title: 15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, Indicted

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: Note: View indictment here . MINNEAPOLIS – The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property. Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges. “As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.” “The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.” “For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.” “Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.” “The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.” An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property. As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions. DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations. Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.” The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self-defense, internationalism, and revolution.” On February 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below. Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence. Wagner being arrested. DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.” DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations. DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities. DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings. DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions. Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions. A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade. Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade. Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested. “Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members. For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver. On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision. Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle. Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle. On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle. Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN. Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026. On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.” On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.” Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.” Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.” Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.” During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.” DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government. For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below. Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page. On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below. Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy. On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below. Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page. The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment: Isaac Auman Sant , also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking. Emmett James Doyle , also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Cameron Kennedy , also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats. Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property. Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer. This case was investigated by HSI. This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Broken Arrow Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Michael Hunter, age 38, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged Hunter with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 35 rounds of 9mm ammunition on June 18, 2025, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department. The Honorable D. Eward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hunter was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Three Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Money from Accounts Managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Bismarck – United States Attorney Nichoas W. Chase announced that on June 16, 2026, Ranita Lynn Freeman, Age 32, Minot, North Dakota (and a member of the MHA Nation), appeared in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $51,500 in restitution, for the offenses of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft. Between 2020 and 2023, Freeman stole $51,500 from two MHA Nation tribal members’ Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages the financial assets of American Indians held in trust by the Department of the Interior and an IIM account is an interest-bearing account managed by the BTFA on behalf of an individual who has money or other assets held in trust for them by the Federal government. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Freeman stole $42,000 from one tribal member’s IIM account and, again between January and April 2023, she stole $9,500 from a second tribal member’s IIM account. Throughout these two separate schemes, Freeman placed multiple calls to the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, where she fraudulently pretended to be these tribal members. During these calls, Freeman provided the BTFA with the names, dates of birth, and other identifying information of the tribal members to access, and obtain money from, their respective IIM accounts. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General special agents identified Freeman as the caller when she called into the BTFA posing as one of these tribal members and they compared the caller’s voice to Freeman’s voice. Additional Individuals Sentenced in a Separate BTFA IIM Fraud Scheme: Between November and December 2022, Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin and Samantha Lynn Rebold stole $11,695.92 from an MHA Nation tribal members’ IIM account. To accomplish this theft, Rebold took photographs of the tribal member’s personal identifying information, including his social security card and tribal identification card. Thereafter, Rebold provided these photographs to co-defendant Martin who then called the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, pretended to be the MHA Nation tribal member and fraudulently requested that the BTFA send two monetary disbursements from this individual’s IIM account—in the amounts of $1,510.40 and $10,185.52—to a bank account that he controlled. Thereafter, Martin and Rebold spent the money that they fraudulently obtained from this tribal member’s IIM account. When Martin called the BTFA, he falsely used the MHA Nation tribal member’s name, date of birth, social security number, and tribal identification number to obtain money from this IIM account. Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin : Age: 39. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on October 21, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to 24 months’ imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Aggravated Identity Theft. Samantha Lynn Rebold : Age: 38. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on June 18, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to time served (7 days), three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Wire Fraud. “Fraud is especially sinister because it hurts victims in many ways”, said US Attorney Nicholas W. Case. “As this case shows, when criminals steal money through fraud schemes, they often steal something even more personal, the identities of innocent people whose names, financial accounts, and personal information are exploited for criminal gain. Prosecuting fraud and identity theft offenses remains one of the highest priorities of this office because these crimes can cause lasting financial and emotional harm to victims. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting the public from those who seek to profit through deception and the misuse of others’ personal information.” “These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to exploit vulnerable account holders by stealing funds that are intended to support thousands of Native Americans and their communities. These funds, held in trust, are vital to the many individuals who rely on them as their sole source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. “We will continue working with the BTFA and our prosecutorial partners to protect account holders and hold those responsible fully accountable.” This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior – Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek, District of North Dakota. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. # # #


title: Depew man pleads guilty to entering secure area at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that James R. Muench Jr., 45, of Depew, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to entering aircraft or airport area, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000. According to the plea, on May 20, 2025, Muench drove his vehicle up to a closed security gate outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. He initially stopped at the gate, but then repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the gate, eventually bending the metal gate. Muench then drove his vehicle through the damaged and partially open gate and continued onto the aircraft operational area of the airport. Muench drove through various secure parts of the airport including the inner airfield roads, aircraft taxiways, the commercial passenger aircraft ramp area, and the active airport runways, where aircraft take off and land. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Brian Patterson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford. Sentenced is scheduled for October 15, 2026, before Magistrate Judge Schroeder. # # # #


title: Violent Extremist Network “764” Member Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Exploiting Minors And Cyberstalking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A member of a violent extremist network learned his fate in federal court, today, for sexually abusing minors and other crimes. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Erik Lee Madison, 21, of Halethorpe, Maryland, to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child and cyberstalking. Madison sexually exploited at least 10 minor female victims. Judge Maddox also ordered Madison to pay $3,000 in restitution. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). “Mr. Madison is a child predator who committed heinous acts. As a result, he is going to jail for a long time. This sentence sends a clear message to Madison, and others who abuse and terrorize the most vulnerable members of our community: we will find you, prosecute you, and bring you to justice,” Hayes said. “We’re committed to working with our law-enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who engage in these deplorable acts.” “Erik Lee Madison, a member and associate of the nihilistic violent extremist group 764, has been sentenced today for sexually exploiting multiple female minor victims via the internet. Victimizing our most vulnerable members of society, is unacceptable,” Paul said. “FBI Baltimore will not stand for these monstrous acts and remains determined to stop these predatory criminals. FBI Baltimore will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these violent online networks accountable.” According to court documents, from November 2024 until November 2025, Madison, a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists, used the internet to create and share extreme content — such as gore, violence, and child sexual abuse material — to extort and blackmail vulnerable teenagers. Madison used the internet to sexually exploit minor females and encourage them to engage in self-harm. The minor female victims were from various locations inside and outside of the United States. Madison used the internet to cause minor females to produce or stream sexually explicit conduct, cut themselves with razors, and cut signs and words on their bodies. Additionally, Madison coerced the female minor victims into using their blood to write various signs, along with Madison’s monikers, on a wall and then they streamed it to Madison. He also encouraged the victims to injure animals. Then Madison extorted the victims through a variety of methods, including threatening to harm them and their families, “leak” or disseminate depictions of the victims engaging in cutting and sexually explicit conduct, “dox” the victims and their family members, and “swat” victims and their family members. Members of “764” use known online social media platforms to support the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sex abuse material with vulnerable, juvenile populations. These individuals often conduct coordinated extortions of teenagers, blackmailing the victims to comply with the group’s demands. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Athens Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child Pornography

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Athens, Illinois, man, Christopher Wagy, 28, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography. At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Wagy had purchased multiple cellular phones for a minor child in another state and directed her to take explicit photos of herself. Wagy then shared those images on the internet. The government also noted that Wagy continued this conduct despite attempted intervention by the victim’s family and law enforcement. During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless found that Wagy’s clear pattern of behavior showed he presented a risk of reoffending and that the sentence imposed was necessary to protect the public. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Wagy in July 2025, and he pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment in December 2025. The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are five to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. “A sentence of 28 years ensures that this defendant will not be able to prey upon other young children,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “While no sentence can undo what has happened to these victims, our Office will continue to seek justice by prosecuting those who take advantage of our most vulnerable population.” “This defendant went to great lengths to target and manipulate a vulnerable child despite repeated warnings from law enforcement and the victim's family,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Preseley. “A 28-year sentence ensures that his defiant and predatory behavior is permanently halted. This case is a powerful example of how the FBI works seamlessly with our partners throughout the United States to protect children, no matter where the predator is located.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case along with Goodyear Arizona Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Mary Beth Rodgers represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Wagy was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.


title: Juneau man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing a minor to produce child pornography

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: JUNEAU, Alaska – A Juneau man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a young boy to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and post the visuals on the dark web. According to court documents, from March to August 2024, William Steadman, 35, manipulated and groomed a vulnerable 10-year-old boy he had access to in his community. He sexually abused the minor and produced 43 images and 63 videos depicting the abuse. He posted some of these visuals to platforms on the dark web. Steadman bragged about his sexual abuse and manipulation of the minor on the platforms. Prior to the charged offense, Steadman was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Alaska state court in 2018, requiring him to register as a sex offender. Following his release from state custody, Steadman began a dark web collection of thousands of visuals depicting child sexual abuse and eventually distributing CSAM he produced of the minor victim. Steadman possessed over 3,300 images and over 1,100 videos of CSAM, representing thousands of additional minor victims. On Sept. 6, 2024, Steadman was arrested on a criminal complaint in Juneau. Roughly two weeks later, Steadman was indicted by a federal grand jury for his crimes. On March 31, 2025, Steadman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Steadman to spend the rest of his life on supervised release once he completes his prison sentence. The Court ordered restitution to be determined on a later date. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the defendant’s long track record of recidivism and the need to protect the public from Steadman for a significant amount of time. “Today’s sentence holds William Steadman accountable for his depraved, sustained, and repeated sexual abuse and production of CSAM with a young child who had been entrusted to his care,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protection of America’s children and the prosecution of those who abuse and take advantage of them will always be at the forefront of the Criminal Division’s mission.” “Mr. Steadman’s conduct in this case was evil, and his desire to repeat and escalate his heinous offenses garnered a weighty prison sentence to protect the community from him for as long as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office has a phenomenal team of prosecutors dedicated to seeking justice against those who prey on the most vulnerable. Anyone who targets Alaska’s children will be found and held accountable for their perverse crimes.” “The U.S. Secret Service is unwavering in its commitment to pursue predators who exploit and harm children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone that commits these vile crimes is held fully accountable and their victims receive the justice they deserve.” The Secret Service’s Internet Crimes Against Children Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Jack Schmidt, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC . ###


title: North Carolina Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – – James Terry Lawson Jr., 43, pleaded guilty today to failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) after traveling in interstate commerce and relocating to West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about October 1, 2024, through on or about May 1, 2025, Lawson resided in Vienna, West Virginia, without registering as a sex offender. Lawson was convicted of indecent liberties with children in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Superior Court on December 3, 2003, and is required to register under SORNA. Lawson has a criminal history that also includes prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender on May 27, 2004, September 21, 2009, and July 14, 2017. Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-3. ###


component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Note: View indictment here . The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property. Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges. “As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.” “The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.” “For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.” “Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.” “The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.” An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property. As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions. DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations. Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.” The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self defense, internationalism, and revolution.” On Feb. 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below. Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence. Wagner being arrested. DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.” DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations. DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities. DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings. DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions. Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions. A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade. Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade. Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested. “Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members. For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver. On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision. Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle. Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle. On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle. Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN. Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026. On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.” On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.” Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.” Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.” Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.” During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.” DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government. For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below. Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page. On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below. Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy. On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below. Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page. The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment: Isaac Auman Sant , also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking. Emmett James Doyle , also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Cameron Kennedy , also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats. Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer. William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property. Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer. This case was investigated by HSI. This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sant et al Indictment - MN.pdf


title: Newport News felon sentenced to four years in prison for firearm possession and gate crashing at Naval Station Norfolk

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and unlawful entrance upon a naval installation. According to court documents, during a traffic stop on Dec. 16, 2024, Newport News Police found Malik Rashun Hughes, 27, in possession of a stolen handgun loaded with a large-capacity magazine containing sixteen rounds of ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Hughes cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. On July 19, 2025, Hughes stole a vehicle in Virginia Beach. He crashed into another vehicle near Naval Station Norfolk. As he fled the scene of the collision, Hughes illegally entered the installation, ignoring directions from a sentry at the entry control point. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, Hughes attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended in possession of an air soft gun and a half-consumed bottle of tequila. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Newport News Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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. 4:25-cr-55.


title: Washington State Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Conviction for Escaping from Federal Custody

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington state man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday after a jury found him guilty of escape after failing to report to the Northwest Regional Re-entry Center (NWRRC) in Portland. Brandon Charles Nelson, 40, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents, Nelson was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. On Feb. 25, 2025, after violating his release conditions for a third time, Nelson’s supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 18 months of supervised release. While in custody at Victorville Federal Corrections Institute (FCI), Nelson met criteria for placement in a residential re-entry center and was referred to the NWRRC. Rather than report as required, Nelson absconded. The USMS arrested him on Dec. 5, 2025. On Dec. 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Nelson with escape from custody. On Feb. 25, 2026, following a two-day trial, a jury convicted Nelson with one count of escape from custody. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The USMS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.


title: Tallahassee Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Charges

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Forrest Alan Price, 32, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of synthetic cathinone and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “With a dozen prior felony convictions, this serial offender has made a career out of terrorizing our communities and flooding our streets with deadly narcotics. Enough is enough. President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche launched Operation Take Back America to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward incapacitating drug trafficking violent offenders, like this defendant, and that is exactly what my office will continue to do with successful prosecutions like this one until the citizens of the Northern District of Florida get the safe, drug-free streets they deserve.” Court documents reflect that in February 2026, the Tallahassee Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle following surveillance of a suspected drug house. The defendant was the passenger in the vehicle, and officers observed him trying to conceal several baggies of drugs in his lap. The defendant briefly resisted officers’ commands when asked to step out of the vehicle but was eventually handcuffed. Officers found that the defendant tried to conceal baggies containing 13.3 grams of synthetic cathinone and 6.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. Officers used a key fob taken from the defendant to open the locked glove compartment and found a 9-millimeter pistol on top of a small safe. The safe was found to contain 24.16 grams of pure methamphetamine, additional synthetic cathinone, marijuana, Alprazolam pills, and items used to package drugs for street sale. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to 12 prior felony convictions. His convictions included a prior federal case involving drug trafficking and firearm charges. The defendant faces at least 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of Life for his current charges. The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at 11:00 am, in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Lehigh Valley Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud and Defrauding Local Car Dealerships

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Justin Heimbach, 34, of Bath, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 76 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $598,257 in restitution by United States District Judge John M. Younge for schemes to defraud the federal government and multiple local car dealerships. The defendant was charged by indictment in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in February of this year to six counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud. In March of 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA). The PUA program provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, or extended unemployment benefits. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Heimbach, who operated a construction company called TeamKJ Construction, engaged in a scheme that caused fraudulent PUA applications to be filed in the names of individuals allegedly no longer employed by TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19. In reality, the applications contained a number of materially false statements, including that the applicant had lost their job with TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19 and the date the applicant lost their job with TeamKJ due to the pandemic. In addition, Heimbach defrauded multiple Lehigh Valley car dealerships by purchasing vehicles in the names of other construction companies registered to or associated with him, and writing checks for those vehicles on bank accounts that had an insufficient balance to cover the transaction. This case was jointly investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Chandler Harris. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Five men arrested & charged in plot to attack & kill government officials, others attending Ultimate Fighting Championship at White House

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday. The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing. “The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.” “On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said: “The investigation of this plot began on June 10 here in the Southern District of Ohio. Thanks to the urgent and diligent work of our AUSAs, our law enforcement partners, and our sister U.S. Attorney Offices, five men from around the country are now in custody for an alleged plan to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on Sunday. “As alleged in our complaint, the investigation revealed that a man from Knox County, Ohio, amassed weapons, ammunition and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, connected with like-minded individuals online & had identified targets for an attack. “We are proud to have some of the Nation’s finest investigators and AUSAs in this District and are immensely grateful for their work to thwart this attack.” “Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.” According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd. Tycen Proper According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress. Bryan Roa According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer. A search of Roa’s phone allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns. Michael Thomas According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…” In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.” In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.” In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 of rounds of ammunition, and a pistol. Daniel Eskridge Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. Senators, Representatives, and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies. When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets. On May 22, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest. Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event. Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in U.S. currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.” On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear. Abraham Alvarez According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “Shepherd,” was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more. The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions. If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Buffalo man going to prison for more than 16 years for selling cocaine that resulted in a death and serious bodily injury

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Theodore Hill a/k/a Ty, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of distribution of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. On December 5, 2023, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Hill sold cocaine to an individual identified as M.M. On December 9, 2023, Buffalo Police responded to a report of suspected drug overdoses at M.M.’s residence. M.M. was discovered deceased and it appeared that he had been deceased for at least over 24 hours. A second individual, R.H., was discovered unresponsive, lying on the floor next to M.M. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition. R.H. sustained serious, long-term injuries as a result of the overdose. On January 25, March 2, and March 15, 2024, Buffalo Police conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Hill, contacting him at the same number that M.M. used. On March 24, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Clemo Street residence, during which law enforcement seized quantities of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Southeast Missouri Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a man caught with more than four pounds of meth to 10 years in prison. Craig M. Perkins, now 55, pleaded guilty in March to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted as part of his plea that during a court approved search of his home in Howardville, in New Madrid County, on May 21, 2025, investigators found about 4.2 pounds of meth. They found half an ounce of meth and 36 rounds of ammunition in a vehicle in the driveway. His phone contained text messages indicative of drug trafficking and photos of firearms and Perkins displaying large stacks of cash. A motion filed in July of 2025 seeking to have Perkins held in jail until trial says that he has been a drug dealer in New Madrid County since at least 2002, and supplied dealers who sold meth to customers. The search of Perkins’ home followed seven purchases of meth from two of those dealers, the motion says. The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton prosecuted the case.


title: Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm During Daytime Armed Assaults in Burlington, Vermont

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 16, 2026, Jason Douglas, age 42, of Saint Albans, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 65 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Douglas pleaded guilty on February 26, 2026 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, during the middle of the day on July 29, 2024, Burlington Police Officers responded to College Street in Burlington, Vermont after reports that a man, later identified as Douglas, had pointed a firearm at another man during a dispute. Security footage from the area confirmed witness reports that Douglas had emerged from a vehicle carrying a handgun, loaded a round into the chamber of the firearm, and pointed the firearm at another man. While officers were investigating this first incident, officers received another report of Douglas pulling a handgun on a man during a fight on Main Street in Burlington. Douglas’s vehicle was located shortly thereafter, and a Ruger LCP .380-caliber pistol, loaded with a round in the chamber, was seized from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Douglas has an extensive criminal history in both Grand Isle and Franklin Counties, including convictions for kidnapping, burglary, unlawful restraint, domestic assault, simple assault, and hindering arrest. Some of these convictions stemmed from Douglas’s involvement in a violent armed home invasion in 2003 and a violent armed altercation in 2005. Douglas’s prior felony convictions prohibited Douglas from possessing a firearm under federal law. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the swift intervention of the Burlington Police Department to disarm Douglas, and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their investigatory assistance. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ophardt added: “Douglas twice engaged in brazen daytime armed assaults in downtown Burlington with a loaded handgun. Dedicated officers of the Burlington Police Department took quick action and promptly apprehended Douglas. I am extremely grateful for the partnership of BPD and ATF; together we will continue to hold violent offenders like Douglas accountable through federal prosecutions.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy Fuller and David Golubock. Douglas was represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq.