title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation Into Suicide Committed While in Police Custody

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against two officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arising out of the death of a 31-year-old Australian national from a suicide that occurred on Oct. 15, 2025. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, body-worn camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the MPD. According to the evidence, on Oct. 15, 2025, P.M., a 31-year-old national from Australia was arrested on a misdemeanor sexual assault charge. P.M. was brought to the 5th District police station for processing. P.M. was placed in a cell and it was anticipated that he would be presented later in the day to a magistrate judge in Superior Court. P.M. removed his shirt and fashioned it into a noose and hung himself from the cell door. Officers discovering his body attempted to resuscitate him and called for an ambulance. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful and P.M. was declared dead at the scene. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights. Investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.


title: Millvale Resident Charged with Transporting and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Millvale, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment named Robert William Bauer, 65, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about February 23, 2024, Bauer knowingly transported child sexual abuse material via interstate commerce. The Indictment further alleges that, on or about November 13, 2025, Bauer knowingly possessed material depicting child sexual abuse. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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 . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Fraud

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Gurjeet Bath, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 14 months in prison for theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Bath was also ordered to pay a $100,000 criminal fine. “During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “He has since pleaded guilty and repaid the stolen funds, but that does not erase the harm caused. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that fraud and our commitment to holding accountable those who abuse programs meant to help our communities in times of crisis.” “Mr. Gurjeet Bath fabricated employee records and inflated wages to steal more than $825,000 in federal funds meant to keep businesses afloat during a national crisis. Instead, he used that money to buy land in Fresno County. The FBI and our partners at the SBA Office of Inspector General will continue pursuing everyone who treated pandemic relief as a personal slush fund,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. According to court documents, Bath and other family members operated two trucking businesses: G.S. Bath Inc. and Complete Transportation Solutions (CTS), operating in Fresno County. In 2020 and 2021, Bath applied for and received three PPP loans totaling more than $1 million. To obtain the loans, Bath knowingly falsified records to inflate his businesses’ employees and their wages. Bath then used those funds to purchase two parcels of agricultural land in Fresno County. Bath pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.


title: Detroiter Pleads Guilty to Running Decade-Long Student Aid Fraud

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Michelle Denise Hill, 48, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a decade-long scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $2.5 million in federal student aid funds, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. According to court records, beginning no later than July 2015 and continuing through at least July 2025, Hill devised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain Federal Student Aid — specifically Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans — from the U.S. Department of Education. Hill submitted fraudulent aid applications for more than 80 individuals who were purportedly eligible students seeking to attend Wayne County Community College (WCCC) in Detroit, Michigan. In reality, those individuals had no interest in or intent to pursue a degree. Hill obtained the necessary high school diplomas on their behalf, with many from the same Florida online "fast-track" school, and completed their WCCC online coursework for them, often simultaneously, to create the appearance of academic progress and extend their eligibility for aid across multiple semesters. Hill generally split the fraudulently obtained aid proceeds with the purported students. As a result of the scheme, Hill caused more than $3,000,000 in federal student aid benefits to be awarded, with approximately $2,530,854 actually disbursed on the fraudulent claims. Hill has agreed to pay $2,530,854 in restitution to the Department of Education. Hill pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Brandy R. McMillion. Sentencing is scheduled for August 3, 2026, where Hill faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. United States Attorney Gorgon stated, “Federal student aid exists to open doors for Americans who are working to better themselves and their families. Michelle Hill slammed those doors shut, turning a lifeline into a racket and stealing millions from a program that belongs to our hardworking neighbors.” “I am proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for their work in this case and their dedication to protecting the integrity of Federal student aid funds,” said John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office. "We will continue to pursue those who misappropriate Federal student aid or game the system for their own self-interests. America’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.” This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Particka and John K. Neal.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Lottery Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Jamaican national is heading to federal prison for more than three years in connection with a lottery fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Tavoy Farquharson, 34, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, today, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Judge Hurson also ordered him to pay $3,962,826 in restitution. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Javan S. Wilson, U.S. Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to public filings, beginning in October 2020, and continuing through at least January 2024, Farquharson conspired with others to use the mail to obtain money from victims across the United States. Many victims impacted by the scheme were elderly. Perpetrators use a lottery fraud scheme to lead victims to believe they won a large cash prize through a lottery or sweepstakes. When it’s time to collect the purported winnings, the victim is falsely led to believe that they must pay taxes or other fees in advance. The victim never receives their winnings, but instead, loses their advanced fees or payments. In this case, Farquharson and his co-conspirators solicited victims and led them to believe that they won a lottery or sweepstakes. Then they misled the victims to think that they were required to pay taxes and other fees in advance to the attention of Farquharson’s co-conspirators. Some victims of the scheme lost most of their life savings. In total, the court found that the victims lost more than $3.5 million, with Farquharson receiving more than $700,000 of the victims’ funds. Brothers Dwayne Henry, 34, and Wayne Henry, 36, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, along with Nickoy Campbell, 30, a Jamaican national, also participated in the scheme. They all previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Campbell and Dwayne Henry pled guilty to the charges, and earlier this month, they received their prison sentences. Wayne Henry faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other imposed sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Wayne Henry is slated for Wednesday, September 2. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older, and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available. Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers through assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. Learn more about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at www.elderjustice.gov . Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, HSI, Treasury OIG, and PGPD for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to fraud offenses, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Providence, pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care and wire fraud. Arias Amador was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 3, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, Arias Amador applied for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits using a United States citizen’s identity and social security number. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan. The matter was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, United State Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and United States Department of Homeland Security.


title: Mexican illegal alien charged again for unlawfully re-entering America—six  weeks after being removed when a judge released him during his first prosecution

body_text: DETROIT – The United States has charged a Mexican illegal alien, Gerardo Flores-Banda, 48, for illegally re-entering America less than two months after having been removed from the country for the same crime, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector. According to court records, in July 2025, Gerardo Flores-Banda was found in the United States after being removed from the country in 2012. On July 30, 2025, the government charged Flores-Banda with unlawfully re-entering the United States. The next month, the government sought Flores-Banda’s detention before a United States Magistrate Judge in Detroit. But that magistrate judge gave him bond and a district court judge affirmed his release. The government then indicted Flores-Banda. Because Flores-Banda had been released to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he was removed from the United States in September before his federal case could be concluded. Given Flores-Banda’s history of illegal re-entry, the government sought to hold his case in abeyance. But the district court denied the government’s motion and dismissed Flores-Bandes’s case without prejudice. Only six weeks after he was removed, law enforcement found Flores-Banda back in the United States near Naivan Vaya, Arizona. The government then indicted him in Arizona and he pleaded guilty to being in the country illegally. He awaits sentencing. The government now seeks to reinstate it’s previously dismissed illegal re-entry case based on Flores-Banda’s 2025 arrest in Michigan. “Serial criminals like the defendant must be deterred from breaking into our country. They do not respect the law of the land. When Americans break the law, they don’t get a free ride out of the country. And this defendant should not be treated better than our citizens. He should have to face the consequences for his alleged crime,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “This case is a clear reminder that our border is closed to criminals who repeatedly violate our nation’s laws, demonstrating a blatant disregard for our legal system. We are proud to work with the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure that our country’s immigration laws are enforced and justice is served. The men and women of Border Patrol’s Detroit Sector remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting our communities and upholding the integrity of our border,” Geronimo said. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Garner, also known as “Jake,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Garner admitted to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 17, 2025, Garner sold approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $350. As part of his guilty plea, Garner admitted that co-defendant Joshua Willie McCarver directed the confidential informant to a Baer Street residence in Huntington, where Garner sold the methamphetamine to the confidential informant. Garner also admitted to the following criminal conduct: he sold approximately 51 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $350 on January 22, 2025, and approximately 336 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $2,400 on February 21, 2025. Garner admitted that he conducted both transactions at the Baer Street residence, and that McCarver arranged each transaction beforehand and directed the confidential informant to the residence in each instance. On May 31, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Huntington of a vehicle in which Garner was a passenger. Garner admitted that he exited the vehicle during the traffic stop and discarded a bag containing approximately 459 grams of methamphetamine near the front passenger side of the vehicle. Garner further admitted that he returned to the vehicle when instructed to by an officer, but then fled from the traffic stop on foot and was apprehended after a pursuit. Officers recovered the bag discarded by Garner and a bag containing approximately 49.8 grams of fentanyl in the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle. Garner admitted that he possessed the recovered methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute the controlled substances for money. Garner is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. Five defendants pleaded guilty, including Garner. The charges against McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 27, of Detroit, Michigan, and the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154. ###


title: One Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime, Another Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a convicted felon and Joe Sidney Cross, 43, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. Pettyjohn and Cross were each indicted as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Pettyjohn sold a Calwest model J-22 .22-calier pistol to a confidential informant for $150. As part of his guilty plea, Pettyjohn admitted that he conducted the transaction after arranging it beforehand, that the confidential informant told him he was a convicted felon during the transaction, and that the transaction occurred at the Huntington residence of Erin Leigh Keeney. Pettyjohn further admitted to selling a Glock model 34 9mm pistol for $600 on May 13, 2025, and a Just Right Carbines model JR Carbine 9mm rifle for $650 on May 22, 2025, each time to the confidential informant in Huntington. On May 13, 2025, Cross sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $220 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Cross admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted the drug deal in the confidential informant’s vehicle. Cross also admitted to conspiring with another individual to conduct additional transactions on March 20 and March 24, 2025. During each transaction, Cross sold a firearm and Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of carfentanil to a confidential informant. Cross further admitted to selling 8.45 grams of fentanyl on May 22, 2025, and approximately 11.44 grams of fentanyl on June 12, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. On September 11, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence while Cross was present and seized approximately 12.35 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Cross admitted that he intended to sell the seized crack. Pettyjohn and Cross are scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2026. Pettyjohn faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Cross faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Cross and Keeney are among four individuals who pleaded guilty after a federal grand jury indicted them on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl, crack, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area from at least in and around March 2025 to in and around August 2025. Keeney, 41, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on December 15, 2025, to distribution of carfentanil and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026. Pettyjohn and another individual pleaded guilty after they were indicted separately as a result of the same investigation. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the cases. 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:25-cr-161 (Cross) and 3:25-cr-158 (Pettyjohn). ###


title: Torreon Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Torreon man pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms after reportedly using one of them in a shooting and being involved in a series of shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation between July 2024 and September 2025. According to court documents, between July 2024 and September 2025, Cisco Whitehorse , 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was believed to have possessed and used firearms during a series of four shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation. In July 2024, Whitehorse fired from or around his vehicle at John Doe 1 after the victim drove past, striking him three times. In August 2024, he was accused of firing from his residence at John Doe 2 as the victim drove by. In August 2025, Whitehorse again opened fire from his residence at a vehicle driven by John Doe 1. In September 2025, he fired multiple rounds from his vehicle near a local government building before fleeing at a high rate of speed. On October 24, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Whitehorse ’s residence and recovered three firearms and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Whitehorse was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, and he is now pleading guilty to that offense. Whitehorse pleaded guilty to being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At sentencing he faces up to 15 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.


title: Wheeling Attorney Sentenced for Money Laundering and Fraud

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Wheeling Attorney Paul Harris was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison for defrauding clients and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Citizens should trust lawyers to protect their rights and interests, not to have their money stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Harris broke that trust, and the law, and now he will pay with time in prison.” Further, “this office will leave no stone unturned in pursuing full restitution to make the victims whole,” said Harvey. A federal jury found Paul J. Harris, 62, of Wheeling, guilty in November 2025 of 29 counts. Harris used client funds for personal expenses, such as the purchase of his home and paying off the loan for his law office, without the clients’ permission. Harris received and moved funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, at times using one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients. The total loss for the victims in this case is $701,623.86. Harris will self-report to prison on May 6, 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Jennifer T. Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, and the matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey handed down the sentence and ordered the forfeiture of the property of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling, as well as $701,623.86 in restitution to the victims.


title: Houston residents get over 13 years following discovery of over 130 kilos of crystal meth

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Two local men have been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Edgar Prudencio Ruiz, 24, and Damian Lee Gutierrez, 24, guilty Nov. 18, 2025, following a two-day trial. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now imposed a 162-month term of imprisonment for both men. They must also serve five years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence the meth was imported from Mexico and that the two men had been in contact with others regarding price and delivery. The court also considered information about their involvement in prior shootings and carrying loaded firearms during the drug transactions. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hanen noted the extremely large amount of pure meth involved in the case. At trial, the jury heard that Guiterrez and Ruiz had delivered five kilograms of meth to an undercover officer June 17, 2025. Authorities subsequently followed the men as they entered an apartment. Both men later exited the residence with Ruiz carrying a box which he placed in the backseat of a Toyota Tacoma. Guiterrez and Ruiz left in the vehicle, after which law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, and a K-9 alerted to the left passenger door. Authorities discovered the box in the truck contained 10 gallon-sized bags filled with crystal meth. They also found two loaded 9mm pistols. One was near the ignition, while the other - with an extended magazine - was under the front passenger seat. Testimony further revealed Gutierrez believed the bags contained meth and admitted he had additional quantities at his residence. Authorities executed a search warrant and seized approximately 122 more gallon-sized bags of crystal meth from the residence, each weighing approximately one kilogram. In total, they discovered approximately 137 bags totaling nearly 133 kilograms of actual meth with an estimated street value of over $200,000. The defense cited lack of fingerprint evidence and attempted to convince the jury the men did not actually possess the drugs. They did not believe the claims and found Gutierrez and Ruiz guilty as charged. Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, police departments in Houston, Pasadena, Stafford and La Porte as well as Harris County Sherrif’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer B. Lowery and Eric Smith prosecuted the case.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marcus Allen Johnson, also known as “Mook,” 41, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 28, 2025, Johnson sold approximately 56.68 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington for $2,500. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-187. ###


title: Las Cruces Felon Charged Federally with Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man with prior felony convictions has been charged in federal court with fentanyl trafficking and multiple firearm offenses after allegedly threatening victims with a handgun and later possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl while armed. According to court records, on July 5, 2025, Kenneth Manuel Aguirre , 43, allegedly pointed a handgun at three victims during an incident outside his residence in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Aguirre into custody and recovered a handgun and suspected fentanyl pills from his vehicle, as well as a rifle, ammunition, and other firearm accessories from his residence. Subsequently, on August 13, Aguirre allegedly possessed with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and carried a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Aguirre is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Aguirre is charged federally with three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Aguirre faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 40 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Las Cruces/Dona Ana Metro Narcotics and the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Aguirre).pdf View the Indictment (Aguirre).pdf An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Chicago Man Charged With Threatening To “Shoot Up” a Jewish Synagogue

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago has charged a man with making a threat to shoot up a Jewish synagogue. On March 3, 2026, TIMOTHY HOLMES publicly posted on X, “I’m going to shoot up a synagogue,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of Illinois. Holmes’s post was made in reply to a post from @Israel, the Israeli government’s official X account, concerning the death of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei in Iran, the complaint states. The FBI National Threat Operation Section received information regarding the threat, which Holmes made using @MapleStCapital, his X account, the complaint states. Further investigation revealed additional threatening communications from Holmes’s account this month, including a series of derisive posts concerning Jewish people, the complaint states. Holmes also posted the purported address in the United States of relatives of an Israeli government official, the complaint states. The complaint charges Holmes, 31, of Chicago, with making a threat in interstate commerce to injure a person. Holmes was arrested on Wednesday morning in Florida and appeared that afternoon in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Over the government’s objection, he was ordered released on a $100,000 bond subject to various conditions, including not possessing a firearm or dangerous weapon, not contacting victims or witnesses in the case, not accessing social media or chat-based platforms, allowing the U.S. District Court to install GPS monitoring and access his electronic devices to confirm compliance with the conditions, and limiting his travel to the Northern District of Illinois and the Middle District of Florida. Holmes will appear in federal court in Chicago on a date to be scheduled. The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Peabody. “Anti-Semitism has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago is using all available legal tools to combat criminal conduct that rears its head in hateful anti-Semitism. This Administration has made clear that threats and violence against the Jewish community will not be tolerated. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will find, prosecute, and hold accountable the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic threats and violence.” “The FBI works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year to swiftly detect and disrupt threats of violence across the country,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Anti-Semitic speech and threats against the Jewish community are reprehensible, and our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners remain committed to holding accountable those seeking to intimidate or harm. Public tips are key in our shared effort of keeping Chicago safe. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious or threatening behavior immediately by calling 9-1-1, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or online at tips.fbi.gov .” The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the complaint is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. holmes_complaint.pdf


title: Task Force arrests metro Detroit man on sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, and child pornography charges

body_text: DETROIT - A 30-year-old man from metro Detroit was taken into custody last week after a criminal complaint was filed in federal court charging him with sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division and Chief Eric Luke, Sumpter Township Police Department. Charged was Bryce Silas Patterson. Patterson appeared in federal court this afternoon and was ordered detained by a magistrate judge. A preliminary examination was set for April 2. According to the criminal complaint, agents with the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force conducted an undercover operation to recover a minor who was believed to be the victim of sex trafficking. Information gathered by the agents revealed that Patterson posted advertisements for commercial sex, which included photos of minor girls, on a commonly used website. In addition to posting the ads, Patterson would arrange for the transportation of the minor on sex dates and collect payments from the minor victims. A search of Patterson’s cellular device revealed images and a video which contained child sexual abusive material, which Patterson had created depicting one of the minor victims he trafficked. SEMTEC Agents were assisted by Sumpter Township Police in arresting him last week. “These alleged crimes are disgusting. SEMTEC is designed to hunt down sex traffickers who try to sell our children. And we are honored to do this good work with our federal, state, and local partners,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “The allegations in this case are as disturbing as they are unacceptable. Child exploitation is a predatory crime that targets the most vulnerable in our society, and it will not be tolerated,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Let me be clear: those who exploit children will be found, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case reflects the strength of our partnerships—through the SEMTEC Task Force, the Sumpter Township Police Department, and our federal partners—working together to protect victims and hold offenders accountable. The FBI will remain relentless in pursuing these criminals and ensuring survivors have the support they need to rebuild their lives.” Chief Luke stated, “The Sumpter Township Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their dedicated efforts and professionalism in successfully identifying and apprehending Patterson, a resident of Sumpter Township, for the alleged crimes stated in the complaint. The commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice has a direct and meaningful impact on the safety and well-being of our residents. We remain steadfast in our shared mission to safeguard our community from those who seek to do harm.” A criminal complaint is only a charge and contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sumpter Township Police Department. Anyone with information about this case or who may be a victim is asked to call the FBI at (313) 965-2323.


title: Las Cruces Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Felon in Possession of Firearms

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm offenses after agents recovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms during a search of his residence. According to court documents, on April 3, 2024, FBI and Metro Narcotics Task Force agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Enrique Alan Ramirez , 46, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. During the search, agents recovered four firearms and over 68 grams of methamphetamine and over 55 grams of fentanyl. Ramirez , who has a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, is prohibited from possessing firearms. Ramirez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing he faces no less than 15 years and up to life years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces/ Doña Ana County Meto Narcotics. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez is prosecuting the case.


title: Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-Related Firearm Possession Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ORONDE JEFFERSON, 42, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2024, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department observed Jefferson outside a known drug location on Maple Street interacting with individuals engaging in suspected drug sales. Jefferson was arrested on state charges after he was searched and officers found him in possession of 32 individual glassine folds of fentanyl, a ziplock bag containing 71 capsules of crack cocaine, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun equipped with a loaded high-capacity magazine. Jefferson was arrested on related federal charges on May 9, 2025. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for June 11, at which time Jefferson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Jefferson is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offense

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Silver City man has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing firearms and ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony. According to court documents, on December 10, 2024, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Max Flores , 54, a previously convicted felon with an active arrest warrant who was on federal probation after serving 168 months in federal prison and located a firearm in the vehicle. On April 26, 2025, following an unrelated incident, officers executed a search warrant at Flores’ residence and recovered several firearms and ammunition. Flores pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At sentencing he faces up to 15 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Silver City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Randy M. Castellano prosecuted the case.


title: Honduran Illegal Alien Guilty of  Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – CARLOS ALBERTO ESCOBAR-LOZA (“ESCOBAR-LOZA”) , age 47, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2026, to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Guidry on April 22, 2026. According to court records, the defendant was found in the United States on December 26, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 2, 2012. ESCOBAR-LOZA was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana after being arrested by local law enforcement. Immigration officials subsequently confirmed his identity through biometric data and records checks and determined that he had again unlawfully reentered the United States after having previously been removed. On multiple occasions beginning in or about 2002, ESCOBAR-LOZA was encountered by U.S. immigration authorities after entering the United States without being admitted or paroled. He was placed in removal proceedings and, on or about October 27, 2003, an immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States after he failed to appear for his scheduled hearing. On multiple occasions between approximately 2005 and 2012, ESCOBAR-LOZA was again encountered by immigration authorities following arrests by local law enforcement. Immigration records reflect that his prior removal order was reinstated, and he was removed from the United States to Honduras on at least three occasions. ESCOBAR-LOZA faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien. 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). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Russian Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Hacking into U.S. Companies and Enabling Major Cybercrime Groups to Extort Tens of Millions of Dollars

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A court in the Southern District of Indiana today sentenced a Russian citizen, Aleksei Volkov, to 81 months in prison for assisting major cybercrime groups, including the Yanluowang ransomware group, in carrying out numerous attacks against U.S. companies and other organizations. Volkov facilitated dozens of ransomware attacks throughout the United States, causing over $9 million in actual losses and over $24 million in intended losses. Volkov was indicted for this activity in both the Southern District of Indiana and Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Police in Rome, Italy, then arrested Volkov, and he was extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to charges from both indictments. According to court documents, Volkov, 26, of St. Petersburg, Russia, was an “initial access broker,” that is, a person who specializes in gaining unauthorized access to computer networks and systems of corporations and organizations and selling that access to other cyber threat actors such as ransomware groups. Volkov found vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems, identified ways to access those networks and systems without authorization, and sold that illicit access to conspirators who were also cybercriminals. Volkov’s co-conspirators then used the access Volkov provided to infect the affected computer networks and systems with malware. This malware encrypted the victims’ data and prevented the victims from accessing it, damaging their business operations. The conspirators then demanded that the victims pay them a ransom in cryptocurrency — sometimes in the tens of millions of dollars — in exchange for restoring the victims’ access to the data and promising not to publicly disclose the hack or release victims’ stolen data on a “leak” website. In some cases, the victims paid the ransom and in others the conspirators posted the victims’ confidential data on the leak site. If the victims paid the ransom, Volkov received a share of the money. On Nov. 25, 2025, Volkov pleaded guilty to four counts from the Southern District of Indiana indictment, namely, unlawful transfer of a means of identification, trafficking in access information, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft; as well as two counts from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indictment, namely, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering after the two cases were consolidated in the Southern District of Indiana. As part of his plea, Volkov admitted that he and his co-conspirators hacked into numerous victims’ computer networks, stole their data, deployed ransomware, demanded payment in cryptocurrency to exchange for restoring access to the data, and divided the ransom payments among themselves. In fact, they demanded tens of millions of dollars in ransom and received millions. Volkov agreed to pay full restitution to victims including at least $9,167,198.19 to known victims to compensate them for their actual losses as well as to forfeit equipment he used for his crimes. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Wheeler II for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Edward Chang (on detail to CCIPS), Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryAnn T. Mindrum and Matthew B. Miller for the Southern District of Indiana, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Italy to secure the arrest and extradition from Italy of Volkov.


title: El Paso Man Charged After Stash House Discovery Linked to Smuggling Operation

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An El Paso man has been charged in connection with an alleged alien smuggling operation after federal agents uncovered a stash house containing sixteen undocumented individuals following a failed smuggling attempt. According to court records, on February 13, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a failed alien smuggling attempt involving a tractor trailer carrying nineteen undocumented individuals at the Las Cruces Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 25. Through interviews and investigative findings, agents identified a suspected stash house at a residence in El Paso, Texas. On February 26, 2026, agents executed the search warrant at the residence and encountered approximately sixteen undocumented individuals inside. All stated they were not citizens of the United States and did not possess lawful immigration documents. The individuals were transported to the El Paso Border Patrol Station for processing. During subsequent interviews, two material witnesses identified Crescencio Pacheco Olvera , 37, as the caretaker of the stash house and as a transport driver involved in the smuggling operation. One witness stated that after illegally entering the United States through a hole cut in the international border fence near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, they were transported to the El Paso residence by Pacheco Olvera . Pacheco Olvera is charged with conspiracy to harbor, transport, and bring in undocumented individuals and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Pacheco Olvera faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today. HSI Las Cruces investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha V. Henson is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Pacheco Olvera).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Convictions

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Marcus Hill, 53, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on March 20, 2026, to 144 months’ imprisonment. Hill pled guilty November 7, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine near a protected location. At the plea hearing in November, Hill admitted that between 2018 and March 2025, he conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. Hill distributed over 300 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement on three separate occasions in March of 2025. One of those distributions occurred within 1,000 feet of a protected location, namely Deercreek Apartments, a public housing authority in Fort Dodge. United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Hill to 144 months’ imprisonment, and a term of 10 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Hill remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-3034. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Dealer  Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A Chicago man who distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced on March 20, 2026, to more than 15 years in federal prison. Devon Frazier, age 26, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a December 20, 2024, guilty plea to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Information disclosed at the sentencing hearing showed that, on February 8, 2023, Frazier distributed over 111 grams of ice methamphetamine to another individual. On February 13, 2023, Frazier distributed 282 grams of purported methamphetamine to another individual. Laboratory testing confirmed that the purported methamphetamine was in fact sea salt. Following the transaction, officers stopped a car occupied by Frazier and arrested him. While officers transported Frazier to the Linn County Correctional Center, Frazier dropped a baggie of 362 pills containing fentanyl onto the floorboard of the patrol car. Officers later recovered the baggie. Evidence at the sentencing hearing also showed that, on March 3, 2023, Frazier distributed a purported Xanax pill to a 19‑year‑old female. The purported Xanax pill, however, contained fentanyl. The female ingested the pill in the early morning hours of March 4, 2023, and suffered a fentanyl‑related overdose and died. Following the overdose, Frazier threatened to kill individuals that he believed were cooperating with law enforcement. Frazier was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Frazier was sentenced to 190 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Frazier is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Johnson County Drug Enforcement Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23‑CR‑00080‑CJW. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to attacking postal carrier

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a Jacob D. Ortiz, 34, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to assaulting a federal employee resulting in bodily injury, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that on September 9, 2025, a United States Postal Service (USPS) Letter Carrier approached the mailbox of a residence on Columbus Avenue in South Buffalo and observed Ortiz on the front porch of the house. Without any warning or provocation, Ortiz descended the front steps and lunged toward and tackled the letter carrier (victim) to the ground. Ortiz then began punching the victim repeatedly with his fists, forcing the victim to use their hands to protect their face as Ortiz delivered punches to the victim’s face, head, and midsection. Ortiz temporarily stopped, but then charged a second time, forcing the victim to flee the scene for their own safety. Ortiz gave chase but was unable to catch up, allowing the victim to get to safety. As a result, the victim sustained bodily injury, including a bump on the back of the head, several contusions to other parts of the head and face, and bruises and scrapes to their elbows and knees. The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas J. Bucciarelli. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Years-Long Off-the-Books Payroll Scheme

body_text: A Honduran national pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others as part of a years-long off-the-books payroll scheme that caused more than $38 million in losses to the U.S. government. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mario Lisandro Flores Moradel operated an illegal, off-the-books cash payroll system for construction workers to avoid paying employment taxes to the IRS and to defraud workers’ compensation insurance companies. Through the scheme, Flores and his co-conspirators also facilitated the employment of illegal aliens impermissibly working in the United States. From 2015 to 2022, Flores and his co-conspirators used a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business. These businesses cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry, charging them a percentage of the dollar amount of the checks they cashed as a fee for this service. The scheme allowed construction contractors and subcontractors to pay their workers in cash without making required payroll taxes and without regard to whether the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States. Flores and others also caused the filing of false tax documents with the IRS to conceal the scheme. Of the total loss amount, Flores admitted to causing a tax loss to the United States of more than $9.4 million. Flores pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting businesses. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Several of Flores’ co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Michael Mayorga and Francisco Alvarez pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025. Iris Villafranca and Osman Zapata pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, 2025. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. ICE ERO Miami (Orlando sub-office), Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, State Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have assisted in arrest operations. Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorney Kavitha Bondada of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Federal jury convicts dual Lebanese-Syrian national for his role in a narco-terrorism conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a dual Lebanese-Syrian national today on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization after a five day trial. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Antoine Kassis, 59, is a Lebanon-based drug trafficker who used his high-level access to the Syrian government under the Assad regime to traffic cocaine and weapons. Kassis laundered the proceeds of his drug trafficking through the organization of a Colombian co-conspirator. Even after the fall of the Assad regime, Kassis had access to weapons previously provided to the Assad regime by foreign governments, including Russia and Iran. Since April 2024, Kassis and co-conspirators, who were based in Colombia and Mexico, agreed to supply military-grade weapons diverted from the Assad regime in Syria to the National Liberation Army (ELN), in exchange for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. The ELN is a terrorist group based in Colombia dedicated to the violent overthrow of the democratically elected Government of Colombia. The U.S. Secretary of State designated the ELN as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization. Kassis stated that he was a cousin of former Syrian President Beshar Al-Assad, and that he was working directly with General Maher Al-Assad, the brother of the former Syrian President, and other top military officials in Syria on the deal. Kassis reportedly paid the government $10,000 per kilogram of cocaine imported through the Port of Latakia. Other evidence at trial supported that the Assad regime raised revenue through charging a checkpoint tax on illicit substances passing through its territory, as well as through the manufacture and distribution of Captagon, a Schedule I controlled substance. Kassis traveled from Lebanon to Kenya to meet a weapons inspector from the ELN, then signed a contract to import a shipping container full of fruit from Colombia to the Port of Latakia, Syria, intending that the container would contain 500 kilograms of cocaine. Kassis intended to oversee the distribution of the cocaine in the Middle East while his co-conspirators would launder the proceeds on his behalf. Evidence at trial demonstrated that his co-conspirators moved nearly $100,000,000 in less than 18 months, and did so for organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Hamas, and others. Kassis faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on July 2. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff and Kristin S. Starr are prosecuting the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case with assistance from Bogota Country Office; Cartagena Resident Office; Accra Country Office; Rabat Country Office; Nairobi Country Office; Amman Country Office; Istanbul Country Office; Panama City Country Office; Mexico City Country Office; and Madrid Country Office. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with Kenyan authorities to secure the arrest and May 2025 extradition from Kenya of Kassis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Colombia’s Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission and Ghana Police Service, Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security, and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations also provided significant assistance. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-51.


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

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Victor Juan Escobar-Figueroa, 38, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus up to 10 days to allow for deportation for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, on Dec. 4, 2025, the Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Escobar-Figueroa’s vehicle on I-80 near Burns. Over the course of the investigation, troopers believed Escobar-Figueroa was in the U.S. illegally. They contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for assistance. According to their database, Escobar-Figueroa was a citizen of Mexico and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in May 2012. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Naiman prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 16 in Cheyenne. Case No. 26-CR-00012 Isaias Hernandez-Zamora, 42, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He was taken into ICE custody for deportation after the sentencing hearing. He was also placed on one year of supervised release with the special condition that he not illegally return to the United States. According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2022, Hernandez-Zamora was arrested by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence. He was released at the time, but ICE determined he was in the country illegally after being formally removed in November 2007. Hernandez-Zamora was at large until a complaint was filed in June 2024, and he was subsequently arrested. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 17 in Cheyenne. Case No. 26-CR-00175 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office brings federal firearms charges against 9 additional defendants in Cincinnati as part of federal, state & local violent crime reduction initiative

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced today nine additional cases involving violations of federal firearms laws. All nine defendants have been arrested on these charges and were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4. These nine defendants are in addition to three defendants— Shaquille Ferguson, Franeek Cobb and Derrick Long —who were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 11 for firearms crimes related to public shootings in Cincinnati on Fountain Square in October 2025 and at Riverfront Live on March 1, 2026. “Shortly after becoming U.S. Attorney, I stood with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Cincinnati and promised the public that we would aggressively prosecute federal firearms cases and seek harsh penalties for repeat violent offenders caught with guns,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “These nine cases, along with the prosecutions of the individuals allegedly responsible for the shootings on Fountain Square and at Riverfront Live, highlight our continuing determination to make good on that promise.” The nine additional defendants, all from Cincinnati, are as follows: Auston Page Auston Page was arrested as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative involving the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cincinnati Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, and other partner agencies. On Dec. 30, 2025, Page allegedly was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from law enforcement. As Ohio State Highway Patrol aviation followed the vehicle, Page allegedly ran and disposed of one handgun. After a Cincinnati Police officer deployed his taser, Page was taken into custody. A search of Page revealed another firearm. Page has previously been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated robbery. Rodrick Meatchem-White and Adrian Hardy Eighteen-year-old Rodrick Meatchem-White and 19-year-old Adrian Hardy each allegedly possessed a Glock switch, which converts firearms into an automatic weapon or machinegun. Polo Alexander Alexander was previously convicted of robbery with a gun specification and allegedly was found in possession of a firearm in October 2025. Austin Fowler Fowler has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking, and weapons under disability and allegedly was found with a firearm in November 2025. Lamont Golightly Golightly has previous convictions for drug trafficking and receiving stolen property and allegedly was found with a gun on Jan. 14. Nathaniel Mack Mack has multiple state convictions for trafficking heroin. He allegedly was found with a loaded, stolen gun in his pants during a traffic stop on Central Parkway in Cincinnati. Reca Shelton Shelton has multiple prior convictions for domestic violence and drug trafficking, as well as a conviction for robbery. He allegedly was found with a firearm on Jan. 13. Naim Warren Warren has previous convictions for felonious assault and burglary and allegedly was found with a gun in November 2025. A complete list of the defendants is included below: Name Age City of Residence Charge Polo Alexander 37 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Austin Fowler 46 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Lamont Golightly 28 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Adrian Hardy 19 Cincinnati Illegal possession of a machinegun Nathaniel Mack 40 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Rodrick Meatchem-White 18 Cincinnati Illegal possession of a machinegun Auston Page 31 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Reca Shelton 40 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Naim Warren 29 Cincinnati Felon in possession of firearm Illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing an unregistered firearm or a machinegun carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison. As part of law enforcement’s targeted efforts to hold accountable perpetrators of gun violence, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has dedicated a state prosecutor to help bring federal cases as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cincinnati Police Interim Chief Adam Hennie; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato, Julie D. Garcia, Matthew C. Singer, Ryan A. Keefe and Anthony Springer, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry are representing the United States in this case. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Making Threats Against Federal Official

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Wray Hudson, 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Interstate Communications with a Threat to Injure the Person of Another, each punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that beginning on October 29, 2025, and continuing until November 20, 2025, Hudson knowingly and willfully transmitted threats to injure an official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and another person through interstate commerce. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hudson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Erin Cornell represented the United States.


title: Former Costa Rican government official and fellow drug trafficker extradited to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking charges

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Two Costa Rican national, including a former government official, have been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez, 49, and Edwin Danney Lopez-Vega, also 49, were extradited from Costa Rica to the United States on March 20, 2026, after being charged in separate indictments in the Eastern District of Texas with drug trafficking violations. Gamboa Sanchez and Lopez-Vega are the first Costa Rican nationals extradited to the United States since Costa Rica reformed its constitution in May 2025 to allow for the extradition of Costa Rican nationals for drug trafficking offenses. On June 23, 2025, Costa Rican police arrested Gamboa Sanchez, a former Costa Rican government official and judge, and Lopez-Vega on drug trafficking charges filed in the United States. Prior to his arrest, Gamboa Sanchez was a major drug trafficker in Costa Rica and had facilitated the shipment of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine from Colombia through Costa Rica to the United States and Europe. Gamboa Sanchez was indicted on July 9, 2025, and charged with conspiring with other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine, much of which was trafficked through Costa Rica and ultimately into the United States for further distribution. Gamboa Sanchez has held several governmental positions in Costa Rica, including Minister of Public Security in 2014, a position charged with overseeing crime prevention in the country, and judge from 2016 to 2018. In a separate indictment, Lopez-Vega was charged on June 11, 2025, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States. The two-count indictment alleges that beginning in 2008, Lopez-Vega was involved in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine not only to the United States, but to countries throughout South, Central, and North America, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico. The defendants are set for initial appearances in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on March 24, 2026. These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division, FBI, and DEA San Jose Country Office. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne. The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Governments of Costa Rica, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Costa Rica’s Office of Technical Assistance and International Relations, and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrest and extraditions from Costa Rica. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Honduran national extradited from Guatemala to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking charges

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Honduran national has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Baldemar Roque Negrete, also known as Chele Peña, 52, a Honduran national, was extradited from Guatemala to the United States on March 20, 2026, to face international drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas. Roque Negrete was charged by indictment on August 14, 2019, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine knowing it would be imported to the United States for distribution. Roque Negrete is set for an initial appearance in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on March 24, 2026. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division, FBI, and DEA Guatemala City Country Office. The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Guatemala. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL — A Honduran national pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others as part of a years-long off-the-books payroll scheme that caused more than $38 million in losses to the U.S. government. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mario Lisandro Flores Moradel operated an illegal, off-the-books cash payroll system for construction workers to avoid paying employment taxes to the IRS and to defraud workers’ compensation insurance companies. Through the scheme, Flores and his co-conspirators also facilitated the employment of illegal aliens impermissibly working in the United States. From 2015 to 2022, Flores and his co-conspirators used a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business. These businesses cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry, charging them a percentage of the dollar amount of the checks they cashed as a fee for this service. The scheme allowed construction contractors and subcontractors to pay their workers in cash without making required payroll taxes and without regard to whether the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States. Flores and others also caused the filing of false tax documents with the IRS to conceal the scheme. Of the total loss amount, Flores admitted to causing a tax loss to the United States of more than $9.4 million. Flores pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting businesses. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Several of Flores’ co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Michael Mayorga and Francisco Alvarez pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025. Iris Villafranca and Osman Zapata pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. ICE ERO Miami (Orlando sub-office), Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, State Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have assisted in arrest operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu of the Middle District of Florida, Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty, and Trial Attorney Kavitha Bondada of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Mobile Man Sentenced To 14 Years For Receipt Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Jason Todd Topping, age 53, was sentenced on March 20, 2026, to 168 months in prison for convictions related to receipt of child pornography. Topping entered his guilty plea on December 19, 2025. According to court documents, Mobile Police Department (“MPD”) received a walk-in complaint at Mobile Police Department Headquarters. A concerned citizen came to report that she believed that Topping was engaging in sexual activity with a minor. MPD began an investigation and seized Topping’s cell phone. An examination of his cell phone revealed videos which depicted Topping engaging in sexual activity with a minor. The minor was confirmed to be 16 and 17 years old at the time the videos were made. The videos were made on the minor’s phone and then, at Topping’s request, the minor would send the videos to Topping. At sentencing, United States District Judge Kristi DuBose imposed a 168-month term of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon Topping’s future release. Topping will be subject to sex offender treatment and mental health treatment while imprisoned. Topping will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Topping was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources


title: Aliens with Felony Records Sentenced to More than a Year  in Prison as Part of Operation Take Back America

body_text: MOBILE, AL – on March 20, 2026, Jose Abisai Padilla-Galeano, 26, of Honduras, was sentenced in federal court to 15 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported. In a separate case, Pedro Guerrero-Rocha, 27, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the same charge. These cases were prosecuted as 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. According to court documents, on October 11, 2025, Padilla was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and DUI by the Foley Police Department. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) responded to the jail and took custody of Padilla upon his release from jail on bond. Padilla had been previously deported from the United States four times. Padilla had been previously convicted of illegal reentry twice. Following Padilla-Galeano’s 15-month sentence in federal prison for his third illegal reentry offense, he was ordered to be transferred to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings. On October 20, 2025, Guerrero was stopped by the Saraland Police Department for a traffic violation. Saraland Police Department requested assistance from the United States Border Patrol (USBP) of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). USBP responded and determined that Guerrero had been deported from the United States on six prior occasions and arrested him for his illegal presence in the United States. Guerrero had also been previously convicted of Driving while Intoxicated with a Child under 15 years old in violation of Texas state law in 2019 and illegal reentry in 2023. Following his 15-month sentence in federal prison for his second illegal reentry offense, he was ordered to be transferred to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings. Additional defendants were recently prosecuted and charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported as part of Operation Take Back America’s ongoing collaboration between federal agencies with the assistance of state and local law enforcement and sentenced in federal court. On October 11, 2025, a Gulf Shores Police Department officer responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving Luis Antonio Aguilar-Bedolla, 38, of Mexico. Aguilar was arrested for an outstanding state arrest warrant. ICE/ERO obtained the record of the arrest and determined that Aguilar was a previously deported alien and took custody of him. Aguilar, who had been previously convicted of DUI twice, was convicted in federal court for illegal reentry in federal court and sentenced to time-served. The court ordered that he be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. On October 16, 2025, a Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Deputy encountered Nehemias Pelico-Cutz, 39, of Guatemala during a traffic stop. ICE/ERO assisted with the stop and determined that Pelico was a previously deported alien unlawfully in the United States. Pelico had been deported on five occasions. ICE/ERO arrested Pelico, and he was convicted of illegal reentry in federal court. He was sentenced to time-served and ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. On October 27, 2024, Javier Hernandez-Juarez, 45, of Mexico, was encountered by the Foley Police Department and arrested for DUI, but used an alias. ICE/ERO obtained fingerprint records from the arrest, determined Hernandez’s identity as a previously deported alien, and arrested him for illegal reentry in December 2025. Hernandez was convicted, sentenced to time-served, and ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. On December 28, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received an anonymous tip from the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE referenced Tulio Miguel Mendez-Aguriano, 33, of Honduras. Upon receiving the tip, ICE/ERO officials vetted the information and determined that Mendez was illegally in the United States after previously being deported. On December 29, 2025, ICE/ERO arrested Mendez. Mendez was convicted of illegal reentry, sentenced to time-served, and ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. On December 18, 2025, Jose Jorge Xocua Sandoval, 37, of Mexico, was encountered by an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Trooper during a traffic stop. USBP assisted with the stop and determined that Sandoval had been previously deported from the United States following an arrest for aggravated assault in Florida. Sandoval was convicted of illegal reentry, sentenced to time-served, and ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. On January 9, 2026, the Silverhill Police Department encountered Jesus Villanueva-Gallegos, 45, of Mexico, during a traffic stop. ICE/ERO assisted with the stop and determined that Villanueva was a previously deported alien following a conviction for attempted aggravated sexual battery in violation of Kansas state law in 2001. Villanueva was convicted of illegal reentry, sentenced to time-served, and ordered to be transferred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. These defendants had been in custody since their respective arrests on federal charges. All defendants were ordered to pay $100.00 each in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), investigated these cases with the assistance of state and local law enforcement partners, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Foley Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Saraland Police Department, and Silverhill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Kopf prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States. In addition to repelling the invasion of illegal immigration, Operation Take Back America aim includes the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.