title: D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Carjacking and Robbery Spree in March 2025

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Damarco Jackson, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Tuesday, for a spree of armed robberies, in March 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Jackson pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, and one count of first-degree theft, for the armed robberies. The defendant also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, for a stabbing he committed in jail. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for September 11, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 10:00 p.m., on March 11, 2025, the first victim parked her car in the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE. When she returned to the location two days later, she found that her vehicle had been stolen. On March 12, 2025, the second victim parked her vehicle, a light blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata, in the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE. Three days later, she came back to where she parked it and found that it had been stolen. Video footage from an MPD camera captured Jackson and another individual in a blue sedan, which drove past the victim’s vehicle, turn around and park next to her vehicle. On March 13, 2025, in the area of Oklahoma Avenue and E Streets, NE, a dark color sedan drove into the area and approached the third victim, a juvenile on a bike. The defendant brandished a handgun with a silver slide and robbed the juvenile of his black Moose Knuckle jacket. Within three minutes, Jackson, armed with a black Glock handgun with an extended magazine, approached a fourth victim while he was riding a Capital Bikeshare bicycle, in the 2100 block of D Street, NE. Jackson stated to the victim something to the effect of “run me that coat!” and robbed him of his black Moose Knuckle jacket. Subsequently, on April 13, 2026, after his arrest and while in D.C. jail, Jackson and a fellow inmate were observed having a verbal argument in the common area of the jail. During the argument, the defendant was observed to have pulled out a sharp metal object from his pants and assault his fellow inmate. As a result of the attack, the victim inmate had puncture wounds/lacerations to his upper left arm and shoulder. Jackson was presented on October 10, 2025, for the armed carjackings and robberies. This is the same day he was sentenced to 40 months in jail for crimes he committed in other separate cases. He has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dal Lago, Rukiya Mohamed, and Emanuel Francone. 2025 CF3 013201; 2026 CF3 005670


title: Fort Pierce Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Biofuel Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The owner of a company that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced today to serve 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and to pay $2,857,029 in restitution and a $150,000 fine, for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuel credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel. According to court documents, Christopher Burdett owned a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Burdett and General Manager Royce Gillham vastly overstated their production volume to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Burdett and Gillham provided false information about their fuel production and customers. “This was not a paperwork error or a regulatory misunderstanding. It was fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Burdett inflated biodiesel production numbers, misled auditors, generated more than $7 million in fraudulent EPA renewable fuel credits, and sought more than $6 million in fraudulent tax credits from the American taxpayer. Today’s sentence of 18 months makes clear that fraud against public programs carries real consequences. Public incentive programs depend on honesty. When companies lie to regulators and try to turn environmental programs into vehicles for fraud, they will face federal prosecution, prison time, and financial accountability. Fraud does not pay, and defendants do not get to keep the proceeds of their crimes.” “The defendant lied to and defrauded the federal government, fuel producers, and fuel consumers of the United States by claiming and profiting from renewable fuel credits for fuel that was never produced or sold. His actions compromised and undermined a program designed to provide an abundant source of clean renewable fuel,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Florida. “Today’s sentencing shows that there are severe consequences for individuals who defraud the Clean Air Act Renewable Fuel Standards program and their customers.” “Claiming fraudulent tax credits is not just cheating the system — it’s stealing from the American public,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott A. Johnson of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office. “We will remain committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that those who engage in these schemes are held accountable.” Burdett previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims. For his role in the scheme, Gillham was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS-CI’s Florida Field Office made the announcement. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-14071. ###


title: County Housing Official Sentenced for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Receive Bribes From Hawaii Businessman and Attorneys

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former Hawaii County official, Alan Scott Rudo, 59, now of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive bribes in exchange for his official actions as a Housing Specialist at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The scheme involved affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, now of Morro Bay, California, a private businessman on the Big Island, conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although Rudo’s co-conspirators promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11 million worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks. Zamber, Budhabhatti, and Sulla were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud. Sulla was also charged with money laundering. Rudo, who was charged separately with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of his co-conspirators. On June 4, 2025, a federal jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts in a superseding indictment. Earlier this year, the court sentenced Rudo’s co-conspirators in the bribery scheme. Zamber was sentenced on Jan. 30 to 70 months in prison; Budhabhatti was sentenced on Feb. 6 to 90 months in prison; and Sulla was sentenced on April 23 to 60 months in prison. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii, and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.


title: Former NYPD Detective Sentenced To 75 Months In Prison For Violent Racketeering Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that SAUL ARISMENDY DE LA CRUZ, a/k/a “Nene,” a/k/a “Venom,” a former member of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román to 75 months in prison for accepting bribes to provide members of a theft crew in which he participated with confidential police information about potential victims and ongoing investigations. DE LA CRUZ had pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, in connection with his participation in the violent theft crew. “The NYPD is the greatest police department in the world,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Yet Saul Arismendy De La Cruz betrayed his colleagues and the New Yorkers he was sworn to protect. His selfish crimes cannot tarnish the NYPD but must be met with justice as they were today.” As alleged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictments unsealed in White Plains federal court: DE LA CRUZ was one of a number of defendants charged for participation in a violent theft crew led by the fugitive DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Pito,” pictured below: DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ: WANTED BY THE FBI Between 2017 and 2022, SOTO-RAMIREZ organized a crew that committed residential burglaries and home invasion robberies, repeatedly targeting small business owners. The majority of the targeted victims were Asian American. Armed with guns and other weapons, members of the crew stole money, jewelry, and other property from scores of homes in states across the country. Others took part in the crew’s criminal scheme, which also included the use of false identification, bank fraud, and laundering theft proceeds. In addition, SOTO-RAMIREZ and other members of the conspiracy bribed DE LA CRUZ, first an officer and later a detective of the NYPD, who helped members of the crew escape arrest. SOTO-RAMIREZ remains a fugitive. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://tips.fbi.gov/ . * * * In addition to his prison sentence, DE LA CRUZ, 33, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $100,000 in forfeiture and $219,459 in restitution to victims. Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI, the Westchester County Joint Organized Crime Task Force, the New York Public Corruption Task Force, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the NYPD, the Nassau County Police Department, the New York State Police and the Fort Lee Police Department. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz, Jeffrey C. Coffman, and Ben Arad are in charge of the prosecution.


title: GULFPORT MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR FENTANYL OFFENSES AND 300 MONTHS FOR CONSPIRACY TO TAMPER WITH WITNESSES

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport man was sentenced May 29 th , 2026 to life in prison for fentanyl offenses and 300 months in prison for conspiracy to commit witness tampering. According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, while Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, he ran a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl from Mexico to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, which was attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Ultimately, the total amount of fentanyl attributable to Agee’s conspiracy was over 4 kilograms. Shortly before trial began, law enforcement discovered that Agee was actively conspiring with others to tamper with the Government’s witnesses. He was subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit witness tampering. He pleaded guilty to that offense. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those traffickers who flood our communities with poison. This case demonstrates that organized crime can operate from anywhere.” said U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger. “I commend my prosecutors and law enforcement partners their life saving work and continued commitment to this effort.” "Fentanyl is a devastating plague on our communities, and the lengths to which this individual went to sustain his criminal enterprise – using contraband phones from prison and conspiring to tamper with government witnesses – demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and the law," said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. "Thanks to the seamless, coordinated efforts of our law enforcement partners, a major source of synthetic opioids has been permanently dismantled, ensuring our neighborhoods are safer today." U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi; and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case


title: Federal grand jury indicts two Canadian men for conspiracy to commit bank fraud

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging James Rasmussen, 44, of Westmount, Quebec, Canada, and John Shestowsky, 51, of Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. In addition, defendant Rasmussen is charged with trafficking in unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft. According to the indictment, between April 2018, and July 2020, Rasmussen and Shestowsky conspired with others to defraud financial institutions by false and fraudulent pretenses. In furtherance of the scheme, Shestowsky emailed Rasmussen the personal information, including bank account numbers, of various individuals without their knowledge or permission. On April 5, 2018, and January 2, 2019, Shestowsky emailed Rasmussen a listing of nine individuals, their addresses, phone numbers, and, for each individual, a bank name, bank account number, and note indicating a dollar amount in the bank account. On March 26, 2019, Rasmussen, using the online name “chiefbanker,” established a vendor page on the “Nightmare” marketplace on the Darknet, advertising for sale “high value” bank accounts for “Fraud.” Between June 12, 2019, and January 4, 2020, Rasmussen exchanged a series of email communications concerning the sale of bank account numbers with an individual located in Buffalo, NY. During this time, Rasmussen emailed approximately 52 bank account numbers, along with associated personal identifying information of the account owners, to the individual in Buffalo, requesting payment in the form of Bitcoin. In exchange for bank account numbers, Rasmussen received Bitcoin payments totaling approximately $9,526.31. In addition, Rasmussen incorporated a fictious business called “First America Solutions Corp.,” and then opened business checking accounts at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He deposited 65 fraudulent checks totaling approximately $25,080.00 into the accounts. The checks were made using bank account numbers of 65 individuals, including a victim from Savannah, NY, in the Western District of New York. James Rasmussen was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was held pending a detention hearing on June 8, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and May 28 extradition from Canada of Rasmussen to the United States. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Sweet Springs, Missouri Man Indicted for Engaging in Business of Manufacturing Explosives, Unlawfully Possessing Unregistered Destructive Devices and Distributing Information Relating to Manufacturing Explosives

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sweet Springs, Mo., man has been charged by a federal grand jury with one count of engaging in the business of manufacturing explosive materials without a license, one count of unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices, one count of unlawful possession of components that can readily be converted into destructive devices, and one count of distributing information relating to manufacturing explosives, in violation of U.S. law. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, no later than Sept. 18, 2023, Jordan Derrick, 40, began using several social media sites to distribute videos of himself making various explosive materials. In his videos, Derrick provided step-by-step instructions on how to make these explosives. Derrick’s videos were downloaded from his publicly available video sharing accounts and used by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the terrorist who conducted an attack in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2025. Jabbar had created IEDs consistent with Derrick’s instructional videos. The devices placed by Jabbar did not detonate and were subsequently rendered safe by law enforcement. Also, according to the complaint, on May 4, 2026, an explosion occurred at a private residence in Odessa, Mo. Investigators who searched the private residence after the explosion found two components suspected of being used in explosive devices. The occupant of the residence told investigators that he manufactured explosive devices after watching online tutorials on a social media account that is believed to be utilized by Derrick to distribute information relating to the manufacture of explosives. An investigation of the Odessa explosion is ongoing. The allegations contained in the indictment are accusations, not evidence of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted of engaging in the business of manufacturing explosive materials without a license, Derrick would be subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. If convicted of unlawfully possessing an unregistered destructive device or components that can readily be converted into a destructive device, Derrick would be subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison on each count. And if convicted of distributing information relating to the manufacture of explosives, Derrick would be subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. In the federal judicial system, there is not the possibility of parole. These maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress, and they are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


title: Convicted felons sentenced to federal prison for possession of a firearm

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two previously convicted felons found in possession of a firearm face years in prison after sentencing in federal court. Laron Allen, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police found Allen in possession of a firearm after attempting to elude police officers in May 2024. Jeffrey Ronald Moyer, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Augusta University Police found Moyer in possession of a shotgun during a March 2025 traffic stop. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system. These cases were investigated by the Augusta University Police Department, Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr and L. Alexander Hamner.


title: In Celebration of Freedom 250, The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam Contributes to Family Violence Shelter

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – As part of America’s 250th birthday commemoration, Freedom 250 , United States Attorneys’ Offices nationwide are honoring America by coordinating gift‑in‑kind charity drives for their staff to benefit local communities. In the District of Guam, United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson announced that the office conducted an employee charity drive in support of the Alee Women and Children’s Shelter. The Alee Shelter is a 24/7 emergency protective facility that provides refuge for women, men, and their children escaping domestic violence, sexual assault, or sex trafficking. To safeguard its residents and staff, the shelter operates in a confidential and undisclosed location. Established in 1981, Alee was created in response to rising incidents of abuse and violence within the island community and has remained a vital source of safety and support ever since. “As we celebrate the anniversary of our great nation, it is important to take a moment to reflect on what has been achieved and what remains to be done” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “There is much that we can contribute as individuals, communities, and organizations. Taking time to volunteer or donate to those in need is a step in the right direction. Our office, as a federal family, is contributing to an organization that works to protect the most vulnerable in Guam. We wish the Alee Shelter the best as it uses this donation to fulfill its critical mission.” USAO Guam


title: Texas Man Indicted in Shooting at Secret Service Agent Near the Washington Monument

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment was filed today in U.S. District Court charging Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, in connection with the May 4 shooting near the Washington Monument in which a civilian bystander was struck by gunfire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. indictment_michael_marx.pdf The federal indictment charges Marx, aka Patrick Gary Michael or Michael Zavici, with assaulting certain officers using a dangerous weapon and with using a firearm during a crime of violence. Marx is expected to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court today before a magistrate judge. “Today’s indictment reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions on one of the most heavily visited public spaces in the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The evidence shows Marx not only carried an illegal firearm into DC, but he fired it at uniformed officers, wounding an innocent teenage bystander who was simply visiting the National Mall with his family on a spring afternoon. When someone brings violence to a place that symbolizes the heart of our democracy and does so along the path of the Vice President’s motorcade, we will respond with the full weight of federal charges and pursue accountability at every step.” According to the previously filed complaint , on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup. At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW. Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President's motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street. Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders. When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen. Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, where officers rendered aid. He was identified through a Texas driver's license found on his person. Law enforcement also identified aliases including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. Marx was transported to George Washington University Hospital. While in the hospital, he allegedly made statements to officers including “F--- the White House” and “kill me, kill me, kill me.” Investigators recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the area where Marx fell. Law enforcement confirmed Marx does not hold a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 26cr121


title: Eight Charged with Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Eight individuals have been charged for allegedly participating in a drug and firearms trafficking conspiracy operating in and around Worcester, Mass. The following defendants were arrested yesterday and remain detained following initial appearances in federal court in Worcester: Alisa Walsh, 34, of Oakham, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; Osiris Berry-Vazquez, 23, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with distribution of controlled substances; Fendy Martinez, 35, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance; Luis Muniz, 33, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with distribution of controlled substances; Luis Dick Rivera, 39, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; Fernando Valentin-Perez, 45, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; Omar Ramos-Jimenez, 27, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with dealing in firearms without a license and distribution of a controlled substance; and Onix Aviles, 25, of Worcester, Mass., was charged with dealing in firearms without a license. According to the charging documents, from March 2026 through April 2026, Walsh, Berry-Vazquez, Martinez, Muniz, Dick Rivera and Valentin-Perez allegedly sold controlled substances including cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl to undercover law enforcement and confidential informants in and around Worcester. It is further alleged that Aviles sold firearms without a license on two occasions, including a privately manufactured firearm. Ramos-Jimenez also allegedly sold several firearms and fentanyl to confidential informants in Worcester. The charges of distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years up to lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Special Agent Thomas A. Greco of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; t the Suffolk County Sherrif’s Department; and the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Noto, Brendan O’Shea and Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the cases. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Orlando Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Sextortion Scheme  Involving More than 50 Child Victims

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Montrey Roseberry (20, Orlando) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to life in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production and possession of child sex abuse material. Roseberry was found guilty on February 19, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from at least July 14, 2023, through at least April 2024, Roseberry operated a scheme to extort, intimidate, and threaten children into producing child sex abuse material. Roseberry, while impersonating a woman, coerced young victims he identified on social media into producing images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Roseberry then used the images and videos to extort the victims into producing increasingly perverse content involving, sadomasochism, coprophilia, bestiality, and the sexual abuse of other children. If the child victims did not comply, Roseberry threatened to disseminate prior images and videos they had sent him that were sexual in nature to the child victims’ family members, friends, and classmates. In some cases, Roseberry threatened the child victims with death. As part of the scheme, and to further frighten and extort the victims into complying with his demands, Roseberry sent the child victims photographs of their homes and names of their schools, friends, and family members. As a result of this scheme, Roseberry obtained child sex abuse images of more than 50 victims. “Roseberry targeted young children, coerced them into producing abuse material, and threatened to destroy their lives if they resisted. This sentence sends a message that dangerous pedophiles will receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “We commend the hard work of the FBI agents for helping to bring this predator to justice.” “The terror he inflicted is heart wrenching. Mr. Roseberry threatened and blackmailed his young victims into committing horrific acts. The FBI and its law enforcement partners are relentless in their mission to identify and bring these vile criminals to justice. We urge young people and their parents to be cautious, especially on social media and gaming platforms, because child predators typically use these platforms to find their victims,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Noah P. Dorman. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: New York Attorney Admits Embezzling More Than $500K from Trust

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that EDWARD W. MILLER, 70, of Lawrence, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to a fraud offense stemming from his embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a trust. According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller was an attorney licensed to practice law in New York. In December 2014, an individual, identified in court documents as “M.P.,” established a trust for the purpose of managing certain real property, including a commercial building that M.P. owned in New Canaan, Connecticut. Edwards was named as the trustee for the trust (the “M.P. Trust”) and was directed to open a trust bank account to manage the finances of the real property in the M.P. Trust, including depositing rental income from the commercial building into the trust account, paying costs associated with the management of the building, and distributing funds to M.P. Miller was also responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the building in the M.P. Trust. The trust provided that Miller would be paid five percent of total monthly rents collected and any agreed-upon commissions for new tenant leases and renewals. Between approximately February 2016 and September 2022, Miller embezzled more than $500,000 from the M.P. Trust by writing and negotiating unauthorized checks from the M.P. Trust to himself, his law practice, and to his relatives for his own benefit. He also made unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from the M.P. Trust bank account for his own benefit. After M.P. died in 2022, Miller made false representations and promises to M.P.’s beneficiaries about the identification, whereabouts, and disbursement of the trust’s assets. Miller pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Miller has previously paid restitution of $509,372.82 as part of a settlement of a separate civil lawsuit filed by the victims. Miller is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for August 13. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 47 Years in Prison for Carjackings, Fatal Fentanyl Sale

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis man to 47 years in prison for his involvement in two carjackings, an attempted carjacking and the sale of fentanyl that killed a woman in 2023. In January, jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis convicted Bobby Lee Jones, 27, of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Evidence and testimony during his trial showed that he sold the fentanyl that killed an 18-year-old woman in 2023. The victim was seeking marijuana. Jones agreed to sell her marijuana and offered her what he claimed was the pain pill Percocet, evidence shows. The pills were manufactured to resemble Percocet but actually contained fentanyl. The victim took one of the pills and her boyfriend found her dead the next day. The victim’s mother, aunt, friend and a family friend spoke at the sentencing hearing Thursday. In a letter, her best friend called the victim “beautiful, unforgettable, and full of life.” In December, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking. He admitted driving his nephew, Labron Collins, and a juvenile, to the scene of a carjacking in the 4100 block of Botanical Avenue in St. Louis on Jan. 25, 2023. Collins and the teen then stole a 2012 Honda Civic at gunpoint. At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Clark found by a preponderance of the evidence that Jones was involved in another carjacking and an attempted carjacking. Evidence and testimony showed that Jones and the two others tried to steal a 2022 Dodge Charger an hour before the Civic carjacking. Collins and the juvenile began shooting when the Charger’s driver started to drive off, shattering a rear window and striking her in the back, evidence showed. Later, they were driving and struck the rear of a 2011 Infiniti G37 and then carjacked that driver. Several hours after the owner of the Charger was shot, police pulled over a car in which Jones was a passenger. One of the guns used in the shooting was located under Jones’ seat. Police later found the Infiniti parked behind Jones’ mother’s house. Jones instigated the crimes and used his 18-year-old nephew and the juvenile to commit them to avoid liability, a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski says. He also has a significant criminal history, the memo says. At 18, police caught Jones with cocaine base and a firearm, the memo says. At 20, they caught him in a carjacked vehicle after a chase and less than three months after his release from custody, he carjacked a BMW and was caught with another gun shortly thereafter, the memo says. Judge Clark sentenced Jones to 45 years in prison for the fentanyl and carjacking cases and two years for violating his supervised release in a 2019 case in which he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Collins, now 21, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to five counts of carjacking and three charges of possession or brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted the two carjackings and one attempted carjacking that he committed with Jones. He also admitted carjacking a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta on February 11 and a 2013 Acura TL and a 2014 Honda Civic, the next day. He is serving a 15-year prison sentence. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Szczucinski and Nicholas Lake prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced To 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LORENZO SMITH (“SMITH”) , age 20, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on May 12, 2026 to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $500 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); and two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, over the course of five transactions between November 2024 and January 2025, SMITH, and his co-conspirators, sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms to persons he believed to be legitimate buyers. The conspiracy involved over 640 grams of fentanyl and over 1200 grams of methamphetamine, of which more than 800 grams was pure methamphetamine. In total, SMITH, and his co-conspirators, sold 13 guns to the persons he believed to be legitimate buyers, including several AR-15 pistols and an AK-47-style rifle. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Bristol, Virginia Man Sentenced to 60 Months on Federal Drug Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, who conspired with others to distribute more than 600 fentanyl pills, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison. Bobby John Arnett, 56, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Briar Stephens, 25, was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 10 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. According to court documents, between September 2024 and October 2024, Arnett, Stephens, and others, conspired to distribute fentanyl. Specifically, over the course of the conspiracy, Stephens purchased fentanyl pills that he and Arnett further distributed in Washington County, Virginia within the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere. During a search of Arnett’s residence in September 2024, law enforcement officers found multiple fentanyl pills and powder at the residence, along with several firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Christopher Goumenis, DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge made the announcement. The Elizabethton Tennessee Police Department, Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Holston River Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.


title: Armed Johnson County Drug Dealers Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kaven Lee Stephenson, 37, to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to sell and possess with intent to sell fentanyl, possession with the intent to sell 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. The Court already sentenced co-defendant Johnny Brian Guin, 47, to 14 years on March 23, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said, “Let this be a warning to all drug dealers. If you peddle poison for profit in our communities, we will take your freedom, your toys, your money, and maybe even your home. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill; Prison Awaits – Do Right.” Between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement executed three search warrants at two homes Kaven Stephenson owned on Massengill Pond Road in Angier, NC. During the execution of the first search warrant in October of 2023, law enforcement located over 50 grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, more than $2,000 cash, an AR-15 rifle with a large capacity magazine, a M5 rifle with a large capacity magazine, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a stolen .22 rifle. Stephenson was arrested on state charges related to these crimes, but he made bail and bonded out just a month later. Law enforcement executed a second search warrant in July of 2024 after receiving reports of an armed robbery occurring at Stephenson’s residence. Law enforcement discovered a hidden compartment, or “trap,” built into the dead space of a wall just outside the master bedroom. Inside the “trap,” they discovered 218 grams of methamphetamine, 279 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a money counter, two 9mm pistols, and over $8,500 cash. In a search of Stephenson’s person and the master bedroom, law enforcement located over $2,500 cash, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia. Again, State law enforcement arrested Stephenson on state charges related to these crimes. Again, he made bail and bonded out. In August of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at another home owned by Stephenson on Massengill Pond Road. They found Stephenson and co-defendant Johnny Guin inside. During the search, law enforcement located over 115 grams of methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and more than $1,500 cash. Pursuant to the judgment, all currency, firearms, and Kaven Stephenson’s properties on Massengill Pond Road were forfeited to the United States. “Armed drug dealers present a dangerous mix of violence and lawlessness in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “We’re fortunate to have solid partnerships in place with local, state and federal agencies that recognize these dangers and work to hold these violent offenders accountable.” Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, Raleigh Police Department, Cary Police Department, DEA, and the NCSBI collaborated on this investigation. Former Special Assistant United States Attorney Aria Merle and Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-273D-001 and 5:24-CR-273D-003.


title: Fort Myers Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Walter James Marshall (32, Fort Myers) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Marshall pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on June 12, 2025, Marshall was stopped by the Fort Myers Police Department for driving on a suspended license. During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered a loaded SCCY pistol under the driver’s seat. DNA swabs taken from the pistol and from Marshall linked him to the firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Marshall is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Relief Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to her involvement in a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for herself and others. Lisa Lemoine, 38, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept. 1, 2026. Lemoine was charged in March 2026 . Lemoine conspired with her alleged co-conspirators, Sniders Jean-Jacques, Lorne Johnson, Tanya Pierre, Ashley Spike and others, to submit fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of borrowers and to collect up to 30 percent of the loan proceeds as a fee for securing the loans. Beginning in March 2021, Lemoine recruited borrowers who were ineligible for PPP loans, claimed the borrowers operated businesses that qualified them for loans, and created fake tax forms to backstop the borrowers’ fraudulent applications. Lemoine received a kickback, commonly in amount equal to 30 percent of the loan proceeds, from the borrowers who received PPP funds based on the fraudulent applications, which she shared with her alleged co-conspirators. Jean-Jacques, Johnson, Pierre and Spike were charged in a separate indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to this scheme. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Jason Xerri, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Region; and Randy Maloney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Jackson Parish Inmate Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Hoax Directed at Supreme Court of the United States

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SHREVEPORT– On May 21, 2026, Alvieyle Moore, a 40-year-old inmate at the Jackson Parish Jail, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to perpetrating a hoax relating to purported chemical weapons directed at the United States Supreme Court. In addition to his prison sentence, Moore will serve three years of supervised release following his release from federal prison. According to court documents, Moore mailed a threatening letter to the Supreme Court of the United States that falsely claimed to be laced with fentanyl that would kill its reader. The letter, which contained approximately one tablespoon of a white, powdery substance and stated, “IF You Are Reading this you are gonna die soon because this letter is laced with Fentanyl!!”, caused the evacuation of the Supreme Court’s warehouse facility and prompted a hazardous materials team response. The Supreme Court of the United States Police - Protective Intelligence Unit, United States Secret Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Ginger Green. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 25-cr-00257. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Ouachita Parish Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: MONROE– On May 21, 2026, Stanquan Lavelle Shaw, a.k.a. “Munchie,” a 36-year-old Ouachita Parish man, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and to possessing that firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to his prison sentence, Shaw will serve five years of supervised release following his release from federal prison. According to court documents, officers of the Monroe Police Department saw Shaw driving in Monroe and attempted to stop him based on Shaw’s having outstanding warrants. Shaw fled from law enforcement, ultimately crashing his car into a person’s parked car and fleeing on foot. Officers caught Shaw during his flight and arrested him. While investigating the scene, officers recovered methamphetamine from Shaw’s car, a 9mm bullet in his pocket, and a firearm recovered from a puddle along his flight path that officers found using a police dog. By law, Shaw was not allowed to possess firearms because he had prior felony convictions for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery with a Firearm and for Simple Robbery. The Monroe Police Department, West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 25-cr-00269. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Cheyenne drug investigation results in Federal firearm and narcotics charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A Cheyenne man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced that Leonard Raymond Riffel, 52, will serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson on May 21 in Cheyenne. Riffel was remanded to custody. According to court documents, in September 2025, a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating Riffel for suspected drug trafficking. Detectives learned that Riffel traveled to Colorado to buy methamphetamine and fentanyl for redistribution in Cheyenne. On October 23, 2025, Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) stopped a black SUV with Riffel seated in the rear passenger seat. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a black bag behind Riffel’s seat. The bag contained approximately 439 grams of methamphetamine, 10.5 grams of carfentanil pills (an ultra-potent synthetic form of fentanyl), a digital scale, and unused plastic baggies commonly associated with drug distribution. Riffel admitted the bag belonged to him and was arrested. Afterhis arrest, CPD detectives executed a search warrant on the apartment where Riffel was staying. Detectives found a Springfield .40 caliber pistol and a box of ammunition in his room. Because Riffel was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, he cannot legally possess firearms. “The facts of this case paint a troubling picture of someone traveling across state lines to bring methamphetamine and carfentanil into Cheyenne for distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Carfentanil is so dangerous that even a tiny amount can be lethal. Cases like this are exactly why law enforcement remains focused on stopping traffickers before these substances reach our streets. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work.” Riffel was arrested on Oct. 23, 2025, on related, now dismissed, state charges; and brought into federal custody on December 16, 2025. He waived indictment and pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026. The DEA and CPD investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Naiman prosecuted the case.


title: 18th Street Gang Member Who Was Paid ‘Peace Ambassador’ for City Arrested for Illegally Possessing Body Armor Near MacArthur Park

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A convicted murderer, whom law enforcement believes is an active member of the 18th Street gang while being paid with City of Los Angeles funds to work as a “Peace Ambassador,” was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally possessing two body armor plates near the city’s drug-and-crime-infested MacArthur Park. Michael Angel Alvarez, 41, a.k.a. “Diablo,” of Westlake, is charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Alvarez is a convicted gang murderer who represents himself as working for Healing Urban Barrios, a Lincoln Heights-based organization that contracted with the city for its Peace Ambassador program that is run in the city’s Council District 1, which includes MacArthur Park. He has represented himself as a member of that organization through clothing he wears. The Peace Ambassador program is described on a city website as “a new initiative to prevent violence before it starts and to support Angelenos in moments of crisis.” Each Peace Ambassador team “consists of two unarmed workers who have lived experience in the justice or gang systems and are trained in violence prevention and trauma-informed care,” according to a city website. The city has agreed to appropriate $450,000 from its general fund between June 2024 and May 2027 “[t]o defray operation costs of expenditures incurred with the unique services provided by Healing Urban Barrios for their services provided as Peace Ambassadors,” court documents state. Also, according to the agreement, the city may immediately terminate the contract if a Peace Ambassador is convicted of an “Act of Moral Turpitude,” including “crimes involving weapons.” Healing Urban Barrios paid Alvarez a total of $58,156 in 2025. Alvarez’s criminal history includes a 2002 conviction for first-degree murder for which he was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison, but was released after serving 24 years’ imprisonment, and an April 2025 felony conviction for being a prisoner in possession of a weapon. Law enforcement believes Alvarez is still involved in gang activity because of jailhouse telephone calls in which he discussed assaulting individuals for breaking gang rules. On May 18, two uniformed police officers responded to a call for backup related to a stolen vehicle investigation near MacArthur Park. As the officers were leaving, they noticed Alvarez standing on a corner looking at them and they believed he might be a wanted person. Officers detained Alvarez, who later told them he was a “CRT,” which the officers believed was a reference to the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team. A search of Alvarez’s car resulted in the seizure of two body armor plates in the trunk. The plates are from Las Vegas and are marketed as “the highest protection level available on the civilian market,” the affidavit states. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Alvarez would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The FBI is investigating this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations providing assistance. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. The HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Stericycle Resolves Criminal and Civil Investigations with over $56 Million Agreement for Long Running Failures in Handling Controlled Substances Bound for Disposal

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Full Settlement: stericycle_civil_settlement_fully_executed_w_sof.pdf Information: stericycle_information_felony.pdf Brief/Settlement stericycle_pre_hearing_brief_by_usa.pdf SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Stericycle Inc., an international waste management company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to pay more than $56 million to resolve parallel criminal and civil investigations into its improper handling of controlled substances between 2015 and 2020, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Stericycle collected, transported, and disposed of pharmaceutical waste for hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other health care providers across the United States and abroad. “Stericycle has accepted responsibility for handling controlled substances in a manner that was insecure, unsafe, and unlawful,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Despite being warned by the DEA that it needed to correct its deficient handling procedures, the company operated an insecure transportation network, relied on multiple unregistered facilities, and failed to notify the DEA of diversions and significant losses as required by law. Today’s resolution demonstrates the Justice Department’s continuing commitment to ensuring that all registrants safely and securely handle controlled substances so that dangerous drugs are not diverted into the community.” “DEA will hold organizations accountable who violate the Controlled Substances Act and improperly handle controlled substances. Stericycle’s actions were far more troubling than a simple reporting error,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Field Division. “These drugs did not merely go unaccounted for, employees and others stole them, used them, or diverted them into the community. Such conduct endangers public safety, fuels addiction, and undermines the integrity of our regulatory system. The DEA remains committed to ensuring that every registrant fulfills their obligations to protect the public from exactly these kinds of risks.” “Controlled substance regulations are designed to keep dangerous and addictive medications out of the wrong hands. Stericycle ignored those responsibilities, resulting in expired medications being stolen and sold illegally on the street,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue pursuing those who endanger the public through negligence or criminal conduct.” Criminal charges filed today allege that Stericycle conspired to defraud the United States by failing to report thefts and significant losses of controlled substances to the DEA. On four separate occasions, the company offered justifications for failing to file required Form 106s that were unsupported by federal regulations. As part of a one‑year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice, Stericycle will pay a $19.08 million criminal penalty. Separately, Stericycle has agreed to pay $37.81 million to resolve civil liability for repeated violations of the CSA. Because of the risk that prescription drugs can be diverted or misused, the handling of controlled substances is tightly regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). According to court documents, Stericycle was registered with the DEA as a “reverse distributor,” allowing it to receive unwanted, unusable, or expired controlled substances from hospitals, pharmacies, and other registrants. As a reverse distributor, Stericycle was subject to strict recordkeeping, reporting obligations, security requirements, and regular DEA inspections of its registered facilities, including the duty to promptly notify the local DEA Field Division Office in writing of any theft or significant loss. As admitted by the company, Stericycle circumvented these requirements by using temporary storage facilities that were not registered with the DEA and thus not subject to regular inspection. Security was inadequate at many locations, including at the company’s former facility in Rancho Cordova. In some instances, controlled substances were stored in unlocked trailers within fenced yards. Though some facilities had security cameras, several cameras were non‑operational. Stericycle conspired to defraud the DEA by avoiding the filing of reports that would have alerted the agency to thefts and significant losses of controlled substances in its care. Multiple Stericycle managers and executives were aware that the company lacked a reliable system for tracking packages across its transportation network or auditing packages received in Indianapolis, creating opportunities for diversion. Under the DPA, Stericycle has agreed to continue cooperating in any ongoing or future criminal investigations related to this conduct. The company also agreed to enhance its compliance program, including measures for independent oversight, training, internal investigations of reported misconduct, and compliance reporting to the Department of Justice for the remainder of the agreement’s term. The resolutions do not include the criminal release of any individuals. The government reached this resolution based on several factors, including the nature and seriousness of Stericycle’s conduct, its knowing and willful decisions not to report thefts or significant losses, its use of unregistered facilities to store controlled substances, and the company’s divestiture of the business component at issue in April 2020 to a non‑affiliated company that brought the business segment into compliance. The remaining business was acquired by another company in November 2024. Stericycle also enhanced its compliance program and committed to continuing improvements to meet the minimum requirements set forth in the DPA. The company received credit for accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Thiess assisted with the civil settlement.


title: Texas man pleads guilty to making threats against a company over his debt

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Texas man pled guilty yesterday to sending threatening interstate communications. According to court documents, a Norfolk-based collection agency sent a message to Taylor Bullard, 35, of Houston, regarding a debt he owed. Bullard sent a signed response threatening to show up at one of the company’s locations with a machete and gasoline to “do things that are unforgivable” and “make your executive team question their life choices.” Bullard is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 2 and faces up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-CR-5.


title: Catonsville Man Facing Federal Charges for Carjacking and Firearms Violations

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging a Baltimore County man in connection with a violent carjacking. Kylin Stubblefield, 41, of Catonsville, Maryland, is charged with carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to the three-count indictment, in October 2025, Stubblefield committed a carjacking in Baltimore City. During the crime, Stubblefield used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm, seriously injuring the vehicle’s owner. Stubblefield is also charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Stubblefield faces a minimum sentence of seven years for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking, and a maximum life sentence in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and John Mark Mastakas who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: California Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Trafficking At Least 1,700 Animals into the United States from Mexico

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A California man was sentenced yesterday to 65 months in prison for smuggling at least 1,700 reptiles into the United States from Mexico, Hong Kong, and elsewhere over a six-year period. Jose Manuel Perez, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking. From January 2016 to February 2022, Perez and other co-conspirators smuggled wildlife into the United States without obtaining the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and without declaring any wildlife imported into the United States. Perez and his co-conspirators used social media to buy and to negotiate the terms of the sale and delivery of wildlife in the United States. The defendants advertised for sale on social media the animals smuggled from Mexico into the United States, posting photos and video that depicted the animals being collected from the wild. For the animals smuggled from Mexico, Perez’s co-conspirators retrieved the wildlife — which included Yucatán box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards — from Cuidad Juárez International Airport in Mexico and eventually shipped the animals by car to El Paso, Texas. Perez paid his co-conspirators a “crossing fee” for each border crossing, the amount of which depended on the number of animals transported, the size of the package, and the risk of being detected by the authorities. On other occasions, Perez and a co-conspirator traveled to Mexico to purchase live animals that had been taken from the wild so that the animals could be smuggled into the United States. Once the animals had been shipped to the United States, they were transported to Perez’s residence (which was originally in Missouri and then in California after he moved). In total, Perez caused the illegal smuggling and importation of at least 1,700 animals with a fair market value of more than $739,000. Prior to today’s sentencing, Jose Perez had been serving a nine-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in May 2023 to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. He is not legally permitted to possess firearms because his criminal record includes felony convictions in Ventura County Superior Court for street terrorism and assault with a deadly weapon. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement. USFWS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance. Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. O’Brien and Juan M. Rodriguez for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal aliens from Romania sentenced to over three years in prison for card skimmer conspiracy

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Romanian nationals were sentenced on May 27 to three years and three months in prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, from at least Nov. 29, 2024, to Nov. 19, 2025, Adrian Vasile Marin, 36, Sorin Postolache, 37, and their co-conspirators used “skimmer” devices to capture the credit and debit card information and personal identification numbers from unsuspecting victims at point-of-sale terminals and automated teller machines (ATMs). The conspirators then used the stolen credit and debit card information to create counterfeit cards to fraudulently withdraw funds from the victims’ bank accounts. Marin and Postolache used fake passports and identity cards to rent mailboxes to receive equipment, often from overseas, to construct skimmers. Their home and storage unit were used to store numerous partially assembled and fully assembled skimmers, skimmer components, pinhole cameras, parts and facias of ATMs to which skimmers and pinhole cameras could be attached, parts of point-of-sale terminals, and stickers of store logos. Those locations also contained $100,377 in cash, 2,881 stolen card numbers or access devices, and numerous computers, cell phones, SD cards, and thumb drives capable of storing credit card, debit card, and PIN information. The U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division and the FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New York City Police Department. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katlin O'Brien and Zachary Ray prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:26-cr-32 (Marin) and 1:26-cr-33 (Postolache).


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to  Four Arrested for Running Large-Scale Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Operation in Cleveland

body_text: CLEVELAND – Four Cuyahoga County men were arrested for allegedly running a large-scale drug manufacturing and trafficking organization throughout Northeast Ohio. These arrests are the result of an intensive, 15 months-long investigation by federal agents and prosecutors with the Cleveland Homeland Security Task Force. The following individuals were charged by criminal complaint: Marcus Brown, 36, of Cleveland Kardell Henderson, 32, of Solon Terence Montgomery, 32, of Cleveland Devonte Poteat, 30, of Euclid All four defendants were arrested and remain in custody pending further court proceedings. According to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) affidavit, in late summer 2025, ATF and Homeland Security Investigations, along with other federal and local law enforcement agencies, were investigating large-scale narcotics trafficking throughout Northern Ohio. Brown, Henderson, Montgomery and Poteat were subsequently identified by law enforcement as suspected drug traffickers. During a search warrant execution of a suspected stash house in East Cleveland, agents located more than 20 bags that were later confirmed to contain various amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base (crack). One room in the residence was set up for drug manufacturing. Inside, items such as a breathing respirator and a drug press were discovered, along with a loaded firearm. Multiple bags of suspected illegal drugs, which were packaged and prepped for distribution, were also located throughout the residence hidden under mattresses, in furniture, and in a clothes hamper. “This investigation would not be possible without the incredible collaboration among all levels of law enforcement here in our Northern District of Ohio,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer . “We have a common goal to target and go after suspected drug traffickers who destroy our communities. With the support and full resources of the Homeland Security Task Force we are equipped to stop violent criminals who profit from hurting others.” “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and dismantle organized criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “Through the coordinated efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force, we are holding violent offenders accountable and making Northern Ohio a safer place for all residents.” “The Homeland Security Task Force works alongside state and local law enforcement to safeguard our communities and stem the flow of illicit narcotics into Northeast Ohio,” said HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “I am proud of the HSI special agents and our partners for removing these dangerous drugs from our streets and preventing further harm and loss for Ohio families.” Additionally, several other locations in Euclid, South Euclid, and Solon connected to the defendants were also subjected to a court-authorized search. Items that were seized included bags of suspected illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition, digital scales, blenders, numerous cellphones, cash, and money counters. Among all four locations, federal agents seized: 1,355.74 grams of Fentanyl 1,117.97 grams of Cocaine 2,709.16 grams of Cocaine Base (Crack) 5 Firearms More than $17,000 in U.S. Currency Brown, Henderson, Montgomery, and Poteat were each charged with: Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cleveland comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Border Patrol Air & Marine Operations. Local and regional agencies involved in this case included the Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Westlake Police Department, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. Evidence analysis was conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory. Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Three Foreign Nationals Sentenced in May for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that three foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month. Leobardo Lopez-Garcia , aka Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, 46, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Karen Spencer Marston to time served, approximately 10 months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Lopez-Garcia had previously been removed from the U.S. three times: in October 2000, January 2004, and January 2006, following encounters with the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. In April 2023, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) became aware that the defendant had been arrested by the Hatfield Township Police Department on a driving under the influence charge. He pleaded guilty to that offense in April 2024 in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Lopez-Garcia was arrested on a federal criminal complaint in August of last year, indicted for illegal reentry in November, and pleaded guilty this March. Baudilio Lopez-Ramirez , 37, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond to time served, approximately two and a half months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Lopez-Ramirez had previously been removed from the U.S. in March 2012, following his arrest by the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. In December 2025, ICE learned that the defendant had been arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department. Lopez-Ramirez was taken into federal custody on a criminal complaint this February, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in March, and pleaded guilty in April. Jose Fernando Gomez-Urquia , 32, a Honduran national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. to time served, approximately two months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Gomez-Urquia had previously been removed from the U.S. in May 2016, following an encounter with the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. In November of last year, ICE became aware that the defendant had been arrested by the Coatesville Police Department. Gomez-Urquia pleaded guilty this March in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to making terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another and was sentenced to time served. He was arrested on a federal criminal complaint the same month, charged by information with illegal reentry in April, and pleaded guilty this month, waiving prosecution by indictment. 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. The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Davison, Catherine Dos Santos, and Robert Schopf.


title: Two Lake City Methamphetamine Dealers Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Terry Alonza Brown (54) and Doug Bradley (46), both of Lake City, have been sentenced by United States District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to federal prison terms for possessing kilogram amounts of pure methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. Brown was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison and Bradley was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Brown pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025, and Bradley pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on June 23, 2025, law enforcement officers conducting surveillance at Brown’s residence in Lake City observed Bradley enter the residence, exit a short time later with a bag, place the bag in a vehicle, then drive away. After Bradley was stopped for a traffic infraction, his vehicle was searched and officers found a vacuum-sealed plastic bag that contained a large amount of a white crystalline substance. The substance was later determined to be 100% pure methamphetamine weighing 1,340.2 grams. Later the same day, officers observed Brown leave the residence with a multi-colored bag, place the bag in a vehicle, then drive away. After Brown was stopped for a traffic infraction, his vehicle was searched and officers found the multi-colored bag in the backseat area. The bag contained two separate vacuum-sealed plastic bags, inside of which were additional bags containing a white crystalline substance. The substance was later determined to be 99% pure methamphetamine weighing 2,694 grams. Subsequently, officers obtained a search warrant for Brown’s residence. During the search, officers seized two black bags containing packages of a white crystalline substance, $12,000 from a safe, and $1,000 from inside one of the bedrooms. The substance was later determined to be 99% pure methamphetamine weighing 1,786.8 grams. Before committing these offenses, Brown and Bradley had previously been convicted of federal drug trafficking charges. In April 2013, Brown was convicted of five counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. In November 2008, Bradley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.


title: Wareham Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Wareham man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Brandon Bendall, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to 90 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In February 2026 , Bendall pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. Bendall was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on May 2, 2025 and indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 . Bendall was a member of an online chat group in which members viewed and posted CSAM. While in the chat group Bendall posted at least 17 videos containing CSAM. During a search of Bendall’s residence and cell phone, approximately 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, including images of children as young as infants being sexually assaulted, were located. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Wareham, Marion and East Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Biofuel Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: The owner of a company that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced today to serve 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and to pay $2,857,029 in restitution and a $150,000 fine, for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuel credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel. According to court documents, Christopher Burdett owned a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Burdett and General Manager Royce Gillham vastly overstated their production volume to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Burdett and Gillham provided false information about their fuel production and customers. Burdett previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims. For his role in the scheme, Gillham was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Jason A Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Florida Field Office made the announcement. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS-CI investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.