cid , aided and abetted by each other and others, knowingly conducted financial transactions, with undercover law enforcement agents acting as alleged narcotics traffickers, to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of property represented to be the proceeds of drug trafficking, and to promote the carrying on of the alleged drug trafficking, and to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under state and federal law. The indictment further alleges that, Jose Malagon Castro , possessed firearms on December 4, 2024, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, knowing he was an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. On that date he illegally possessed the following firearms: an Aguirre y Aranzabal (AYA), model 4/53, 12-gauge shotgun; a Marlin Firearms Company, model 336W, 30-30 rifle; a Henry Repeating Rifle Company, model H004GE Golden Eagle, .22lr rifle; a Maverick Arms, model 88, 12-gauge shotgun; a Colt, model King Cobra, .357 magnum revolver; a Smith & Wesson, model CSX, 9mm pistol; and ammunition. On April 24, 2025, defendants Jose Malagon Castro , Yeimi Hernandez Barahona , Kelin Hernandez Barahona , Suri Rosmeri Hernandez Del Cid , and Jose Martin Romero each made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Defendants Kenia Hernandez Barahona and Vanessa Avila Galaviz remain fugitives with outstanding warrants for their arrest. If convicted, Jose Malagon Castro faces a maximum sentence of 475 years in prison and Yeimi Hernandez Barahona , Kenia Hernandez Barahona , Kelin Hernandez Barahona , Suri Rosmeri Hernandez Del Cid , Vanessa Avila Galaviz , and Jose Martin Romero each face a maximum sentence of 460 years in prison. The United States is seeking forfeiture of $516,800.00 in United States Currency seized from Jose Malagon Castro . A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the IRS, ATF, DEA, HSI, FBI, LMPD, and the Jeffersontown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Shannon and Joseph Ansari are prosecuting this case. This investigation is a part of the IRS-CI’s Cincinnati Field Office’s Third Party Money Laundering (3PML) Project. This project focuses on Complicit Money Service Businesses (MSB) working for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The purpose of this project is to develop high-impact 3PML cases for IRS-CI and other agencies across the United States, by utilizing data analytics. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for  Conspiracy That Took Nearly $7M From Investors

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CLEVELAND – An Ohio man was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese after being found guilty of conspiring to artificially inflate prices on a low-value stock being sold to investors. He was also ordered to pay a $200,000 fine. After imprisonment, he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Restitution amounts are yet to be determined. Last September, a federal jury convicted Paul Spivak, 66, of Willoughby Hills, Ohio, of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Spivak was also found guilty on two counts of wire fraud. He then pleaded guilty to four other counts of wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud, and a separate count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. The jury also convicted codefendant Charles Scott, 70, of Alexandria, Virginia, of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. According to court documents, trial testimony, and exhibits, Spivak was the majority owner and chief executive officer of U.S. Lighting Group, Inc. (USLG), a publicly traded Florida corporation based in Euclid, Ohio. At various times, the company designed and manufactured commercial LED lights, aftermarket auto parts, and fiberglass recreational campers, and boats. USLG traded on OTC Markets as a “penny” stock due to its low market value. Penny stocks are known to be vulnerable to price manipulation due to lower trading volume and because they draw less scrutiny than other stocks. Between 2016 and 2019, Spivak and several co-conspirators took USLG public through a reverse merger with a shell company. Using a variety of tactics, they artificially inflated the price of USLG stock to facilitate getting the company listed on a stock exchange. When the stock price was artificially high, Spivak had a team of co-conspirators use aliases to act as unlicensed stockbrokers to cold-call potential investors and persuade them to buy restricted stock shares. The brokers offered the stock at a steep discount relative to the apparent market price, convincing investors that the stock purchase was a great investment. USLG took in approximately $6.9 million between 2016 and 2019 from investors throughout the country, including many who were elderly. Individuals paid anywhere between $4,000 and $1 million to purchase the restricted stock shares which they were led to believe were a good deal on the investment. Spivak rewarded the success of these unlicensed stockbrokers with large, undisclosed commissions. He disguised their compensation as payments on invoices he asked them to submit for purported consulting services. In total, approximately 200 payments worth $2 million in undisclosed commissions were paid out to the unlicensed stockbrokers. Additionally, in early 2021 Spivak and Scott worked with co-conspirators to continue manipulating stock value by having them receive USLG shares to sell at inflated prices. They arranged for co-conspirators to manipulate the price of the stock through the use of a call room, also known as a boiler room. In covertly recorded discussions with one of the would-be co-conspirators, Spivak explained that, because of how few shares the investing public traded without manipulation, it “wouldn't take very much to get the stock to go very high. I mean like very high.” Spivak explained that securities regulators “don't care what we do out of the country.” So, for his long-term plans to get USLG’s stock price “going like crazy,” he hoped to set up a boiler room operation “someplace in Barcelona, someplace outta the United States.” Spivak set up a cyclical arrangement for all participants to profit from this stock manipulation. At Spivak’s direction, co-conspirators Scott and Forrest Church, 62, of Haleyville, Alabama, acting as Spivak’s and USLG’s nominees, would sell stock they had acquired at a low price, to the boiler room operators at a higher price. Those operators would then sell that stock to unsuspecting investors at the inflated prices, also netting a profit. Scott and Church would then send about half of the funds they received back to USLG and receive additional low-priced stock, which they would later sell to the boiler room operators to start the cycle again. The defendants would later learn that the co-conspirators who had agreed to run the boiler room and buy the stock from Scott and Church were, in fact, undercover agents investigating the case. Spivak took numerous steps to conceal the scheme, hide evidence, and otherwise end the investigation and prosecution. He took many of those steps after he was arrested, which investigators discovered on recorded phone calls that he placed to his wife and employees from jail. For example, he repeatedly pressured his wife to have USLG’s chief financial officer call the FBI agent and offer to pay $200,000 “for this thing to go away.” On another call, Spivak outlined plans for USLG and its shareholders to “sue the FBI.” Other co-conspirators involved in the scheme have previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and other charges, including Spivak’s wife, Church, and some of the unlicensed stockbrokers who Spivak employed. Two of those brokers, Larry Matyas, 43, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Christopher Bongiorno, 46, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, were each sentenced to one year and one day in prison earlier this week. The remaining co-conspirators are scheduled to be sentenced on April 29 and 30, 2025. On Feb. 12, 2025, Scott was sentenced to three years and five months in prison after a conviction for securities fraud conspiracy and one count of securities fraud. He was also ordered to pay $500,000. The case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison , Megan Miller , and Stephanie Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio. To report investment, financial, and related violations, visit https://www.sec.gov/submit-tip-or-complaint .


title: U.S. Attorney Martin Sends Letter to Green Theory Pot Dispensary for Violation of Federal Law

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., of the District of Columbia, sent a letter to the owners and operators of Green Theory, a city-permitted marijuana dispensary located at 4828 MacArthur Blvd., NW, for operating within 1,000 feet of several area schools. “I am concerned that you are in violation of federal laws, which are intended to protect children. To that end, the need to address this issue is serious,” Martin said. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia wrote the letter in response to neighborhood concerns expressed to him from parents and other residents regarding the dispensary operating within 1,000 feet of several schools, including: Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, the River School, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School and Little Ivies preschool. “As you likely know, there are numerous federal laws governing and even prohibiting the distribution and possession of marijuana, including provisions of the Controlled Substances Act,” he said. “Your dispensary appears to be operating in violation of federal law, and the Department of Justice has the authority to enforce federal law even when such activities may be permitted under state or local law,” he said. “Persons and entities owning, operating, or facilitating such dispensaries (as well as premises grow centers) may be subject to criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions under federal law.” In the letter, Martin asked three questions of the dispensary owners: Are you aware of the federal laws related to marijuana dispensaries and their locations near schools? Have you addressed these issues with federal law enforcement officials? Can you produce documentation regarding your compliance with federal law? A copy of the letter can be found here .


title: Hopkinsville Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment on March 11, 2025, charging a Hopkinsville, Kentucky man with distributing methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Tommy Powers, 41, was charged with two counts of distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine in Christian County, Kentucky on October 11, 2014, and October 15, 2024. The defendant made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, Powers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty Office, the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, and the Hopkinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Howe Residents Sentenced To Life In Prison For Crimes Relating To Sexual Abuse Of A Child

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Armondo Joseph Palma, age 23, and Brooklyn Elaine Wilson, age 28, of Howe, Oklahoma, were sentenced in federal district court for sexually abusing a child under the age of 12. On April 24, 2025, Palma was sentenced to life in prison for one count of Transportation of a Minor. On April 23, 2025, Wilson was sentenced to life in prison for four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and to 10 years in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations-Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, the District 16 Drugs and Violent Crime Task Force, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Carl Albert State College Campus Police. On November 12, 2024, Palma and Wilson pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, law enforcement became aware that Palma was sending images of a child being sexually assaulted to another person over the internet. The ensuing investigation revealed that between November 2023 and March 2024, Wilson and Palma sexually abused a child under the age of 12, often recording or photographing their abuse. On more than one occasion, Wilson and Palma transported the child across state lines, where the abuse continued. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement also seized electronic images from the defendants’ cell phones depicting the sexual abuse and the sexual exploitation of additional children. The crimes occurred primarily in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “These defendants routinely abused an innocent child, showing a complete lack of concern for the life-altering physical and emotional damage their sexually exploitative behavior would inflict,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge for HSI North Texas and Oklahoma. “The lengthy healing journey for this child's unwarranted trauma can now begin with these child predators incarcerated for the rest of their lives.” “The sexual abuse the defendants perpetrated on the victim is sickening, and a prison cell is where they deserve to spend the remainder of their days,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Seeking justice for victims is a priority of the Department, and I commend the exceptional investigative work of HSI’s Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force and the other law enforcement agencies that assisted in this 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.justice.gov/psc . We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com , through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Palma and Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States at the sentencing hearings.


title: 344 Immigration Cases Filed in the Western District of Texas This Week

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 344 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 18 through April 24. Among the new cases, Henry Cruz-Lemas, an illegal alien and a Honduran national previously convicted of aggravated kidnapping in September 2011 and sentenced to five years in prison. Cruz-Lemas was arrested on April 18 during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ERO) investigation in San Antonio. He is charged with one count of illegal reentry of an alien. Jose Angel Escarcega-Briones , an illegal alien from Mexico, was found approximately 4 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. Border Patrol Agents determined that he did not have immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States legally and that he has previously been removed from the United States 5 times. He has 3 prior convictions for illegal reentry as well as a federal drug trafficking conviction. Jose Alfonso Deras-Valle , a citizen of El Salvador, was found near mile marker 87 of Interstate 10 in Fort Hancock, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Deras-Valle had recently been deported to El Salvador on February 21, 2025. His criminal record includes a murder conviction in Florida for which he received fifteen years in prison. U.S. Border Patrol Agents performing line watch operations in an area near Sierra Blanca, Texas encountered three people attempting to conceal themselves in a culvert. After questioning and investigation, the agents determined the group was in the United States illegally. Sergio Aguirre-Isidro was determined to be a foot guide for the group and that he was to collect 10,000 Mexican Pesos if the group arrived in the U.S. successfully. Junior Enrique Garcia-Escobar , a Honduran national with a prior conviction out of the State of New York for Burglary using/threatening use of a dangerous instrument, was arrested on illegal reentry charges near Eagle Pass, Texas. He had been sentenced to five years in prison on the burglary charge and was deported in 2019. Raul Rodriguez-Morales was arrested by Border Patrol Agents in Del Rio, Texas on April 18, 2025, for illegal reentry after having been deported in January 2025. Rodriguez-Morales has previous drug convictions in California as well as a conviction for felon in possession of a firearm and two previous convictions for illegal reentry of an alien in 2011 and 2019. In Carrizo Springs, Texas, Devarick Dewayne Benson was arrested for conspiring to transport two illegal aliens further into the United States. Benson was driving a vehicle with fictitious plates and was pulled over for driving 10 miles over the speed limit. He had two illegal aliens in the trunk of his car. A Honduran citizen, Angel Almendarez-Ulloa , was arrested on April 19, 2025, by Border Patrol Agents near Eagle Pass, Texas. Almendarez has been deported from the United States 10 times, with his last deportation to Honduras being on April 21, 2023. These cases were referred or supported by our federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Hopkinsville Felon Indicted by Federal Grand Jury For Distributing Cocaine and Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment on March 11, 2025, charging a Hopkinsville, Kentucky man with distributing cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, DeMarcus McCarley, 41, was charged with distributing a cocaine mixture and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 15, 2024, McCarley, possessed a Glock, model 22 Gen. 4, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. McCarley is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On or about August 4, 2010, in Christian Circuit Court, McCarley was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine. On or about December 15, 2009, in Christian Circuit Court, McCarley was convicted on 2 counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine. On or about January 15, 2015, in Christian Circuit Court, McCarley was convicted on 4 counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, less than four grams. The defendant made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, McCarley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty Office, ATF Bowling Green Field Office, and the Hopkinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Missouri Sex Offender Sentenced to 27+ Years in Prison for New Child Pornography Offense

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Friday sentenced a registered sex offender from St. Francois County, Missouri to 293 months in prison after the man was caught again with child sexual abuse material. Judge Autrey added three more years to David Russell Darr Jr.’s sentence because he violated his supervised release in a 2010 case in which he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. Darr, 35, of St. Francois County near Farmington, pleaded guilty in June to one count of receipt of child pornography. The investigation into Darr began in February of 2023, when the Missouri State Highway Patrol received four separate CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Three tips indicated that Darr had uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the fourth showed that he sent an image containing CSAM to someone on Instagram, his plea agreement says. A search of his room located a microSD card taped under his bed that also contained CSAM, with more found later on a cell phone, the plea says. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker 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: Two Foreign Nationals Arrested in Serbia for Directing Interstate Stalking and Harassment Scheme Targeting Los Angeles-Based Critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: Yesterday, Serbian law enforcement authorities arrested two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom, at the request of the United States. Today, the United States unsealed its criminal complaint alleging that Cui and Miller coordinated and directed a conspiracy to harass, intimidate, and threaten a Los Angeles resident (the Victim) who had been publicly critical of President Xi Jinping. According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals (Individual 1 and Individual 2) inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the Victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The Victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC government and President Xi. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 1 and Individual 2 were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller directed and coordinated an interstate scheme to surveil the Victim, to install a tracking device on the Victim’s car, to slash the tires on the Victim’s car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statutes created by the Victim depicting President Xi and President Xi’s wife. A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the Victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statutes of President Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, Cui and Miller paid two other individuals (Individual 3 and Individual 4), approximately $36,500 to convince the Victim to desist from the online display of the statues. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 3 and Individual 4 were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. If convicted, Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties: five years for conspiracy and five years for interstate stalking. The FBI is investigating the case. The United States thanks the Ministry of Justice of Serbia, the Ministry of Interior of Serbia, and the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office of Serbia for the assistance in this matter. The United States will seek extradition of Cui and Miller and looks forward to working in partnership with the Republic of Serbia’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ryan and Amanda B. Elbogen for the Central District of California, and Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin P. Taibleson for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Trial Attorney Goran Krnaich of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. 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: San Gabriel Woman Indicted for Allegedly Trafficking Counterfeit Goods from Hong Kong and Selling Them at Superstore

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley woman was charged today in a four-count federal grand jury indictment alleging she imported and sold counterfeit luxury goods, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and others. Chaoyan Zhang, 33, of San Gabriel, is charged with four counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods or services. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 8 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to court documents, in February 2025, law enforcement learned that Mitchelle Inc., where defendant worked, was importing and distributing counterfeit luxury goods. The business was located inside a superstore in San Gabriel. Amongst the counterfeit items allegedly trafficked were luxury-brand clothing, accessories, and other items, including Gucci, Valentino, Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, among others. The boxes listed Hong Kong as the sender location. Zhang allegedly sold approximately nine counterfeit luxury brand items to a buyer for approximately $490. Zhang was arrested on April 9 on a federal criminal complaint. Law enforcement seized all counterfeit items from Mitchelle Inc., which – had they been the genuine article – would have been valued at approximately $1 million. Indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Zhang would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Global Trade Investigations Trade Fraud Group is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua J. Lee of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Convicted felon sentenced to over 5 years in prison for firearm possession

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

body_text: BILLINGS – A convicted felon from Basin, Wyoming who possessed a firearm illegally was sentenced today to 66 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Juan Ortiz, 48, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on or about August 29, 2023, Billings police were called to a house on Midland Road in Billings, Montana for a weapons complaint. At the house, police learned the Defendant, Juan Ortiz, was in possession of a firearm and had fled on foot. Police searched the area and located Ortiz. Nearby, police located a pistol that Ortiz had discarded. At the time Ortiz possessed the firearm, he had been, and knew he had been, convicted of multiple felony drug offenses in Montana and Wyoming. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the ATF and Billings Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Kissimmee Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug trafficking. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in February. On Aug. 21, 2024, Jardon Kianu Jackson, 34, of Kissimmee, Fla., sold 442.2 grams of methamphetamine in Sebastian, Fla. Then, on Oct. 22, 2024, Jackson sold 53.02 grams of fentanyl in Fellsmere, Fla. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Sheriff Paul Blackman of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) and Sheriff Noel E. Stephen of Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. The DEA Miami Field Division, HCSO, IRCSO and Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter prosecuted the case. According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida. For more information visit: https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx ; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html ; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-14066. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial of Armed Carjacking of 73-Year-Old Man in Broad Daylight in Spruce Hill, West Philadelphia

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Zyair Dangerfield-Hill, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted Thursday at trial of participating in the gunpoint carjacking of a 73-year-old man in April 2021. The defendant was charged by indictment in July of that year with one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, and was found guilty of both. As proven at trial, just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, the victim was walking his dog on Pine Street, in the Spruce Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia, and had stopped to put something in his parked vehicle, when the defendant and his associate walked up and pointed loaded handguns at the victim. They demanded the victim’s car keys, cell phone, and wallet, and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t comply. The victim told them that he didn’t have his wallet or phone on him, and handed over a $20 bill and his car keys. At that time, two other males approached, also pointing their guns at the victim. All four of the carjackers then jumped into the victim’s vehicle, with the defendant in the front passenger seat, and drove away. The Philadelphia Police Department was alerted about the carjacking, with officers arriving on scene a few minutes later. They broadcast over police radio a description of the victim’s vehicle, the four carjackers, and their direction of travel, and two officers on patrol spotted a car matching that description about a mile from the carjacking scene. The officers turned on their lights and sirens and pursued the stolen car, which was driving erratically and at a high rate of speed, soon crashing into yellow metal pillars at 52nd Street and Paschall Avenue. Four males jumped out of the car and took off running, with the officers giving chase on foot. A short time later, the defendant was found hiding behind a motorcycle about three and a half blocks from the crash scene. DNA, latent prints, location data, and other evidence subsequently linked the defendant to the crime. Dangerfield-Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14 and faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison and a maximum possible term of life imprisonment. “It is tough to imagine yourself surrounded by armed strangers pointing their guns right at you,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Zyair Dangerfield-Hill used a firearm to terrorize an innocent 73-year-old man, in the middle of the afternoon on a residential block. We are committed to stopping such senseless acts of violence, which undermine Philadelphians’ public safety and quality of life. The jury’s verdict holds the defendant accountable and keeps him safely behind bars.” “Carjackings are not just property crimes — they are dangerous acts that put innocent lives at risk,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue those who endanger public safety with relentless determination.” The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Weisberg.


title: South Bay Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Woman Addicted to Fentanyl and Admits to Raping Her in Angeles National Forest

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A South Bay man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for forcing a fentanyl-addicted woman to work for him as a prostitute in Orange County, then raping her and abandoning her in the Angeles National Forest. Leslie Anthony Bailey, 33, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking by force and coercion. He has been in custody since March 2024. According to his plea agreement, in February 2022, Bailey exchanged messages with a victim on a social media platform. The victim told Bailey she was in a treatment facility for fentanyl addiction and was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Bailey offered to pick her up and provide her with fentanyl. On February 5, Bailey picked the victim up from the facility, took her to buy fentanyl pills, then brought her to his then-residence in Long Beach, where he provided some of the fentanyl pills. The next day, Bailey drove the victim from his Long Beach home to an area in Anaheim that is known for prostitution. Bailey told the victim he expected her to engage in sex acts for money and that she would provide him the money she earned from those acts. Bailey also told the victim he would provide more fentanyl to her after she completed the sex transactions. After the victim engaged in approximately four or five sex transactions, Bailey gave her more fentanyl pills and drove her back to his Long Beach residence. On February 7, Bailey prevented the victim from leaving his home and threatened to beat her up if she attempted to leave again. Later that day, he again drove her to Anaheim to engage in prostitution, after which time he provided her with more fentanyl. On February 8, the victim asked Bailey to drive her back to the drug treatment facility in Los Angeles. Although he promised her that he would do so, Bailey instead drove the victim to a remote area in the Angeles National Forest, ordered her out of the car, punched and kicked her, then raped her, ultimately driving away and leaving her there. Bailey further admitted in his plea agreement that in March 2023 he used social media to recruit another victim to work for him as a prostitute. In March and April of 2023, this victim worked for Bailey as a prostitute in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Bailey admitted that at times, he used force and threats of force to exert control over her. United States District Judge John W. Holcomb scheduled a July 18 sentencing hearing, at which time Bailey will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. The Task Force includes HSI, the FBI, the Anaheim Police Department, the Irvine Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin N. Spencer of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.


title: Former District Employee Sentenced for Extorting Money from Low-Income Individuals to Process Assistance Applications

body_text: WASHINGTON— Ruth Nivar, 57, a former D.C. Department of Human Services employee, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in federal prison for extorting money from low-income individuals to process applications for public assistance programs, even though it was part of her job responsibilities to do that work free of charge. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean T. Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and the District of Columbia Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas. Nivar pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025, to one count of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Nivar to serve 12 months of supervised release. According to court documents, beginning at least since 2018 and continuing through at last May 2023, Nivar used the authority of her public office to obtain money from public assistance applicants to which she was not entitled. Nivar preyed on impoverished, largely non-English speaking individuals who lacked the resources to navigate what can be the complicated process of obtaining health care coverage from the government. In 2022, after Nivar understood that law enforcement may have become aware of her scheme, she added an accomplice, a civilian who did not work for the D.C. government, to assist in the extortion scheme. Because Nivar worked on public assistance programs for the D.C. government, Nivar was able to provide information to her accomplice about eligibility requirements for applicants – including certain documents that needed to be submitted with applications – as well as information about applicants from the internal DHS database, including historical benefits information, status of benefits, identity verification, and dependent information. The accomplice then created online accounts and submitted application materials for health care coverage on behalf of the individuals they extorted. Nivar told individuals to pay her accomplice, who would then split the monies evenly with Nivar, even though it was Nivar’s duty to provide all these services for the community free of charge. The accomplice, Yessica Moya, pleaded guilty in the same case on January 8, 2025, to one count of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right. Her sentencing hearing is pending. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and D.C. Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Madhu Chugh and Will Hart of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. 24cr222


title: Machinegun Conversion Device Found in Baby Crib Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for Nearly Two Years

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – GENESIS NYRELL YOUNG , 21, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 22 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On September 4, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Young with unlawful possession of a machinegun. According to public record, on April 24, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) executed a search warrant on Young’s home, during which they found a machinegun conversion device (MCD) inside a baby’s crib. Commonly referred to as switches, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of an MCD violates federal law. A pistol and an extended magazine were also located lying next to the crib. On January 9, 2025, Young pleaded guilty, and admitted he knowingly possessed the MCD. At the sentencing hearing on April 23, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Young to serve 22 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman noted the serious nature and circumstances of the offense. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr. prosecuted the case. This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN and “Project Switch Off,” please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Maryland Man Admits to His Role in Drug Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lester Luna, 30, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has admitted his role in a drug trafficking organization in Berkeley County. According to court documents, Luna was one of the members of the drug trafficking conspiracy that sold large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative (agencies included are the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department, Ranson Police Department, Charles Town Police Department, and Martinsburg City Police Department); West Virginia State Police; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Hagerstown Police Department; the National Resources Police Department; FBI-New York Safe Streets Task Force; the New York Police Department; the New Jersey State Police; the Washington County (Maryland) Drug Task Force; the Maryland State Police; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania investigated. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided. Find the related case here: www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/34-indicted-expansive-drug-trafficking-operatio n


title: Justice Department Announces Two Cases Involving Judicial Misconduct and Obstruction of Law Enforcement

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department today announced federal criminal charges in two separate cases involving the alleged obstruction of federal law enforcement operations and unlawful concealment of individuals residing illegally in the United States. “The allegations against Judge Dugan and Judge Cano are serious: no one, least of all a judge, should obstruct law enforcement operations," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Doing so imperils the safety of our law enforcement officers and undermines the rule of law. The Department of Justice will continue to follow the facts — no one is above the law.” “Sanctuary jurisdictions that shield criminal aliens endanger American communities,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Justice Department will not stand by as local officials put politics over public safety. Reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class—criminals. Those days are over.” United States v. Jose Luis Cano; United States v. Nancy Ann Cano, District of New Mexico Nancy Ann Cano, 68, and Jose Luis Cano, 67, were arrested yesterday for evidence tampering offenses related to the federal investigation and prosecution against Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national residing unlawfully within the United States and with alleged ties to transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). “Judges are responsible for upholding our country’s laws. It is beyond egregious for a former judge and his wife to engage in evidence tampering on behalf of a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member accused of illegally possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to dismantling this foreign terrorist organization by disrupting its criminal operations in New Mexico. That starts by prosecuting those who support gang members — including judges.” According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) initiated the investigation into Ortega-Lopez after receiving an anonymous tip that the individual was unlawfully present in the United States and in possession of firearms. Subsequent investigation confirmed that the defendant illegally entered the country on Dec. 15, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was released shortly thereafter due to overcrowding at the Border Patrol facility. Evidence uncovered by federal agents revealed the defendant had posted multiple photos and videos on social media showing him and other illegal aliens handling firearms at a shooting range in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Among the weapons allegedly pictured were a Sig Sauer P365 handgun, an AR-15 rifle equipped with a suppressor, and other high-powered firearms and ammunition. Distinctive tattoos confirmed Ortega-Lopez’s identity in the photos and videos. Further review of his social media activity revealed content suggesting affiliation with Tren de Aragua, including gang-related tattoos, hand gestures, and clothing. According to court documents, in January 2025, HSI received a tip that Ortega-Lopez was unlawfully residing with other illegal aliens at a property in Las Cruces owned by Nancy and Jose Cano. Prior to his resignation in March 2025, Jose Cano served as a judge of the Dona Ana County Magistrate Court. On Feb. 28, 2025, HSI executed two federal search warrants in connection with the investigation, resulting in the arrest of the Ortega-Lopez and multiple associates, and the seizure of four firearms. Ortega-Lopez was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Four firearms believed to be in Ortega-Lopez’s possession, along with three of his cell phones, were seized during the operation. During the search, Ortega-Lopez was permitted to make a phone call before being taken to the Doña Ana County Detention Center (DACDC). He informed agents that a particular phone he wished to use was not among the devices recovered. Video calls from DACDC later showed Nancy Cano holding a black iPhone believed to be Ortega’s fourth phone. In a March 7 call with Ortega-Lopez, Nancy Cano used the device to contact a person named “Michelle” via WhatsApp, then facilitated a FaceTime conversation between Michelle and Ortega-Lopez using her personal phone. Additionally, in an April 20 call, Nancy Cano and Ortega-Lopez discussed deleting his Facebook account – a platform where he had previously shared incriminating content, including gang affiliations and images with firearms. On April 24, HSI agents executed a subsequent search warrant at the Cano residence to locate the missing cellphone. During questioning, Jose Cano admitted to destroying Ortega’s cellphone by smashing it with a hammer approximately five weeks prior, believing it contained incriminating photos and videos of Ortega with firearms. Forensic analysis of the recovered phones revealed messages linked to Ortega’s criminal activities, including affiliations with the Tren de Aragua gang and images of Ortega with firearms. Jose Cano is charged with one count of tampering with evidence and Nancy Cano is charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised released, and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Ortega-Lopez is charged with being an unlawful alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Despite strong evidence and pre-trial services’ assessment that the defendant poses a serious risk of flight and danger to the community, a U.S. Magistrate Judge ordered the defendant released on conditions. The government has since filed a notice of appeal challenging that decision, citing the defendant’s unlawful status, gang affiliations, disregard for previous release conditions, and risk to public safety. HSI is investigating the cases, with valuable assistance from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Armijo, Randy Castellano, and Elizabeth Tonkin for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting both cases. United States v. Hannah C. Dugan, Eastern District of Wisconsin The Justice Department today announced the filing of a federal criminal complaint against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah C. Dugan, 65, for her alleged interference with a federal law enforcement operation and unlawful concealment of an individual subject to arrest. According to court documents, the charges stem from events occurring on April 18, when members of the Milwaukee office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), along with federal partners from the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, attempted to execute a lawful arrest warrant for Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national previously removed from the United States and recently charged in Milwaukee County with multiple counts of domestic abuse-related battery. According to court documents, federal agents arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse intending to arrest Flores-Ruiz in a public hallway following his court appearance before Judge Dugan. Upon learning of the agents’ presence in the hallway, Judge Dugan allegedly confronted and ordered federal agents to leave the courthouse. After being made aware of a valid immigration arrest warrant, Judge Dugan told agents that they needed a judicial warrant and demanded that they go to the Chief Judge’s office. Once the agents were no longer in the vicinity of her courtroom, Judge Dugan allegedly elected not to conduct a hearing on Flores-Ruiz’s criminal case, despite the fact that victims of his offense were present, and instead personally escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted “jury door” exit not typically used by defendants or attorneys. This doorway led to a non-public hallway through which Flores-Ruiz and his attorney exited her courtroom. According to the affidavit, Judge Dugan’s actions directly resulted in Flores-Ruiz temporarily avoiding federal custody. He was ultimately arrested outside the courthouse, following a brief foot pursuit. Dugan is charged with obstruction of proceedings before a department or agency of the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and concealing a person to prevent arrest, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. Flores-Ruiz was previously deported in 2013 and had reentered the United States unlawfully. He was subject to arrest based on an administrative warrant issued by ICE for immigration violations following his recent criminal charges in Milwaukee County. 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: Two Defendants Arrested in Serbia for Allegedly Directing Interstate Stalking and Harassment of L.A.-Based Critic of China’s President

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Serbian law enforcement authorities have arrested two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom, at the request of the United States, the Justice Department announced today. The United States today unsealed its criminal complaint alleging that Cui and Miller coordinated and directed a conspiracy to harass, intimidate, and threaten a Los Angeles resident (the victim) who had been publicly critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, Cui and Miller enlisted two individuals (Individual 1 and Individual 2) inside the United States to carry out a plot to prevent the victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC government and President Xi. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 1 and Individual 2 were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, Cui and Miller directed and coordinated an interstate scheme to surveil the victim, to install a tracking device on the victim’s car, to slash the tires on the victim’s car, and to purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statutes created by the victim depicting President Xi and President Xi’s wife. A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statutes of President Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, Cui and Miller paid two other individuals (Individual 3 and Individual 4), approximately $36,500 to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. Unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, Individual 3 and Individual 4 were also affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties: five years in federal prison for conspiracy and five years in federal prison for interstate stalking. The FBI is investigating the case. The United States thanks the Ministry of Justice of Serbia, the Ministry of Interior of Serbia, and the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office of Serbia for the assistance in this matter. The United States will seek extradition of Cui and Miller and looks forward to working in partnership with the Republic of Serbia’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. Assistant United States Attorneys David Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division, and Amanda B. Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, along with Trial Attorneys Leslie Esbrook and Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin P. Taibleson for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Trial Attorney Goran Krnaich of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.


title: Illegal Possession of Firearms and Machinegun Conversion Devices Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for Four Years

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, THAO DUC HA , 41, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 48 months in federal prison for receiving trafficked firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On June 26, 2024, Ha was charged by Superseding Information with receiving trafficked firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns. According to public record, on February 5, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant on Ha’s home. As officers approached the home, Ha fled the residence while holding a box. Ha was commanded to stop and drop the box, and he complied. Inside the box, law enforcement located multiple firearms, including firearms that had been modified with machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). When installed, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of MCDs violates federal law. On July 3, 2024, Ha pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted he knowingly received firearms despite being a convicted felon, and that he possessed four MCDs, one of which was fitted to a Glock pistol. At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Ha to serve 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted the level of harm that could be caused by the quantity of firearms and MCDs Ha possessed. Judge Russell also noted Ha’s criminal history. Public record further reflects that Ha has a previous felony conviction in Oklahoma County District Court for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon while committing a felony, and possession of stolen property in case number CF-2008-7014. This case is the result of an investigation by the ATF and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case. This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN and “Project Switch Off,” please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Norfolk man sentenced to over eight years in prison for trafficking fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to eight years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on at least five occasions from November 2023 through January 2024, Brian Kahlil Jones Jr., 28, distributed a total of 159.93 grams of fentanyl during controlled purchases conducted by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) and HIDTA Enforcement Group 72 at the DEA Norfolk District Office. On Jan. 17, 2024, law enforcement took Jones into custody. Officers searched Jones’ vehicle and recovered 26 grams of crack cocaine, 55 grams of fentanyl, 102 grams of marijuana, and a handgun that had been reported stolen. Jones was on state probation at the time of his arrest. Law enforcement then searched Jones’ residence in Norfolk and recovered 198.31 grams of fentanyl, 4.21 grams of heroin, 419 methamphetamine pills, seven oxycodone pills, a kilo press, packing material, cutting agents, a cellphone, ammunition, and another handgun. Among other previous convictions, Jones was convicted in 2013 of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony after he fired multiple shots at the home of rival gang members. As a convicted felon, Jones cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin G. Bird and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Miller prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-65.


title: 239 charged in new cases related to SDTX’s continuing efforts to secure southern border

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 237 more cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from April 18-24, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. As part of those cases, 124 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 106 people face charges of illegally entering the country, five cases involve various instances of human smuggling with the remainder relating to assault of an officer or other immigration-related crimes. As part of the cases filed this week, Carlos Verduco-Muniz faces charges of assault of a federal officer. He allegedly punched a Texas Military Department Specialist on the left side of his face during a pursuit to apprehend him near Rio Grande City. The charges allege he is a citizen and national of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States at the time of the assault. Some of those charged with felony reentry include three men found near Roma. Jose Roberto Cuadro-Parada had just been removed in March and allegedly illegally returned. Yobani Garcia-Garcia and Benito Barrera-Martinez are both Mexican nationals who had previously been removed Jan. 10, 2025, and Sept. 18, 2024, respectively, according to the complaints filed in their cases. The charges allege Garcia-Garcia has a conviction for a previous illegal reentry, while Barrera-Martinez had been ordered to serve 60 months for intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana prior to his removal. Another charged this week is Perla Elizabeth Arguelles-Trejo, a Mexican female found in the United States near Edinburg. She had previously been removed in September 2020 following her sentence for intoxication manslaughter with vehicle, according to allegations. In addition to the new cases filed, a 27-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in Laredo was sentenced for assaulting and inflicting bodily harm on a Border Patrol (BP) agent. Guillermo Osto-Navarrete had picked up several illegal aliens after they exited the Rio Grande River. He then led authorities on a vehicle pursuit and broadsided a law enforcement vehicle, causing it to spin 180 degrees. A BP agent rushed to assist Osto-Navarrete and check for injuries. However, Osto-Navarrete struck the agent’s face and head several times in rapid succession while the agent was standing and after falling to the ground. The agent sustained a black eye, bruising to his head and face, scratches to his chin, lacerations on his hands–including a deep cut to one finger–and a scraped knee. Osto-Navarrete was ordered to serve 24 months in federal prison and is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. Also announced this week was the sentencing of a 21-year-old Honduran man illegally residing in Houston for a robbery of a Family Dollar store. Carlos Gonzalez-Vargas had brandished a firearm and demanded cash from the register. When the employee did not act fast enough, Gonzalez-Vargas shot her in the leg. He will now serve 150 months for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At the hearing, the court heard he was affiliated with a gang, posted Instagram selfies with the firearm and fired the weapon at a 13-year-old child one month after the robbery. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the mandatory minimum sentence did not adequately address the seriousness of his conduct. In Houston, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against a Guatemalan national for illegally reentering the country without authorization. The jury deliberated for less than one hour before finding Leonardo Fernando Batz guilty as charged following a three-day trial. Testimony revealed Batz had been previously removed in 2007 and in 2020. Prior to his 2020 removal, he had illegally entered the United States by raft on the Rio Grande River. The second ringleader in an international fraud scheme victimizing the elderly was also ordered to serve 46 months in prison this week. Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, illegally resided in Lexington, Kentucky, and was also ordered to pay a combined $3,203,478 in restitution to 85 identified victims. From March through November 2019, Patel led a team of domestic money mules aka “runners.” They laundered money tied to telemarketing fraud schemes originating from call centers in India. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Ansonia Man Admits Trafficking Narcotics in and around Bridgeport

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EVERARD BOOTHE, also known as “Gordo,” “Unc,” “Uncle,” “Love,” “Lovah,” and “Luver, 41, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to a narcotics trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department identified Boothe, Christian Pichardo, and others as significant distributors of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, and narcotic pills in and around Bridgeport. During the investigation, investigators intercepted calls and text messages between Boothe, Pichardo, their associates, and their drug customers over court-authorized wiretaps, and made controlled purchases of narcotics from members of the conspiracy. Boothe was arrested on related state charges on August 3, 2023. On that date, a search of his residence revealed more than 40 grams of fentanyl, approximately 10 grams of heroin, and items used to process and package narcotics for street sale. On July 17, 2024, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned a superseding indictment charging Boothe, Pichardo and six alleged co-conspirators with controlled substances offenses. Boothe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 in Hartford. Boothe has been detained since his arrest. Pichardo has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck and through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .