title: Newington Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Narcotic Pills, Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KYLE PETERSEN, 39, of Newington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 138 months of imprisonment for trafficking narcotic pills and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating suspicious packages that were being delivered to Petersen’s Newington residence. At the time, Petersen was on federal supervised release following a federal conviction in 2017 involving the trafficking of fentanyl and prescription pills. During the investigation, a court-authorized search of a package mailed to Petersen contained more than 400 grams of pills containing Protonitazene, a synthetic opioid typically more potent than fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Petersen had received approximately 34 similar packages mailed from the same source in Michigan, and also received approximately 46 packages from California and Oregon suspected to contain multiple pounds of marijuana. Investigators also made controlled purchases of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl from Petersen’s brother, Erik Peterson. Kyle and Erik Petersen were arrested on federal criminal complaints on April 3, 2024. On that date, a search of Kyle Petersen’s residence revealed more than a kilogram of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Xanax pills, a large quantity of Protonitazene, approximately 40 grams of cocaine, and $76,650 in cash. Kyle Petersen has been detained since his arrest. On April 2, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and Protonitazine. He also agreed to the forfeiture of the cash seized from his residence, an additional $57,530 in cash seized from a bank account, and a 2014 Porsche Cayenne. Judge Dooley sentenced Kyle Petersen to 120 months of imprisonment for this offense and a consecutive 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Erik Petersen, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on April 29, 2025, was sentenced to 43 months of imprisonment . This matter was investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New Britain and Newington Police Departments. The Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hamden, West Haven, Fairfield, Seymour, and Glastonbury Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.


title: Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Michael Turner, 35, from Fort Dodge, Iowa was sentenced July 1, 2025, to 87 months’ imprisonment, in federal court in Sioux City, for possession of firearm by a prohibited person. At the plea hearing on February 5, 2025, Turner admitted that between March 1, 2024 and March 29, 2024, he possessed a Glock .45 caliber pistol knowing that he was then previously convicted of a crime(s) punishable of a term of imprisonment for more than one year and was an unlawful user of controlled substance(s). On March 29, 2024, Turner was stopped and found in possession of a .45 caliber Glock pistol. It was later determined by ballistic comparison evidence the firearm had been used in a March 8, 2024, shooting in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Other evidence, including surveillance video, indicated Turner was present during the shooting. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Turner was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment and must serve a two-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Turner remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-3023. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Eleven Time Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A Dubuque man who fired a pistol during an argument was sentenced on July 2, 2025, to 15 years in federal prison. Kenneth Moore, age 51, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 16, 2025 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The evidence at trial showed that on August 4, 2023, around 4:00 a.m., Moore got into an argument with an individual on the porch of a residence in Dubuque. During the argument, two individuals attempted to push Moore away from the argument and de‑escalate the situation. As they were pushing Moore away, Moore fired a pistol towards the residence. The bullet nearly hit two people, went through the front wall of the residence, and lodged in the back living room wall. Moore then fled the scene. Twelve days later, on August 16, 2023, officers arrested Moore and searched the car he was driving, where they recovered the pistol Moore fired on August 4. Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of eleven felony convictions. Moore was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Moore was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Moore is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until her can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dubuque Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24‑CR‑01009‑CJW. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Adair County Resident Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jade Larae Duncan, age 28, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. On February 11, 2025, Duncan pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on the evening of December 2, 2022, the vehicle Duncan was driving left the roadway and crashed into a creek bed alongside Salem Road (E 893 Road) in Adair County. Duncan freed herself and one passenger before the vehicle caught fire. A second passenger was trapped in the back seat and died from injuries sustained in the crash and the fire. During the investigation, Duncan admitted to drinking alcohol before driving and a witness described Duncan as “tired and sleepy.” Toxicology on Duncan’s blood drawn in the hours after the crash determined her blood alcohol was approximately 0.085 g/ml, slightly over the 0.080 g/ml legal limit. The crime occurred within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Duncan will self-report on August 4, 2025, to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan, Patrick M. Flanigan, and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending July 3, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 32 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 3 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 25 individuals were charged this week withIllegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 29 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for aggravated assault, burglary, possession of a stolen weapon, and drug trafficking. In one significant case, Jose Antonio Adrian Roman , a Mexican national, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of fifteen years for being an alien in possession of a firearm case. On November 13, 2023, Roman , who had a history of domestic violence, killed his girlfriend and her 15-year-old son with a stolen shotgun. When law enforcement responded to a 911 call, Roman rammed a deputy’s vehicle with his truck before fleeing on foot. He was apprehended two days later. In another case, Yavneel Ivan Pinon-Mendoza , a Mexican national, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for illegal reentry, his second conviction for this conduct. On July 22, 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents encountered Pinon-Mendoza at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County after conducting jail roster checks. A records check revealed Pinon-Mendoza had a lengthy criminal history, including shooting from a motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and domestic violence. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Gallup Man Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter for Fatal Shooting

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man is facing federal charges following a fatal shooting during an altercation. According to court documents, on May 26, 2025, Herman Smith , 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, shot and killed John Doe during an altercation. Smith is charged with voluntary manslaughter and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Charged After Killing of Attempted Carjacking Victim in Tucson, Arizona

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Julio Cesar Aguirre, 42, of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint on July 2, for Attempted Carjacking, Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm. Aguirre had his initial appearance in federal court in Tucson today. According to the complaint, Aguirre shot and killed a male driver with a 9mm caliber handgun, while attempting to carjack the victim’s Toyota Tundra on the morning of June 30, in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers who were called to the scene spoke with witnesses before being directed to a nearby residence for a potential burglary. When they arrived at the home, the residents explained that a Hispanic male with a bleeding arm, matching Aguirre’s description, had entered their backyard and threatened them with a gun, demanding they turn over their vehicle to him. The individual later fled. Shortly thereafter, TPD officers located Aguirre, who was hiding in a nearby storage shed. Officers also found a Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol within Aguirre’s reach. Aguirre was taken into custody without further incident. A search of Aguirre’s record revealed that he is a Mexican citizen, illegally present in the United States. Aguirre was arrested over 10 times from 2007 to 2013 for immigration-related crimes and was last removed from the country in 2013 pursuant to a court order. The federal prosecution of this case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). TPD and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office are conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution on the federal charges. TPD and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will have an ongoing and parallel investigation into additional felony state charges, including homicide. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 25-MJ-06320-MAA RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-110_Aguirre # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Labor Day Weekend Triple Murder in 2021 Yields Guilty Verdict for Six People

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced that Erwin Dubose, Kamar Queen, Damonta Thompson, William Johnson Lee, and Mussay Rezene, all of Washington, D.C., and Toyia Johnson, of Rockville, MD, were found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on all charges for the September 4, 2021 Labor Day weekend murders of 31-year-old Donetta Dyson, 24 year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner in front of 633 Longfellow Street, NW. On July 3, 2025, a jury found Dubose, Queen, Johnson Lee and Thompson guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, three counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. The jury found defendant Johnson guilty of tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory after the fact to assault with intent to kill while armed. The jury found defendant Rezene guilty of tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory after the fact to first degree murder while armed. “This senseless violence will not be tolerated in this city,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “These thugs put innocent bystanders in harm’s way, proving their total inhumanity. Today’s verdict upholds the DC U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to stop these horrific crimes and we look forward to taking these criminals out of society for a significant amount of time.” According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 7:33 p.m., on September 4, 2021, Thompson drove Dubose, Queen and Johnson Lee, to the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW. Those three men got out of the vehicle, crept to the corner of Longfellow and 7 th Streets, NW, and began indiscriminately shooting into a neighborhood gathering. The three shooters ran back to the waiting vehicle Thompson was driving and fled the scene. The three victims, Ms. Dyson, Mr. Braxton and Mr. Joyner, were killed and another three victims sustained non-lethal gunshot wounds from the shooting. Shortly after the homicide, an associate of Dubose, Toyia Johnson, who rented the vehicle Thompson was driving at the time of the incident, began placing multiple 911 calls in which she falsely reported the suspect vehicle stolen. Shortly after midnight on September 6, 2021, Dubose and Rezene drove to the 4500 block of Eads Street, NE and set fire to the vehicle. The evidence established that triple homicide was in retaliation for a shooting that occurred an hour prior in the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE. Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Colleen Kukowski and Charles R. Jones, who prosecuted the case.


title: FORMER EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE RESIDENT SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR CHILD PORN CRIMES

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Daniel R. McCaffrey, 41, formerly of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for the transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and abusive sexual contact with a minor female who had not yet reached 12 years of age. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “There is no penalty severe enough for those who harm our children, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue maximum punishment for these types of crimes. This disgusting defendant not only victimized children online, he also sexually abused a child he had access to on Eglin Air Force Base. The substantial sentence that has been imposed reflects the severity of his crimes, but it cannot make up for the grave harm he has inflicted upon the most vulnerable members of our community. I am deeply appreciative of the incredible work of the agents and investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to bring this heinous criminal to justice.” A jury found McCaffrey guilty of these charges after a federal trial. Trial records reveal the defendant maintained a child pornography collection on a hidden micro SD card in his residence, where he lived with his then wife and two minor daughters. McCaffrey’s wife was active duty United States Air Force at the time. Multiple witnesses testified about the victimization McCaffrey personally inflicted upon the minor female to whom he had access. The child pornography he possessed reflected his penchant for minor females under the age of 12 years old. “The FBI is committed to protecting the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, and especially our kids,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Those who abuse innocent children should know that the FBI and our partners will never stop working to identify you, and we will coordinate the full force of our resources to seek justice for your victims.” McCaffrey’s sentence of imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release and a requirement to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Office of Special Investigations of the United States Air Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: THREE INDICTMENTS RETURNED FOR PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIENS IDENTIFIED IN RECENT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

body_text: TALLAHASSEE & PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that three previously deported aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. Freddy Bravo Galvez, 32, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in June 2025, after previously being deported in 2013 and 2020. Marco Tulio Gonzalez-Oliva, 25, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Fort Walton Beach in March 2024, after previously being deported in 2023. Jose Alfredo Morales-Huerta, 48, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in June 2025, after previously being deported in 2019. The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Mountin, Jessica Etherton, and Brooke DiSalvo are prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Mason County Man Sentenced for   Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Maysville, Ky., man, David M. Elliot, 35, was sentenced on Thursday to 262 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on September 1, 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Courtney Beckett, Elliot’s co-defendant, for several traffic violations. Officers found a methamphetamine pipe in her pocket and removed the passenger, Elliot, from the vehicle. Officers found two bags of methamphetamine in Beckett’s purse and 165.5 grams of methamphetamine in Elliot’s waistband. Elliot admitted that all the methamphetamine was his, that he and Beckett drove to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region to purchase methamphetamine and were on their way back to Maysville, Ky., and he had instructed Beckett to hold the methamphetamine for him. In March 2022, Elliot was convicted of trafficking controlled substances in Mason Circuit Court and was on parole at the time of this offense. Beckett was previously sentenced to 66 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Under federal law, Elliot must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Casey Kilgore, Ft. Thomas Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Ft. Thomas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Hugo Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

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 Maxie Darryl Caston, age 58, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by a three year term of supervised release, for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On March 14, 2025, Caston pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 6, 2024, law enforcement executing a search warrant for Caston’s Hugo residence seized a revolver, a shotgun, four rifles, and multiple rounds of ammunition. At the time of the search, Caston had sustained at least one prior felony conviction and was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Caston will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenneth Marvin Bray, a/k/a Marvin Bray, age 54, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Indictment charged Bray with knowingly possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol on November 30, 2023, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. The charge arose from an investigation by the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. 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. Bray will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rickey Everett Ballard, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On December 17, 2024, Ballard pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between May 1, 2024, and May 29, 2024, Ballard knowingly possessed a semiautomatic .300 Blackout caliber pistol and twenty-nine rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ballard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Failing To Register As A Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Bradley Brown, age 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and mandated Sex Offender Registration for one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Probation Office. On February 5, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Brown was convicted by the State of Oklahoma of Rape—2nd Degree on February 15, 2008, and Sexual Battery on June 27, 2008, each a felony conviction requiring the defendant to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) passed by Congress in 2006. According to investigators, on June 28, 2024, Brown failed to register an accurate address with law enforcement as required under SORNA. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Brown will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Eric Diggs, age 47, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Indictment charged Diggs with knowingly possessing a semi-automatic pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition on February 5, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Hugo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. 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. Diggs was permitted to remain free on bond with conditions pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Tulsa Resident Sentenced For Robbery In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilmer Medardo Guerrero, age 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ada Police Department. On March 12, 2025, Guerrero pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 18, 2020, Guerrero assaulted an Ada restaurant manager, robbing the manager of the restaurant’s earnings deposit. The victim fought back and unmasked Guerrero, a former employee, before Guerrero fled with the money. The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Guerrero will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and Dak Cohen represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Attempted Arson In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Johnny Lee Vann, age 48, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Arson in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Indictment charged Vann with maliciously attempting to set fire to a dwelling and place the life of any person in jeopardy on January 4, 2025. The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. 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. Vann will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Former Prison Guard Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing Inmates

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Mikael Salvador Rivera, 48, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 96 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of wards. Rivera was a correctional officer at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu from approximately 2014 to 2018. As part of his prior guilty plea in March 2025, Rivera admitted that while on duty as a correctional officer, he ordered an inmate to participate in multiple sexual acts to which she did not consent and engaged in sexually abusive conduct with two additional inmates under his supervision. According to information provided to the Court, Rivera would leave cell doors unlocked so that he could enter or escort his victims out undetected. Rivera’s guilty plea came after he initially fled on the eve of trial, leading law enforcement on a days-long manhunt across Oahu. At sentencing, Judge Seabright imposed an upward variance from the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, stating that with respect to the offense conduct, “there is nothing in mitigation, nothing I see but a gross abuse of Mr. Rivera’s position of authority within FDC, and a gross abuse of that power in sexually abusing these three inmates over one calendar year.” Judge Seabright went on to state, “His conduct was the exact opposite of what was intended. You were supposed to help, to rehabilitate those in your care. Instead, you preyed on them. You became a predator to them.” “Correctional officers serve an invaluable role in our justice system, working in dangerous environments where they are entrusted to ensure order in our detention facilities and the safety of our inmates. While nearly all federal correctional officers are hardworking, ethical, and honest, there are those very few who abuse their power over inmates. Their conduct erodes public faith in our institutions and justice system, and we must accordingly seek to investigate, prosecute, and punish those who abuse vulnerable inmates in federal custody. Those who violate the public trust will experience the full force of law and justice in the District of Hawaii,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Today’s lengthy sentence serves as a warning that sexual misconduct by federal correctional officers will be investigated, prosecuted, and severely punished.” “Sexual abuse of individuals in custody by federal correctional officers is a profound breach of public trust. The Office of the Inspector General is committed to ensuring that those who violate that trust are held accountable for abusing their authority,” said Anne Walsh, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Western Region. “Not only did Mikael Rivera abuse the power of his position to commit horrific acts of sexual violence and silence his victims, but his actions undermined the efforts of all correctional officers,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Today’s sentence sends the clear message that the FBI will investigate and hold accountable anyone who violates federal law, regardless of their position.” The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Ayabe for the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from former PIN Deputy Chiefs Jennifer Clarke and Marco Palmieri.


title: St. Croix Man Sentenced for Shooting a Woman and Her Daughter

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Croix, VI – Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on July 2, 2025, Miguel A. Marrero, 53, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Wilma A. Lewis on two federal and two territorial charges. On the federal charges, Judge Lewis sentenced Marrero to 15 years’ imprisonment for discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count One) and 30 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon (Count Two). On the territorial charges, Judge Lewis sentenced Marrero to 12.5 months’ imprisonment for assault first degree (Count Five), and four years’ imprisonment for assault third degree (Count Eight). The federal charges are to be served consecutively to each other and consecutive to the territorial charges. The territorial charges are to be served concurrently. Judge Lewis also sentenced Marrero to five years of supervised release. According to Court documents, on July 4, 2024, at the Candido Guadalupe Terrace housing community on St. Croix, Marrero’s minor son and a female minor got into a physical altercation. The female minor’s mother observed the physical altercation, came running towards it, and then confronted Marrero. They had a verbal altercation, and after the mother allegedly struck Marrero in the face, Marrero pulled out a gun and shot her in the back. The female minor then fled, but was shot twice by Marrero while running away, in the leg and ankle. Marrero then fled the scene. As a result of her injuries, the mother was airlifted off island for medical treatment. Marrero was a convicted felon, who had been convicted of a firearm charge in the District Court of the Virgin Islands on June 7, 2000. The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams- Henry. ###


title: Puerto Rican Man Sentenced to 137 Months in Prison for Cocaine Smuggling

body_text: ST. THOMAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Adan F. Sleeper announced today that Brian Santiago Gonzalez, 25, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced on July 1, 2025, by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 137 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine on December 9, 2024. According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, Brian Santiago Gonzalez and co-defendant Wesly Albert Amaro were stopped in the waters near Savanah Island, just west of St. Thomas, USVI. At approximately 4:00 a.m., the United States Coast Guard (USCG) detected a vessel operating without navigation lights traveling at a high rate of speed from Culebra, PR towards Hendrick Bay, St. Thomas. Customs and Boarder Protection Air and Marine (AMO) vessels responded as the USCG provided updates on the vessel’s location. AMO agents located the lightsout vessel using radar and attempted a stop. The vessel fled while the two men onboard jettisoned bags overboard. The vessel would not heave to, so AMO agents disabled the vessel’s engine. During the chase, AMO agents marked the locations where duffle bags were discarded from the vessel. Upon returning to the marked areas, AMO agents recovered three duffel bags containing 79 kilograms of cocaine. Wesly Albert Amaro was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release on August 18, 202, following his guilty plea. CBP-AMO, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


body_text: St. Croix, VI – Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on July 2, 2025, Miguel A. Marrero, 53, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Wilma A. Lewis on two federal and two territorial charges. On the federal charges, Judge Lewis sentenced Marrero to 15 years’ imprisonment for discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count One) and 30 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon (Count Two). On the territorial charges, Judge Lewis sentenced Marrero to 12.5 months’ imprisonment for assault first degree (Count Five), and four years’ imprisonment for assault third degree (Count Eight). The federal charges are to be served consecutively to each other and consecutive to the territorial charges. The territorial charges are to be served concurrently. Judge Lewis also sentenced Marrero to five years of supervised release. According to Court documents, on July 4, 2024, at the Candido Guadalupe Terrace housing community on St. Croix, Marrero’s minor son and a female minor got into a physical altercation. The female minor’s mother observed the physical altercation, came running towards it, and then confronted Marrero. They had a verbal altercation, and after the mother allegedly struck Marrero in the face, Marrero pulled out a gun and shot her in the back. The female minor then fled, but was shot twice by Marrero while running away, in the leg and ankle. Marrero then fled the scene. As a result of her injuries, the mother was airlifted off island for medical treatment. Marrero was a convicted felon, who had been convicted of a firearm charge in the District Court of the Virgin Islands on June 7, 2000. The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams- Henry.


body_text: ST. THOMAS – Acting U.S. Attorney Adan F. Sleeper announced today that Brian Santiago Gonzalez, 25, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced on July 1, 2025, by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 137 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine on December 9, 2024. According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, Brian Santiago Gonzalez and co-defendant Wesly Albert Amaro were stopped in the waters near Savanah Island, just west of St. Thomas, USVI. At approximately 4:00 a.m., the United States Coast Guard (USCG) detected a vessel operating without navigation lights traveling at a high rate of speed from Culebra, PR towards Hendrick Bay, St. Thomas. Customs and Boarder Protection Air and Marine (AMO) vessels responded as the USCG provided updates on the vessel’s location. AMO agents located the lightsout vessel using radar and attempted a stop. The vessel fled while the two men onboard jettisoned bags overboard. The vessel would not heave to, so AMO agents disabled the vessel’s engine. During the chase, AMO agents marked the locations where duffle bags were discarded from the vessel. Upon returning to the marked areas, AMO agents recovered three duffel bags containing 79 kilograms of cocaine. Wesly Albert Amaro was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release on August 18, 202, following his guilty plea. CBP-AMO, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Tennessee Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Conspiring To Murder Federal, State, And Local Law Enforcement Officers And Employees

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 2, 2025, Edward Kelley, 36, of Maryville, Tennessee, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. The Court’s sentence was recommended by the applicable United States Sentencing Guidelines based on the circumstances surrounding Kelley’s crimes. On November 20, 2024, following a three-day trial in United States District Court, a jury convicted Edward Kelley of Conspiracy to Murder Federal Employees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1117; Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 373; and Influencing a Federal Official by Threat, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B). The evidence presented at trial established that Kelley developed a plan to murder law enforcement, including agents, officers, and employees of the FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Maryville Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Clinton Police Department. The proof showed that Kelley developed a “kill list” of law enforcement and distributed the list – along with videos containing images of his targets – to a co-conspirator as part of his “mission.” A cooperating defendant, who previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy, testified that he and Kelley planned attacks on the Knoxville FBI office using car bombs and incendiary devices appended to drones. He also testified that the conspirators strategized about assassinating FBI employees in their homes and in public places such as movie theaters. At trial, the United States introduced recordings of the defendant calling for the development of a “course of action” related to his plan. In one such recording, the defendant gave the instructions to, among other things, “start it,” “attack,” and “take out their office” in the event of his arrest. Kelley was recorded stating, “You don’t have time to train or coordinate, but every hit has to hurt.” “Every hit has to hurt.” Assistant Attorney General John. A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey T. Arrowood and Kyle J. Wilson of the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case with the assistance of Trial Attorneys Tanya Senanayake and Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The case was investigated by the Knoxville Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It was led by the FBI and involved the assistance of FBI offices from across the country. ###


title: Twenty-Four Defendants Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses for their Roles in a Drug Trafficking Organization Controlled by the Bloods Street Gang

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Twenty-four people have been charged for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine in the Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Today’s charges and arrests are the result of a 14-month investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Newark Police Department. Shamon Freshley, a/k/a “Hitta,” 26, Orlando Pizarro, a/k/a “Lando,” 26, Zakir Jefferson, a/k/a “Gu,” a/k/a “Tank,” 26, Quayyon Johnson, a/k/a “Weeze,” 22, Melvin Faines, a/k/a “Spaz,” 34, Afrika Islam, a/k/a “Sexx,” 29, Shaheem Webb, a/k/a “YC,” 23, Eustace Weeks, a/k/a “Juxx,” 26, Ali Baker, a/k/a “Surf,” 34, Jose Ward, a/k/a “Hec,” 22, Brandon Sneed, a/k/a “Pops,” 31, Eric Banks, a/k/a “Lil Maneskii,” 19, Tauheed Carney, a/k/a “Bmunn,” 21, Tykee Stokes, a/k/a “Big,” 32, Shafeek Barker, a/k/a “Sha,” 28, Ibn Perry, a/k/a “Loop,” 38, Alvin Jones, a/k/a “Lucky,” 41, Kirk Mansook, a/k/a “Crow,” 39, Tyjanique Green, a/k/a “Ski,” 24, Jubar Hughes, a/k/a “Dudu,” 27, Daisean Williams, a/k/a “Khaos,” 22, Jason Wardlaw, a/k/a “Jayr,” 30, and Rana James a/k/a “Pooh,” 28, all of Essex County, New Jersey, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Sebastian Pierrecent, a/k/a “Sosa,” 21, Quayyan Johnson, and Tauheed Carney are also each charged with possession of a machinegun. In addition, Pierrecent is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The defendants arrested today are scheduled to make initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court this afternoon. Four defendants were already in custody on state charges, one defendant was already in federal custody, and 5 defendants remain at large. “For far too long, the Bloods have overtaken the Bradley Court Housing Complex — turning its courtyards and residential buildings into a hub for pumping deadly fentanyl into the city of Newark, while endangering the lives of the citizens who call this community home. This poison has ripped families apart and stolen countless lives. That stops today. These arrests affirm my office’s commitment to taking guns and drugs off the streets, and serves as a clear warning to anyone who considers engaging in violent activity. The defendants in this case, as in all criminal cases, are presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty. However, everyone should understand that if you spread this poison or engage in this violent activity, we will use every resource necessary to find you, dismantle your operation, and prosecute you. ” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba The defendants are members or associates of Sex, Money, Murder (“SMM”), a Blood-affiliated criminal street gang that controls the drug trade in and around the Bradley Court Housing Complex (“Bradley Court”), among other areas. The subset of Sex, Money, Murder that operates in and around Bradley Court—which is located in the area of North Munn Avenue and Tremont Avenue in Newark—is also known as Munn Block, M-Blok, and Tombstone Gang (the “Enterprise”). Munn Block is closely aligned with another Blood-affiliated gang known as Voorhees, which operates in the area of Voorhees Street in Newark. Members and associates of this alliance refer to the alliance as “MunnHees.” Members and associates of the Enterprise are known to use social media on a variety of platforms and mobile applications, including Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp to conduct the business of the Enterprise, communicate with one another, promote the Enterprise through sharing photographs and videos, and further the Enterprise’s goals. Specifically, the Enterprise uses the release and promotion of drill rap songs and music videos on social media to intimidate rival gang members, witnesses, and other members of the community, and to promote the Enterprise. For over a year, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, seized narcotics through enforcement action, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions between and among the charged defendants. Pierrecent, Johnson, and Carney, are also charged with possession of a machine gun that was used in the June 17, 2025 shooting in rival gang territory near Mapes Avenue in Newark. The defendants charged in the drug conspiracy face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Pierrecent, Johnson, and Carney each face up to 10 years in prison for possession of the machinegun. Pierrecent faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of HSI New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; HSI Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy and police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Acting Port Director Leon Hayward, Port of New York/Newark; members of the United Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey Juan Mattos; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II; police officers and detectives of the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; detectives of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone; and detectives of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, for their assistance with the investigation. The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (“VCI”). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Goldberg and Javon Henry of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense Counsel: Zakir Jefferson: John McMahon, Esq. Melvin Faines: Stephen Natoli, Esq. Ali Baker: Michael Gilberti, Esq. Jose Ward: Eric Jaso, Esq. Brandon Sneed: Brandon Minde, Esq. Tykee Stokes: Shawn Barnes, Esq. Shafeek Barker: Charles McKenna, Esq. Ibn Perry: Scott Krasny, Esq. Tyjanique Green: Bruce Levy, Esq. Daisean Williams: Raquel Rivera, Esq.


title: New York Construction Company Supervisor Sentenced for Attempting to Cover Up Role in Fatal Long Island Construction Incident

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Richard Zagger, 58, of Blue Point, New York, was sentenced yesterday to one year in prison and two years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to a four-count indictment charging him with conspiracy and obstruction of official proceedings relating to an investigation into a fatal construction accident. Zagger was a supervisor for Northridge Construction Corporation, located in East Patchogue, Long Island, New York. As part of his duties, Zagger was responsible for overseeing Northridge employees who were assembling a metal shed on the construction company’s office property. During the assembly, one of the employees fell from the improperly secured shed roof and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the employee’s death and identified several violations of worker safety standards, including the failure to maintain the stability of a metal structure at all times during construction. Additionally, Zagger made false statements and conspired with others to make false statements to obstruct OSHA’s investigation of the accident. Northridge Construction Corporation was previously sentenced to pay a $100,000 fine and complete a five-year term of probation for violating a worker safety standard causing the death of an employee and making false statements during the subsequent investigation. Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement. Senior Trial Attorneys Daniel Dooher and Richard J. Powers and Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.


title: FORMER CONTRACTORS FOR THE FLORIDA PREPAID COLLEGE PROGRAM PLEAD GUILTY TO FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT CHARGES

body_text: Tallahassee, FLORIDA – Julie Michelle Shuler, 32, and Taylor Skiey Bradham, 26, both of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Shuler also pleaded guilty to four counts of mail fraud. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants sought to exploit Florida parents’ investments in their children’s futures for their own personal gain, but thanks to the diligent collaboration between my office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, their profiteering scheme has been dismantled and a prison cell awaits them.” Court documents reflect that Shuler and Bradham worked for the company contracted to provide customer service and records administration service for the Florida Prepaid College Program. According to court records, Shuler and Bradham used their positions to fraudulently access and view the personal identifying information (PII) of Florida Prepaid College Program account owners and beneficiaries. Records show that the women used and conspired to use such PII to fraudulently change ownership of existing Florida Prepaid College Program contracts and plans without the authorization or knowledge of the account owners or beneficiaries. Shuler and Bradham then fraudulently took over control, and conspired to take over control, of such accounts to request termination of those contracts. By canceling the contracts, Shuler and Bradham caused refund checks to be mailed by the Florida Prepaid College Program to addresses that they designated. Once the checks were delivered, Shuler and Bradham, and others working at their direction, cashed or deposited the checks into bank accounts. In doing so, Shuler and Bradham stole or attempted to steal approximately $86,000 in Florida Prepaid College Program funds. Shuler and Bradham face up to twenty years’ imprisonment, and three years of supervision upon release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Shuler faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment, and three years of supervision upon release, for each of the mail fraud counts. And both defendants face a mandatory term of two years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence of incarceration, and up to one year of supervised release upon release, for aggravated identity theft. The case involved a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Shuler’s sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2025, at 10:00 am, and Bradham’s sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2025, at 9:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: MEXICAN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES FOR STEALING IDENTITY OF U.S. CITIZEN

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Alfredo Mendoza Montero, 44, of Mexico, pled guilty in federal court to charges of passport fraud, false impersonation of a citizen, and aggravated identity theft. The guilty plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is fully committed to fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by robustly enforcing our nation’s immigration laws and aggressively prosecuting those who victimize our citizens and communities. I deeply appreciate the hard work of our federal law enforcement partners to bring this offender to justice.” Court documents reflect that Montero illegally entered the United States in 2019 and purchased identification documents belonging to a real American citizen. He knowingly used those documents to fraudulently apply for a United States passport in 2022 and obtain a Florida driver’s license in 2023. Montero lived under that assumed citizen’s identity while residing in the Pensacola area until he was arrested by federal authorities on April 1, 2025. Sentencing is currently set for September 23, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Montero faces up to 13 years’ imprisonment followed by a mandatory consecutive prison term of two years and deportation from the United States. The plea was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia H. Forbes. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: La Pryor Man Sentenced to 120 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping Illegal Aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A La Pryor man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 120 years in prison for one count of conspiracy to kidnap and two counts related to harboring illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing the life of a person in jeopardy. He was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years on each of the harboring counts and was sentenced to 80 years on the kidnapping count, with the sentences to run consecutively. According to court documents, in March 2022, Joshua Lee Balderas, 33, and other conspirators transported and harbored a group of seven aliens, including one woman, who had recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. When the group was picked up by the smugglers, the woman in the group was suffering from significant injuries to her feet and was severely dehydrated. Balderas transported the group from La Pryor to San Antonio, where the aliens were held captive in hotel rooms and ransomed to their families for thousands of dollars. One family member was forced to pay $7,000 for an alien’s release. Balderas and one of his co-conspirators, Kaylen Alexander Brondo, 26, of San Antonio, frequently brandished firearms in the hotel rooms to ensure compliance from the migrants and at trial, a victim testified that Balderas pointed a firearm directly at her to ensure her obedience during a ransom call. While the aliens were being held for ransom, Balderas sexually assaulted one of the migrants while threatening her with a firearm. Balderas was arrested Oct. 28, 2022, and found guilty on all counts by a federal jury on Oct. 11, 2024. Brondo was arrested Oct. 24, 2022, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to kidnap. Brondo is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 26. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery is presiding over the cases for both defendants. “This sentence, undoubtedly keeping Balderas confined for the remainder of his life, reflects the egregious nature of these human smuggling crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “It should send a clear message throughout the nation and across our borders that we take these prosecutions very seriously and will aggressively seek to deliver justice.” “The sentencing of this defendant to 120 years in prison marks a significant victory in our ongoing fight against human smuggling,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “This severe penalty reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and serves as a stern warning to those who exploit vulnerable individuals for profit. I commend the agents and our San Antonio Police Department partners for their hard work during this successful investigation.” HSI and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Brown and Adrian Rosales 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ###


title: Suburban Chicago Businessman Convicted for Role in Bank Fraud and PPP Fraud Schemes

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted an Illinois businessman yesterday for his role in schemes to fraudulently obtain over $55 million in commercial loans and lines of credit and for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rahul Shah, 56, of Evanston, the owner and operator of several information technology companies in the Chicago area, fraudulently obtained funds from loans and lines of credit for which he was not eligible from federally insured financial institutions and later defaulted on at least one such line of credit and one such loan. Shah submitted to federally insured financial institutions falsified bank statements that fraudulently inflated deposits, falsified balance sheets that overstated revenues, and fabricated audited financial statements with forged signatures. Shah also engaged in monetary transactions with proceeds from the bank fraud. Shah also submitted to a federally insured bank an application for a $441,138 loan guaranteed by the SBA that significantly overstated the payroll expenses of a company he controlled. In support of the loan application, he submitted to the lender several fraudulent IRS documents, which falsely represented that the company made payments to multiple individuals who had not received such payments. He also used stolen identities to carry out the fraud, using the names and taxpayer identification numbers of individuals that he knew had not received payments from the company in the PPP loan applications. In addition, Shah signed and caused to be submitted to the lender what purported to be IRS Forms 941 representing his company’s quarterly payroll expenses for 2019. A comparison between the documents submitted to the lender and the company’s IRS and state tax filings revealed that Shah’s company reported significantly lower payroll expenses to the tax authorities. Shah was convicted of seven counts of bank fraud, five counts of making false statements to a financial institution, two counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13. Shah faces up to 30 years in prison on each count of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, up to 10 years in prison on each count of money laundering, and up to two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Brady Ipock of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Chicago Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Chicago Field Office and SBA OIG Chicago Field Office investigated the case. Assistant Chief Patrick Mott and Trial Attorney Lindsey Carson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Former Federal Employee Charged With Wire Fraud, Theft, and Making False Statements

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the arrest of Evester Edd, 64, of Silver Spring, Maryland. Edd, a former senior human resources employee for the Peace Corps, is charged with wire fraud, theft of government funds, and making false statements to federal agents. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Inspector General Joaquin E. Ferrao, Peace Corps Office of Inspector General (Peace Corps OIG), and Acting Inspector General Joe Allen, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG). According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Edd allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by simultaneously working as a federal employee and federal contractor. Edd is accused of falsifying his timecards submitted to multiple federal agencies and misrepresenting the amount of work he performed for the government. This scheme involved the use of wire communications to submit false time and attendance reports resulting in double billing for tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, Edd is accused of making false statements. When completing documentation for a security clearance, Edd allegedly misrepresented the nature of his ties to individuals overseas. Also, during an interview with federal agents investigating the case, Edd was allegedly dishonest about electronic accounts he created, actions he took, and money he sent to foreign nationals in exchange for explicit content. According to the affidavit, Edd also allegedly abused his government access to computers and systems on more than 1,000 occasions to access, save, and transmit Privacy Act information and agency sensitive information. He sent protected government information via commercial email accounts to commercial email servers and his mobile devices. This arrest is the result of a yearlong investigation led by the Peace Corps OIG in partnership with FHFA-OIG and other law enforcement partners. In November 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant for Edd’s home to recover his electronic devices. Then in December 2024, Edd retired from federal service during the pending criminal investigation. “Public service is a public trust, and that trust is broken when government employees falsify records or otherwise engagement in fraudulent behavior,” Hayes said. “These charges reflect the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment — along with our law enforcement partners — to holding individuals accountable when they undermine the integrity of federal agencies and violate the law. We will continue to pursue justice wherever misconduct threatens the fairness and security of our institutions.” “The investigation and today’s arrest underscore our commitment to pursue allegations against those who would defraud U.S. taxpayers and undermine the public trust in the integrity of the federal workforce,” Ferrao said. “Identifying, investigating, and preventing schemes that defraud American taxpayers is a core mission of the Federal Housing Finance Agency OIG. As today’s arrest reflects, FHFA OIG works closely with our partner OIGs and the Department of Justice to ensure that allegations of fraud involving those in a position of public trust are thoroughly investigated and appropriate charges are filed,” Allen said. Edd is facing a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, 10 years for theft of government property, five years for false statements to federal agents, and significant fines and restitution. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the Peace Corps OIG and FHFA-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin who is prosecuting this case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Brothers Sentenced for Violent Assault and Firearm Confrontation on Navajo Nation

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two brothers from Fruitland, New Mexico were sentenced for their roles in a violent assault and subsequent confrontation with law enforcement on the Navajo Nation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on March 23, 2024, Justin Tso , 38, and his brother Walliford Tso , 37, enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, went to the residence of John Doe, where Doe lived with his girlfriend and her son. As the brothers were departing the home, Justin took a machete without permission and walked away. John Doe armed himself with an axe and demanded the return of the machete. In response, Justin and Walliford charged at John Doe, leading to a violent altercation. The brothers pursued John Doe back into the residence, where they assaulted him in front of his family, punching him and throwing objects, including a tire rim, pipe, and large rock. John Doe was able to escape and call police. During the incident, the brothers caused significant property damage, including smashing car windows and damaging vehicles. Navajo Nation Police responded to the scene. During the attempt to apprehend the suspects, Walliford pointed a rifle at officers before surrendering. Walliford and Justin were both found to be intoxicated at the time of the incident. Walliford and Justin each pled guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and were sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.


title: Individual Arrested for Child Exploitation

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On June 26, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Juan Edgardo Negrón-Navarro, age 27, of Jayuya, PR, with coercion and enticement of minors, sexual exploitation of children, and interstate threat communications. Today, FBI special agents arrested Negrón-Navarro. According to court documents, from in or about April 2023 to in or about May 2023, Juan Edgardo Negrón-Navarro did knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a female minor between 15 and 16 years old (Minor 1) to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. The defendant produced sexually explicit images of such conduct. Negrón-Navarro threatened Minor 1 by threatening to post the sexually explicit images on the Internet and to damage her reputation if she did not comply with sending sexually explicit images to him. Additionally, from in or about September 2024 to in or about November 2024, Juan Edgardo Negrón-Navarro did knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce another female minor while she was 17 years of age (Minor 2), to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. At the same time, the defendant produced sexually explicit images of such conduct. Moreover, on or about August 3, 2024, Negrón-Navarro, through the Internet, threatened to kill an adult female if she did not send him sexually explicit images. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, the defendant faces a minimum term or imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years for the charge of sexual exploitation of children; a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life for the charge of coercion and enticement of a minor; and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for the charge of interstate communications. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. “Child exploitation, in all its forms, are the most heinous crimes a person can commit, and the emotional pain inflicted on the victims is overwhelming,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are fully committed to identify, locate, arrest, and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Nonetheless, the community, including teachers and parents, must be vigilant and proactive with our children and educate them on how to protect themselves from these offenders.” “There is no place in Puerto Rico—or anywhere in America—for child predators,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “If you exploit children, the heroic men and women of the FBI and our law enforcement partners are coming for you—no matter how long it takes or how much you try to hide. That is a promise we intend to keep, every single time.” The FBI is investigating the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Emelina Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: International Money Launderer Sentenced To Eight Years For A Conspiracy To Conceal Millions In Drug Proceeds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Miguel Alexander Perez Perez (33, Dominican Republic) to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,600,110. Perez Perez pleaded guilty on January 22, 2025. According to court documents, Perez Perez was a broker of money laundering “contracts.” He participated in the collection of drug proceeds in the United States for introduction into the U.S. banking system. He concealed the source of those proceeds through trade-based money laundering schemes that included the purchase of devices such as cellphones in the United States. The devices were then sold abroad. From June to August 2020, federal law enforcement completed four such money laundering contracts with Perez Perez in an undercover capacity. During a separate contract that Perez Perez brokered in July 2020, the Florida Highway Patrol stopped a money courier and seized more than $1 million in drug proceeds. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Lehigh Valley Hospital Network Agrees to Pay $2.75 Million to Resolve Allegations of Drug Theft, Diversion, and Other Controlled Substances Act Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Lehigh Valley Hospital Network, Inc. (LVHN) has agreed to pay $2,750,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that are designed to prevent the diversion of controlled substances for illegal uses. In particular, the settlement resolves LVHN’s disclosure to the United States that on approximately 40 occasions, a pharmacy technician at LVHN’s Cedar Crest pharmacy used another employee’s password to access, remove, and divert controlled substances, and created fictitious reports to hide the discrepancies of controlled substances. The settlement also resolves allegations that, at certain facilities, the controls and procedures that LVHN had in place failed to effectively guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances from its inpatient pharmacies to outpatient pharmacies and hospice facilities, resulting in the transfer of controlled substances between locations without proper documentation. LVHN also allegedly failed to maintain complete and accurate records of its stock of controlled substances. Since the discovery of the Cedar Crest thefts, LVHN has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to identify potential CSA violations and develop better practices to prevent further diversions, improper transfers, and recordkeeping deficiencies. To that end, LVHN has expended considerable resources on physical security enhancements, training, diversion-detection software, and the hiring of employees and consultants knowledgeable in CSA compliance. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to aggressively combatting the opioid crisis on all fronts, including by holding hospitals and pharmacies responsible when they fail to take adequate steps to prevent controlled substances from being diverted for unlawful purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “In fashioning appropriate resolutions, we also give credit to DEA registrants like LVHN who act in good faith to report potential CSA violations, prevent further deficiencies, and improve compliance efforts. While the penalties here are substantial, they may have been far greater but for LVHN’s disclosures and cooperation.” “The Drug Enforcement Administration ensures that medical providers and facilities follow established laws and procedures while dispensing controlled substances,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Philadelphia Field Division. “DEA holds medical professionals to a high standard to protect public safety and ensure accountability, and this settlement demonstrates DEA’s resolve to maintain these standards.” The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Carr and Charlene Keller Fullmer, and former auditor Dawn Wiggins. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Strafford Woman Sentenced for Embezzling $295,000 from Employer

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Strafford, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for using a company credit card for over $295,000 of fraudulent charges. Kayellen Faye Inskip, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 36 months in federal prison without parole and 3 additional years of supervised release. At sentencing the court found that Inskip’s crimes resulted in a loss of $295,771.91 and issued an order of restitution in the same amount. On Oct. 10, 2024, Inskip pleaded guilty to one count of access device fraud. According to court documents, Inskip admitted to using the credit card issued by her employer, Mears Floral, to make unauthorized personal purchases. The criminal offense pled guilty to by the defendant involved the unlawful use of a credit card between August 31, 2021, through August 25, 2022. However, Inskip was sentenced under facts that were presented to the Court in which her true scope of her embezzlement occurred beginning in 2014 and continuing into 2022, only stopping after her fraud was discovered by company officials. Inskip used the company card to pay for travel including airplane tickets, vacations that included cruises with Carnival Cruise Line, and vacations to Disney World, as well as entertainment, restaurants, clothing, utilities, medical bills, and she even paid college tuition and fees for her own daughter. Inskip used her position as a bookkeeper and Operations Manager with the business to authorize payments for her fraudulent purchases. Inskip would then provide false financial reports to officers in the company that allowed her to both hide her embezzlement from more than 7 years and ultimately steal nearly $300,000. Mears Floral was a Springfield, Missouri, business that started in 1949, serving retail florists in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. This hometown business was in operation for over 70 years and based on statements made to the Court, Inskip’s massive embezzlement resulted in Mears Floral going out of business, closing its doors, and the firing of its employees. When Mears Floral closed its doors, it had to layoff nearly 33 employees, who had an average of nearly 11 years of employment with Mears Floral, as well as other employees who had worked for over 50 years with this well-known local business. The loss of Mears Floral, at the hands of Inskip, caused an unknown amount of true losses to the company, its employees, and ultimately the local community who benefitted from the operations of this successful business. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the United States Secret Service.