title: Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Accused of Laundering Millions of Dollars in Narcotics Trafficking Proceeds

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.— The owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II LLC has been charged with money laundering after using his money service businesses to launder narcotics trafficking proceeds and structure financial transactions to avoid suspicion of law enforcement. Jose Alonso Paramo Arguello, 45, a citizen of Mexico and unlawfully residing in the United States, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering. According to court documents, Arguello is the owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II in Phoenix, Oregon, along with two other businesses, Tienda Santa Maria in Medford, Oregon, and Paramos Barber Shop in Central Point, Oregon. Arguello uses his three businesses to transfer narcotics trafficking proceeds to Mexico by breaking down transactions into smaller amounts and using fake names and addresses for the money senders to conceal the true nature and source of the funds. From January 2, 2024, through December 3, 2025, Arguello’s three money service businesses transferred more than $13 million in wire transfers of $500 or more to Mexico, an amount often indicative of narcotics trafficking. Of that, over $7 million was sent to locations in Mexico associated with narcotics trafficking. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) provided an informant with cash to attempt to wire money to Mexico. The informant told Arguello he was a drug dealer to which Arguello responded, “You sell whatever you want, you’re a merchant, period.” From November 2025 through January 2026, Arguello laundered over $45,000 in what the informant represented as drug trafficking proceeds through 22 wire transfers. While doing so, Arguello received a 10% commission to launder the funds. Arguello referred to this commission as a bribe. Arguello made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending a further court proceeding scheduled for March 23, 2026, in Medford. IRS-CI is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET), and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Cardani and Julia Jarrett are prosecuting the case. This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air and Army National Guard Counterdrug program, Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegal Reentry of Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MIGUEL ANGEL LOPEZ-MEJIA (“ LOPEZ-MEJIA ”), age 34, was sentenced on March 17, 2026 after pleading guilty on January 20, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the charging document, LOPEZ-MEJIA , a Honduran national, was found in the United States on October 16, 2025, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on July 15, 2022. U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion sentenced LOPEZ-MEJIA to an imprisonment term of time served, (1) year of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. LOPEZ-MEJIA was also ordered to be transferred into the custody of United States Customs and Border Protection for removal to Honduras. 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 United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Ossian Woman Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Janis A. Sexton, 63 years old, of Ossian, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Sexton was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $1,679,934 in restitution to multiple identified victims. According to documents in the case, Sexton knowingly conspired with others to defraud victims of millions of dollars and then laundered the fraud proceeds through her shell companies and bank accounts. Starting in December of 2020, and extending through August of 2022, Sexton created four shell companies and established accounts at multiple banks. Through a variety of schemes, the conspiracy deceived victim businesses and some individuals into wiring money to accounts under Sexton’s control. After laundering the money through her accounts, Sexton sent fraud proceeds to an overseas conspirator, sometimes by converting the money into cryptocurrency. In total, the conspiracy tried to steal over $4 million, and Sexton and her conspirators actually obtained a little over $2 million in fraud proceeds, primarily through business email compromise schemes and fraud against a government program. This conspiracy victimized many businesses through business email compromise schemes. With this type of scheme, conspirators gained access to a business’s emails and obtained inside information about existing invoices and accounts receivable or accounts payable. Conspirators then sent emails that looked legitimate and purported to change existing payment information, with the new payment account being under the control of a conspirator such as Sexton. In wiring money, victims believed that they were sending payment to their vendors, clients, and business associates, but they were instead deceived into sending money to Sexton. “The Defendant was extremely sophisticated. Thanks to the professional investigation put together by the FBI with the assistance of the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut, the Defendant was caught, prosecuted, and sentenced,” Mildred said. “This wasn’t a simple scheme - the defendant set up shell companies, opened multiple accounts, and even coordinated with an overseas contact, all in an attempt to avoid detection. In the end, that didn’t work,” said Timothy J. O’Malley. “Cases like this show that even complex fraud leaves a trail, and the FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who break the law.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Stamford, Connecticut, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Failing To Register As Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demarco Latrel Patterson, age 30, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The Indictment alleged that Patterson was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on October 6, 2021, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from December 9, 2025, until January 15, 2026, Patterson failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and that during that time, Patterson resided in a home within a two-thousand foot radius of a school. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Patterson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Aguila Binion, 48 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Binion was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, police found Binion asleep behind the wheel of a running car. Binion had a bag of cocaine and more than $1,500 cash in his pockets. He had boxes of plastic baggies, a digital scale, and several small baggies of pre-packaged cocaine in the front seat. Within arm’s reach in the back seat, he had a fully loaded pistol. “The Defendant was all set up to distribute poison in our community. He had the product, the packaging, money to make change, a scale to make accurate sales, and a gun to protect his illicit business enterprise. He has forfeited twelve years of his life because of his crimes. The Northern District of Indiana is safer for the efforts of the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Mildred. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Luke N. Reilander. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: East Chicago Woman Sentenced to 12 Months and 1 Day in Prison

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: HAMMOND – Rose Henderson, 62 years old, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Henderson was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and ordered to pay $364,779 in restitution. According to documents in the case, in August 1989, Henderson’s mother began receiving social security benefits at the age of 62. Six years later, Henderson became her mother’s representative payee, and in that capacity, she had a fiduciary duty to use the benefits for her mother’s care and support. The following year, Henderson’s mother passed away, but Henderson did not notify the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) of her death. Henderson continued collecting her mother’s benefits for more than two decades. During that time, she periodically submitted false paperwork to the SSA claiming that her mother was still alive and that she was using the funds for her mother’s benefit. Instead, she spent the money on herself, including multiple cruises, frequent trips to Las Vegas, and large cash withdrawals at casinos in northwest Indiana. In total, between September 1996 until March 2021, Henderson defrauded the SSA out of $364,779. “Henderson stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government assistance program designed to help the most vulnerable members of society and used it for decades to support a lifestyle that is beyond the reach of many members of the community,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “Through the hard work of the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern Division, the Defendant was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced. We will, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold accountable those who defraud government programs and put critical benefits at risk.” This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa and Zachary D. Heater.


title: Mexican Illegal Alien Charged With Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Mexican illegal alien today, in connection with illegal re-entry charges. Fortunado Cuatlatl-Flores, aka Furtunado Cuatlatl-Cuatle, 44, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was previously removed from the country following a conviction for an aggravated felony. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to court documents, on February 20, 2026, law enforcement encountered Cuatlatl-Flores in Wicomico County, Maryland, while performing an area-enforcement operation. After encountering Cuatlatl-Flores, law enforcement checked the license plate and registration on the vehicle the illegal alien was driving. When ICE-ERO officers investigated further, they discovered a restriction code that indicated that Cuatlatl-Flores may not be legally present in the United States. ICE-ERO officers then conducted a vehicle stop. During a brief investigative interview, Cuatlatl-Flores provided a Mexican voter identification card, with the name ‘Fortunato Cuatlatl’ on it, affirming his identity. Cuatlatl-Flores also admitted he is a citizen and national of Mexico who entered the U.S. without permission. Based on Cuatlatl-Flores’s admission, and confirmation of his identity, law enforcement took him into custody. Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered Cuatlatl-Flores was previously removed from the U.S. twice, following a felony child sexual abuse conviction. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Cuatlatl-Flores faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended Salisbury ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: International Trafficker Extradited to the United States and Charged with Importing Opioids and Money Laundering in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Sebastien Rollin (49, Quebec, Canada), a/k/a “Sticks” or “Stix,” has been charged by federal indictment with conspiracy to import protonitazene, distribution of protonitazene for importation into the United States, and international promotional money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Rollin faces a maximum penalty of 120 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Rollin that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, Rollin, a Canadian national residing in a suburb of Montreal, Canada, began arranging the sale of synthetic opioid pills disguised as oxycodone knowing that the pills would go to Tampa. Rollin sold more than 10,000 such pills on May 13, 2024, to an undercover officer. He later sold 25,000 pills to an undercover officer on July 9, 2024. Rollin accepted payment for these sales via cryptocurrency that was sent from an undercover cryptocurrency wallet in the Middle District of Florida to Canada. In mid-July 2024, Rollin negotiated the sale of 300,000 synthetic opioid pills to the United States; however, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stopped the vehicle of an organization courier and seized the pills. That same day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police executed search warrants at two clandestine laboratories in Quebec, Canada used for the manufacturing of synthetic opioids, resulting in the seizure of millions of synthetic opioid pills, recipes for synthetic drugs, and a firearm. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Spanish National Police provided critical assistance in locating and apprehending Rollin. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Spain to secure the arrest and Feb. 20 extradition from Spain of Rollin. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. 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. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.


title: Guilty Pleas Entered for Five Drug Traffickers

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Mario Swanston of Port St. Joe, 45, Shannon Jarbar Clayton of Panama City, 45, Santana Wyvonne Harris of Ellenwood, Georgia, 41, Shontel Reshard Fedd of Port St. Joe, 48, and Elizabeth Gray of Panama City, 36, pleaded guilty as charged in federal court to charges in connection with the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Swanston, Clayton, and Harris were charged with and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Fedd and Gray were charged with and pleaded guilty to distribution of marijuana. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Dismantling this drug trafficking network required close collaboration and cooperation between our state and federal law enforcement officers, and I am proud to report their hard work has paid off with these successful prosecutions of the traffickers. The Homeland Security Task Force launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi will continue to identify, target, and dismantle drug trafficking networks like this one, and my office will follow up with aggressive prosecutions of the traffickers to ensure the citizens of the Northern District of Florida get the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.” According to court records, between November 2023 and April 2024, Swanston conspired with Clayton and Harris to obtain cocaine and marijuana from the State of Georgia for distribution in the Northern District of Florida. During a traffic stop of Harris, officers located and seized 1,497 grams of cocaine. When officers attempted a subsequent traffic stop of Swanston’s vehicle, Swanston threw a bag containing 222 grams of cocaine out of his vehicle’s window and fled from officers. Officers ultimately stopped Swanston’s vehicle and arrested him, after which they recovered the discarded cocaine. During the investigation, agents determined that Gray conspired with Swanston and others to store and distribute marijuana at Swanston’s direction. During January 2024, Fedd flew into the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport via commercial airline, carrying over 5 kilograms of marijuana inside of his luggage, which Fedd and Swanston conspired to distribute in the Northern District of Florida. Sentencing hearings are scheduled before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker in the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida on the following dates and times: Mario Swanston is scheduled for sentencing on April 17, 2026, at 3:00 pm; Shannon Jarbar Clayton is scheduled for sentencing on March 19, 2026, at 1:00 pm; Santana Wyvonne Harris is scheduled for sentencing on April 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm; Shontel Reshard Fedd is scheduled for sentencing on March 30, 2026, at 11:00 am; and Elizabeth Gray is scheduled for sentencing on March 20, 2026, at 11:00 am. The pleas were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Police Department, and the Springfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Georgia Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in Madison County, Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Tavaris Andre Donaldson, 30, of Madison, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our kids safe from disgusting sexual predators like this defendant is one of my office’s top priorities, and ensuring sex offenders abide by the legal requirements to register their presence wherever they live is a key component of ensuring they cannot victimize others.” Court documents reflect that the defendant was convicted of child molestation in May 2014 in Lowndes County, Georgia, and as a result, was required to register as a sex offender in each county where he lived and worked. Although the defendant had been registering as a sex offender as required in Lowndes County, Georgia, he absconded from there in October 2024 and traveled to Madison County, Florida, where he lived and worked. Employment records showed that the defendant began employment in Madison County, Florida, in early-2025; however, the defendant knowingly failed to report his employment and residence as required by SORNA. Donaldson faces up to ten years’ imprisonment, up to a lifetime term of supervision, and a $250,000 fine. The case involved a joint investigation by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Criminal Alien Sexual Predator from Mexico Sentenced  for Illegally Reentering the Country

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Marco Olavarrieta-Beranza, also known as “Marco Leonardo Olavarrieta,” 45, of Mexico, was sentenced to twenty-seven months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal alien sexual predator is precisely the intended target of Operation Take Back America , which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to repel the invasion of illegal aliens who have threatened the safety of our communities for the past several years. This successful prosecution will ensure this criminal alien spends time in federal prison before being swiftly deported, and thanks to President Trump securing our border we will ensure he stays out of our country for good.” According to court records, the defendant was deported from the United States in 2019 after being convicted of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of twelve and attempted sexual abuse of a minor under the age of fourteen. Due to these convictions, he was permanently barred from reentering the United States. He illegally returned to the United States and was found in Escambia County, Florida, in November 2025. Deportation proceedings against him will commence following the conclusion of serving his federal sentence. “Illegal reentry after deportation, especially by someone convicted of sex crimes, is a grave violation of U.S. law and a direct threat to community safety,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami acting Field Office Director Kelei Walker. “It undermines the integrity of the immigration system and places vulnerable populations at risk. Vigorous enforcement of immigration laws, including prosecution for illegal reentry, is essential to deter future violations and to ensure that those who endanger the safety of others are not allowed to remain in the United States.” The case was investigated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Results in Guatemalan Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Over 24 Years for Multimillion Dollar Drug Conspiracy That Used Corrupt Officials and Murdered a Rival

body_text: Tampa, FL – Marlon Alexis Aguilar Reyes (age 44), a criminal alien from Guatemala who was living in Miami under an alias before his 2024 arrest, has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiring to import more than 5 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Aguilar Reyes had an oversight role within an organization that received vessels of cocaine from South America off the coast of Guatemala, transported the cocaine to the northern border of Guatemala, then smuggled the cocaine into Mexico for ultimate importation into the United States. Members of the organization included a cartel member in Mexico, a corrupt law enforcement officer, and the former mayor of Tecun Uman, Guatemala. Throughout 2018, the investigation revealed that Aguilar Reyes was negotiating multimillion dollar cocaine deals in Mexico; receiving updates on the murder of a rival; and getting notified through a corrupt law enforcement officer about the presence of Guatemalan police vehicles in the vicinity of a drug smuggling operation. This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Guatemalan Seccion de Investigaciones Sensitives – Subdireccion General de Analisis de Informacion Antinarcotica. The U.S. Marshals Service provided critical assistance in locating and apprehending Aguilar Reyes. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. 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. HSTF Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.


title: W International Companies Agree to Pay $10.5M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for Overcharging the Air Force and the Navy for Weld Tables

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced that W International LLC, W International SC LLC, Precision Metal Equipment Handling LLC, and Edward Walker (collectively, “Defendants”) have agreed to pay $10.5 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that they knowingly overcharged the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy for weld tables. W International LLC, a Michigan company, and W International SC LLC, a South Carolina company, were both engaged in the business of industrial welding and metal fabrication. Edward Walker was the Chief Executive Officer of both companies. Precision Metal Equipment Handling LLC is a Michigan company that manufactured weld tables for W International SC LLC. “Contractors and subcontractors are expected to charge no more than authorized under their contracts with the military,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to ensure the government gets the prices it bargained for on defense contracts.” “Exploiting the procurement process for our military’s necessary materials unduly increases the burden on taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our partners to support our service members and protect our taxpayers.” “To meet global demands, the Navy must accelerate shipbuilding. However, contractors who overcharge betray the public's trust and undermine this critical mission,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring every dollar is spent in accordance with the contract.” “As the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is steadfastly committed to protecting the integrity of DoD’s procurement process and holding contractors accountable,” said Christopher Dillard, Special Agent in Charge, DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Fraud on DoD contracts diverts critical taxpayer resources away from our warfighters. DCIS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit the system for personal gain.” The allegations resolved by the settlement concern federal funds provided to W International SC to refurbish and equip a large-scale welding facility. As part of that effort, the United States alleges, the Defendants submitted or caused to be submitted claims for payment that overcharged for weld tables supplied for the facility. Funding for the project was provided through the Defense Production Act pursuant to a U.S. Air Force Technology Investment Agreement, and as Supplier Development Funds pursuant to a Navy prime contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat. The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, John Klausmeier, a former employee of W International SC LLC, to receive $1,863,750 as his share of the settlement. This case was handled by the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Attorney Greg Pearson of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leventis for the District of South Carolina. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Klausmeier v. W International, LLC, Civil Action number 22 -cv-1774 in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Nevada Man Indicted for Smuggling and Selling Misbranded Erectile Dysfunction and Prescription Drugs

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Henderson, Nev., resident made his initial appearance in court on Friday in connection to a 17-count superseding indictment charging him for allegedly smuggling misbranded prescription drugs under the brand names “Ride,” “Kinky Kong,” “Stif,” “TBone,” and “Kinky Pink.” According to allegations in the superseding indictment, David Ralph Webber owned and operated Passion Plus Enterprises Inc. and Whole Science Health. He was not a registered pharmaceutical manufacturer with the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor was he licensed to administer prescription drugs or as a wholesaler of prescription drugs. As alleged, from at least 2018 to present, Webber used his companies to import hundreds of thousands of misbranded prescription drug capsules and tablets containing sildenafil, sildenafil citrate, and tadalafil — the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis — into the United States. The prescription drugs were manufactured in India at facilities that were not registered with the FDA. To evade customs detection and enforcement, Webber falsely declared that the wire transfers to the manufacturers were for business management consultancy services; and he allegedly paid a packaging company to list false ingredients and false claims that the drugs were “100% Natural” and did not require a prescription. Webber allegedly sold the misbranded prescription drugs to smoke shops, convenience stores, and adult novelty stores in Nevada and throughout the southwestern United States, and directly to consumers through a website he operated. In total, he made more than $1.9 million dollars in revenue from his sales of misbranded prescription drugs. A federal grand jury returned the superseding indictment charging Webber with one count of introduction of a misbranded drug into interstate commerce; four counts of wholesale distribution of prescription drugs without a license; seven counts of smuggling; and five counts of mail fraud. A jury trial is set for September 29, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in custody. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office, and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson for the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FDA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Kimberly Frayn are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know has taken these products and/or suffered adverse health effects as a result of these products, please contact investigators at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/email/oc/oci/contact.cfm . A Superseding Indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Jury convicts owner of Amazon delivery business for fraud schemes and forging federal judge’s signature

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – A federal jury has convicted Brittany Hudson of all 30 counts in an indictment that charged her with stealing nearly $10 million from Amazon based on fraud, laundering the fraudulent proceeds from that scheme, lying to a franchising company while on pretrial release, and forging the signature of former Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. on fake court documents. “Hudson and her literal partner in crime brazenly stole nearly $10 million from Amazon through a fraud scheme involving fake vendors and invoices,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “A federal jury put an end to Hudson’s insatiable greed by returning a guilty verdict on 30 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery.” “The level of greed on the part of the perpetrators in this case was staggering,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Donovan of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Leveraging personal relationships, she stole millions from Amazon and was so confident she wouldn’t be caught, she even forged the signature of a federal judge with the intent of defrauding a second company. Thanks to the diligent work of our agents and the prosecution team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, her days of defrauding others have come to an end.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Brittany Hudson owned a business, Legend Express LLC, which contracted with Amazon to deliver packages. Hudson was in a romantic relationship with Kayricka Wortham a/k/a Kayricka Dupree a/k/a Kayricka Young, who worked as an operations manager at an Amazon warehouse in Smyrna, Georgia. In her position, Wortham supervised others and had the authority to approve new Amazon vendors and the payment of vendor invoices. From about January 2022 to June 2022, Hudson and Wortham defrauded Amazon out of nearly $10 million based on a scheme involving bogus vendors and invoices. Wortham provided fake vendor information to unknowing subordinates and asked them to input the information into Amazon’s vendor system. Once the information was entered, Wortham and another co-conspirator at Amazon approved the fake vendors, enabling the vendors to submit invoices. Hudson and Wortham then submitted fictitious invoices, falsely representing that the phony vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham approved the invoices, causing Amazon to transfer approximately $9.4 million to bank accounts controlled by Hudson, Wortham, and co-conspirators. Hudson and Wortham purchased expensive real estate and luxury cars with Amazon’s money, including a nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, Georgia, a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle. In September 2022, Hudson and Wortham were charged in federal court with defrauding Amazon. In January 2023, while on bond, they lied to a potential business partner, claiming that their Amazon-related criminal charges had been dismissed. To support that lie, the two emailed fake court documents that purported to dismiss the charges and contained the forged signatures of Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., who has since retired, and Cobb County Magistrate Judge Norman L. Barnett, who was then one of the prosecutors on the case. Hudson also emailed doctored bank statements and personal financial statements that fraudulently inflated the balances in her and Wortham’s accounts. On March 13, 2026, a jury convicted Hudson of 30 counts, including two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 17 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, nine counts of money laundering, and one count of forgery of the signature of a federal judge. The jury also found that money seized from Hudson’s bank account and Hudson’s residence in Smyrna, Georgia, were forfeitable as fraudulent proceeds of the Amazon scheme. On June 27, 2023, Kayricka Wortham, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 in restitution to Amazon. More than $3 million in fraudulent proceeds seized from multiple bank accounts, the Smyrna home, and the vehicles purchased with fraudulent proceeds were forfeited. Wortham was convicted of the Amazon fraud charge on November 30, 2022, after she pleaded guilty. On October 6, 2025, she pleaded guilty to forgery of the signature of a federal judge. She is scheduled to be sentenced on the forgery charge on March 25, 2026, at 10 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. Sentencing for Brittany Hudson, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Brown. This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Angela Adams are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Monkton Woman Charged with Distribution of Cocaine Base

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 16, 2026, Jodi Palmer, 48, of Monkton, Vermont, appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Palmer was charged on September 11, 2024 by criminal complaint with distribution of cocaine base (crack cocaine). She appeared in federal court yesterday pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus, as she is currently detained in the Vermont Department of Corrections. A detention hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2026. According to court records, Palmer distributed approximately four grams of cocaine base to an informant during an operation by Homeland Security Investigations on July 26, 2024. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Palmer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Palmer faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig S. Nolan. Palmer is represented by Federal Public Defender Alejandro Fernandez.


title: Illegal Aliens from Guatemala and Honduras Sentenced for Re-entering the U.S. Without Authorization

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – Two Guatemalans and a Honduran have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. All defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S. Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to six months in prison. Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served. These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station. The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Spryszak and Matt Simko for the Northern District of Ohio. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Charleston County School Board Member Indicted for Bribery and COVID Fraud

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a five-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin Dion Hollinshead, 64, of North Charleston, for accepting a bribe in exchange for his influence and official action as a Charleston County School District Trustee and for wire fraud and bank fraud related to COVID relief loans. The indictment alleges that Hollinshead accepted a bribe in exchange for his support of a construction company’s pursuit of an appeal arising from a failed bid for a construction project. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Hollinshead encouraged an executive from the construction company to hire a consultant to assist them in navigating the appeal process. The consultant agreed to kickback a portion of his consulting fee from the construction company to Hollinshead. Moreover, Hollinshead, knowing that the consultant intended to pay him a kickback from his consulting fee, used his official position as a member of the Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees to influence the appeal process in favor of the construction company. The indictment a further alleges that in 2020 and 2021, Hollinshead applied for two loans through the pandemic relief programs that were administered by the Small Business Administration. In addition to including false information in the loan applications related to his business’ revenues and employment figures, Hollinshead used the loan proceeds for non-qualifying, personal expenses such as a medical procedure at a clinic in Mexico. “As alleged, Hollinshead used his position and influence as a school board member for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to hold elected officials who violate the public trust accountable, particularly when that trust involves the well-being of our children’s education.” Hollinshead faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, supervised release for three years, and a $1 million fine. Hollinshead is scheduled to appear before the Honorable Molly H. Cherry, United States Magistrate Judge, on March 18 in Charleston. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Miami Jury Convicts Tennessee Man of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Tennessee man was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 24 of attempting to sex traffic a minor living in Colombia and attempting to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving the victim. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Ramon Arellano Sandoval, 65, of Antioch, Tennessee, exchanged thousands of text and video messages with a female victim living in rural Colombia who was only 14 years old at the time. Despite knowing the victim was underage, Sandoval repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos from her and directed her to produce CSAM, often in exchange for electronic payments. Sandoval also traveled to Colombia to engage in commercial sex with the minor victim. “The jury’s verdict delivered justice for a 14-year-old victim who was targeted and exploited by a 65-year-old man who knew exactly what he was doing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence showed that this defendant pressured a child to create sexually explicit videos and even traveled overseas to abuse her. That conduct is predatory, criminal, and intolerable. The Southern District of Florida will continue working with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit children online or anywhere else.” The jury found Sandoval guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted production of visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor. He faces up to life in federal prison for attempted sex trafficking and up to 30 years for attempted production. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Farina and Camille Smith are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20519. ###


title: Mississippi Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking

body_text: A Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking. According to court documents, Un’Darius Dickerson, 24, of Jackson, Mississippi, brandished a firearm to take the victim’s motor vehicle by force. On Nov. 19, 2024, Dickerson, wearing a ski mask, approached the victim, pointed a rifle in her face, and demanded, “You know what this is. Give me those keys.” The victim gave Dickerson her car keys, and he drove away in the victim’s vehicle. A day later, Southaven, Mississippi, Police Officers arrested Dickerson, still driving the victim’s car, after he attempted to flee police from a traffic stop. During an interview with law enforcement following his arrest, Dickerson admitted to “robbing” the victim and assisted law enforcement in recovering the firearm he brandished during the carjacking. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.


title: Guatemalan national extradited to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking charges

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Guatemalan 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. Elmer Antonio Pancan Barrios, aka “Chepio,” 42, was extradited from Guatemala to the United States on March 5, 2026, after being charged in a federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas with drug trafficking violations. The indictment alleges that Pancan Barrios conspired with and assisted other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine into the United States for further distribution. 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, Pancan Barrios faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division in conjunction with DEA Guatemala City Country Office; DEA Bogota Country Office; DEA Cartagena Resident Office; DEA Panama Country Office and DEA San Jose Country Office. The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala 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 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. ###


title: LeFlore County Resident Sentenced To Twenty Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenny Ray Smith, age 62, of Whitesboro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison each for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 16 District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On September 4, 2025, Smith was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, on June 27, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 27.85 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN). On July 9, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 52.9 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the OBN. “Mr. Smith’s crimes and his long history of drug trafficking in Eastern Oklahoma have proven him to be deserving of this sentence,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the DEA and OBN for their work to combat drugs in our communities. Together, we have formed an effective partnership reflecting the high priority this office places on protecting public health and safety.” “This was an outstanding joint investigation that aimed to remove a significant meth supplier in eastern Oklahoma,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “Meth continues to be one of our state’s leading contributors in drug-related deaths. Our agency will continue to aggressively target those who endanger the health and safety of Oklahoma citizens by funneling meth onto our streets.” “This sentence sends a clear and unwavering message: repeat offenders who profit from the distribution of this poison will be held fully accountable. Mr. Smith’s criminal history underscores a pattern of harm that we cannot and will not tolerate,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The DEA is fully committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the safety and well-being of our communities.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Smith will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Fully Suspended Sentence Handed Down for Robbery and Carjacking Spree

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Derrick West, 18, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for a spree of robberies and carjackings that took place in September 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. West, who was seventeen years old at the time of the offenses and who was charged pursuant to Title 16, pleaded guilty on August 29, 2025, to one count of armed carjacking, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of robbery. At West’s sentencing on March 13, 2026, the United States requested a sentence of twelve years of incarceration, representing a sentence at the top of his sentencing guidelines for each count, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Honorable Judge Jennifer DiToro sentenced West to a fully suspended sentence of 48 months, with 18 months of supervised probation. The Court’s sentence was entered pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government’s objection, which permits a sentence beneath the mandatory minimum term of seven years of incarceration for carjacking and five years of incarceration for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the proffer of facts, on September 19, 2024, at approximately 10:31 p.m., in the 500 block of 48th Place NE, West, his co-defendant Antonio Gaither and two additional suspects, pulled up next to the first victim, while she was parking her car. Two of the suspects exited their vehicle and one pointed a firearm at the victim and ordered her to exit her vehicle. Two of the suspects took the victim’s car, and all four suspects fled the scene. Separately, on September 20, 2024, at approximately 12:45 a.m., in the 800 block of P Street, NW, West, Gaither and additional suspects approached the victim, who was sitting in his vehicle with his doors unlocked. One of the suspects opened the driver’s side door and ordered the victim to exit the vehicle, while another suspect assaulted the victim, striking him about the face and body. The victim exited the vehicle and fled in fear of his safety. The suspects fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle, taking with them the victim’s wallet, credit cards and phone which were inside the car. In addition, on September 30, 2024, at approximately 5:21 p.m., in the 100 block of 35 th Street, NE, West and Gaither approached a third victim, who was talking on his cell phone as he walked away from his vehicle. One of the defendants grabbed the victim’s phone out of his hand. Both West and Gaither demanded the victim’s car keys. Out of fear for his safety, the victim handed over the keys, but he was still punched in the face several times by both defendants. The defendants took the victim’s cell phone and fled the scene in his vehicle. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Roberts and Ben Helfand, who prosecuted the case. 2024 CF3 011076


title: Lafourche Parish Resident Guilty of Furthering Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – MICHAEL LEWIS , (“LEWIS”) , age 44, of Thibodaux, pled guilty on March 13, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long , to a superseding bill of information charging him with illegal use of communications facility to further a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §843(b) and Title 18, U.S.C. §2. At the sentencing, scheduled for June 16, 2026, he faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to the charging document, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least June 5, 2024, LEWIS conspired with other individuals, mainly Linez Green and John Paul Gage Jr., to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine throughout the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting narcotics to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications, and the use of multiple vehicles. On multiple occasions, LEWIS used his cell phone to further this conspiracy and helped others distribute methamphetamine to numerous customers in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Both Green and Gage Jr. have also previously pled guilty in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Mississippi Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking. According to court documents, Un’Darius Dickerson, 24 , of Jackson, Mississippi, brandished a firearm to take the victim’s motor vehicle by force. On Nov. 19, 2024, Dickerson, wearing a ski mask, approached the victim, pointed a rifle in her face, and demanded, “You know what this is. Give me those keys.” The victim gave Dickerson her car keys, and he drove away in the victim’s vehicle. A day later, Southaven, Mississippi, Police Officers arrested Dickerson, still driving the victim’s car, after he attempted to flee police from a traffic stop. During an interview with law enforcement following his arrest, Dickerson admitted to “robbing” the victim and assisted law enforcement in recovering the firearm he brandished during the carjacking. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence. ### CRM 26-260 If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.


title: Department of Justice Proposes Rule to More Quickly Achieve Justice in State Death Penalty Cases

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Attorney General Pamela Bondi today announced that the Justice Department has proposed a rule that will empower states to streamline federal habeas review of capital cases. These reforms will reduce by years the period between conviction and execution in state capital cases. “This proposed rule will help states achieve the promise of swift and effective justice for victims of capital crimes,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are fulfilling the Department of Justice’s commitment to restoring the death penalty as the ultimate punishment for the worst criminals in America.” In Chapter 154 of Title 28 of the United States Code, Congress established an accelerated process for the review of federal habeas petitions arising from State capital cases, which otherwise can languish for years at various stages of federal adjudication. The expedited process is available to states that the Attorney General has certified as having established a postconviction capital counsel process including the appointment, compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of competent counsel. Since the law’s enactment in 1996, and amendment in 2006, no state has taken advantage of these streamlined procedures—in large part due to the Department’s imposition of additional and heightened barriers on certification. The proposed rule, once finalized, will eliminate these obstacles to certification , enabling more prompt decision of States’ requests for certification. It also will make certification decisions final as opposed to a five-year limited term—a reform that should encourage more states to apply for certification. The proposed rule advances President Trump’s January 20 executive order Restoring the Death Penalty and Promoting Public Safety and its mandate to ensure that the laws that authorize capital punishment are respected and faithfully implemented and Attorney General Bondi’s promise in her February memorandum Reviving the Federal Death Penalty and Lifting the Moratorium on Federal Executions to assist States in prosecuting capital crimes and implementing death sentences . The public is invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this rule through the methods outlined in the Federal Register notice.


title: Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 10,000 Counterfeit Percocet Pills

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to drug charges connected to a drug manufacturing ring. Joshua Morales, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2026. Morales was charged in August 2025 . According to the charging documents, Morales was observed by law enforcement entering into a residence in Methuen and leaving with a large orange bag. According to court documents, investigators knew that the residence was an alleged drug distribution and manufacturing location. While under surveillance, Morales then drove to a location in Lawrence, where he was apprehended. During a search of Morales’ vehicle, 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl were recovered. During a search of the residence in Methuen, an automated pill press was located, along with multiple kilograms of counterfeit Adderall and Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine. Numerous items used in the pill manufacturing process, including cutting agents, blenders, scales, bowls and bags full of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine powders and binding agents were also recovered. The charge of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Peabody Police Department, Lawrence Police Department and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).


title: West Virginia Doctor Sentenced for Tax Fraud

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A Wheeling, West Virginia, physician was sentenced for tax fraud that totaled nearly $2.5 million, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. “Dr. Ratnakar cheated the system by avoiding tax payments,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Tax fraud is stealing from all honest citizens and will not be tolerated in this district.” Nitesh Ratnakar, age 50, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for 41 counts of tax fraud. Ratnakar owned and operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer in Elkins, West Virginia. He withheld payroll taxes from his employees’ paychecks and failed to make $2,419,560 in required payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Ratnakar also filed false tax returns in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Ratnakar will serve one year of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod Douglas and Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Law enforcement seized 11 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, cocaine from a Dayton man’s safe following his arrest on federal drug crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man has been charged federally in a narcotics trafficking case in which law enforcement seized approximately 11 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine. Ke-Shawn Rivers, 46, appeared in federal court yesterday morning for a detention hearing. The Court ordered that he remain in custody pending trial. According to the indictment, between September 2025 and January 2026, Rivers, who also goes by “JayZ,” distributed fentanyl on multiple occasions. On March 11, law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized narcotics, a firearm and a safe. The safe contained approximately 11 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine and $260,000 in cash as well as an additional firearm. “Illicit fentanyl destroys lives and directly threatens our national security,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My office will continue to fight alongside our law enforcement partners at all levels of government to rid our streets of this deadly drug.” “Fentanyl has been a scourge on our communities and has sadly taken many of our family and friends too soon,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI will continue to vigorously investigate and dismantle narcotics trafficking networks across Ohio and Michigan to protect our communities. I want to thank our partners from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for their partnership in this investigation.” “Fentanyl’s catastrophic impact on our communities is well-documented – when a tiny speck can cause an overdose, taking pounds off the streets makes Ohio exponentially safer,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This task force and our BCI narcotics agents have my gratitude for a job well done.” “Fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities throughout Montgomery County,” said Rob Streck. “The amount of fentanyl seized in this case had the potential to cause unimaginable harm in our community. This case is another example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work together to identify and hold accountable those responsible for trafficking these deadly drugs.” Rivers is charged with 13 counts of distributing fentanyl, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck and members of the Regional Area Narcotics and Gun Enforcement Task Force (RANGE) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Collins are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition Loaded in a “Ghost Gun”

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Raymond Jesse Rodriguez, 29, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 12 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, in March 2024, three days after being released from state prison, Rodriguez got into a gunfight where he allegedly shot and killed another individual at an apartment in Fresno. Rodriguez then fled the scene. After a weeklong manhunt, officers found and arrested Rodriguez in Fresno. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was carrying a “ghost gun”: an un-serialized and untraceable privately manufactured firearm, with a high-capacity magazine containing 25 rounds of ammunition. The firearm, shown below, was labeled “Polymer 80 Inc.,” a label commonly seen on ghost guns. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was serving a term of post‑release community supervision following his most recent felony convictions in Fresno County. Recovered un-serialized firearm or ghost gun The Fresno Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes and Cody S. Chapple 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Former Fort Lauderdale Tennis Coach Sentenced to 20 Years for Coercing Students to Engage in Sexual Activity

body_text: MIAMI – A former Fort Lauderdale tennis coach has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercing and enticing two minors to engage in sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian imposed the sentence on Daniel James Riggs, 33, on Thursday. “Children and parents trust coaches with more than athletic instruction. They trust them with safety, guidance, and character,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant abused that trust in the most disturbing way imaginable, using his position to groom and sexually exploit the very students he was supposed to mentor. Twenty years in federal prison reflects the seriousness of that betrayal. The Southern District of Florida will continue to pursue predators who target children and ensure they face the full weight of the law.” According to court records, Riggs worked as a tennis coach for Team Riggs at a Fort Lauderdale tennis center, where both minor victims were his students. Riggs used multiple social media accounts to communicate with the victims and engage them in sexually explicit conversations. Law enforcement identified several social media accounts used by Riggs through subscriber and billing records. The offense conduct occurred from approximately 2021 through Riggs’ arrest in late 2024. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Smith prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-60038. ###


title: Rikers Island Correction Officer Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits Following Use Of Force Incidents

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that TODD FAUSTIN pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman to making false statements relating to healthcare matters in connection with use of force incidents that took place within Rikers Island. “Todd Faustin fraudulently received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the City of New York by faking injuries after some of the most delicate and dangerous interactions within our criminal justice system—incidents where force is used against an incarcerated person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “False workers’ compensation claims place a large cost on all New Yorkers. It’s even worse when the perpetrator is a City employee. The vast majority of our correction officers do a tough job well and honestly. Faustin is not one of them.” According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court: The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (the “Board”) administers New York State’s no-fault workers’ compensation system, which guarantees medical care and cash benefits to people who are injured at work, including employees of the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”). Payments by the Board made to DOC employees are paid from the New York City Treasury. For years, FAUSTIN was employed by the DOC as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island. During that time, FAUSTIN falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty at Rikers Island during incidents with incarcerated individuals requiring the use of force. In total, FAUSTIN received at least $370,336.79 in benefits to which he was not entitled. FAUSTIN’s resignation with DOC is effective today, March 17, 2026. * * * FAUSTIN, 43, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of making false statements related to health care matters, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. FAUSTIN is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Office of Inspector General, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Drug Dealer Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Otis Henderson, 53, to 23 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Sell and Possession with Intent to Sell 50 grams of Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. A federal jury convicted Inmate Henderson of the charges after trial. According to court documents and other information presented in court, ATF and DEA began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that shipped pounds and pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine to EDNC in early 2024. ATF purchased multiple pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl from this organization during this investigation. In 2024, Inmate Henderson acted as a courier for the drug trafficking organization, met up with an individual in a parking lot of a Mexican restaurant in New Bern, NC, and delivered a duffle bag of 10.7 pounds of methamphetamine, packaged in bricks. Inmate Henderson’s co-defendant, Fortunato Beltran, set up the delivery of the methamphetamine and for multiple other drug drops involving fentanyl and meth. Inmate Henderson had multiple previous convictions for drug distribution in North Carolina. “Cartels spread evil and destroy communities. Pay attention: working as a part-time drug mule for a cartel gets you over 20 years. Be smarter than that. Drugs kill kids.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The ATF and DEA investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley J. Avera and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alison N. Lester prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-71-M-4.


title: Two Individuals Charged with Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Money Laundering Extradited from the Dominican Republic

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dominican Republic authorities extradited Pedro J. Espinal-Arthur to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. In a separate indictment, defendant Luis Febles-Peralta was also extradited to Puerto Rico to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Germán E. Arredondo-Peralta, brother of Febles-Peralta, was arrested in Puerto Rico for money laundering. Pedro J. Espinal-Arthur was arrested in the Dominican Republic on January 13, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on March 11, 2026. According to court documents, from in or about April 2021 to in or about January 2022, Espinal-Arthur conspired and agreed with others to conduct and attempt to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce, that is, delivering drug proceeds in cash, converting the cash-drug proceeds into cryptocurrency, and transferring cryptocurrency, knowing the transactions were designed to conceal the nature and control of the drug proceeds. The second indictment charges Luis Febles-Peralta and Germán E. Arredondo-Peralta with money laundering conspiracy. Febles-Peralta was arrested in the Dominican Republic on January 13, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on March 11, 2026. According to court documents, from January 2022 to July 2022, the defendants conspired and agreed with others to conduct and attempt to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce, that is, delivering drug proceeds in cash, converting the cash-drug proceeds into cryptocurrency, and transferring cryptocurrency, knowing the transactions were designed to conceal the nature and control of the drug proceeds. Febles-Peralta and Arredondo-Peralta are facing a money laundering forfeiture allegation of $2,741,560. Luis Febles-Peralta is also facing drug trafficking charges, that is, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, attempted importation of cocaine, and distribution for purpose of unlawful importation of cocaine. If convicted of the charged narcotics offenses, the defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life in prison. If convicted of the money laundering charges, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is in charge of the investigation of both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson is in charge of the prosecution of both cases. The announcement was made by United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Claudia Dubravetz. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Pedro J. Espinal-Arthur and Luis Febles-Peralta. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Another Sentence and Guilty Plea in Mexican-Based Drug Trafficking Ring Involving Over 12,900 Pounds of Methamphetamine and 22 Defendants

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — One defendant was sentenced and one pleaded guilty Monday in an investigation named “Operation Toxic Waste” that involved 22 defendants, 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, and multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Sergio Pena, 32, of La Puente, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and eight months in prison for trafficking firearms and methamphetamine. Also, Ruben Saenz, 38, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Saenz is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. According to court documents, Operation Toxic Waste was an investigation into a sophisticated drug trafficking ring that resulted in the seizure of over 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, over 50 pounds of a fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin. The drug trafficking organization smuggled methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in portable projectors and batteries, under the guise of a legitimate transportation business. The organization also hid thousands of pounds of methamphetamine inside semi-trucks and hundreds of pounds of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tanks of cars driven across the border. The Mexico-based organization monitored the narcotics using GPS tracking devices hidden with the smuggled drugs. During the conspiracy, Saenz transported thousands of pounds of methamphetamine in a rented moving truck. In September 2023, officers pulled him over after he left a warehouse in Ontario, California, in a moving truck. Officers found more than 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine inside the truck. Meanwhile, Pena joined the drug trafficking organization in March 2023. He was a U.S.-based reseller of the organization’s methamphetamine. He mailed and sold large amounts of methamphetamine that had been imported from Mexico. During the period under investigation, he also sold more than a dozen firearms and a machine gun conversion device. In total, 22 individuals have been charged as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy. In addition to Pena and Saenz, the following ten defendants have either been sentenced or have pleaded guilty and await sentencing: Jose Nunez, 44, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Aug. 25, 2025, he was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison. Jesus Perez Garcia Jr., 26, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Aug. 25, 2025, he was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison. Adolfo Montiel, 47, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. On March 31, 2025, he was sentenced to 16 years and four months in prison. Calvin Guntetong, 28, of North Hollywood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On July 28, 2025, he was sentenced to seven years and one month in prison. Jesus Rafael Ulloa Vallejo, 27, of North Hills, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On Jan. 12, 2026, he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Jacklyn Saenz, 35, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Oct. 20, 2025, she was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. Luz Maria Cobrera Salazar, 43, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On March 31, 2025, she was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Allen Khamtrashyan, 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 23, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Christian Jair Sanchez Rodriguez pleaded guilty on Feb. 9, 2026, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Emily Vela, 25, of Van Nuys, pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Charges are pending against the remaining defendants, who face varying maximum sentences of between 20 years and up to life in prison. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And as to defendants who await sentencing, their sentences will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts. This case is also 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.