title: Several Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that eight defendants have been sentenced by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Each of the defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On August 1, 2023, Jaylen Ester, aka Sumo; Adrian Perry; Miguel Thompson; James Chenault, aka LJ; Saundra Lunsford; Carma Brown; April Reyes; and Briana McElroy were indicted by a federal grand jury in a 13-count indictment. All defendants were indicted on Count 1, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The defendants each pled guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment and Judge Rudofsky sentenced each of them to federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Defendant Age City/State Sentencing Date Sentence Adrian Perry 39 England, Arkansas 6-2-2025 180 months, 5 years’ supervised release Briana McElroy 34 Dardanelle, Arkansas 4-15-2025 60 months, 4 years’ supervised release Miguel Thompson 42 Russellville, Arkansas 4-15-2025 197 months, 5 years’ supervised release Jaylen Ester aka Sumo 31 North Little Rock, Arkansas 1-16-2025 192 months, 5 years’ supervised release April Reyes 41 Russellville, Arkansas 12-16-2024 60 months, 4 years’ supervised release Saundra Lunsford 30 Russellville, Arkansas 12-10-2024 60 months, 4 years’ supervised release James Chenault aka LJ 42 Russellville, Arkansas 11-4-2024 210 months, 5 years’ supervised release Carma Brown 38 Russellville, Arkansas 10-22-2024 41 months, 4 years’ supervised release Multiple defendants had significant criminal histories, and defendants Perry, Thompson, Chenault are classified as career offenders. Perry’s criminal history includes convictions for possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The criminal history for Ester includes convictions for residential burglary and robbery. During Ester’s sentencing, the United States presented evidence to the court of his arrest for terroristic act, felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated assault in an incident where Ester shot at an occupied residence with children present. Thompson’s criminal history includes four convictions for delivery of marijuana, three convictions for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, intimidating a witness, delivery of methamphetamine, three convictions for possession with intent to deliver oxycodone, and terroristic act. Chenault’s criminal history includes three convictions for delivery of marijuana, battery and domestic battery, escape, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to deliver, and four convictions for delivery of cocaine or methamphetamine, aggravated assault, and possession of firearms by certain persons. “Because fentanyl is so deadly and because it is being sent to our country by foreign adversaries ostensibly to result in the deaths of many Americans, our office will continue to regard the distribution of fentanyl as a violent crime which commands our office’s full attention,” said Ross. “Protecting our citizens from violent crime is the basic responsibility of law enforcement and so prosecuting those involved with distributing deadly drugs is part of the core mission at the Department of Justice. If you are involved in distributing the poisons of fentanyl and methamphetamine, we will not concern ourselves with trying to empathize with you as to why you made such despicable decisions; rather, we will commit to fully prosecuting you and seeking to keep you away from our communities through incarceration.” Through an investigation, law enforcement officers learned that from 2020 through approximately December 2022, the defendants were distributing fentanyl for redistribution in the River Valley and central Arkansas areas. In November 2021, information was received that Ester travelled to and from Little Rock and Russellville trafficking fentanyl from his girlfriend’s apartment. During surveillance of the girlfriend’s apartment, law enforcement officers observed the girlfriend leave in their vehicle. At this time law enforcement officers knocked on the door and Ester opened it and then attempted to shut the door, but law enforcement officers prevented the door from closing. Law enforcement officers observed children and Ester, a parolee who has a search waiver on file and felony warrants, inside the apartment. During a search of the apartment, law enforcement officers located fentanyl, marijuana, and close to $3,000 in cash. Law enforcement also recovered a bag of fentanyl tablets Ester’s girlfriend discarded, which Ester admitted was intended for distribution. Ester admitted obtaining thousands of fentanyl tablets and hundreds of pounds of marijuana for distribution. On December 22, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in which Perry, who had warrants, was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a can of Coke in the center console that contained 13 fentanyl pills. During a search of Perry’s person, law enforcement officers located $3,262.00. In May 2022, law enforcement recovered fentanyl tablets and marijuana during an incident involving Chenault, and during the execution of a search warrant at Chenault and Lunsford’s residence located 142 whole fentanyl pills and ten partial fentanyl pills, over 300 grams of marijuana, and over 5 grams of methamphetamine. In July 2022, law enforcement recovered over 1,000 fentanyl tablets and cocaine from Thompson and McElroy after a traffic stop and search of Thompson’s residence. In August 2022, law enforcement recovered fentanyl tablets, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia from Reyes’s residence. In November 2022, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Brown. On November 22, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a home visit at Thompson’s residence and recovered methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl. “Sending career criminals like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from those who spread fentanyl poison in our neighborhoods,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Bringing our expertise and resources to target individuals and organizations that plague our communities with drug trafficking is a top priority for ATF. The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that drug traffickers will be held accountable.” “The Russellville Police Department is proud to have played a role in the successful prosecution of those responsible for distributing these deadly drugs in our community,” said David Ewing, Chief of Police, Russellville Police Department. “This outcome reflects our ongoing commitment to working alongside our federal partners to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect the safety and well-being of our citizens.” “I’m so proud of the dedicated people I have working with me in the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force. Their cooperation with other local law enforcement in Pope County is so important in aggressively addressing criminal activity in our county - primarily drug sales and trafficking,” said Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney. “I also want to thank the federal authorities in partnering with us to make a difference in our community.” The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Russellville Police Department. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Fentanyl distributor linked to three fatal overdoses imprisoned for 27 years

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Fredrick Douglass Shelton pleaded guilty Feb. 13. U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Shelton to serve 324 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court recognized the families of the deceased and commented on the disturbing fact that after the deaths, Shelton continued to sell fentanyl with a verbal warning to customers that the drugs are strong. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted Shelton’s history of drug dealing and conduct during this offense which made him question whether there is anywhere Shelton could be safely housed. “The defendant’s conduct in this case vividly illustrates his utter disregard for human life and the safety of others,” said Ganjei. “Not only was his fentanyl trafficking linked to three overdose deaths, but he also left a 10-month-old baby alone, surrounded by guns and drugs (including fentanyl), while he was out dealing. With today’s sentencing—made possible by collaboration with our partners—this dangerous individual is now off the street for decades to come, and Houstonians are safer for it.” The investigation began following evidence linking three fatal fentanyl overdoses to Shelton. He had sold large quantities of highly potent fentanyl to numerous individuals in the Houston area. As Shelton left his residence to conduct yet another drug transaction, law enforcement conducted a search at his residence. They found large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, narcotics packaging equipment and firearms strewn throughout the residence in a disorderly fashion, including on counters, scales and the floor. Authorities also discovered Shelton had left his 10-month-old child in the residence alone and exposed to the narcotics. Shelton will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI Houston Field Office and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team and sheriff’s offices in Montgomery and Harris Counties. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.


title: Clovis CPA Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Over $800,000 from a Bank

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Kenneth Gould, 69, formerly of Clovis, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing more than $800,000 from a bank, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today. According to court records, Gould was a CPA and operated a payroll services company in Clovis. From October 2017 through March 2018, he initiated several fraudulent electronic payments from one of his clients’ accounts to his payroll company’s account at the bank. While the payments were pending, the bank credited significant portions of the funds to Gould’s account. Gould then quickly withdrew those funds in cashier’s checks. The bank later realized that there were insufficient funds to cover the payments, denied the payments, and attempted to recover its money. But it was too late. Approximately $830,000 of the credited funds was already gone. Gould gave the stolen money to the client from whose account he initiated the fraudulent payments because he had loaned that individual money and was hopeful that the individual would one day pay him back. The client then gambled the money away. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.


title: Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Intending to Distribute Three Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daval Byrams, age 22, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to possessing three kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute them. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Byrams admitted that on March 11, 2025, he traveled from the Capital Region to New York City to pick up cocaine, and that when he returned home that evening, he was carrying a bag containing three one-kilogram bricks of cocaine. Law enforcement arrested Byrams as he departed from a bus in Schenectady, New York. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “When a defendant traffics this volume of cocaine to the Northern District of New York, he should expect that my office and our law enforcement partners will find him, seize his drugs, and send him to prison. It’s that simple.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Narcotics trafficking continues to have a devastating impact on our local communities. The FBI will continue to work in concert with our partners on the Safe Streets Task Force to identify, investigate, and apprehend traffickers whose actions wreak havoc on our communities through the sale of illegal drugs.” At sentencing, Byrams faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force – which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.


title: Convicted Felon Who Resisted Arrest Sentence to Federal Prison for Unlawful Gun Possession

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A convicted felon who possessed a gun that he displayed in public and then resisted arrest was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison. Jason Harris, age 37, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 30, 2024, guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on July 26, 2024, Harris possessed a loaded handgun. Harris took the gun out while a fight was occurring between other individuals. Cedar Rapids police officers arrived and saw Harris with the gun in his pants. As the officers approached him, Harris said “nope” and attempted to flee. Officers caught him quickly, but he continued to resist and reach for the gun. Harris has prior felony convictions for driving under the influence and felon in possession of a firearm. Harris was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Harris was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Harris is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-cr-77. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who distributed, and conspired to distribute, fentanyl was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison on May 30, 2025. Alexander Sebastian, age 30, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 31, 2025, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearing showed that from December 2020 and February 2024, he and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute pills containing fentanyl across Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and that he took part in the distribution of over 20,000 pills. Sebastian admitted that, in October 2022, as part of the conspiracy, he knowingly participated in the distribution of pills containing fentanyl to another who then died from a fentanyl overdose. Sebastian was sentenced in Sioux City, Iowa, by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sebastian was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. He was further ordered to pay the family of the victim $7,000 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. Sebastian is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-3026. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: California Man Involved in Methamphetamine Trafficking Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and launder money was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison. Francisco Murillo, age 31, from San Bernardino, California, received the prison term after a December 20, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Murillo was involved in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for sending methamphetamine from California to Iowa through the United States Postal Service. Murillo and others in California sent packages containing methamphetamine through the United States Postal Service to several addresses in Cedar Rapids. Murillo’s co-conspirators in Iowa sent the cash proceeds from the distribution of controlled substances back to California in packages that listed fake names and return addresses. Murillo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Murillo was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Murillo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-91. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon who Possessed Drugs for Distribution and a Firearm Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A Chicago man who possessed and distributed controlled substances and also possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to five years in federal prison. Ra-Melle Lewis Williams, age 53, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a December 23, 2024 guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Williams had a prior conviction for attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. In April 2023, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, they located methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, along with a firearm. Williams was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Williams was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Williams is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR- 02028. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Brazilian National Sentenced to Seven Months Imprisonment for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced that Joice Iara Costa De Souza, a 28-year-old woman from Brazil, was sentenced on Thursday, May 29, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, to seven months imprisonment for illegally reentering the country after she had been deported. According to court records, De Souza was previously deported from the United States on November 22, 2019, after pleading guilty to illegally entering the United States. On March 12, 2020, De Souza was arrested at the Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook, St. Thomas. De Souza admitted that she did not have proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection Marine Interdiction Agents (CBP-MIA). Assistant United States Attorney Denise George prosecuted the case.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to Ten Months in Prison for Alien Smuggling

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Omaily Sanchez Taveras, 36, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on May 30, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, to ten months imprisonment for illegally smuggling aliens. The sentence follows a two-day jury trial in which a federal jury found Taveras guilty of smuggling ten illegal aliens from St. Thomas to Puerto Rico. According to court records, on October 13, 2024, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations in St. Thomas received information that a vessel appeared to be loading illegal aliens in Fortuna Bay, on the western end of St. Thomas. Agents traveled to the area and eventually located and observed an anchored vessel, dead in the water, close to an island known as West Cay. On board the vessel were eleven illegal aliens, including the vessel’s captain, Taveras. Of the ten passengers, four were from the Dominican Republic, four were from Romania, and two were from Brazil. They all paid Taveras to take them to Culebra. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and CBP-MIA. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everard E. Potter and Denise George.


title: Southfield Doctor Convicted of Fraudulently Obtaining $1.7M PPP Loan

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – On May 29, 2025, a federal jury convicted Dr. Reginald Eburuche of Southfield of bank fraud, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division. Dr. Eburuche was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in July 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, for his start-up business Renovis Healthcare. According to evidence presented at trial, after being unsuccessful in obtaining a line of credit for this new business venture in 2019, Eburuche looked to the PPP program as a source of potential seed-funding—$1.7M at 1% interest. In order to get that money though, he grossly inflated the number of employees and the average monthly payroll for his fledgling company. In support of his application, he also created and uploaded fraudulent tax documents, meant to make it appear as though his stated headcount and salary expenditures were legitimate. A large portion of the funds were frozen and seized in advance of trial. “When a licensed professional choses fraud over integrity, the harm runs deeper than dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “Dr. Eburuche stole money meant to keep workers afloat during a time of crisis. This Office will continue to pursue those who exploited these programs for personal gain.” “Dr. Reginald Eburuche’s conviction for Bank Fraud represents not only an abuse of taxpayer dollars but a betrayal of public trust during a time of national hardship,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I commend the dedicated efforts of our Oakland County Resident Agency members and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, whose contributions were vital in concluding this case. We remain fully committed to collaborating with our community and law enforcement allies to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who exploit government relief programs for personal financial gain.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carl Gilmer-Hill and was investigated by special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office also thanks the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their support.


title: Mission Woman Sentenced to Over Two Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting Another Person within the Rosebud Reservation

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025. Korilyn M. Whipple-Wright, age 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Whipple-Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. She pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025. On February 16, 2024, Whipple-Wright assaulted her former girlfriend in Rosebud, South Dakota, which lies within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The women had recently broken up after dating for approximately six years. Whipple-Wright wrapped her arm around the woman’s neck and choked her, causing her to temporarily lose consciousness. Whipple-Wright also pushed the woman’s face into a wall and punched her. The woman incurred bruising to her forehead, a black eye, and a cut to her head in the assault. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Whipple-Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Foreign National Charged with Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Yosselin Ibanez-Diaz, 28, of Guatemala, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful re-entry following prior removal from the United States. Court records indicate that Ibanez-Diaz was convicted in federal court in New Mexico in 2019 of entering the United States illegally and, following that conviction, she was removed from the United States. Because of that history, and because she had failed to reapply for admission to the United States, her presence here constitutes a new offense. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Ibanez-Diaz is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Ibanez-Diaz faces up to two years’ incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement & Removal Operations. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Ibanez-Diaz is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 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).


title: Grand jury indicts Mexican national on charges of illegal reentry, drug trafficking, assaulting federal officer

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Mexican national with federal immigration and drug crimes, as well as assaulting a federal officer. Jose Adin Benjume-Gutierrez, 45, is charged in a three-count indictment that was filed this morning. According to the indictment, on Feb. 3, Benjume-Gutierrez intentionally and forcibly assaulted a special agent of the federal government. Specifically, the defendant assaulted an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is further alleged that, in April, the defendant distributed cocaine. Benjume-Gutierrez had been previously deported from the United States in 2011 and 2016. If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine and assaulting a federal officer, and up to two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Roanoke Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, William Edwards, 37 years old, of Roanoke, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Edwards was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 7 years of supervised release. Restitution will be imposed at a later date. According to documents in the case, on or about October 18, 2023, Edwards distributed child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Lagrange Police Department, and the Roanoke Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Marion County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kyle Burbank (32, Belleview) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Burbank pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. According to court documents, between January 5 and 17, 2024, Burbank received five video files depicting CSAM over the internet from a 12-year-old child in another state. During a review of Burbank’s social media accounts, investigators identified a second victim, a 13-year-old child, who also was living in a different state. Burbank received CSAM from the second victim on September 26, 2023. “The sentencing of this predator represents the grave nature of his crimes in exploiting children online,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Protecting our children is the highest priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners. We vow to remain vigilant ensuring those who prey on children face swift and decisive justice.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Clinton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office and the Rossville (Indiana) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Former Army Soldier Convicted of Sexually Abusing Two Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Defendant faces a minimum of 30 years imprisonment SAVANNAH, GA: A jury convicted a local man previously stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, at trial for victimizing two children. Austin Michael Burak , 32, Oak Harbor, WA, was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child, or Attempt and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, or Attempt following jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker presided over the four-day trial. “We are committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will strive to keep our children and our communities safe.” As described in courtroom testimony, in August of 2017, Burak sexually abused a minor by fondling the child’s genitals when the child was merely nine years old. On the same night in 2017, Burak anally raped another child who was only thirteen years old. The trial was held on May 12-15, 2025. Burak awaits sentencing upon the U.S. Probation Services completing a presentence investigation. “This sends a clear message: Army CID and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate these heinous acts,” said Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Western Field Office. “We are committed to aggressively investigating all crimes, establishing the facts, and supporting the legal process against those responsible.” “No child should have to experience this heinous abuse. The FBI is committed to tracking down and holding accountable people like Burak who prey on children,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will ensure that criminals engaged in this depraved conduct are held accountable in a court of law.” The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Michael Z. Spitulnik.


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 195 Months in Prison

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

body_text: FORT WAYNE–Yesterday, Jamic C. Johnson, 50 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after his guilty plea to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Johnson was sentenced to a total of 195 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Johnson had been selling methamphetamine in 2020, and law enforcement located multiple ounces of methamphetamine in his Fort Wayne residence during the service of a search warrant in October of 2020. Officers also found firearms in Johnson’s home that Johnson was using to facilitate and protect his drug trafficking activity. Johnson was previously convicted of dealing in cocaine or narcotic drug and carrying a handgun without a license, meaning that he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Also assisting in this investigation was the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller. This case was also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mobile Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution and Maintaining a Drug Premises

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, AL - On May 29, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 41-year-old Corey Jeremaine Burroughs of Mobile, Alabama, to 195 months in prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as maintaining a drug premises. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and DEA New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement today. The judge also ordered Burroughs to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began investigating the trafficking of contraband into multiple Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facilities prior to 2023. Agents identified Burroughs—a former ADOC inmate—as a suspect. On April 18, 2023, law enforcement stopped Burroughs shortly after he left a Montgomery residence. Officers found marijuana and “flakka,” an illegal controlled substance commonly smuggled into prisons. On April 19, 2023, law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant at the Montgomery residence associated with Burroughs. Inside the residence, agents discovered multiple illegal controlled substances, including marijuana and methamphetamine located in a box on the kitchen counter, and vacuum-sealed bags containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. In total, investigators seized over a pound of methamphetamine. The search also uncovered drug distribution tools, including a digital scale, a hydraulic compress, and vacuum sealing equipment. Other common prison contraband items such as wireless headphones and cell phones were also recovered. The residence appeared uninhabited and was being used solely for the storage and packaging of illegal narcotics and contraband for distribution. “This case reflects our office’s continued commitment to disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities and correctional facilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Mr. Burroughs exploited his knowledge of the prison system to further his criminal activity, and now he is being held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who jeopardize public safety through drug trafficking.” “Thanks to the diligent work of our dedicated agents and partners, we’ve removed a significant number of illicit narcotics and dangerous contraband that was destined for Alabama prisons,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “We will continue to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who profit from illicit drug activity.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Mark E. Andreu prosecuting.


title: Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national, residing in Framingham, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Rafael De Jesus-Ribeiro, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing on June 9, 2025. In February 2025, De Jesus-Ribeiro was indicted by a federal grand jury. According to the indictment, De Jesus-Ribeiro was deported from the United States on July 17, 2019, after illegally crossing the border in Texas and being stopped by Border Patrol, to whom he initially provided false documentation. Sometime after his July 2019 removal, De Jesus-Ribeiro illegally reentered the United States without permission. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Virgin Islands Man Charged with Making Interstate Threats and Stalking

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Todd Hoyte, 54, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with making interstate threats and stalking. Hoyte was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on April 1, 2025, in Saint Thomas. Hoyte initially appeared in federal court in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he was ordered detained. Hoyte entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment in the District of Vermont on May 29, 2025 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Hoyte continue pretrial detention during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, between July 29, 2024 and September 25, 2024, Hoyte left numerous voicemails for Victim-1, who worked in Vermont. The voicemails which were harassing, threatening, and intimidating, were made from outside of Vermont. Hoyte left the voicemails on Victim-1’s work phone, Victim-1’s voicemail box, and the voicemail box of the Vermont Department of Public Service. The voicemails included threats to injure Victim-1. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Hoyte is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Hoyte faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on each count if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Zachary Stendig. Hoyte is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Emily Kenyon.


title: Cape Coral Man Arraigned On Charge Of Threatening To Assassinate The President

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christopher Davies (31, Cape Coral) was arraigned in federal court on an indictment charging him with one count of making threats against the President of the United States. If convicted, Davies faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the indictment, Davies wrote and delivered a letter to an official at the Charlotte Correctional Institute stating in substance that he intended to kill President Donald Trump. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey. Indictment


title: Orlando Woman Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jaquisha Durant (31, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Durant faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in April 2024, Durant and other scheme participants stole mail from United States Postal Service mailboxes, located debit cards belonging to others in the stolen mail, and activated the stolen debit cards. On April 22 and 23, 2024, Durant used the stolen debit cards to make multiple cash withdrawals from a federal credit union ATM located in Ocoee. She also used the stolen debit cards to make purchases at various retail stores. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.


title: Mescalero Man Sentenced in Strangulation Assault Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man was sentenced to 71 months in prison for assault by strangulation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between May 5 and May 11, 2022, Kevin El Cavazone , 42, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her. Upon his release from prison, El Cavazone will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Alyson Hehr is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Gastonia Police Officer Charged With Straw Purchasing A Firearm Appears In Federal Court After Arrest

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Charlotte charging Xana Dayanae Dove, a former Gastonia police officer, with straw purchasing a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Dove, 28, of Charlotte, was arrested on Thursday, and was released on bond following her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to allegations in the indictment, on May 25, 2023, Dove knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement to Shooters Express, a licensed firearms dealer in Belmont, North Carolina, in connection with the acquisition of a Springfield Hellcat Pro, 9mm pistol. The indictment alleges that Dove falsely stated on ATF’s Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when the defendant knew this statement was false and fictitious. Dove is charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and causing a false report during a firearm purchase. If convicted, Dove faces a combined maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI and ATF for their work on the investigation, and thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Community Supervision, and the Gastonia Police Department for their assistance with Dove’s apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: Guatemalan National Arrested For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material And Illegal Reentry Into The United States

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Marlon Jefferson Fajardo-Paiz (33, Guatemala) with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted on all counts, Fajardo-Paiz faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in federal prison—20 years for the CSAM offense and 2 years for the immigration offense. Fajardo-Paiz is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. According to the indictment, on April 24, 2025, Fajardo-Paiz was in possession of CSAM depicting a prepubescent minor. Fajardo-Paiz is a citizen of Guatemala and had previously been removed from the United States on July 18, 2018. He never has received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. The 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).


title: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for the enticement offense and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posted as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested by law enforcement. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Father and son indicted for providing material support to Mexican cartel engaged in terrorism

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two family members with ties to South Texas have been charged with allegedly conspiring to materially support a Mexican cartel previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit money laundering and related smuggling charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The superseding indictment, returned May 22, alleges Maxwell Sterling Jensen, 25, Draper, Utah, and James Lael Jensen, 68, Sandy, Utah, conspired to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in the form of U.S. currency. The Secretary of State designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization Feb. 20. “This case underscores the more aggressive and innovative approach the Southern District of Texas is taking towards combatting the scourge of drug cartels,” said Ganjei. “This strategy focuses not just on the traffickers and trigger-pullers directly employed by the cartels, but also targeting their confederates and enablers. Whether you are handing the cartel a gun, providing a car or safehouse for smugglers, or putting money in the cartel’s pocket, you will be held to account.” The Jensens allegedly operated Arroyo Terminals, an enterprise based in Rio Hondo. Both are also charged with allegedly conspiring to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of illegally smuggled goods, crude oil. They also aided and abetted the fraudulent entry of approximately 2,881 shipments of the oil in violation of the Tariff Act, according to the charges. “Cases like this highlight the often-dangerous relationships between alleged unscrupulous U.S. businesses and terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio. “Through strong collaborations and relentless investigative work, we and our partners exposed a possible large-scale operation that allegedly attempted to move millions in illicit crude oil and launder the proceeds. HSI remains committed to protecting our economy and holding offenders accountable.” “What began as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) drug trafficking investigation evolved into a multifaceted case involving an alleged complex criminal operation generating millions of dollars from crude oil – the largest funding source for Mexican drug cartels,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of DEA - Houston. “Given the charges have profound implications for both the United States and Mexico, we will continue to explore all leads and identify any believed to be involved. The collaboration with federal law enforcement, prosecutors, and state agencies proved critical to unraveling these alleged crimes and will continue until such operations are destroyed.” “It is a top priority of the FBI to eliminate foreign terrorist organizations by depriving them of the funding they need to operate and by seizing their most valued assets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the San Antonio Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will use every resource and capability at our disposal to ensure violent cartels and anyone who corruptly facilitates their operations are held accountable to the American people and unable to establish a foothold in our communities." “Our commitment to taking down drug cartels and organized crime leverages IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) specialty in forensic accounting that identifies the alleged money trail and shuts down the flow of cash, just like we did in this case,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Some of our best special agents are using their law enforcement expertise to build unshakeable cases to ensure criminals are taken off the streets and their ill-gotten gains are returned to the American people.” At the time of the initial arrests, authorities seized four tank barges containing crude oil, three commercial tanker trucks, an Arroyo Terminal pickup truck and one personal vehicle. The Arroyo Terminal property in Rio Hondo, crude oil contained Arroyo Terminal storage tanks and additional real properties are also sought for forfeiture. The superseding indictment also contains notice that the United States will seek a $300 million money judgment upon conviction. The conspiracies to provide material support and to commit money laundering both carry a possible prison term of up to 20 years. If convicted of aiding and abetting the smuggling of goods into the United States and doing so by means of false statements, both men could also face up to 10 and five years, respectively. James Jensen also faces one count of money laundering spending which carries an additional 10 years in prison, upon conviction. With the exception of the money laundering charge which has the possibility of up to a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved, the remaining counts carry a maximum $250,000 potential fine. The investigation was a joint effort among many law enforcement partners to include FBI, ICE-HSI and DEA with substantial assistance of IRS CI along with Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Department of Public Safety. Operation Liquid Death involved the combined efforts of DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI and IRS CI and others and is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood . Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) James Sturgis and Laura Garcia are prosecuting the case. AUSAs Mary Ellen Smyth and Tyler Foster are handling seizure and forfeiture matters. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Florida Man Sentenced To 42 Months For Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ALAN SWISS was sentenced to 42 months in prison for participating in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to defraud Medicare. SWISS pled guilty on January 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence. “Swiss defrauded Medicare through creating, purchasing, and selling millions of dollars’ of false prescriptions for medical equipment,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fraud of this kind not only wastes taxpayer dollars, but also drives up the cost of healthcare for all. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: individuals who cheat Medicare will face justice.” According to statements made in court and publicly filed documents in this case: From approximately 2016 through April 2019, SWISS operated a call center named Tropical Medical Marketing, Inc., which cold-called Medicare beneficiaries and used their personal and medical information without the beneficiaries’ knowledge or consent, to prepare prescriptions for durable medical equipment (“DME”). SWISS then sold these DME prescriptions to co-conspirators who illegally obtained purported signatures or “authorizations” of health care providers, so that fraudulent claims could be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement. From approximately 2017 through April 2019, SWISS also operated two DME supply companies: Modern Medical Equipment, Inc., which SWISS used primarily to bill Medicare directly under Medicare Part B, and A&E Medical, Inc., which SWISS used primarily to bill private insurance companies under Medicare Part C, also known as “Medicare Advantage.” To obtain the DME prescriptions that SWISS used to support his unlawful claims to Medicare, SWISS used two unlawful methods: purchasing such prescriptions outright and using patient information that SWISS had generated through his call center and purchasing the purported signatures or authorizations of health care providers. SWISS caused the two DME supply companies that he controlled to submit claims to Medicare for more than $18 million—through the billing company operated by his co-defendants, ERIN FOLEY and TED ALBIN—on which Medicare paid out nearly $6 million. * * * In addition to the prison term, SWISS, 52, of West Palm Beach County, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised released. SWISS was also ordered to forfeit $6,650,929.76 and pay Medicare restitution in the amount of $6,650,929.76. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rushmi Bhaskaran, Jackie Delligatti, Brandon Thompson, and William Kinder are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 20 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Gumersindo Gonzalez-Montoya (31) to one year and eight months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Gonzalez-Montoya pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025. According to court documents, Gonzalez-Montoya is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on May 8, 2024, and was found back in the United States approximately two months later, on July 14, 2024, when he was arrested in Marion County for a new state criminal offense. Gonzalez-Montoya has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.


title: MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiracy to participating in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, of Everett, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct racketeering affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025. In September 2024 , Pineda Portillo was charged by a second superseding indictment along with co-defendant Jose Vasquez, who pleaded guilty last week to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering. MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts. Pineda Portillo was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13, which operated in Somerville. Pineda Portillo personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13. Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder. In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a green SUV registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife. Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to another MS-13 member, who was, in reality, a cooperating witness working with law enforcement, in exchange for money. On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.” Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. However, shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Temple Terrace Robbery

body_text: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kavar Young (32, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit that robbery, and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. Young faces up to 20 years in prison on both the robbery and conspiracy counts. For the firearms count, he faces a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence. A date for sentencing has not yet been set. One of Young’s co-defendants, Leanna Bryant (28, Tampa), previously pleaded guilty. According to court documents and proceedings, in August 2023, Young conspired with others to commit robbery. Specifically, on August 12, 2023, Young robbed a Temple Terrace convenience store, during which he brandished a firearm, pointing it at the victim’s head while demanding money from the register. Young also pointed the firearm at a second employee of the store and a store customer. Young’s DNA was found on a potato chip bag inside the store that he had touched. His DNA was also found on a firearm located during the investigation that is visually consistent with the firearm used in the robbery. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, and the North Port Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Ocala Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Machinegun

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Sean Rayvon Hubbard, Jr. (19, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun. Hubbard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on July 28, 2024, officers from the Ocala Police Department approached Hubbard to place him under arrest for outstanding warrants. Hubbard fled from the officers on foot but was ultimately apprehended. On August 7, 2024, officers received a call from an apartment complex about a firearm that had been discovered along the path where Hubbard had been running. The firearm, a black handgun with a tan extended ammunition magazine, had been modified with a “switch” that allowed it to fire more than one round of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. Officers obtained a search warrant for Hubbard’s cellphone and recovered a video that Hubbard had filmed of himself handling the same modified handgun prior to his arrest on July 28, 2024. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 110 Months for Smuggling Fentanyl from California to the DMV

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON— Lamin Sesay, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 110 months in federal prison for participating in a wide-spread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills purchased in Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Sesay was one of 24 co-defendants arrested during 2023 in the District, Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy. On Feb. 7, 2025, Sesay pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Sesay to serve five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Sesay entered into the conspiracy after he was introduced to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficker, co-defendant Hector David Valdez, who was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills. Sesay was introduced to Valdez by an unindicted co-conspirator, Mathias Tsegaye, a D.C.-based fentanyl trafficker who died in January 2023 from the combined toxic effects of codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. At the time of Tsegaye’s death, a shipping box containing several thousand fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills was discovered in his residence. Sesay’s role was to have fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills shipped by Valdez to the District of Columbia. Sesay then conspired with one or more D.C.-area-based co-conspirators to redistribute the pills. Sesay also communicated with Valdez about Tsegaye flying to Los Angles to obtain pills for Tsegaye and Sesay to resell in D.C. The impetus for the investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death resulting case , law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris McCranie, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section. DEFENDANT AGE LOCATION CHARGES/SENTENCE Hector David Valdez, aka “Curl” 27 Santa Fe Springs, California Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Craig Eastman 21 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Charles Jeffrey Taylor 21 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Raymond Nava, Jr. 21 Bell Gardens, California Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Ulises Aldaz 28 Bell Gardens, California Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Max Alexander Carias Torres 27 Bell Gardens, California Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy” 35 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Marvin Anthony Bussie, aka “Money Marr” 22 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Marcus Orlando Brown 29 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Columbian Thomas, aka "Cruddy Murda” 27 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden 35 Washington, D.C. Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Andre Malik Edmond, aka “Draco” 23 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Treyveon James Johnson, aka “Treyski” 21 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Karon Olufemi Blalock, aka “Fat Bags” 30 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ronte Ricardo Greene, aka “Cardiddy” 29 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21” 39 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Darius Quincy Hodges, aka “Brick” 34 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Lamin Sesay, aka “Rock Star” 28 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Paul Alejandro Felix 26 Glendale, California Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Omar Arana, aka “Frogs” 27 Cudahy, California Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano” 27 San Diego, California Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Raul Pacheco Ramirez 31 Long Beach, California Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Giovani Alejandro Briones 31 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez 26 Rosarito, Mexico Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. 23cr73


title: Lawrence County Man Sentenced to 300 years in Prison for Crimes Against Children

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Lawrence County man has been sentenced for committing multiple child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced David Edward Collier, II, 47, of Moulton, Alabama, to a total of 3,600 months in prison. In January, Collier pleaded guilty to 13 charges of crimes against children, including four counts of sexual exploitation of children, eight counts of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Collier produced, distributed, transported, and possessed child pornography. Collier corresponded with individuals online regarding his desires to expose and sexually exploit children. From January 2017 to August 2022, he used unknowing and unsuspecting children to produce child pornography. And between October 2022 and September 2023, Collier distributed the child pornography to multiple individuals using online social media platforms. “My office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children from the devastating and lifelong impacts caused by defendants like David Collier,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Rest assured that if you commit crimes against children in the Northern District of Alabama, we will prosecute you and send you to federal prison.” “This tremendous sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate cases involving violent crimes against children, to include child pornography, and we work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold them accountable,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Division. “Let this be a warning to sexual predators that we will stop at nothing to protect every child from horrendous perpetrators like David Collier. We have now ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.” FBI North Alabama Violent Crime Task Force and Cybercrime Squad investigated the case along with the assistance of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Moulton Police Department, Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Pittsburgh Woman Indicted for Fraudulent Receipt of Supplemental Security Income Benefits

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Supplemental Security Income fraud and theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment named Dana Nicole Johnson, 54, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2021 until in and around June 2023, Johnson concealed and failed to disclose events with the intent to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a monthly, needs-based payment benefit that is afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income. Applicants are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements, as those matters are considered by the Social Security Administration when determining eligibility for SSI. The Indictment alleges that Johnson failed to disclose income from her employment with a home health care service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Indictment further alleges that Johnson stole and converted to her own use SSI payment benefits. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs–Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Manager at Long Island Company Indicted for Stealing  $1.6 Million from Customer Credit Accounts

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Tony Ream was arraigned on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his employment at a Long Island company (the Company). Ream was a credit supervisor for the Company, which was a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies with its principal place of business in Melville, New York. Over the course of four years, Ream sent wire transfers totaling approximately $1.6 million from the Company’s bank account to a bank account that he controlled. The arraignment was held before Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arraignment. “As alleged, Ream is a thief who abused his authority and betrayed his employer to fund his lifestyle, including paying for the renovations of a restaurant he opened, footing the bill for his own wedding, and traveling around the world, all on the company’s dime,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Embezzling company funds is a serious crime and my Office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure Ream is held accountable for his brazen scheme.” “Tony Ream allegedly embezzled over one million dollars from his former company by diverting corporate funds to his personal account and deceiving his subordinates into perpetuating this theft,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Ream allegedly abused his position and stole from his former company to fund his extravagant expenses. The FBI remains committed to investigating any individual who orchestrates a scheme to exploit their company to finance personal wish lists.” As set forth in court filings and statements made in court, Ream was hired by the Company in 2019 to work in their credit department. Starting in 2020 as a credit supervisor, Ream stole corporate funds from customer refund accounts and diverted the funds to his own accounts. Additionally, while in his role as supervisor, Ream deceived employees whom he supervised into taking steps that assisted him in carrying out his fraudulent scheme. Ream spent tens of thousands of dollars of the proceeds of his fraud on his wedding, hundreds of thousands on a failed restaurant venture in South Carolina, and tens of thousands on luxury international vacations. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ream faces up to 20 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder. The Defendant : TONY REAM (also known as “Tony Ream-Hendley” and “Tony Moul Ream”) Age: 33 Greenville, South Carolina E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-179 (SJB) ream.indictment.pdf


title: Rhode Island Man Charged with Assaulting Border Patrol Agents by Discharging Machine Gun

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 29, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Brenden Sackal, 32, of Rockville, Rhode Island, with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, possessing and discharging a machine gun in furtherance of the assault on federal officers, possessing an unregistered machine gun, and possessing a machine gun lacking an identification number as required by the National Firearms Act. Sackal’s federal arraignment date has not yet been set. Sackal also faces charges related to the shooting in Caledonia Superior Court. According to court records, Sackal is alleged to have assaulted five U.S. Border Patrol agents with a deadly weapon by discharging a privately manufactured 5.56 caliber AR-type pistol, on July 14, 2024. This AR-type pistol is alleged to have been a machine gun, which the National Firearms Act requires to be registered and bear a serial number. Sackal’s weapon was not registered and did not bear a serial number. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Sackal is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of all counts in the superseding indictment, Sackal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years, and up to imprisonment for life. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vermont State Police. Acting United States Attorney Drescher stated “Anyone who discharges a firearm at a federal law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I commend the U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department personnel who pursued and apprehended Sackal on July 14, 2024.” The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Sackal is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. 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).