title: Man Indicted and Arrested for Kidnapping and Carjacking of a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 19, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a four-count indictment charging a Guaynabo man with kidnapping and carjacking a United States Postal Service letter carrier. According to court documents, on or about November 25, 2025, Ariel Ayala Meléndez, 59, willfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted and carried away K.L.V.G., a United States Postal Service letter carrier while he was performing his official duties. The defendant compelled the victim, at knifepoint and against his will, to drive the postal vehicle from San Juan to the vicinity of Camino Paco Galán in Guaynabo, thereby restraining and holding the victim against his will, until K.L.V.G. crashed said vehicle to escape. “Violent attacks on federal employees will not be tolerated,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “This indictment demonstrates that, along with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable those responsible for acts of violence that terrorize local communities and those who serve those communities.” “The most important job of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the safety of our employees,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. He added, “This arrest is a result of the determined efforts exhibited by our postal inspectors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners.” Ayala Meléndez is charged with the following counts: (1) kidnapping or impeding certain officers or employees; (2) assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon; (3) robbery of a mail custodian; and (4) carjacking. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Giselle López Soler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison for count one; up to 20 years in prison for counts two and three; and up to 15 years in prison for count four. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the lead agency of the investigation with the collaboration of the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Cabán Jr. from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is prosecuting the case. 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: Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Mexican man who reentered the United States illegally was sentenced today to 18 months incarceration and 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Baldemar Duarte-Nieto, 47, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal reentry. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that on July 26, 2025, Duarte-Nieto was found by law enforcement in Kalispell after a short vehicle and foot pursuit. The pursuit reached 80 mph in a residential neighborhood and Duarte-Nieto struck a Toyota Camry filled with four people. A K-9 was deployed to apprehend him. Duarte-Nieto had an arrest warrant from Washington for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance – heroin. Duarte-Nieto was first removed from the United States in 1996 or 1997, in 2000, and then a week later with a 20-year bar. He was last removed from the United States in November 2021 after an extensive hearing with an Immigration Judge because he used an assumed identity for approximately 20 years. Duarte-Nieto’s prior convictions include: 1996 assault with a weapon in Pacific County, Washington; 2002 carjacking in Claremont, California; 2006 conspiracy/bringing a controlled dangerous substance into a prison in Susanville, California; and 2012 false statements in the Western District of Washington. There are no records within the Department of Homeland Security that Duarte-Nieto ever applied for readmission into the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations, Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Browning man sentenced to 2 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Browning man who shot a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Treyson Lee Sharp, 22, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided. The government alleged in court documents that on the night of December 28, 2024, the defendant, Treyson Lee Sharp, invited Jane Doe to his family home for dinner. After dinner, they retired to his bedroom where Sharp showed Doe his Christmas presents, including a pair of .357 revolvers. While playing with the firearms, the defendant pointed the revolver at Doe and discharged the firearm, striking Doe in the neck. Sharp immediately yelled for help. Family members who were in the home responded. One called 911 and one rendered medical aid to Doe. Doe died at the scene. Law enforcement responded to the home. In interviews with witnesses, they reported hearing Sharp and Doe laughing in the room immediately before hearing a single shot and then Sharp yelling for help. Law enforcement recovered four firearms at the scene: two .357 revolvers, a .44 revolver, and a modified shotgun. They located a bullet hole in Sharp’s bedroom wall and found a spent projectile outside the house and a brass casing in the wall. The casing was forensically matched to one of the recovered .357 revolvers. The cylinder of the fired revolver had six chambers: five were empty and one contained a spent casing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. XXX


title: Two Members of 18th Street Gang Convicted of Murder in-Aid-Of Racketeering and Other Gang Related Crimes

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Today a federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Herberth Rodríguez, also known as “Kepa,” and Elias Martínez Villanueva, also known as “Rebelde,” both members of the transnational street gang 18th Street, on all counts of a fourth superseding indictment charging them with murder in-aid-of racketeering and related firearms offenses for their participation in the November 1, 2020 murder of Diego Vanegas Vásquez. Rodriguez was additionally convicted of racketeering and the attempted murder of Juan Valdéz in-aid-of racketeering, as well as narcotics trafficking and unlawful possession of ammunition. Martinez Villanueva was additionally convicted of illegally re-entering the United States. The verdict followed a three-week trial before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II. When sentenced, both defendants face a mandatory term of life imprisonment. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department, announced the verdict. “In committing the murder of Diego Vanegas Vásquez and other acts of brazen gang violence, the defendants terrorized a community in and around Roosevelt Avenue in Queens that they claimed was their territory,” stated U.S. Attorney Nocella. “Today’s verdict proves how wrong and misguided they are. It is the rule of law that controls and protects our communities. Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains focused on dismantling violent gangs like 18 th Street. I can state with confidence that the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and Corona are safer with these defendants effectively removed from society and no longer free to perpetrate crimes.” Mr. Nocella also thanked United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General for their assistance. “Herberth Rodriguez and Elias Villanueva – members of a notorious foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the 18th Street gang – committed a senseless murder out of retaliation and terrorized the community with brazen public gun fights,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI continues to eradicate the violence plaguing our streets and threatening the lives of innocent bystanders by attacking these FTOs head-on.” “These convictions send a clear message: The NYPD will stop at nothing to identify, dismantle, and hold accountable street gangs that terrorize our communities with senseless gun violence,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “For too long, the 18th Street crew turned neighborhoods in Queens into their own deadly battleground against rivals, placing innocent New Yorkers at risk. But thanks to a thorough investigation led by NYPD detectives and a strong prosecution, our streets are now safer. I thank our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their support in taking down this ruthless organization and bringing its members to justice.” As proved at trial, the defendants were members of 18th Street, a violent gang that engaged in murder, robbery, extortion, production of fraudulent identification documents, and narcotics trafficking. As a member of 18th Street, Rodriguez sold large quantities of cocaine, the proceeds of which the gang used to purchase firearms and support incarcerated gang members. The evidence also showed that 18th Street sold cocaine and marijuana, peddled fake IDs, such as fake Social Security cards and fake green cards, and extorted brothel owners by requiring them to pay money to the gang for the gang's permission to run their brothels. Murder of Diego Vanegas Vásquez In the early morning hours of November 1, 2020, the defendants shot and killed Vanegas Vásquez who they believed was a member of the rival MS-13 gang, in Jackson Heights, Queens. On the night of the murder, Vanegas Vásquez was a passenger in the back of a taxi. The defendants, riding on a motorbike, pulled alongside the taxi at a red light. Rodríguez fired approximately six shots at Vásquez, killing him. After the murder, Rodríguez bragged about killing Vásquez to other members of 18th Street in text messages. Attempted Murder of Juan Valdéz On October 10, 2020, Rodríguez set out to kill Juan Valdéz, who he believed had disrespected 18th Street. Earlier that day, Valdéz had a physical altercation with an 18 th Street member in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 83rd Street. After the fight, Valdéz got into his car and attempted to leave the area. An 18th Street associate who saw the fight then signaled to members of the gang in the area to respond. After hearing the signal, Rodríguez grabbed a gun that the gang kept hidden beneath a flower stand outside of a bodega on 83rd Street and ran towards the vicinity of the fight. Rodríguez opened fire on Valdéz’s vehicle, but missed Valdéz as he drove away. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Palacio, Megan Larkin, Lauren Bowman, and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Wesley Roberts. 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 Defendants : HERBERTH RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Kepa”) Age: 33 Queens, New York ELIAS MARTINEZ VILLANEUVA (also known as “Rebelde”) Age: 40 Queens, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-548 (WFK)


title: Defendant Gets 107-Year Prison Term for Killing 13-Year-Old Boy

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Reginald Steele, Jr., 26, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced today for killing 13-year-old Malachi Lukes, on March 1, 2020, and for a separate shooting in the Petworth neighborhood on Feb. 22, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine F. Pirro. Steele was found guilty on Nov. 19, 2025, of one count of first-degree murder while armed, several counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and other firearm-related charges. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Steele to 107 years in prison. “Reginald Steele Jr. and his crew hunted down 13-year-old Malachi Lukes, who was walking to a basketball court, shooting him in the back as he ran for his life. Gang violence poses a grave threat to our communities and for these gang members—those days are over,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today, justice has caught up with a man who showed complete disregard for human life. Justice has been served, and our city is safer because of it.” Steele and four co-defendants — who were tried and convicted separately —are members and associates of the neighborhood crews 3500, CHV, Rock Creek Church, Really Ready Gang, and 640. The defendant’s neighborhood was feuding with street crews Ninth Street between 2019 and 2020, over who was the “Real NW Goon,” 3500 and Really Ready Gang member Tahlil Byrd, also known as Slatt Goon, or Ninth Street rapper Tyree Marshall, known as Slime Goon. The feud escalated when Slatt Goon was killed in Ninth Street territory, the 600 block of S Street NW, in September 2019. On March 1, 2020, Steele and three co-defendants drove to Ninth Street territory, circling the neighborhood looking for members and associates of Ninth Street. As they drove throughout the neighborhood in a stolen vehicle, they spotted 13-year-old Malachi Lukes who was walking with his three teen friends, toward the 600 block of S Street NW, to play basketball. The defendants followed the boys, pulled into that block and stopped by the mouth of an alley where Malachi and his friends had turned. Then the defendant and one of his co-defendants exited the vehicle and fired 11 gunshots. Lukes was shot in the back as he fled and collapsed to his death. Another victim was shot in the leg. Steele and his co-defendants then traveled to another neighborhood and opened fire on individuals in that block, where other members of Ninth Street were known to hang out. No one was injured in this shooting. Joining 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 investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, Office of E-Litigation Chief Emily Miller; Special Counsel for Discovery Chimnomnso Kalu; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Marshals Service; D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences; the U.S. Park Police; Montgomery County Police Department; and the D.C. Department of Corrections. They also commended Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jackson, Tamara Rubb and Nebiyu Feleke for prosecuting this case. 2020 CF1 005017


title: Former Placer County Resident Charged with Identity Theft and Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $110,000 in Social Security Benefits

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 12-count indictment was unsealed today following the arrest in Arizona of Richard Warren Ralston, 69, of Mesa, Arizona. He is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and Social Security fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Ralston assumed the identity of a man who was born in 1948 and died in 1965. On Sept. 21, 2011, while living in Auburn, California, Ralston submitted an application for retirement benefits to the Social Security Administration (SSA) using the deceased man’s identity. For more than a decade, Ralston concealed his true identity and used the deceased man’s name, birthdate, and Social Security Number to apply for and collect SSA retirement benefits. Ralston’s identity theft and false statements to the SSA resulted in a loss of $114,285 to the SSA. The SSA Office of Inspector General is conducting the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Ralston faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Five More Plead Guilty in Minnesota Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – This week, Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, Aisha Hassan Hussein, Sahra Sharif Osman, Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, and Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf all pleaded guilty to wire fraud for their respective roles in the sprawling Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Prosecutors have now obtained 63 convictions scheme-wide, representing the largest number of convictions in a single fraud investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in recent memory. The Trump Administration has made fighting fraud a top priority, just this week establishing the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud , a multiagency effort dedicated to protecting benefits meant for American citizens in need. The Justice Department is committed to rooting out fraud in federal programs for the benefit of the American people. “I am proud of our team of prosecutors, federal agents, and law enforcement partners who continue to expose the rampant fraud in Minnesota,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. All five defendants were charged in United States v. Mohamed et al., 24-cr-15 (NEB/DTS). This group, which included multiple family members and friends of defendant Ikram Mohamed, purported to run food program sites in Minneapolis and its suburbs, as well as food distribution entity. The group worked together to steal and then launder $14.6 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program money that was meant to feed hungry children during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mohamed and Abdisalam pled guilty on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and Hussein, Osman, and Yusuf pled guilty today, March 20, 2026, all in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel. The defendants had been set to proceed to trial before Judge Brasel on April 20, 2026. One defendant now remains in that trial, with the other remaining defendant set for a change of plea hearing next week. Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, 42, was a leader in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme through her role as a consultant to Feeding Our Future. Mohamed opened several food sites that were enrolled in and received over $6.9 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. To conceal her involvement, she put the sites and entities in the name of family members, including her husband, mother, and siblings. Mohamed also created a food distribution company with her brother called Star Distribution LLC, which went on to create fraudulent invoices for the family-controlled sites that indicated it had sold inflated volumes of food to the sites that had in fact been purchased or delivered. At Mohamed’s advice, other program sites sponsored by Feeding Our Future used Star Distribution, causing it to receive $1.4 million for fraudulent invoices. Star Distribution also received $4.9 million directly from Feeding Our Future for the meals allegedly served at the family-controlled sites. Additionally, Mohamed solicited and received over $1.3 million in kickbacks from individuals and companies involved in the food program through her company, IM Consultation. Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, 46, Ikram Mohamed’s husband, participated in the scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program with his wife and other family conspirators through a company called Inspiring Youth & Outreach LLC (Inspiring Youth). Inspiring Youth purported to run a food site in Minneapolis. Between February and November 2021, the company fraudulently claimed to have served more than 1 million meals. He and his conspirators also supported their program reimbursement claims with phony attendance rosters purporting to document the children they fed. Those rosters listed made-up children with fake ages. Based on these fraudulent claims, Inspiring Youth received more than $1.5 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Abdisalam also paid a $21,000 kickback to his wife’s entity, IM Consultation. Abdisalam pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Aisha Hassan Hussein, 29, Ikram Mohamed’s sister, participated in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme as the principal of United Youth of MPLS LLC (United Youth). Hussein enrolled her company in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and purported to operate two sites in Minneapolis. From December 2020 through November 2021, Hussein and her co-conspirators falsely claimed to have served more than 1.3 million meals to children at the United Youth sites, totaling approximately $2.2 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Hussein also paid a $166,000 kickback to her sister’s company IM Consultation. Hussein pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Sahra Sharif Osman, 43, participated in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme as the principal of a non-profit called Youth International Club LLC (Youth International). Youth International operated two Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. The Youth International food sites were in Hopkins and Edina and purported to serve meals out of community rooms in townhome complexes. Between March and November 2021, Youth International fraudulently claimed to have served nearly 700,000 meals and received more than $1.4 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Osman also paid a $7,500 kickback to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Osman pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, 59, Ikram Mohamed’s mother, participated in the scheme through Active Mind’s Youth LLC (Active Minds), another company that enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Active Minds purported to operate a food site located on East Lake Street in Minneapolis. Between February and June 2021, Active Minds fraudulently claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Yusuf also paid a $38,500 kickback to her daughter’s company, IM Consultation. Yusuf pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Sentencing hearings for all five defendants will be scheduled at a later date. These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Matthew D. Evans are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.


title: District of Arizona Charges 185 Individuals for  Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 14 through March 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 185 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 24 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Ruby Chaidez. On March 14, 2026, Ruby Chaidez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. A deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department observed a vehicle traveling westbound on I-10 and conducted a records check on the vehicle, which showed that its registration had expired. The deputy began driving behind the vehicle and watched as the driver briefly veered off the highway. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and tried to initiate a vehicle stop, but the driver continued for about half a mile before pulling off the road. The deputy then learned that the driver, Chaidez, had two valid arrest warrants out of Maricopa County Superior Court. He placed Chaidez under arrest and searched Chaidez and the vehicle. According to the complaint, the deputy found both drug paraphernalia and an adult male hiding in the vehicle’s trunk. Immigration checks revealed the individual in the trunk to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9085MJ] United States v. Esteban Caldera-Serrato. Esteban Caldera-Serrato was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of Removed Alien on March 17, 2026. Caldera-Serrato was previously removed from the United States on Feb. 11, 2005, after being convicted of 2nd Degree Forgery, a felony, in Hall County Superior Court, State of Georgia. In that case, Caldera-Serrato was sentenced to two years in prison. [Case Number: 26-MJ-8088] United States v. Aaron Cruz-Valderas. On March 16, 2026, Aaron Cruz-Valderas was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On March 13, 2026, Border Patrol agents attempted to stop Cruz-Valderas on suspicion of alien smuggling. Cruz-Valderas initially pulled over on State Route 86. However, when agents walked up to his truck and asked Cruz-Valderas to turn the truck off, he instead accelerated and fled. He eventually drove into the desert, going through cacti and brush. Additional Border Patrol agents also responded, ultimately locating the truck and apprehending Cruz-Valderas. The agents also found a passenger in Cruz-Valderas' vehicle who was determined to be a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1609] These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-049_March 20, 2026, Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Enticement Of Minors And Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that WINSTON COLON CORREA was sentenced to 25 years in prison for enticing minors and possessing child pornography. COLON CORREA’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, who also presided over the guilty plea. “Winston Colon Correa preyed on children by pressuring them to record and send videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “On at least two occasions, he even met with one of his child victims and pressured her to have sex, which Colon Correa recorded. New Yorkers want those who engage in such heinous conduct off our streets. This Office, and our law enforcement partners, will pursue every lead and use every tool to rid our communities of those who sexually exploit our children. The message to predators from our Office is clear: there is no place for you in New York other than prison.” According to the allegations in the Information, public filings, and statements made in public court proceedings: Beginning in at least 2022, COLON CORREA engaged in sexually explicit text message conversations with numerous minor girls he met online, during which he induced the production of child pornography of at least Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2, Minor Victim-3, and Minor Victim-4. Law enforcement’s review of COLON CORREA’s electronic devices revealed that for multiple years, he engaged in sexually explicit text message conversations with many other unidentified individuals believed to also be minor girls. COLON CORREA committed these crimes despite knowing that he was communicating with minors. In fact, many of the minors made clear to COLON CORREA that they were underage— e.g ., that they were in school, that they lived at home with their parents, and in multiple cases, their actual ages. On at least two occasions, COLON CORREA falsely represented to minor girls that he was only 17 years old. In addition, COLON CORREA met in person on at least two occasions with one identified victim, Minor Victim-4, during which COLON CORREA pressured Minor Victim-4 to perform oral sex and have sexual intercourse. Thereafter, when he was confronted by law enforcement, COLON CORREA falsely claimed that he had ceased contact with Minor Victim-4 after learning that she was a minor. In reality, COLON CORREA had exchanged sexually explicit messages with Minor Victim-4, and attempted to make plans to meet her again, just one day earlier. Anyone who believes they have information concerning the exploitation of children is urged to contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/ . * * * In addition to the prison term, COLON CORREA, 34, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 20 years of supervised release. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in connection with this investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.


title: United States Attorney’s Office collects more than $68,000,000 in 2025 based on fraud, waste and abuse

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York recovered more than $68,000,000 in 2025 through settlement agreements and enforcement actions. In 2025, the ACE Unit settled False Claims Act (FCA) cases, including cases that arose under the FCA’s qui tam or whistleblower provision. Among the settlements: Pfizer, on behalf of Pfizer’s subsidiary Biohaven, paid more than $50,000,000 to settle allegations that Biohaven paid kickbacks to providers in return for the providers prescribing Biohaven’s drug Nurtec. Five cases involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud, which will result in the recovery of more than $10,000,000. The ACE Unit also settled non-False Claims Act related matters, including self-disclosed overpayments to federal health care programs and several claims involving the federally funded Railroad Retirement Board pension program. U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo praised the work of the ACE Unit stating, “The settlements and recoveries achieved by the ACE Unit in 2025 demonstrate this Office’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money. My office will continue to aggressively root out fraud, waste, and abuse involving government programs and hold those responsible accountable” The ACE Unit is the civil arm of the United States Attorney’s Office that investigates and pursues civil claims to recover money lost to fraud and other misconduct under the Federal False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows the government to recover both the underlying loss amount and adds to the amount a damage multiplier. Many of these cases result from individuals or entities with inside information about fraudulent conduct. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud are encouraged to report information to federal authorities. Information about fraud involving federal health care programs can be reported to HHS Office of Inspector General (1-800-HHS-TIPS) or the FBI (1-800-CALL-FBI). Information about COVID-19 fraud can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . # # # #


title: Dunkirk man pleads guilty to theft of government funds involving COVID-19 fraud

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lamont Brown, 37, of Dunkirk, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to theft of government funds, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown recruited others to apply for unemployment assistance compensation through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for which they were not entitled. Brown and his recruits obtained personally identifiable information and used that information to obtain PUA funds from the Puerto Department of Labor and Human Resources. Brown received a portion of the PUA funds the recruits received as payment for allowing them to participate in the scheme. In July 2020, Brown personally received a check totaling $10,122.00 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, which he deposited into a checking account at a Lake Shore Savings Bank within the Western District of New York. He later withdrew and spent the funds. The money was issued through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Brown did not reside in, nor had he resided or worked in Puerto Rico. The total loss to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources due to the scheme was $67,524. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region. Sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Suspected Bloods members arrested on drug and gun charges

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ronnie Powell, 40, and Daniqua S. Dixon, 34, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life. Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo Police Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating the criminal activities of the Bloods, a violent street gang operating in and around the City of Buffalo. Numerous members of the Bloods have been identified as well as gang territory located on the east side of Buffalo. Members have been arrested by several police departments for violent criminal acts, including drug and firearm trafficking. Bloods gang members are known to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of the gang to protect gang-controlled territory and houses associated with the gang. Powell and Dixon are suspected Bloods gang members, in part because of various gang-related tattoos indicating gang membership and their associations with other Bloods gang members. The investigation determined that Powell and Dixon are narcotics traffickers who supply various individuals. On March 18, 2026, a search warrant was executed at a South Domedian residence utilized by Powell and Dixon, during which investigators seized two loaded firearms, a brick of suspected cocaine, quantities of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $10,333.00 in cash. Also on March 18, 2026, investigators conducted a traffic stop and placed Powell under arrest. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Foreign National Charged with Orchestrating Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Advantage Programs

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced criminal charges against an individual for perpetrating a large-scale fraud targeting federal health care funds distributed through the Medicare Advantage program. Anar Rustamov, a national of Azerbaijan who appears to have entered the United States illegally, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury and charged with health care fraud for a scheme involving thousands of false claims for medical equipment totaling more than $90 million. According to the indictment, Rustamov, 38, formerly of Sunnyvale, California and a national of Azerbaijan, was part of a scheme to submit thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage Organizations (“MAOs”) on behalf of unsuspecting beneficiaries for medical equipment such as blood glucose monitors and orthotic braces. The indictment alleges that Rustamov, from October 2024 through June 2025, executed a scheme through an entity Rustamov created, Dublin Helping Hand, to submit large volumes of claims to MAOs offering Medicare Part C benefit plans. The indictment alleges the scheme sought reimbursement of more than $90 million for medical equipment that was not provided, not needed by patients, and not authorized by a medical provider. The listed patients were unaware that Rustamov and others were submitting the claims, and the referring medical provider listed on the submissions did not authorize the claims, according to the indictment. The defendant is at large. “When the Administration declared a War on Fraud, it meant to target exactly this kind of conduct. Rustamov participated in a scheme to steal nearly $100 million in taxpayer funds from a program intended to help those who truly need medical care,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Anyone who believes they can make easy money by defrauding such programs should know that we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute such fraud and abuse.” “This case alleges a calculated scheme to exploit a critical health care program for personal gain, attempting to siphon tens of millions of dollars through thousands of fraudulent claims for medical equipment. Programs like Medicare Advantage are funded by American taxpayers and exist to provide essential care to those who need it most — not to be manipulated for profit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who attempt to defraud these vital programs and hold them accountable.” “The criminal charges announced today reflect the seriousness with which we pursue schemes that undermine the Medicare Advantage program. The scheme alleged in this indictment targeted funds intended to provide necessary health care services to Medicare enrollees,” said Robb R. Breeden, Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This indictment underscores that HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will pursue those who attempt to exploit federal health care programs — no matter where they attempt to hide.” An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maya Karwande with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Federal Trial Jury Convicts New Orleans Personal Injury Attorneys in Staged Collision Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announced that on Friday, March 20, 2026, VANESSA MOTTA (“MOTTA”) , age 44, and JASON F. GILES (“GILES”) , age 47, were found guilty of all charges pending against them, following a three-week jury trial presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. The jury also convicted law firms MOTTA LAW LLC and THE KING FIRM LLC and co-conspirator DIAMANIKE F. STALBERT (“STALBERT”) , age 35. The jury found MOTTA , MOTTA LAW , GILES , THE KING FIRM guilty of all counts against them. STALBERT was found guilty of making false statements to federal agents. Count 1 charged all five defendants with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Count 2 charged GILES and THE KING FIRM , and counts 4 and 5 charged MOTTA and MOTTA LAW with mail fraud, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 2. Count 6 charged MOTTA and MOTTA LAW , and count 8 charged GILES and THE KING FIRM , with obstruction of justice, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503(a), 2. Count 7 charged MOTTA and MOTTA LAW , and count 9 charged GILES and THE KING FIRM , with witness tampering in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b)(1), 2. Count 10 charged STALBERT with making false statements to federal agents, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). According to court documents, the defendants participated in a long-running scheme to defraud insurance companies and commercial trucking companies by staging and litigating fraudulent automobile collisions to collect insurance company payouts. That scheme began approximately in December 2011 and continued until December 2024, and it involved New Orleans area personal injury attorneys (including MOTTA , MOTTA LAW , GILES , and THE KING FIRM ) paying “slammers” to recruit passengers to participate in purposeful collisions with automobiles, especially 18-wheeler trucks with large commercial insurance policies. The attorneys would then litigate those cases on behalf of the passengers, often encouraging those passengers to seek medically unnecessary neck and back surgeries to incur medical costs and increase the size of future insurance company settlements. Along with slammers, attorneys, and passengers, the scheme also included “spotters,” who drove getaway cars for the slammers, and “recruiters” like STALBERT , who facilitated numerous staged collisions by bringing new passengers into the scheme. The jury also found MOTTA and MOTTA LAW guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering relating to an effort to pay a witness to move to the Bahamas to impede any cooperation with federal authorities. The jury likewise found GILES and THE KING FIRM guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering for secretly recording a charged individual in October 2020 in an effort to manufacture exculpatory evidence. STALBERT was acquitted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. “Today’s verdict was the culmination of a lengthy investigation that amassed overwhelming evidence proving the defendants’ roles in a years-long scheme to defraud, as well as their subsequent efforts to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. “ MOTTA , MOTTA LAW , GILES , and THE KING FIRM successfully launched a fraudulent scheme of epic proportions that both victimized the judicial system, and exploited the auto insurance industry, all to enrich themselves with millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains.” This prosecution, and today’s verdict, makes clear that no one is above the law. I commend the trial team, and our law enforcement partners for their relentless and meticulous work to shine a light on this scourge and hold those involved responsible.” "The defendants in this case pursued personal fortune through lies and deception, that potentially impacted every auto insurance policy holder in Louisiana," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI along with our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission have worked for the last seven years to uncover every instance of fraud, resulting in successful cases against more than fifty individuals. We will continue that pursuit as long as it takes." Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter will sentence the defendants MOTTA and MOTTA LAW on July 7, 2026, GILES and THE KING FIRM on July 14, 2026, and STALBERT on July 21, 2026. The maximum penalty for mail fraud, mail and wire fraud conspiracy, and witness tampering is twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice is ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. The maximum penalty for making false statements to a federal agent is up to five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The Court may also impose restitution. Additionally, each defendant also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count of conviction. Including this jury trial, sixty-three (63) defendants have been charged in the federal probe into the staging of automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter, as well as extending thanks to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their assistance. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel; Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman; and Trial Attorneys J. Ryan McLaren and Samir Paul of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section.


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

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against four officers with the Metro Transit Police Department arising out of the death of a 43-year-old District resident from a drug overdose that occurred on November 16, 2025. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, body-worn-camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department. The MPD’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia. According to the evidence, on Nov. 16, 2025, police officers detained Demetrius Alston for fare evasion at the Anacostia Metro Station. As the officers prepared a ticket, the officers contacted their dispatcher and were advised of an outstanding arrest warrant for Mr. Alston. Mr. Alston fled from the police and ran out of the station. Metro Transit police officers caught Mr. Alston a few minutes later. As they took Mr. Alson into custody and placed him in a police vehicle, Mr. Alston began having trouble breathing. He eventually lost consciousness, and the officers summoned an ambulance. Mr. Alston’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he died at the scene. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Alston had died from a drug overdose. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights. Investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. ##


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Bank Larceny, and Accessing a Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, 45, of Miami, pleaded guilty on Friday, March 20, 2026, to charges of conspiracy, bank larceny, and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Vera La Cruz and others engaged in an ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy where they stole money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions around the country. They did this by infecting the ATMs with malware, which forced the ATMs to dispense money without a valid transaction. In June 2023, as part of this scheme, Vera La Cruz targeted seven ATMs belonging to a bank in the Redding and Chico area, stealing more than $291,000 during that spree. In total, Vera La Cruz and his co-conspirators stole more than $2.6 million from banks and credit unions in multiple states. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case. Vera La Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 28, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. Vera La Cruz faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud. He also faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison for bank larceny. The actual sentence, however, 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.


title: Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegal Entry Following Guilty Plea

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a Guatemalan illegal alien after he pled guilty to illegally entering the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi sentenced Jairo Mendez-Miranda, 29, to time served in prison for the illegal entry charge. Earlier this month, law enforcement arrested Mendez-Miranda in Montgomery County, Maryland. The officers then discovered Mendez-Miranda may not be legally present in the United States. Authorities previously deported Mendez-Miranda on two other occasions. 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 November 10, 2015, United States Border Patrol officers encountered Mendez-Miranda, a citizen and national of Guatemala, in Zapata, Texas. Authorities determined that he entered the U.S. without inspection by an immigration official and he was subsequently deported to Guatemala on November 20, 2015. On August 2, 2016, Border Patrol encountered Mendez-Miranda again after he illegally re-entered the U.S. near Roma, Texas. Then on August 9, 2016, law enforcement arrested Mendez-Miranda and deported him a second time to Guatemala. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Sarma who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Five Philadelphia Men Convicted at Trial of Conspiring to Commit at Least 29 Carjackings, Including the Murder of a Carjacking Victim, the Murder of a Potential Witness, and Related Offenses

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that five Philadelphia men were convicted today at trial of conspiring to commit armed carjackings in and around Philadelphia and sell the stolen cars to buyers, who would then ship the vehicles to Africa for resale. The defendants [1] were charged by superseding indictment in July 2024. Mikal McCracken , aka “Kal,” 24, was convicted this afternoon of counts related to carjacking resulting in death, where he and three others carjacked and killed a former marine in February of 2022. He was also convicted of counts related to his participation in a conspiracy, with two others, to murder a potential witness in February of 2022. McCracken was also convicted for offenses related to an additional 20 armed attempted or completed carjackings. Those 20 armed carjackings included five where victims were shot or shot at. One of the victims was carjacked and shot on two separate occasions a month apart. Amin Muse , aka “Miyn” and “Miyns,” 24, was convicted of counts related to carjacking resulting in death, where he and three others carjacked and killed the former marine. He was also convicted of counts related to his participation in the conspiracy, with two others, to murder the potential witness. Muse was also convicted for offenses related to an additional eight armed attempted or completed carjackings. Those 20 armed carjackings included one where the victim was shot at. Aleem Abdul-Hakim , aka “Fatleem,” 23, was convicted of counts related to carjacking resulting in death, where he and three others carjacked and killed the former marine. Abdul-Hakim was also convicted of offenses related to an additional five armed attempted or completed carjackings. Dean Fosque , aka “30,” 28, was convicted of offenses related to nine armed carjackings, which included three shootings, where one of those three victims was hit. Kavon Coleman , aka “Ski,” 23, was convicted of offenses related to four armed attempted or completed carjackings, which included one shooting where the victim of the attempted carjacking was shot — and that victim had been a previous victim of this conspiracy. As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, between October 2021 and October 2022, groups of rotating carjackers, including McCracken, Muse, Abdul-Hakim, Fosque, Coleman, and others, committed dozens of gunpoint carjackings, often carrying out multiple carjackings in one night. Many of these crimes occurred in Southwest and Northeast Philadelphia, and there were also carjackings in the surrounding suburbs, including Yeadon, Millbourne, Lower Southampton, and King of Prussia. The carjackers used firearms and often assaulted their victims, sometimes by shooting them. In addition to cars, they also took personal identification, credit cards, and money from their victims. In several cases, conspirators then used the stolen identification materials to commit fraud crimes. In all, the conspiracy involved approximately 60 carjackings, 29 of which were charged in the superseding indictment, including the carjacking which resulted in the murder of the victim, and the second murder of the potential witness. The charges included numerous shootings, including four shootings that left the victims (one of whom had been carjacked and shot on two different occasions) seriously injured. The first murder occurred on February 6, 2022, when McCracken, Muse, and Abdul-Hakim, along with Jonathan Akubu, charged elsewhere, carjacked Victim 1, and shot and killed him in the process. In their haste to flee the scene in Victim 1’s car, which was already running, the carjackers failed to take Victim 1’s key fob, which they would need to continue operating the stolen car after it was eventually shut off. Accordingly, they enlisted the help of a locksmith (Victim 2) to make them a new key for the car. Shortly after the key was made, the police located and recovered Victim 1’s vehicle. Members of the conspiracy—McCracken, Muse, and Akubu, charged elsewhere, feared that law enforcement would identify the locksmith through forensics, because he touched the car while making the replacement key. The three believed that the locksmith would then cooperate with law enforcement investigating the killing, so they murdered Victim 2 on February 12, 2022, to prevent him from betraying them. The investigation revealed that the carjackers, who usually operated in smaller groups of two to four, had been responsible for numerous carjackings dating as far back as October of 2021. Several carjacked cars were discovered in shipping containers bound for countries abroad. “These defendants ran one of the most extensive and terrible carjacking rings in American history that terrorized and, in some cases killed, its victims. When viewed by the sheer scale and volume of violent robberies, this prosecution represents perhaps the most successful carjacking prosecution in the history of the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “That campaign of dread is done. The streets we walk and drive on are now safer thanks to the fantastic work of the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners on the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force.” “These convictions should send a clear message: those who commit brazen, violent crimes targeting our community will be identified, pursued, and held accountable,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “At the center of this case, and every crime, are the victims. These convictions are a testament to our relentless pursuit of justice — for the victims who lost their lives, for the loved ones they left behind, and for the survivors among us, each permanently altered by these senseless acts of violence. This investigation was driven by the expertise, intelligence, and resources of the FBI's Violent Crime Task Force. Partnership remains a force multiplier in our work and our success — no single agency alone can take on such complex violent crimes. We continue to see meaningful progress across our city in reducing violent crime, and while our work is not done, today reflects our shared commitment to a safer city for everyone who calls Philadelphia home.” “This case represented some of the very worst of what we saw during the rise of violent carjackings: calculated, coordinated, and completely indifferent to human life,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “These individuals didn’t just steal cars — they terrorized neighborhoods, took innocent lives, and attempted to silence witnesses to cover their crimes. Thanks to the relentless work of the Philadelphia Police Department and our federal partners, this violent crew has been dismantled and held accountable. Let this be clear: if you bring this level of violence to our city, we will bring the full weight of law enforcement down on you. At the same time, we are seeing real progress: violent crime, including carjackings, continues to trend down because of the dedication of our officers and the strength of these partnerships. This is what the work looks like, and we are not slowing down.” “Our Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force has been a game changer, as this case again demonstrates,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Through the teamwork of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Unit, the FBI, the Philadelphia Police Department, and our ATF Special Agents, we have brought these dangerous criminals to justice. As summer approaches, these convictions should be a deterrent to those who think they can terrorize this city.” The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and face maximum possible terms of life in prison. This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force, comprising the FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with significant assistance from the Philadelphia offices of Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations, which helped investigate and uncover carjacked cars meant to be exported overseas. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph LaBar and Katherine Shulman. [1] Co-defendants Amadou Moussa and Davon Squire were also charged in the superseding indictment and will be tried separately.


title: West Virginia Cemetery Owner Admits to Fraud Involving Grave Markers

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The owner of several cemeteries across North Central West Virginia has admitted to taking money intended for grave markers, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Jeffrey Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Phares owned and operated four cemeteries including: Greenlawn Memorial Park in New Martinsville, Elkins Memorial Gardens in Elkins, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Jane Lew. Phares defrauded customers by accepting payments and design approvals for grave markers, then misappropriated the funds for personal use. He repeatedly misled victims regarding delivery delays, resulting in an estimated total loss between $250,000 and $550,000. As part of the plea agreement, Phares has agreed to pay restitution to the victims of his offense conduct, and to provide the government with all necessary documentation to determine the amount of restitution, which will be determined prior to sentencing. Phares faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the FBI, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Lexington County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges in Federal Court

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — De’Marionne Zaquann Miller, 22, of Lexington, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on June 14, 2025, deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department responded to an apartment after a family reported that they were concerned that Miller was holding a victim captive in the apartment. The victim sent her family alarming text messages the day before this incident. The victim’s family drove from Florida to check on the victim and were waiting outside of the apartment during this ordeal. As deputies were en route to the location, they learned that Miller had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation. As law enforcement arrived on scene, Miller ran out of the apartment with an AK style rifle and a backpack. When deputies caught Miller, he did not have the rifle, but after arresting Miller, the deputies retraced his path and found the AK style firearm. In the seized backpack, deputies located cash, numerous individual bags of marijuana, and two cellphones. A subsequent search of the apartment found a large vacuum sealed bag of marijuana, a scale used in weighing the marijuana, and ammunition for the firearm. Miller is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior convictions for escape and unlawful carrying of a pistol. Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Miller after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by FBI Columbia Field Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Sisseton Man Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sisseton, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2026. Robert Wolfe, Jr., 45, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit the firearm and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wolfe, Jr. was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2026. On April 19, 2024, deputies with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Wolfe’s residence in Sisseton. During the search, deputies found a Remington bolt-action rifle in the residence. Wolfe is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2014 felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance. This case was investigated by the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the BATF, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Wolfe, Jr. was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.


title: Former Pain Clinic Owner Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Methadone

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Chicago man, Ranjit Wahi, 78, was sentenced on Tuesday, to 29 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and methadone. According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2019 and continuing through November 18, 2022, Wahi conspired with others to dispense controlled substances, including oxycodone and methadone, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. As part of the conspiracy, Wahi employed Judith Harskey as a receptionist at Midwest Physician Pain Center, Wahi’s pain clinic in Chicago. During the conspiracy time period, patients regularly traveled to this clinic, and without seeing Wahi or any other doctor, paid Harskey cash in exchange for prescriptions that were previously signed by Wahi for oxycodone, methadone, and other controlled substances. On November 18, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Midwest Physician Pain Clinic and recovered 541 blank prescriptions from Harskey’s office, including 30 from her purse, that Wahi had signed in advance. Harskey pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute oxycodone and methadone in 2024 and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Under federal law, Wahi must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Federal Jury Convicts Charlotte Man For Cyber Extortion Scheme That Targeted International Technology Company

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against a Charlotte man for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Cameron Curry, 27, was convicted of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell presided over the three-day trial. According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for approximately six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information. Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme. Curry hatched his extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company. According to evidence presented at trial, from December 11, 2023, to January 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent over 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million dollars in cryptocurrency. Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency. According to trial evidence, on January 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, seizing various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias. At sentencing, Curry faces up to two years in prison for each of the six charges. A sentencing date has not been set.


title: Tallahassee Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Attempting to Have Sex with a Minor

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Joseph Edward Hudson, 38, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Parents must be aware that sexual predators like this defendant have more ways than ever to prey upon our kids using internet and social media platforms to try to sexually exploit them. Fortunately, our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their efforts to identify and stop those disgusting criminals before they can victimize our children, and it remains one of my office’s top priorities to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep these predators locked away in prison to ensure our kids are safe.” Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Tallahassee focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, investigators identified the defendant, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through a social media platform. The defendant believed that he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl when he drove to a meeting location where he was immediately arrested. After serving his 10 years of imprisonment, Hudson will have to serve 15 years on supervised release and register as a sexual offender. “Attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity is a grave crime that threatens the safety and well-being of our children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable youth and holding offenders fully accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who seek to exploit children online.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. 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: Milton Felon Indicted for Drug and Gun Offenses

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

body_text: Penscaola, Florida – Terrell Ta’Quez Parker, 27, of Milton, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving more than 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and cocaine; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges. Parker appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 20, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. If convicted, Parker faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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: Columbia Felon Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Glock Switch, Guns, and Drugs

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Laclarence Lamarcus Anderson, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison following a jury trial where Anderson was convicted of 12 counts of drug and gun offenses. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Anderson sold 10 firearms and quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine to confidential informants on four occasions in May and June 2024. One of the firearms that Anderson sold contained a Glock switch, converting the weapon into a machinegun. Two of the firearms he sold had been linked to an attempted homicide and homicide in surrounding counties in the weeks prior. Anderson was found guilty of unlawfully possessing all of these firearms due to his status as a convicted felon. Anderson has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, assault and battery – 1 st degree, and other drug and gun offenses. United States District Judge Cameron Currie sentenced Anderson to 297 months imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Jury Convicts D.C. Fentanyl Dealer on Multiple Firearms and Narcotics Counts

body_text: WASHINGTON – Derrick Thomas Martin, 33, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in the U.S. District Court on four federal charges stemming from his 2024 arrest before which he flung a backpack containing a loaded firearm and substantial quantities of cocaine and fentanyl from an apartment building window, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The jury deliberated for less than one day before finding Martin guilty of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. “Derrick Martin stashed large quantities of drugs and cash in an apartment where a child slept just feet from a loaded, micro draco pistol, a gun that fired the same bullets as an AK-47 assault rifle,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “With 31 prior arrests, this career criminal posed a clear danger to our community. The streets are safer now that we have put an end to this one-man crime spree.” Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2026, before United States District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Martin faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. According to the evidence presented at trial, members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Apprehension Unit went to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE on Nov. 25, 2024, to arrest Martin on an outstanding warrant from Cecil County, Maryland. Martin had failed to appear for trial on charges of illegal firearm possession and drug distribution. As officers knocked at the apartment door, Martin opened a window and threw a black backpack onto the street below. Police recovered the bag which was found to contain a loaded Century Arms Micro Draco semi-automatic pistol, about 700 grams of cocaine, and over 5,700 fentanyl pills. Officers entered the apartment. Following a struggle, they arrested Martin. A search of the apartment yielded a second loaded firearm — a Glock 19 pistol that had been illegally modified and bore two different serial numbers — along with additional ammunition, about 150 grams of suspected heroin, additional suspected fentanyl pills, a digital scale, and a cash counting machine. Police discovered nearly $12,000, much of which was inside the apartment’s washing machine. Martin's four-year-old child was present in the dwelling at the time of the arrest. Martin, who has been arrested 31 times, previously was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and sentenced in 2017 to 730 days imprisonment, with 364 days suspended, and placed on supervised probation for one year. Additionally, Martin was found guilty in 2017 of grand larceny in Arlington, Virginia and sentenced to three years in prison. When he was arrested on Nov. 25, 2024, on the Cecil County warrant for failing to appear for trial, he had been charged with conspiracy (multiple counts), possession with intent to distribute (multiple counts), possession (multiple counts), possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and illegal possession of a firearm. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the DEA Washington Division Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Helfand and Michael Lee. 24cr556


title: Illegal Alien Convicted for Prior Sex Offense Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Arturo Sanchez-Morales (54, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to three years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after a prior deportation. Sanchez-Morales pleaded guilty on January 9, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, Sanchez-Morales was illegally present in the United States for the third time, having previously been deported on one occasion and granted a voluntary return on another. On May 13, 2025, Sanchez-Morales was arrested by officers from the Cape Coral Police Department following a traffic stop. At the time of his arrest, Sanchez-Morales was in possession of a Mexican birth certificate bearing his name. That same day, after being transferred to the Lee County Jail, Sanchez-Morales was encountered by immigration officials who realized that his identifying information was associated with the alien file of a previously deported alien. In July 2014, Sanchez-Morales was convicted in California Superior Court for committing incest and a lewd or lascivious act involving a child. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Michael Deon Woulard (49, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Woulard faces a minimum penalty of 14 years, up to two life terms plus 20 years, in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, on October 10, 2023, Woulard robbed a pawn shop in Jacksonville, stealing goods valued at approximately $45,945. On November 25, 2023, Woulard robbed a jewelry store in Jacksonville, during which he brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $352,000. On February 20, 2024, Woulard robbed a jewelry store in Ocala, during which he again brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $364,000. Woulard was arrested on February 21, 2024, while in possession of numerous stolen items from the third robbery. During an interview with investigators from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, Woulard admitted to committing the jewelry store robberies. Woulard’s co-defendant, Erica Jordan Patrick, previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the November 25, 2023, robbery by casing the store and identifying particular items and jewelry cases for Woulard to target. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.


title: Indictment Charges Mexican National with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JULIO CESAR FERNANDEZ-SALAZAR, 44, a citizen of Mexico, with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. As alleged in court documents, Fernandez-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar. Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico. In June 2009, after he returned to the U.S. and was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license, Fernandez-Salazar was deported to Mexico. In July 2009, U.S. Border Patrol encountered and arrested Fernandez-Salazar near the U.S./Mexico border and he was again deported to Mexico. It is further alleged that Fernandez-Salazar illegally reentered the U.S. and, in April 2017, was convicted in Maricopa County of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico. It is further alleged that on November 27, 2024, Fernandez-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses. He was subsequently released on bond. On July 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Fernandez-Salazar with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026, and has been detained since that date. The indictment was returned on March 17, 2026. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Fernandez-Salazar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Marcos Jimeniz-Gonzalez (45) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. Jimeniz-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, Jimeniz-Gonzalez was found in the United States on April 13, 2025, after being arrested by local authorities for driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver license. Prior to being found, Jimeniz-Gonzalez had been previously deported on multiple occasions between 2008 and 2020 and had not received permission from immigration authorities to reenter the United States. Additionally, Jimeniz-Gonzalez has a prior conviction for illegal entry into the United States and two prior convictions for illegal reentry into the United States. Following his arrest, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who checked ICE records and learned that Jimeniz-Gonzalez was a citizen of Mexico who had no legal authority to be in the United States. An additional check into the system established that Jimeniz-Gonzalez had entered the United States illegally on at least four prior occasions and had been deported. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chuck Griffith. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Turks and Caicos Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for the Sextortion of Missouri Teen

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Thursday sentenced a man from the Turks and Caicos to 240 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for the sextortion of a Missouri teen. Alexander Gardiner, 25, of Providenciales, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in November. Gardiner, who is a citizen of both the United States and the Turks and Caicos, met a 15-year-old Missouri boy via Snapchat. After multiple requests by Gardiner, the teen sent photos of his genitals to Gardiner, believing he would be left alone after doing so. Gardiner instead repeatedly harassed the minor via iMessage, Facebook and WhatsApp, and threatened to send those images to the victim’s family and friends if the victim did not continue to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for Gardiner. Gardiner also admitted possessing multiple videos of teenage boys masturbating that he’d obtained via Snapchat. While pretending to be female, he directed an as-yet-unidentified 14-year-old to produce CSAM in 2021. Gardiner posted CSAM on Twitter and exchanged CSAM in Telegram group that targeted minors. Gardiner has used usernames that contain the words “noahmonn” and “jewelsbaits.” Anyone who believes they may have been targets of a sextortion attempt by Gardiner or others should contact local law enforcement or the FBI by calling Call 1-800-CALL-FBI, contacting your local FBI office, or reporting it online at tips.fbi.gov or cybertipline.org. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has detailed information on resources for sextortion victims, including videos and discussion guides to help explain the problem to children and adults. They also have a step-by-step guide on how to report pictures or videos of children to social media companies and flag pictures so that the companies will seek out and remove the images. The FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty in federal court to shooting and killing another man. According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 5, 2024, Damian Amarillo , 21, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, shot and killed John Doe in a neighborhood in Dulce, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. The shooting followed an earlier confrontation at Amarillo ’s residence. After John Doe left the residence, Amarillo chased him through the neighborhood, assaulted him, and then shot him. John Doe died from his injuries at the scene. Witnesses observed multiple individuals fleeing after the gunshots. Amarillo pleaded guilty to second degree murder and remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to life in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.


title: To’hajiilee Man Accused of Shooting Two Navajo Nation Police Officers Faces Federal Charges

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A To’hajiilee man faces federal charges in connection with the shooting of two Navajo Nation Police Department officers. According to court records, on March 6, 2026, Russell Secatero , 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly shot and injured two Navajo Nation Police Department officers during a law enforcement response to reports of gunfire near a residence in To’hajiilee, New Mexico. Authorities allege Secatero hid inside a closet attached to the residence and fired at officers with a rifle, striking Officer John Doe in the arm and back and injuring Officer Jane Doe when a round hit her firearm and shrapnel struck her arm. According to the criminal complaint, Officer John Doe returned fire, wounding Secatero , who was later transported along with both officers to a hospital. Investigators reported recovering two AR-style rifles and shell casings from the closet where Secatero was found. Secatero is charged federally with two counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Secatero faces 20 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.