title: Volleyball Coach Sentenced to 33 Years for Using his Position to Sexually Abuse More Than a Dozen Victims

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Dorian Christopher Barrs, 33, was sentenced yesterday to 400 months in prison for production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Barrs didn’t just break the law—he shattered the trust placed in him by parents, schools, and the girls he coached and was supposed protect,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This was a deliberated and calculated abuse of power. And it is part of a broader crisis we are facing in Minnesota. Coaches, state troopers, daycare workers, federal agents, and state senators—case after case of people who hold positions of trust and authority preying on children. It is the ultimate betrayal of power and it demands the full force of federal prosecution. To be clear, while I am tired of seeing these cases, this office will not slow down. If you hold a position of trust or authority and harm a child: we will find you, we will expose you, and you will see federal justice.” According to court documents, for nearly a decade, Barrs used his position as a volleyball coach to prey on and sexually abuse his players and other victims, as young as 14-years-old. Barrs coached volleyball for Maple Grove High School and club volleyball programs and also coached players in private lessons. Barrs used social media to groom, sexually exploit, and abuse young, impressionable, and vulnerable girls for his sexual gratification. Often, Barrs used another minor’s identity to “catfish” his unsuspecting victims, wearing them down or removing their defenses. Barrs sent hundreds of messages to his victims, frequently steering conversations to sexualized topics in a short amount of time. Barrs was a master manipulator. His scheme was simple and horrible. He built relationships with his minor victims with one goal in mind: his sexual gratification. His gratification came in both the production and receipt of sexually explicit images and videos, as well as sexual acts with at least five of the minor victims. Unfortunately, as he took advantage of his position as a volleyball coach—and ultimately these girls—Barrs’s scheme was frighteningly successful. To date, the government has identified at least 19 minor victims who Barrs victimized in his scheme, 14 of whom were being coached by Barrs. U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant to 400 months—33 years—of imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In handing down her sentenced, Judge Brasel said, “This case represents every parent’s nightmare.” She noted that “The defendant abused a position of trust for both the victims and their families.” Judge Brasel explained, “Sometimes sports are the only lifeline for a child with a bad situation at home, which is ironic because the defendant knows how important sports were in his own life, so it’s even more unfathomable what he did in this case.” “The 33-year prison sentence in this case serves as a stern warning to those who prey upon and sexually exploit children for their own gratification,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Dorian Barrs, a youth volleyball coach, egregiously abused his position of trust for over a decade, coercing vulnerable young girls into sexual activities. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting children within our communities. We take great pride in our collaborative efforts with local authorities throughout this investigation.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the bravery of the victims in this case. In 2024, one victim told her parents what was happening and then contacted law enforcement. This was the first step in unraveling Barrs’s crimes. More victims then came forward, which allowed law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to piece together the scope of this horrifying scheme and bring Barrs to justice. To the survivors: your courage in coming forward is the reason this predator was held accountable. And your strength protected other girls from ever experiencing Barrs’s abuse. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Carver County’s Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.


title: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST PENSACOLA MAN FOR ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKING

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Carlton Shoemaker, 51, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for three counts of possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Shoemaker appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida on July 22, 2025. If convicted on all counts, Shoemaker faces up to life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: CONVICTED FELON CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason Wayne Coleman, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges. Coleman appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida on July 22, 2025. Coleman faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment for each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: New Jersey Construction Company Owner Sentenced for Tax Evasion

component: Tax Division

body_text: A New Jersey construction company owner was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison for evading employment tax penalties assessed against him. The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Joseph Caravella, of Randolph, owned several masonry companies in New Jersey. From 2008 to 2016, the IRS assessed approximately $650,000 in Trust Fund Recovery penalties against Caravella for causing three masonry businesses that he owned to not pay their federal employment taxes. The timely payment of federal employment taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year. Congress empowered the IRS to impose a penalty equal to the amount of the unpaid taxes — called a Trust Fund Recovery Penalty — against any responsible individual who fails to ensure that these taxes are paid timely. Caravella pleaded guilty to attempting to evade these Trust Fund Recovery penalties. From around March 2008 through April 2019, Caravella sought to evade the payment of these penalties by placing companies that he controlled in the names of nominee owners and avoiding the use of a bank account in his own name to prevent the IRS from levying the funds. Also during that time, Caravella continued to cause his businesses not to pay employment taxes, resulting in an additional loss of $1.2 million to the IRS. In total, Carvalla caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,885,519.39. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Hayter L. Whitman of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Fell for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.


title: Oregon Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Swatting and  Bomb Threats Scheme That Targeted Jewish Hospitals  in New York City and Long Island

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Domagoj Patkovic was sentenced by United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. to 60 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to make threats and conveying false information about explosives. The defendant made hoax bomb threat phone calls to historically Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island. 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 sentencing. “The defendant endangered patients and diverted precious law enforcement resources to advance his hateful agenda against people of the Jewish faith. His actions fed a rising tide of antisemitism in America,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will continue to prosecute dangerous bomb threats and swatting schemes to the fullest extent of the law, especially those motivated by hate, and those targeting vulnerable communities in hospitals and care centers.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance on the case. “Domagoj Patkovic will spend significant time in prison for his targeting of Jewish hospitals across the New York metro area with hoax bomb threats,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “These hoax threats, motivated by Patkovic’s insidious antisemitic views, wasted law enforcement resources and put innocent lives at risk. The FBI will continue to bring to justice individuals who utilize swatting and false bomb threats to cause panic and unrest in our communities.” As set forth in the indictment and in court filings, beginning at least as early as May 2021, the defendant and others made anonymous phone calls in which they made violent threats, including threats to detonate explosive devices, to Jewish hospitals and care centers within the Eastern District of New York, among other targets throughout the United States. The defendant himself made threats in at least six separate calls to hospitals and also on a call with local law enforcement who had responded to a 911 call from one of the hospitals. To amplify his hate-filled actions, the defendant livestreamed the calls to others on an online social media and electronic communications platform. On several occasions, local police responded to the scene and conducted bomb sweeps. On at least one occasion in September 2021, the hoax bomb threat resulted in a partial evacuation and lockdown of an entire hospital on Long Island. No explosive devices were ultimately found in any of the locations. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Laura Zuckerwise, and Andrew D. Reich are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Paralegal Specialist Wayne Colon. The Defendant : DOMAGOJ PATKOVIC Age: 31 Portland, Oregon E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-317 (RER)


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Drugs While On Supervised Release

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Maurice Devantay Kimbrough (31, Cocoa) to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances and violations of supervised release. Kimbrough pleaded guilty on April 21, 2025. According to court documents, between October and December 2024, Kimbrough sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to a confidential source and undercover agent. During his arrest, Kimbrough was in possession of additional drugs. In total, Kimbrough was responsible for distributing and possessing nearly 1.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, over 80 grams of fentanyl, and over 10 grams of cocaine. At the time of this drug activity, Kimbrough was serving a four-year term of supervised release due to convictions for previous federal drug offenses. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Senegalese National Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers At 26 Federal Plaza

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, announced today the arrest and filing of a Complaint charging BASS NDIAYE with assaulting federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) officers and using a deadly and dangerous weapon. The incident occurred on July 18, 2025, at 26 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, where immigration processing is conducted. The defendant was presented this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Ona Wang. “Bass Ndiaye’s alleged attempt to attack multiple ICE officers by wielding a dangerous weapon endangered numerous members of law enforcement and nearly a dozen civilians,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The safety of federal law enforcement and the communities they protect is paramount, and we will prosecute those who threaten that safety to the full extent of the law.” “ICE arrested Bass Ndiaye—an illegal alien from Senegal—on July 17,” said DHS Assistant Secretray Tricia McLaughlin. “While in custody, he attempted to stab law enforcement officers and others surrounding him. Now, this dangerous criminal will face justice for his violent actions. Make no mistake: attacks on law enforcement are on the rise. Secretary Noem stands with the brave men and women of law enforcement as they risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect Americans.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint: [1] On or about July 18, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., NDIAYE was being processed at 26 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, and awaiting transport to an immigration detention center. While in the processing room, NDIAYE seized a pair of scissors. NDIAYE began slashing the scissors in the air and wielding them as a weapon, moving aggressively toward and attempting to stab several security guards, ICE officers, a Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent, and the approximately dozen other detainees in the room, among others. Due to the quick actions and training of the officers and security guards in the area, NDIAYE was ultimately restrained. * * * NDIAYE, 22, of Senegal, is charged with one count of assaulting an officer of the U.S. using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Arffa is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._ndiaye_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: TALLAHASSEE MAN RECEIVES 42 MONTHS FOR POSSESSION OF A MACHINEGUN

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Artaviyon Cornel Williams, 24, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced in federal court for illegal possession of a machinegun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our brave law enforcement officers are increasingly encountering violent criminals and seizing firearms that have been illegally modified to fire as fully automatic machineguns. My office is committed to staunchly supporting law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe from violent criminals.” Court documents reflect that law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Williams for an aggravated assault that had occurred on June 28, 2024, outside the Table Lounge in Tallahassee. Witnesses advised Williams broke up a fight involving his girlfriend by brandishing a firearm, firing a round into the air, and pointing the firearm at one woman and telling her “I’ll kill you.” Officers located Williams on July 6, 2024, outside the Table Lounge and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. When arrested, Williams had a stolen Glock pistol in his waistband which had been illegally modified to fire as a machinegun. Williams had a second, loaded, extended-round magazine in a pocket. Williams received a sentence of 42 months in prison, which will be followed by three years of supervised release. “The Tallahassee Police Department remains committed to removing illegal firearms from our streets,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Modifying a weapon to function as a machine gun is not only illegal, but also reckless and puts innocent lives at risk. We’re proud to work alongside our federal partners to ensure those who engage in this kind of violent behavior are held accountable.” The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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). As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Orlando Couple Agrees To Pay More Than $88,000 Related To Improperly Received PPP Loan Funds

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Anthony and Lisa Terry have agreed to pay $88,677.62 to resolve allegations that they improperly received funds from four loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act (Economic Aid Act). This settlement resolves liability related to two PPP loans issued to Anthony Terry and two PPP loans issued to Lisa Terry. According to the settlement agreement, from June 2020 through April 2022, the Terrys received four PPP loans totaling over $81,000, despite their ineligibility for such loans or forgiveness because the Terrys are individuals and not small businesses. Upon being contacted by the United States, the Terrys cooperated with the investigation. The United States became aware of the Terrys’ loans during an investigation in a prior criminal case, where a former tax preparer was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme to defraud the United States of COVID-related disaster loan proceeds. The defendants in that criminal case admitted they had devised a scheme to solicit others to fraudulently apply for PPP loans the CARES Act provided. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and holding responsible those who failed to follow the rules of the PPP program,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to investigate and pursue and, where appropriate, federally prosecute those individuals and entities that engage in improper uses of PPP loan proceeds.” The resolution obtained in this case was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Small Business Administration. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Bloor, with assistance from the Small Business Administration, Office of General Counsel. The civil claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination or admission of liability. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by using the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PANAMA CITY FELON OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL FIREARMS CHARGES

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jarrel Daniel Rivaz, 35, of Panama City, was found guilty by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from violent criminals and drug traffickers requires close collaboration between our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners like we saw in this case. I am deeply appreciative of the outstanding work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF to get this criminal off our streets, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our communities safe from the predations of drug traffickers like this defendant.” Evidence admitted at trial established that on December 21, 2023, during a search warrant executed at the defendant’s house in Panama City, law enforcement found and seized over 900 grams of cocaine, a large quantity of marijuana, two firearms, and ammunition. One of the firearms was found loaded in a locked shed in the same bag as some of the marijuana. Rivaz had previously been convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense in New York under the name “Gerald Walker.” Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. Rivaz faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life. The verdict was the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ward Narramore and Alicia Forbes. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Member of Interstate Cargo Theft Conspiracy Found Guilty at Federal Trial

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ALBANY- A federal jury has found Juan D. Perez-Gonzalez, 51, of Florida, guilty of conspiracy, possession of goods stolen from interstate commerce, and interstate transportation of stolen property for his role in a year-long conspiracy to steal millions of dollars in high-end electronics and other products from shipping facilities and cargo trucks in southern Indiana and other states. Five co-conspirators in this case have entered guilty pleas for their roles in the operation and will be sentenced at later dates: Defendant Guilty Plea Sentencing Date Carlos Enrique Freire-Pifferrer, 46, of Louisville, KY Conspiracy; two counts of Interstate transportation of stolen property August 22, 2025 Jose Antonio Gomez-Pifferrer, 33, of Louisville, KY Conspiracy; two counts of Interstate transportation of stolen property October 24, 2025 Dalwy De Armas-Rodriguez, 38, of Louisville, KY Conspiracy August 28, 2025 Luis Velazquez, 58, of Jacksonville, FL Conspiracy; interstate transportation of stolen property August 22, 2025 Richard Alameda, 47, of Florida Conspiracy September 4, 2025 According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between December 2021 and May 2023, Perez-Gonzalez and his co-conspirators conspired to steal tractor-trailers containing commercially available, high-end electronics and other items, which they later resold at a discount for profit. The co-conspirators traveled from various locations, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio to target various distribution facilities used by national companies such as Meta, Microsoft, and L Brands. The group surveilled these facilities and followed semi-tractor trailers as they departed. When a driver stopped to rest, refuel, or park, the conspirators stole the entire tractor-trailer. In many instances, the group abandoned the stolen tractor nearby and reattached the trailer to a different semi-tractor they operated. To evade law enforcement, they painted over logos and identifying numbers and use different license plates on the solen trailers. They transported the stolen cargo to Miami, Florida, where it was sold to buyers, including co-defendant Richard Alameda, for a fraction of its retail value. The group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts, resulting in the theft of over $2 million in Oculus virtual reality headsets from a Meta facility, $940,000 in Microsoft products, $1 million in Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret merchandise, $669,000 in Harmon-JBL audio products, $180,000 in Logitech products, and $480,000 worth of Bose audio speakers, among other stolen items. This is Perez-Gonzalez’s third federal conviction for cargo theft. First, in 2009, he stole two semi-trailers loaded with $500,000 worth of liquor from a distribution facility in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He was convicted in the Western District of Kentucky and sentenced to 23 months in prison. Then, in 2014, while on supervised release for the 2009 offense, Perez-Gonzalez again engaged in a scheme to steal cargo from tractor-trailers, using nearly identical methods as the most recent offense. He was convicted in the Southern District of Indiana and sentenced to 105 months in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana State Police, and Kentucky State Police investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt presided over the trial and will sentence Perez-Gonzalez at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Rinka and Matthew Barloh, who prosecuted this case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Indiana Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: St. Louis Felon Caught with Guns and Drugs Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a felon caught with guns, fentanyl and cocaine base to 97 months in prison. Jordin White, 24, of St. Louis, was spotted on April 29, 2024, by detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Anti-Crime Task Force in a stolen Chrysler 300 with a firearm magazine protruding from the pocket of his shorts. After officers detained White, they found a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in his pocket. They found an AR-style pistol, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition in the car, as well as more ammunition, a large amount of cash, a scale, and 107 capsules containing fentanyl and cocaine base. On June 5, 2024, the Anti-Crime Task Force saw White in an Audi A4 on a parking lot conducting hand-to-hand transactions with unknown individuals. Despite being spike-stripped by police, White drove off in the Audi until he lost control of the car and abandoned it. White then fled on foot while holding a Glock handgun equipped with a large-capacity drum magazine loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition. Officers also found six knotted baggies containing 127.98 grams of marijuana. White pleaded guilty in March to three felony counts: possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Three Admit Stealing Jewelry, Valuables from St. Louis County Homes

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Three men from Florida have admitted stealing jewelry and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from homes in St. Louis County, including Ladue and Chesterfield. Benjamin Andres Ovalle-Taibo, 33, and Jonathan Vejar-Caro, 33, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Ovalle-Taibo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the transportation of stolen goods and Vejar-Caro to one count of transportation of stolen goods. Henry Jose Ferreira-Perez, now 21, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of stolen goods in December and has been sentenced to 14 months in prison. All three admitted travelling on June 9, 2023, to St. Louis County, where they scouted possible burglary targets and purchased items to use in home break-ins. That evening Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro stole luxury items worth more than $330,000 from a home in Ladue, including jewelry, handbags and watches. They drove to Illinois and stayed in an Airbnb before returning to Florida to sell the stolen goods. On June 16, 2023, Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro burglarized a home in unincorporated St. Louis County which was investigated by the Frontenac Police Department. They stole about $128,000 worth of items, primarily jewelry. They next day, they burglarized two homes in Chesterfield, stealing about $188,500 worth of items from one home and $44,000 from the other. Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro are scheduled to be sentenced in October. All three are in the United States illegally and will likely be deported upon their release from prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Ladue Police Department, the Frontenac Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Nearly 14 Years in Prison for Distribution, Attempted Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Pascal Gedeon, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kai N. Scott yesterday to 165 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for child pornography offenses. The defendant was charged by indictment in May 2021 and pleaded guilty in May of last year to two counts of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography, charges arising from Gedeon’s sharing of videos and images involving the graphic sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, via his Tumblr blog. As detailed in court filings and statements, Gedeon ran a Tumblr blog called “younger-are-the-best,” where he posted thousands of images — including 14 lurid video files — depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Moreover, the defendant participated in chat conversations with other Tumblr users, in which he exchanged images containing child pornography. The defendant also admitted to law enforcement that he had uploaded and shared child pornography through multiple other online platforms. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eileen Castilla Geiger and Kelly Harrell.


title: Lake County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Gregory Coleman III (28, Leesburg) has entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Coleman faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal grand jury indicted Coleman on December 12, 2023. According to the court records, Coleman has been convicted of four state felonies, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting law enforcement with violence, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of cocaine. Following these convictions, on November 4, 2023, Coleman sold a firearm to a confidential source who was working in cooperation with federal agents. Coleman told the source he had more firearms but wanted to keep them for himself. As a convicted felon, Coleman is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Eustis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. 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: Fleming Island Felon Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Jason Stewart Karst II (37, Fleming Island) to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Karst entered a guilty plea in March 2025. According to court documents, in April 2024, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives received a complaint from a local shooting range that Karst and another individual had been shooting fully automatic firearms at the range. Surveillance video from the range showed Karst firing a fully automatic gun as well as a separate gun that was equipped with a silencer. Agents obtained a search warrant for a home owned by Karst and executed the warrant on May 1, 2024. During the search, agents found five silencers, a privately manufactured firearm that was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, and a pistol that was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device inside a large safe. The guns matched the appearance of the ones used by Karst at the shooting range. In addition, while agents were executing the search warrant, Karst drove up to the house. During a search of Karst’s car, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office found a white powdery substance, over 20 grams of marijuana, a scale, a pistol without a serial number, and keys to the safe. Karst was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including two convictions for possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell or deliver, attempted use of a minor to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Additionally, contrary to federal law, the machinegun conversion devices and silencers were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record—a database maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams. 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: Billings man sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug and gun charges

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed drugs in the Billings area was sentenced today to 168 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Tirrell Lewis, 45, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on November 3, 2023, law enforcement officers received a call that there were two gunshots in the vicinity of a residential address and the caller saw a gray Mustang leave the area very quickly. Officers spoke to the Lewis’s girlfriend on scene, and she said the sounds were fireworks. She also said she and Lewis were in a relationship and he had not been present at her residence. She allowed officers to look in her backyard where they found two spent rifle casings. The caller told police Lewis had been at the residence and he and his girlfriend were arguing before the two gunshots and then the caller saw Lewis leave in the gray Mustang. Later that evening officers located the Mustang. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled a short distance before stopping in front of Lewis’s girlfriend’s residence. Lewis got out of the car and fled on foot behind the residence. He circled the house and ran right into an officer who then arrested him. When Lewis was taken into custody, he was found to have $6,216.18 on his person. On November 13, 2023, a search warrant was executed on the Mustang. Inside were 4 firearms, 91 rounds of assorted ammunition, 7 ounces of fentanyl, and 9 ounces of methamphetamine. The drugs were located in a backpack in the trunk. The fentanyl was in 3 bags inside. One contained 50 pills, one contained 1,003, and one contained 814. The methamphetamine was in two zip lock baggies next to a scale and 23 clean baggies. There was a paystub for Lewis and one of the handguns under the backpack. Lewis is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous federal conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Billings Police Department, ATF, and DEA. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Delco Woman Pleads Guilty to Carjacking a Family, Shooting at One of the Victims, and Fleeing in SUV With Their Infant Son in the Backseat

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Phillis Fugah, 24, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage on one count of carjacking, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with an August 29, 2024, carjacking and shooting in Upper Darby. The defendant was charged by indictment in November of last year. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, she and a male subject rushed a Honda Pilot parked on the 7100 block of West Chester Pike, where a man sat in the backseat with his two young children, awaiting his wife’s return. The male subject fled the scene after opening the passenger side door. Fugah pulled open the front driver’s-side door, got behind the wheel, aimed a gun at the man, and demanded money. The man’s five-year-old son jumped out of the open front passenger door onto the sidewalk. The man got out of the rear driver’s side door and told Fugah that his infant child was still in the vehicle, as he tried to open the front driver’s side door. Fugah resisted and struggled with the man over the door. The defendant raised her gun and shot at the male victim, with the bullet partially shattering the driver’s side window and hitting the man’s baseball cap, narrowly missing his head. A piece of the bullet struck the window of an occupied SEPTA bus across the street, passing over the heads of several passengers. Fugah then fled in the Honda Pilot, which was soon located a short distance away with the infant inside and unharmed. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and the Upper Darby Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Doherty and Sandra Urban.


title: Federal Jury Convicts a Texas Man of Sexually Assaulting a Female Passenger Onboard a Commercial Airline Flight

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal jury in Salt Lake City returned a guilty verdict today against a Texas man after he grabbed and groped a female passenger multiple times without her consent while onboard a late-night flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City. Robert Sutherland MacLean, aka “Bobby,” 59, of Frisco, Texas, was charged by indictment on April 18, 2023, with abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft of the United States. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 1, 2022, while in flight, MacLean made calculated and sexually laced statements to a stranger seated next to him while he sexually assaulted her multiple times in the first-class cabin. “Mr. MacLean unlawfully and illegally imposed his will upon another person— sexually assaulting her over and over again on that late night flight,” said prosecuting attorney Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, during the trial. MacLean’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Kimball at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and assisted by the Salt Lake City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Kennedy and Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Human Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Jamaican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Tuesday to 70 months in prison for his role in a human smuggling conspiracy that placed lives in jeopardy. According to court documents, Bryan Adamson, 52, was involved in the coordination of at least 14 alien smuggling events for a human smuggling organization (HSO) between May 6, 2021, and April 28, 2022. He was responsible for recruiting drivers, hiring scouts, paying drivers and co-conspirators, and communicating/coordinating directly with co-conspirators to facilitate the further transport of aliens that arrived in Laredo from Mexico. In May 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio began investigating the criminal activity of an HSO that smuggled hundreds of aliens from Laredo to San Antonio inside tractor trailers. HSI was able to link at least 19 human smuggling events involving the actual apprehension of over 900 aliens to this HSO. The HSO would smuggle aliens from Mexico to Laredo, where they would be kept in stash houses before being transported to San Antonio in tractor trailers. The loads ranged from approximately 30 aliens to more than 100 aliens traveling in a single trailer. Several of those smuggling events involved dangerous conditions inside the trailers, including the event on May 6, 2021, in which the San Antonio Police Department received 911 calls regarding a tractor trailer that was in transit with individuals sticking their hands out of a small door in the trailer. The area surrounding the opening had been ripped apart by the individuals inside the trailer in their attempts to escape. Forty-one aliens were apprehended, including one who had to be transported to the hospital for treatment due to displaying symptoms of dehydration. Two of the aliens were unaccompanied minors. One of the aliens told HSI that he was positioned by the trailer doors and observed several people inside having trouble breathing. The aliens stated there had been over 100 people in the trailer and the temperature inside the trailer was high due to the number of bodies, causing them to fear for their lives. When officers arrived, they observed that several of the aliens appeared to be disoriented and were asking for water. On June 15, 2022, Adamson was charged with one count of transporting illegal aliens. A second count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and placing the life of a person in jeopardy was added in a superseding indictment on Aug. 17, 2022. Adamson was arrested on June 23, 2022. He pleaded guilty to both charges on May 1, 2025. In addition to Adamson’s imprisonment, Adamson was ordered to spend three years on supervised release. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez also ordered that Adamson forfeit $164,250 and two firearms along with ammunition and accessories. “Human smuggling crimes don’t just violate borders—they endanger lives, exploit vulnerable people, and finance some of the most dangerous criminal organizations our world has ever known,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This sentencing sends the message that we will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases and intend to hold those involved accountable.” “This sentencing underscores the life-threatening risks posed by transnational human smuggling networks that prioritize profit over people,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “The defendant’s actions not only violated federal law but posed a risk to human life. We will continue working with our international and domestic partners to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.” Seven of Adamson’s co-defendants have already been sentenced. Fredi Zagala-Servin and Sedrick Zelitis Smith were sentenced to 97 months and 84 months in prison, respectively. Mark Algie Holliday, Norman Lee Walker, Jr., Ronnie Joe Branch and Eliseo Loredo were each sentenced to 30 months in prison. Rodney Edward Shavers was sentenced to time served on Feb. 26 after being in custody since Dec. 31, 2022. Debbie Marie Gonzales pleaded guilty in May and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 17, while Francisco Arredondo-Colmenero awaits further proceedings following his arrest in Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Brown prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Gattinella handled the forfeiture on the case. This investigation was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 390 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 350 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. 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 other 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods. ###


title: Lynchburg Store Owner Indicted on Federal Food Stamp Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment today charging a Lynchburg store owner with federal food stamp and wire fraud. Rajan Babbar, 59, of Lynchburg, Virginia, the owner of Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, is accused of fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. SNAP was established by the United States Government to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among low- and middle-income families by increasing their food purchasing power and ability. The grand jury has charged Babbar with one count of SNAP benefits fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and four counts of transacting in criminally derived property. According to the indictment, in 2016 Babbar filed paperwork with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Taste of India to become a SNAP retailer. In December 2016, FNS approved Babbar’s application. Beginning in or around April 2021, it is alleged that SNAP sales at Taste of India skyrocketed from their previous levels. In the three-year span between 2018 and 2020, the average monthly SNAP sales at the store were approximately $5,324 per month. In 2021 and 2022, the average monthly SNAP sales were approximately $53,147 per month. In 2023 and 2024, the average monthly SNAP sales were approximately $60,385 per month. The indictment alleges that Babbar permitted individuals to exchange their SNAP benefits for cash. Babbar allegedly rang-up false transactions for nonexistent food items and other products. He then provided those individuals with cash for approximately one-half the value of the SNAP benefits. Along with the eight criminal counts, the indictment includes a notice of forfeiture seeking to criminally forfeit approximately $383,232 in funds, along with a commercial real estate property in Lynchburg. United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert, Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the USDA-OIG, and Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Colorado man sentenced to 30 years in prison on drug charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Greely, Colorado drug trafficker who led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit was sentenced today to 360 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. In October 2024, a federal jury in Billings found Moises Zamora, 40, guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Zamora has a prior federal conviction in Montana for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and he received a sentence of imprisonment in that case of ten years. See US v. Zamora, CR 21-78-GF-BMM. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over this matter. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on November 11, 2022, a Yellowstone County Sheriff’s deputy pulled into a convenience store parking lot in Billings and noticed a car parked in an obscure manner, away from the pumps or store entrances. As the deputy drove toward the car, he saw the driver, later identified as Zamora, point toward his patrol vehicle and then slouch in the seat. The deputy found Zamora's behavior suspicious and pulled behind the vehicle to investigate. Zamora reversed his car and drove away. The deputy activated his lights and siren, but Zamora continued driving, and a high-speed pursuit began. The chase lasted almost 10 minutes and involved speeds reaching 80 mph, with Zamora driving recklessly and entering the lane of oncoming traffic. Zamora finally stopped when he came to a dead end and was arrested. The deputy observed two blue “M30” pills, later confirmed to be fentanyl, in the backseat. Law enforcement determined Zamora had a warrant for his arrest and was booked into the Yellowstone County Detention Center. Law enforcement served a search warrant on Zamora’s car and located approximately six pounds of meth, two fentanyl pills, three cell phones, and drug paraphernalia. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 21,744 doses. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and FBI conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Norwalk Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JELSON PEREZ, also known as “Spank,” 42 of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics trafficking in and around Norwalk. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Norwalk Police Department began investigating a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the Norwalk area. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the organization was coordinating the transportation of kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Texas and Ohio, and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin from New York City, and distributing the narcotics in and around Norwalk through a network of individuals, including Perez. The investigation also revealed that Perez brokered the purchase of a firearm for another member of the organization. Perez and several associates were arrested on April 29, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple federal search warrants and seized approximately 15,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 350 grams of raw heroin, quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, a 9mm handgun and ammunition, and a 2021 Ford F-150. Perez has been detained since his arrest. On April 30, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and quantities of heroin and cocaine. This ongoing investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Norwalk Police Department, the Darien Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Kenneth L. Gresham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Political Organizer and Former President of City Council of Atlantic City Sentenced to 24 Months for Submitting Fraudulent Mail-In Ballots

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in the procurement, casting, and tabulation of fraudulent mail-in ballots submitted in connection with the general election held on November 8, 2022, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Craig Callaway, 64, a former member and President of the City Council of Atlantic City and a political organizer who assisted campaigns for elected offices in New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an Information charging him with depriving, defrauding, and attempting to deprive and defraud the residents of the State of New Jersey of a fair and impartially conducted election process by the fraudulent procurement, casting, and tabulation of ballots. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to those who seek to undermine New Jersey’s electoral process: that such conduct will result in serious consequences. The sentence also reflects our Office’s commitment to protecting free and fair elections, one of the bedrock principles of our democracy.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba “The right to vote is a fundamental aspect of our democracy, one that the FBI and our law enforcement partners strive to protect. Craig Callaway’s nefarious plot to hijack mail-in ballots resulted in his arrest and subsequent sentencing, and serves as a reminder to like-minded criminals, voter fraud will not be tolerated in New Jersey,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Beginning in or about October 2022, approximately one month before the general election held on November 8, 2022 (the “2022 General Election”), Callaway and others who were working at Callaway’s direction approached numerous individuals in Atlantic City, promising to pay them between approximately $30 and $50 to act as purported authorized messengers for voters who supposedly wished to vote by mail. After receiving Vote-By-Mail Applications from Callaway or his subordinates, these purported messengers entered the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office carrying anywhere from one to four completed Vote-By-Mail Applications. Inside the County Clerk’s Office, as instructed by Callaway or his subordinates, these individuals provided County Clerk’s Office personnel proof of identification and signed the Vote-By-Mail Applications in the authorized messenger portion before handing those signed applications to office personnel. Further as instructed by Callaway or his subordinates, these purported messengers waited while office personnel processed the applications and, if the applications were approved, provided to the purported messengers mail-in ballots for the voters listed on the applications. Under New Jersey law, a messenger is required to deliver any mail-in ballot they received directly to the voter who requested the ballot and must certify that they would do so. However, after receiving mail-in ballots, these purported messengers left the County Clerk’s Office and handed the ballots to Callaway or his subordinates, instead of delivering the ballots to the voters. Many of the mail-in ballots collected by Callaway or his subordinates were ultimately cast in the names of voters who have confirmed that they did not vote in the 2022 General Election—either in-person or by submitting a mail-in ballot—and that they did not authorize Callaway, his subordinates, or anyone else, to cast ballots for them in the 2022 General Election. Many of these mail-in ballots were counted towards the 2022 General Election. In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge Bumb sentenced Callaway to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency's Public Corruption Task Force, including the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds; the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Chief James A. Sarkos; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan; as well as special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone; the Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins; and the postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James H. Graham of the Special Prosecutions Division. ### Defense counsel: Megan J. Davies, Esq.


title: Lake County Woman And Federal Inmate Arrested For Smuggling Drugs Into Prison

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Michelle Nicole Marie Brannon (36, Lake County) and Robert Hayes (46, Hillsborough County) on a federal indictment. Brannon is charged with one count of making a materially false statement or representation to a federal agency and one count of providing contraband to a federal prisoner. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. Hayes is charged with one count of possession of contraband by a federal prisoner. If convicted, Hayes faces a maximum of 5 years in federal prison. According to the court records, Brannon and Hayes are brother and sister. On April 27, 2025, Brannon visited Hayes, an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. As Brannon was being screened before the visitation, she made a materially false representation to a corrections officer that she did not have any narcotics in her possession. Subsequently, she was caught providing Hayes with buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance. Federal inmates are prohibited from possessing controlled substances in the prison facility. 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 is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.


title: Smuggler of Firearms from Key West to Haiti Sentenced in D.C. to 30 Months in Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jean Wiltene Eugene, 57, of Key West, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for his role in a gunrunning operation that illegally exported firearms to Haiti, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Eugene pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Eugene to serve 24 months of supervised release. Joining in the announcement of the sentence were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the Miami Field Office. According to court documents, Eugene is a U.S. citizen who was born in Haiti and resides in Key West. On Sept. 23, 2021, Eugene knowingly exported more than two firearms from the United States to Haiti contrary to U.S. laws and regulations, including the prohibitions in the Export Administration Regulations and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, knowing the firearms were intended for exportation contrary to such laws and regulations. In particular, Eugene exported the firearms without having first obtained the required license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. Anyone who violates the smuggling statute may be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned for up to 10 years. Eugene arranged to ship vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company. Eugene signed the company’s terms and conditions of shipments, which required the shipper to affirm that the vehicles did not contain any firearms or ammunition. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, he shipped two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside. Eugene stated that he placed food and other items around the bins holding the firearms so border authorities would not find the weapons. In a later interview with federal agents, Eugene stated that nine firearms he purchased in Key West under his name were currently located at his gas station in Haiti and that none of those firearms remained in the United States. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to ship weapons to Haiti when confronted by the federal agents. Eugene was arrested May 4, 2024, in Key West. This case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Pravallika Palacharla. Substantial assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. 25cr78


title: Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Family Member within the Pine Ridge Reservation

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, who was convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on July 21, 2025. Cole Waters, 37, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Waters was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025. On November 16, 2024, in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Waters used a pistol to beat his nephew several times. Waters first used the pistol to strike his nephew’s face, causing him to fall down. Then, when his nephew tried to get back up, Waters struck his nephew with the pistol again, on the back of his head. Waters used the pistol to hit his nephew a final time on the back of his shoulder. Waters’ nephew suffered serious bodily injury, including a fracture to his face and numbness and scarring elsewhere. 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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Waters was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ramon Ramirez-Frias, aka “Willy Ramirez-Frias” and “Mollo,” 40, a Dominican national illegally residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kai N. Scott to nine months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after prior deportation. Upon the completion of his sentence, he again will be removed from the country. In April 2004, following his arrest by U.S. Border Patrol in Puerto Rico, Ramirez-Frias was processed for voluntary removal from the United States. The defendant later illegally reentered the country, and was arrested by FBI Philadelphia in April of 2022 on federal drug charges. Ramirez-Frias pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and was removed from the U.S. in November 2023, pursuant to an immigration judge’s order. Earlier this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI received information that Ramirez-Frias had returned to the U.S. illegally and was living in Philadelphia. He was located and arrested in February, indicted in March, and pleaded guilty to illegal reentry in April. 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 Neighborhoods (PSN). The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Chandler Harris.


title: Domestic trafficker imprisoned for possessing over 2,000 counterfeit pills

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Walter Wellington Somers pleaded guilty April 2, 2024. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Somers to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Somers had travelled from Louisiana and was planning to return to sell the fentanyl pills for a greater profit and that he has had numerous prior convictions and contacts with law enforcement. “All too often, we hear tragic stories about someone’s young son or daughter dying after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl, and it's people like this defendant who put that one lethal dose in their hand,” said Ganjei. “The seizure of Mr. Somers’ deadly wares kept these pills from hitting the streets and undoubtedly saved many lives. The Department of Justice wishes to thank the staff at the Embassy Suites for their quick thinking in recognizing the drugs and alerting authorities. This is an example of community action leading to a great result.” “DEA’s diligent investigative efforts helped save countless lives,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division. Only two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose, and Somers had thousands of fake fentanyl pills that could have devastated the Laredo community. DEA is unwavering in its commitment to eradicate these dangerous drugs from our neighborhoods and bring those responsible for dealing these deadly drugs to justice.” On Dec. 23, 2023, law enforcement responded to a call from the Embassy Suites Hotel in Laredo. Hotel staff found what they believed to be drugs in one of the rooms while trying to clean it. Law enforcement arrived on scene and observed Somers attempting to get back into the room. He claimed he was only there to pay for a television he had broken. Authorities conducted a search of the hotel room and discovered a silver zipper bag containing several clear plastic bags with a large number of small blue circular pills. They were imprinted with an “M-30” logo. Law enforcement confirmed Somers had been staying in the room and checked out earlier in the day before returning to the hotel. A laboratory analysis later determined there were a total of 2,319 blue pills which contained fentanyl. The investigation revealed the source of supply was from Sinaloa, Mexico. The investigation revealed Somers had traveled from Louisiana to meet a friend in South Texas. In phone messages between the two, they discussed collecting money and acquiring narcotics. In one audio message, the individual told Somers if he sent $700 or $800 that evening, someone would front them 3,000 pills. The friend also sent Somers a video of him holding three bags of blue M-30 pills that were identical in size, shape and packaging to the pills seized Dec. 23, 2023. Somers will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. DEA and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. 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 . More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking in Franklin County

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possessing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base with the intent to distribute those substances. According to court records, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the suspected trafficking of illegal narcotics from an Avon residence. In July 2020, investigators executed a search warrant and found Oscarlin Peguero Ortiz , 27, inside the residence. During a search of the residence, law enforcement seized approximately 85 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and 40 grams of crack cocaine. Investigators also seized digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and over $8,000 in cash. Ortiz faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years and up to life of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine State Police, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Receives 20-Year Sentence for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking Ring

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Brockton, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a drug trafficking ring that stretched from Massachusetts to northern Maine. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Daviston Jackson , 28, to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. On January 21, 2025, Jackson and his co-defendant, Daquan Corbett, were found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl following a two-week long trial. According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Jackson and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Together with Corbett , Jacksonorganized and conducted the conspiracy’s operations through a network of dealers. Jackson delivered and arranged for the delivery of large quantities of the two drugs from an out-of-state supplier and then distributed those drugs through a network of dealers in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Proceeds from the sale of the drugs were collected and returned to Massachusetts by Jackson and others. Twenty-two defendants have been convicted in this and related cases for their part in a widespread drug trafficking conspiracy. To date, 21 of the defendants have been sentenced, while only Corbett awaits sentencing: Sentenced: Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) – 48 months Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served (approx. 5 months) Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 31 months) plus 6 months of community confinement Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) – Time served (approx. 36 months) James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months Shelby Loring (29, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 32 months) Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years John Miller (24, Caribou) – 54 months Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 33 months) Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) – Time served (approx. 2 months) plus 24 months home detention Tamara Davis (29, Fall River, MA) – Time Served (approx. 14 months) Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont) – 60 months James Valiante (42, Linneus) – 36 months Daviston Jackson (28, Brockton, Mass.) Awaiting sentencing: Daquan Corbett (30, Brockton, Mass.) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the Maine State Police and the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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. ###


title: Fort Thompson Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Embezzling Funds from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a woman from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, who was convicted of Embezzlement from an Indian Tribal Organization. The sentencing took place on July 21, 2025. Mariah Pearl Sazue, age 35, was sentenced to three months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $44,627.25 in restitution to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sazue was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. She pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025. Sazue served as the Human Resources Director for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe between June 2022 and May 2024. In December 2022, Sazue began submitting timesheets with forged signatures and grossly inflated overtime hours. In total, Sazue received $44,627.25 in excess overtime pay before being fired for fraud in May 2024. When confronted, Sazue claimed she would never take advantage of the tribe. This case was investigated by the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Sazue was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Illegal alien sent to prison for role in nationwide scheme to sell fake Texas paper vehicle tags

body_text: HOUSTON – The final man in a large-scale conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to the sale of hundreds of thousands of fraudulent Texas paper license plates has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Emmanuel Padilla Reyes, 35, pleaded guilty May 13. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Reyes to serve 60 months in federal prison and to pay $22 million in restitution to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard testimony from the family of a victim killed by a truck bearing a fraudulent paper license plate that one of Reyes’ dealerships had issued. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that there were many more victims just like this one whose lives Reyes harmed and changed, and that this was not a victimless crime. “The defendant’s criminal scheme was not only illegal in itself, but also facilitated scores of other crimes, such as armed robberies and drive-by shootings,” said Ganjei. “Texas motorists deserve to know vehicles on the roadways alongside them and their families are genuinely licensed, rather than the instruments of crime.” “This case led not only to arrests and prison sentences for those behind a national multimillion-dollar scheme, but it also led to changes in the way temporary tags are issued in Texas. Changes that just went into effect July 1,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “That’s impactful, and I’m so proud of our law enforcement partners and the FBI Houston case team who made it all happen.” Reyes and co-conspirators sold over 550,000 tags using the internet and messaging apps, without selling any vehicles. He used aliases, including a stolen identity, to obtain car dealer licenses for the scheme. The fake tags allowed buyers to evade registration, insurance and law enforcement detection, enabling crimes such as robberies and drive-by shootings. In Texas, used car dealers must obtain an independent General Distinguishing Number to access the state’s eTag portal and issue temporary buyer tags. At the time of the indictment, the system lacked data entry restrictions. Reyes used fake identities and documents to obtain licenses for two fictitious dealerships, “King’s Ranch Autoland” and “Texas Motor Company,” then advertised Texas buyer tags for sale on Facebook and Instagram. Reyes will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Co-defendants Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 45, Octavian Ocasio, 53, and Daniel Christine-Tani, 36, were also charged and convicted in the scheme and were sentenced to prison. Lopez, also in the United States illegally, failed to report to prison. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 20 charging her with failure to surrender. Lopez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Travis County Constable Office - Precinct 3, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.


title: Prolific international money launderer sentenced to 15 years in prison

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Paraguay-based transnational money launderer was sentenced today to 15 years in prison. According to court documents, Federico Ezequiel Santoro Vassallo, aka Capitan, 46, was a close associate of Uruguayan national Sebastian Enrique Marset Cabrera , 29, who, as alleged in an indictment, is a transnational drug-trafficker responsible for moving ton quantities of cocaine worth millions of dollars from South America to Europe. Santoro served as a transnational money launderer for drug-trafficking organizations and facilitated the movement of millions of dollars of drug proceeds from various countries in Europe to South America and elsewhere. Santoro and his co-conspirators arranged for the collection of narcotics proceeds and utilized couriers and tokens to covertly deliver bulk illicit currency, typically in euros. Santoro’s co-conspirators specialized in placing the illicit currency into the global banking system. He then would direct the movement of the funds internationally, usually via bank wire transfer. Santoro typically directed that the funds be delivered in U.S. dollars and a correspondent bank in the United States would facilitate the transaction. Santoro used at least seven businesses to facilitate the transmission of money and hid the location and ownership of the assets being laundered by using unrelated companies, all registered as purportedly doing business in different, unrelated industries. Santoro used businesses registered in South America and Asia to receive the laundered drug proceeds and concealed the source of the funds by creating false invoices to justify the wire transfers. Santoro threatened violence to protect his money laundering activities. Santoro laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds and, in a span of less than five months, directed the movement of more than $11 million in drug-trafficking funds through U.S. banks. As payment, Santoro took a percentage of the illicit bulk cash proceeds that he laundered. As part of the sentence, the Court entered an Order of Forfeiture in the amount of $11,537,860.47. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Louis A. D’Ambrosio, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement partners in Paraguay provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and extradition of Santoro Vassallo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff and Catherine Rosenberg prosecuted the case. Anyone with information about Marset’s operation, including his drug trafficking, money laundering, and use of (or threats to use) violence, or about his location, is urged to contact the DEA by email at MarsetTips@dea.gov . This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-143.


title: Justice Department Supports Seattle’s Motion to Terminate Police Department Consent Decree

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division today announced that it has filed a response in support of the City of Seattle’s Motion to Terminate the Consent Decree in United States v. City of Seattle . The decree required reforms in the Seattle Police Department’s practices regarding use of force, crisis intervention, stops and detentions, supervision and accountability. With support from the Justice Department, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) achieved sustained substantial compliance. The Justice Department brought this case pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division and the Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division jointly investigated and found that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) had engaged in a pattern or practice of unnecessary or excessive force that violated the Constitution and federal law. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington entered the consent decree in 2012. “We congratulate the Seattle Police Department on its achievement of sustained substantial compliance with this thirteen-year-old consent decree,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “This Civil Rights Division will continue to work with police departments across the country to help make America’s communities safe again.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, believes the district court should terminate the consent decree and monitorship, which have been in place for 13 years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington. “Seattle has been held up as an example of successful police reform and has done recent work on its crowd control policies and accountability systems. We trust it will continue to lead the way on constitutional policing.”