title: Missoula police officer honored as Hometown Hero

body_text: MISSOULA – As part of the nation’s Freedom 250 celebration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Montana recognized Missoula police officer Dylan Harris as a Hometown Hero in a small ceremony this morning. Harris has worked for the Missoula Police Department since 2021, where he currently serves as the School Resource Officer for Hellgate High School. He also serves as the department’s field training officer, crisis team negotiator and leads and instructs the department’s riot team. He began his career with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state in 2016 after graduating from the University of Montana. In addition to his duties with the MPD, Harris proudly serves with Oregon National Guard. From 2024 to 2025, Harris was deployed to northeast Syria as a captain in the field artillery as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. He served as a battery commander for two different batteries simultaneously in two different locations with over 100 soldiers under his command. His service there earned him the Bronze Star. “I can think of no better way to contribute to the celebration of America’s 250 th birthday than to recognize one of our fellow citizens for his dedicated efforts to keep his community safe. Public service is one of the hallmarks of this great country and working in law enforcement and serving in the military are two of its purest forms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to all our service members and our partners in law enforcement. We’re honored to recognize Officer Harris for his selflessness commitment to his city, state, and country.” said Tim Racicot, acting U.S. Attorney. Harris comes from a proud tradition of law enforcement and public service. His father served with the Portland Police Bureau and currently serves with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. His brother is a sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department in Washington. Harris is supported by the love of his wife and son, and he remains steadfast in his dedication to the City of Missoula and the broader community. Through his leadership, integrity and continued service, he exemplifies the values of professionalism, courage and selfless commitment that define the spirit of the U.S. Justice Department’s Hometown Hero Award. The Hometown Hero Award, offered in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, celebrates the enduring ideals of liberty, service and civic responsibility. It is bestowed in recognition of brave men and women who exemplify steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded. XXX


title: Cuban national extradited from Panama to face sex trafficking, extortion, cyberstalking and other charges in Homeland Security Task Force investigation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 41-year-old man is set to make his initial appearance in Houston federal court on multiple charges for allegedly using threats, violence and other coercive means to compel four Cuban nationals to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial gain. Michel Cedeno-Castillo was extradited from Panama May 20 and is now expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan in Houston at 10 a.m. A federal grand jury returned the 14-count indictment May 13, which was unsealed upon his arrest. According to court documents, Cedeno-Castillo used false promises of lucrative employment in the United States to entice four victims to travel from Cuba to Texas. After the victims arrived in the United States, Cedeno-Castillo allegedly transported them within the Southern District of Texas knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that they had entered the United States in violation of the law. The indictment alleges he then used threats of violence, physical abuse and other coercive means to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his monetary benefit. “Cedeno-Castillo allegedly lured women with lies and forced them into prostitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “Any human trafficker who tries to flee the United States should know that we will work with our international partners, pursue every legal avenue, and wait as long as it takes to bring them to justice. The Southern District of Texas does not give up.” “The defendant has been indicted for luring vulnerable women from Cuba to the United States with promises of financial stability only to force them to have sex with men for money for his monetary gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Michel Cedeno-Castillo will now face these human trafficking charges. No matter where it originates, the Criminal Division will pursue sex traffickers who target and exploit vulnerable victims.” “The successful apprehension and extradition of this alleged sex trafficker sends a powerful message of deterrence to transnational criminal organizations across the globe that are involved in human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations - Houston. “HSI and our Homeland Security Task Force partners are committed to eradicate this modern-day form of slavery from society and will bring every resource we have to bear to track you down and hold you to account for your alleged crimes.” Cedeno-Castillo is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; importing an alien for immoral purposes; conspiracy to transport an alien in the United States for financial gain; transporting for purposes of prostitution; extortion; and cyberstalking. If convicted, he faces up to life in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Leah Branch from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Cedeno-Castillo. The investigation and charges are a result of coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets. This investigation is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. 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 Houston comprises agents and officers from ICE HSI; FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Mexican Nationals Charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Mexican nationals Manuel Gomez-Sanchez, 39, and David Alejandro Sandoval Canales, 41, charging both men with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on March 24, 2026, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval were driving northbound on U.S. Interstate-5 in Kings County when they were stopped for traffic violations. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 10 pounds of methamphetamine packaged into single-pounds increments, a digital scale, ammunition, two notebooks containing information consistent with narcotic sales and purchases, a loaded Berretta semiautomatic handgun, and an AR-15 rifle. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) and the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Gomez-Sanchez and Sandoval face a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime both defendants face a minimum sentence of five consecutive years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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: Miami-Area Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Distributing Sexual Torture and Mutilation Videos of Baby Monkeys

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Francisco Javier Ravelo, of Coral Gables, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release, during which he is not permitted to have any unsupervised contact with animals. Ravelo was sentenced in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo pleaded guilty in March to distributing more than 40 so-called “animal crush videos.” According to court documents and statements made during his sentencing hearing, Ravelo owned and administered several online chat groups dedicated to distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and tortured. The court ruled that Ravelo controlled access to and moderated his invitation-only private groups, where he was a leader and organizer, which served as a basis for Ravelo’s upward variance prison sentence. The court described the material distributed as “evil.” The court explained that it fashioned the sentence to show that “in society we will not tolerate this kind of material being distributed in any way, shape, or form” and further, that the harshness should serve as a deterrence for others in the monkey hate community. “The production and distribution of obscene animal crush videos is a felony,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “In passing the Animal Crushing statute, Congress recognized that cruelty to animals desensitizes participants to the suffering of human beings. This sentence is a warning to all future would-be creators and consumers of animal crushing that they risk federal prosecution and imprisonment for these crimes.” “Ravelo’s conviction and this sentencing make it clear that those who commit these horrific crimes cannot evade justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans. “Even when offenders use advanced technology and exclusive, invitation-only groups to hide their illegal activities, HSI will relentlessly pursue them and ensure they are held accountable. Our team worked tirelessly to stop Ravelo’s egregious crimes and prevent further harm, and we remain committed to bringing others who commit these offenses to justice.” HSI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: New Jersey Man Admits His Role in a Scheme Involving the Theft of More Than $250,000

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: Newark, N.J. – A New Jersey man admitted to engaging in wire fraud and aggravated identity theft that caused losses of more than $250,000, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Terrance Hart, 47, of Garfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court yesterday to an Information charging him with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing date is scheduled for October 14. 2026. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Hart opened or caused others to fraudulently open various bank accounts in the names of other individuals or entities, but that were actually under his control. Hart then deposited or caused others to deposit fraudulently obtained funds, including stolen United States Treasury checks, into the bank accounts. Then, Hart withdrew money from the bank accounts and converted the resulting funds to his personal use. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the gain or loss, whichever is greater. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the gain or loss, whichever is greater. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark with the investigation leading to this plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Claressa Lowe, Esq. hart.information.pdf


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Anthony Barrett, 46, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, also known as “crack.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barrett’s South Charleston residence and seized 432.5 grams of methamphetamine, 25.2 grams of cocaine, 11.4 grams of crack, and 13.68 grams of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Barrett admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them to others. Barrett further admitted that he sold 55.73 grams of methamphetamine on May 8, 2025, and 2.82 grams of fentanyl and 3.34 grams of crack on May 19, 2025, that both transactions occurred at his residence, and that he sold the controlled substances to a confidential informant. Barrett is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-189. ###


title: Woman Wanted for Murder in Mexico Arrested for Illegal Reentry in Western Wisconsin

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Alejandra Sanchez-Cuaquehua, 32, a Mexican citizen who was residing in Barron County, Wisconsin, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging her with illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed. According to the complaint, on April 2, 2026, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a report that a woman living and working in Ridgeland, Wisconsin, Sanchez-Cuaquehua, was a suspect in a July 2025 homicide in Mexico. FBI personnel in Mexico coordinated with Mexican authorities to confirm that Sanchez-Cuaquehua was a wanted fugitive. According to the complaint, authorities also confirmed that she had previously been removed from the United States and did not have permission to return. Following her arrest today, Sanchez-Cuaquehua made her initial appearance on the illegal reentry charge in federal court in Madison. Following the hearing, she was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be returned to Mexico to face her murder charges. The charge against Sanchez-Cuaquehua was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and their law enforcement attaché in Mexico City, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and their law enforcement attaché in Mexico City, Secreteria de Seguridad y Proteccion, Interpol, Fiscalia General Estado de Veracruz, and the Barron County Sheriff’s Office. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Pulaski County Felon Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Firearms

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A convicted felon, prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous criminal record, pled guilty yesterday to selling two stolen firearms. Michael Brandon Smith, 40, of Dublin, Virginia, pled guilty yesterday to possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. According to court documents, sometime between January 27, 2025, and February 6, 2025, an acquaintance of Smith stole two firearms from an unoccupied building. The acquittance brought the firearms to Smith at a property owned by Smith’s father. At the time, Smith understood these firearms were stolen and sought to get them away from his father’s property. Smith took possession of both firearms and sold them to another person. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives recovered both stolen firearms, a Savage Arms .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Hawthorne-Sentry .22 caliber long rifle. At sentencing, Smtih faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Samuel Ward made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case.


title: Virginia Beach woman sentenced to over 28 years in prison after recording her sexual abuse of two children

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – Grace Elizabeth Paradis, 43, was sentenced today to 28 years and four months in prison for conspiring to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Paradis abused two minor children, ages five and nine, which she recorded, and then provided the resultant CSAM to her former boyfriend, Cory Richard Hambley , 43, of Water View. In November 2022, Hambley, who was married, contacted Paradis and repeatedly encouraged her to provide CSAM. Hambley provided Paradis with a camera to be hidden and used to surreptitiously record images of the children, including Paradis sexually abusing them. Paradis leveraged Hambley’s desire for CSAM to negotiate for Hambley, who was married at the time, to commit to marrying her and assisting her with a rent payment. Paradis prepared a “contract” outlining the grooming and sexual abuse she and Hambley would inflict on future children. Hambley was sentenced on March 11 to 35 years in prison for conspiring to produce CSAM and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk office investigated this case with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Virginia Beach Police Department, and Middlesex Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek prosecuted the case. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. 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-44.


title: Statement on Returned Federal Indictment Related to Deadly Berea Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: A federal grand jury in Lexington returned an indictment this afternoon charging Brailen Weaver with one count of attempted armed bank robbery, resulting in the death of two victims, and two counts of causing death with a firearm in the course of a crime of violence. The grand jury also returned special findings that can support the death penalty. The maximum punishment for the charged offenses is death. Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to $230 Million Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A New York man pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $229.6 million in loans and to acquire multifamily and commercial properties through deception, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazerannounced. Mordichai Weiss, 29, of Monsey, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud conspiracy. “Commercial mortgage fraud schemes of this scale undermine the integrity of the lending system and inflict significant losses on financial institutions and taxpayers alike. Weiss and his co-conspirators orchestrated an elaborate scheme built on falsified records designed to trick lenders into funding loans that never should have been approved, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in losses to lenders and the public fisc. This case demonstrates our Office’s commitment to holding accountable those who exploit the financial system through deception and fraud.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “Multifamily properties serve an essential role in our housing system,” said Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak. “When fraudsters like Weiss and his co-conspirators provide false financial information to obtain loans on these properties, they not only defraud the lenders, but they also harm innocent tenants in New Jersey and across the U.S. who live in these buildings. In partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FHFA-OIG will continue to vigorously identify, investigate, and prosecute the fraudsters who undermine the integrity of our mortgage finance system.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Between April 2022 and June 2023, Weiss conspired with others to deceive lenders into issuing multifamily and commercial mortgage loans in amounts they otherwise would not have approved. To carry out the scheme, Weiss and his co-conspirators submitted falsified documents to lenders, including altered bank records and fraudulent settlement statements, to misrepresent the true purchase prices of the properties. For example, in May 2023, Weiss agreed to purchase an apartment complex in Houston, Texas for approximately $66.9 million. Weiss and his co-conspirators provided the lender with a fraudulent purchase agreement reflecting a price of $97.8 million. That inflated figure was repeated across multiple falsified documents submitted in support of the loan. Relying on these misrepresentations, the lender approved and funded a loan of approximately $68.5 million, on which Weiss later defaulted. In total, Weiss obtained approximately $229.6 million in loans from multiple financial institutions through this scheme. Ultimately, he defaulted on the loans, or the loan balances substantially exceeded the value of the underlying collateral, resulting in approximately $94.4 million in losses to lenders, including the Federal National Mortgage Association, commonly known as Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly known as Freddie Mac. The sole count in the Information carries a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The sentencing date is not yet scheduled. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FHFA-OIG with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Belgiovine of the Criminal Division in Trenton. ### Defense counsel: Gedalia Stern, Esq. weiss.information.pdf


title: Florida Man Charged for Using a Fraudulent Department of Justice Seal While Falsely Representing That He was a Federal Prosecutor

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida resident made his initial appearance in Newark Federal Court yesterday after he was arrested last week in Miami, Florida on charges that he used and affixed a fraudulently made Department of Justice seal on correspondence that he mailed to a luxury car company with corporate offices in New Jersey, while falsely representing that he was a federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Paul Richard Johnson, 55, of Miami, Florida, is charged by complaint with fraudulent use of a government seal on a letter dated October 15, 2024, to an automotive manufacturer with corporate offices in New Jersey, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 506(a)(2). The defendant appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Johnson, who had never been employed by the DOJ, began corresponding with an automobile manufacturer around July 2024 to resolve a dispute related to Johnson’s unpaid automobile lease. Due to the length of the delinquency, the automobile company had referred the matter to collections and wrote off Johnson’s debt, which ultimately resulted in Johnson receiving negative credit report entries. In his attempt to get the automobile manufacturer to take steps to repair his credit history, Johnson affixed the DOJ seal to letters he transmitted to the company. For example, on or about July 11, 2024, Johnson sent a letter to the company’s corporate offices in central Ohio that featured the DOJ seal on the letterhead along with a heading of “US Department of Justice” and a subheading of “National Security Division.” Johnson wrote this letter to complain that the company had “reported me to all three credit bureaus for a loan write-off.” Further, Johnson wrote that “DOJ’s internal security team which monitors my, and other, personal information” had purportedly confirmed that the automobile manufacturer had reported a delinquency that led to the notification of the three credit bureaus. Johnson signed the letter, described his position as “Supervising Attorney, Criminal Division,” and listed a fraudulent DOJ e-mail address, despite never having been employed there. Johnson sent at least two additional letters to the automobile manufacture’s Ohio headquarters in which he affixed the fraudulent DOJ seal and represented himself to be an “Assistant United States Attorney.” Then, around October 15, 2024, Johnson wrote a fourth letter, this one directed to the automobile manufacturer’s corporate offices in Bergen County, New Jersey. As with the three earlier letters, Johnson used letterhead featuring the DOJ seal and referred to the “US Department of Justice” under which appeared the subheading “National Security Division.” Johnson rehashed many of the statements and requests from his earlier letters, but added, in the concluding paragraph, that “[i]f there is anything you can do to facilitate an alternative outcome, I can categorically state that your actions will be looked upon both favorably by me, including but not limited to, the 94 other US Attorneys’ offices.” Beneath his signature, Johnson listed his occupation as “Assistant United States Attorney,” and listed the same fake e-mail account purportedly with the DOJ. The charge of fraudulently using a government seal is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, and special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Maltese in Newark, with the investigation leading to Johnson’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. ### Defense counsel: John Yauch, AFPD, Newark johnson.complaint.pdf


title: Federal Jury Convicts Self-Proclaimed “Elite Ranked Pedophile” of Eleven Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida –A federal jury has found Frederick Karl Hildenbrand (56, Cocoa) guilty of nine counts of producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of possessing CSAM. Hildenbrand faces a minimum of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for each production count, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each possession count. The maximum penalty for the possession counts was enhanced due to the jury’s finding that the material depicted young children. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to evidence presented at trial, Hildenbrand was residing in Ohio from at least 2004 through 2014. He and his wife later relocated to northeast Florida. While in Ohio, Hildenbrand produced a number of tapes and electronic files depicting himself sexually abusing children, including toddlers and infants. He brought these materials with him to Florida, and in 2018, rented a storage unit in which he placed a safe containing the CSAM. In May 2024, after the storage unit company had changed ownership, Hildenbrand’s payments were no longer processed, and the storage unit was auctioned. The purchaser of the contents retrieved the safe from the storage unit and, after opening it, discovered multiple pairs of soiled children’s undergarments labeled with names and individually packaged in plastic baggies. Also, inside the safe were the tapes and electronic devices. The purchaser turned the materials over to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, and child exploitation material was discovered on the electronic media. In July 2024, Hildenbrand realized that his unit had been auctioned and contacted the storage company to try and have his items returned. During multiple recorded phone calls, Hildenbrand expressed that he especially wanted the items returned from his safe. Unknown to Hildenbrand, he was communicating with an undercover detective from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. On August 5, 2024, Hildenbrand drove three hours from Cocoa to Clay County intending to get the safe back. Instead, he was arrested. On the same day, detectives searched Hildenbrand’s residence and recovered electronic devices which also contained CSAM. Searches of these devices revealed that Hildenbrand had continued to film himself sexually abusing children through at least June 2024. In total, Hildenbrand possessed at least 10,000 depictions of children being sexually abused. One of his computers contained two versions of a “poem” written by Hildenbrand about his insatiable lust for children, in which he described himself as “an Elite ranked pedophile” for over 30 years. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Children and Families. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor. 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: Dupree Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Sexually Abusing a Woman

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026. Floyd Clown, Jr., age 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Clown was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 6, 2026. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in Dupree, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. On March 11, 2025, Clown invited the victim inside his residence and then forced her to have sexual contact with him after she refused his entreaties and told him to stop his advances. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. Clown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Former Cooper County R-IV School Board Vice-President Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Role in Misuse of School District Funds

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Cooper County R-IV School District board member pleaded guilty in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded the school district out of $385,000. Ashley Benny, 41, of Bunceton, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps to an information charging her with one count of wire fraud. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Cooper County R-IV is a school district in Bunceton, Mo., with approximately 100 students. While serving as the school board treasurer in 2019, Benny was asked to research alternative investment options for the school district’s unallocated savings. Benny learned through a friend of a supposedly lucrative overseas “standby letter of credit” investment that carried no risk of loss. The school district agreed to Benny’s suggestion and voted to transfer $385,000 to a company called “AgFluent.” Prior to the board vote, Benny failed to disclose that she opened and controlled the AgFluent bank account and hoped to personally profit from the investment. The investment was a scam, and the school district was defrauded out of $233,000 wired overseas by AgFluent. Contrary to AgFluent’s agreement with the school board, Benny then helped transfer the remaining school district investment funds to pay various other entities and expenses owed by a co-conspirator, including nearly $60,000 for the purchase of two semi-trucks and a $10,000 escrow payment on a failed land purchase deal. The school district never received any return on its $385,000 investment. By pleading guilty today, Benny admitted that she is directly responsible for $146,518 in loss to Cooper County R-IV. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Benny must pay full restitution to the school district in this amount. Under federal statute, Benny is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Constance and Lauren Kummerer. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Kansas City Field Office. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Hays woman sentenced to prison for assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who participated in the assault of a man who later succumbed to his injuries was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Alta Rose Chandler, 24, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Fort Belknap law enforcement, responding to a 911 call, discovered John Doe bloodied and unconscious on his kitchen floor around 6 a.m. September 30, 2023. At the home were Doe’s adult daughter, Heavenlee Drewann Sears, a relative who had called 911, and Chandler. Earlier in the evening, Sears and Chandler were driving around Fort Belknap and drinking from a bottle of peppermint schnapps they’d purchased during their night out after consuming an 18-pack of beer. At some point, they arrived at Doe’s house and continued drinking with him in his kitchen. Sears later told investigators she lost her temper and struck Doe repeatedly in the head with the glass schnapps bottle, knocking him to the floor. Once on the ground, Chandler continued to punch Doe in the head, leaving her knuckles bruised. Once paramedics arrived, Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services where he was unresponsive and breathing erratically. His ears and face were bruised and swollen, his nose was lacerated, his upper lip was lacerated, and he had a human bite mark on his forehead. He also had bite marks on his left wrist and left upper chest. Doe died two months later on December 11, 2023, due to a traumatic brain injury. On March 11, 2026, Sears was sentenced to 22 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for her role in the assault. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Cuban National Extradited from Panama to Face Sex Trafficking, Extortion, Cyberstalking, and Other Charges in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A 41-year-old citizen of Cuba living in the Southern District of Texas, is set to make his initial appearance in Houston on multiple charges for allegedly using threats, violence, and other coercive means to compel four Cuban nationals to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial gain. According to court documents, Michel Cedeno-Castillo used false promises of lucrative employment in the United States to entice four victims to travel from Cuba to Texas. After the victims arrived in the United States, Cedeno-Castillo allegedly transported the victims within the Southern District of Texas knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that they had entered the United States in violation of the law. He then allegedly used threats of violence, physical abuse, and other coercive means to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his monetary benefit. “The defendant has been indicted for luring vulnerable women from Cuba to the United States with promises of financial stability only to force them to have sex with men for money for his monetary gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Michel Cedeno-Castillo will now face these human trafficking charges. No matter where it originates, the Criminal Division will pursue sex traffickers who target and exploit vulnerable victims.” “Cedeno-Castillo allegedly lured women with lies and forced them into prostitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “Any human trafficker who tries to flee the United States should know that we will work with our international partners, pursue every legal avenue, and wait as long as it takes to bring them to justice. The Southern District of Texas does not give up.” “The successful apprehension and extradition of this alleged sex trafficker sends a powerful message of deterrence to transnational criminal organizations across the globe that are involved in human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Field Office. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to eradicate this modern-day form of slavery from society and will bring every resource we have to bear to track you down and hold you to account for your alleged crimes.” Cedeno-Castillo is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, importing an alien for immoral purposes, conspiracy to transport an alien in the United States for financial gain, transporting for purposes of prostitution, extortion, and cyberstalking. If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison. The HSI Houston Field Office is investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Investigative Strike Team provided valuable assistance. Acting Deputy Chief Leah Branch of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Cedeno-Castillo. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. This investigation is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. 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 Houston comprises agents and officers from ICE HSI; FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Career Criminal & Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years After Using Handgun to Threaten Evansville Detectives During Arrest

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

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Binnie Y. Bryant Jr., 36, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, in 2024, Evansville Police Department detectives discovered a social media video showing Bryant displaying two semi‑automatic pistols. Bryant is prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearm due to an extensive history of felony convictions, including two counts of armed robbery, four counts of criminal recklessness, two counts of intimidation, failure to register as a sex offender, trafficking a controlled substance with an inmate, residential entry, dealing marijuana with a prior drug conviction, resisting law enforcement, and battery against a public safety officer. On January 23, 2024, uniformed detectives approached Bryant as he walked near an intersection and attempted to stop him. Bryant immediately fled on foot and violently resisted arrest once apprehended. During the struggle, Bryant reached toward his waistband, grabbed the handle of a Glock pistol, and attempted to draw it. Detectives were able to disarm him and take him into custody without further incident. A search of Bryant’s pockets revealed 20.8 grams of heroin, 96.5 grams of THC, and two digital scales. In recorded jail calls from the Vanderburgh County Corrections Complex, Bryant admitted to a woman that he fled because he knew he was illegally carrying a firearm. He further stated that he “tried to pull my s**t out and get to dumpin on thy ass on god.” Dumping is a common street term meaning to shoot at someone. “This defendant’s long history of violent crime and his attempt to draw a firearm on officers underscore exactly why federal firearm laws exist. When individuals with violent felony records continue to arm themselves, we will act decisively,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence makes clear that those who threaten our community and the officers who protect it will be held fully accountable.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Fitchburg Detective Honored With Hometown Hero Award

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin proudly announces that Detective Jordan Trundle of the Fitchburg Police Department has been awarded the inaugural Hometown Hero Award sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice in honor of America’s 250th birthday. In a ceremony today, U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma presented Detective Trundle the award in recognition of his outstanding work as a Task Force Officer with ATF Madison’s Crime Gun Task Force. The task force was formed to reduce gun violence by removing handguns from felons, drug traffickers, and other prohibited persons. The task force also aims to eliminate dangerous machine guns and machine gun conversion devices from Wisconsin communities. Since joining the task force in July 2024, Detective Trundle has worked tirelessly to make the Fitchburg Police Department a model agency for processing crime guns. Detective Trundle has worked to streamline his department’s procedures for documenting and analyzing firearms used in the commission of federal and state crimes. Detective Trundle has also led in service training sessions to ensure his fellow officers are educated on the new procedures. Through his efforts, Detective Trundle has personally opened approximately two dozen federal firearms cases which have led to eighteen indictments. In addition to his contributions to the Crime Gun Task Force, Detective Trundle was recognized in May 2024 by the Fitchburg Police Department for his outstanding service during a shots fired incident. He has participated in training for the department’s Citizens Academy, including conducting demonstrations on building clearing tactics and K9 apprehension. “Today we honor one of our absolute best,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “The Western District of Wisconsin is proud to recognize Detective Trundle for his exceptional work and service to his fellow Wisconsinites. He is an extraordinary example of what a law enforcement officer can be, and I am grateful for his continued service.” The Hometown Hero Award was created in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The U.S. Department of Justice is proud to honor law enforcement across the country with recognition of the extraordinary service to their fellow citizens.


title: Online Predators Sentenced to 82 Years

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Two conspirators imprisoned for scheme to obtain child pornography. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Michael David Bledsoe, 47, of Lansing, Michigan and Joseph Brandon, 50, of Knoxville, Tennessee, were sentenced to a total of 984 months in prison following their convictions for conspiracy to sexually exploit children. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou commented this misconduct at issue was so severe as to be “off the charts.” Brandon was sentenced to 660 total months for his crimes, with each of his individual sentences required to be served consecutively. The Court sentenced Bledsoe to 324 total months for his misconduct. When they are released from prison, Brandon will spend 10 years and Bledsoe will spend 5 years on supervised release. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “I don’t know how to make it any plainer than this: If you are sexually exploiting children, you will be found, prosecuted and sent to prison for a very long time. Stop harming our children or your life is essentially over.” Bledsoe and Brandon met online through a chat group devoted to the discussion of predation of minor females. Through private messages, the two formed a criminal agreement in which Bledsoe promised to provide Brandon with social media and biographical information about minor girls in Michigan. In return, Brandon promised to “catfish” child pornography from the minors, by using a fake social media account where he posed as a 15-year-old girl. Federal agents discovered the conspiracy after executing a search warrant on Bledsoe’s home and electronics. The search uncovered the illicit messages between Bledsoe and Brandon, as well as a trove of child pornography files. Investigators then used this information to obtain a search warrant for Brandon’s home in Tennessee, where they found thousands more images and videos of children being sexually abused. “If you attempt to exploit our children through online deception and catfishing schemes, expect to spend decades in prison. This sentence sends a strong message to these defendants, who will have plenty of time to think about their appalling actions,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “These individuals conspired to manipulate and exploit vulnerable victims through calculated online tactics that have no place in our Michigan communities. Thanks to the diligent investigative work of our FBI Lansing Resident Agency, with the assistance from the FBI Knoxville Resident Agency, and additional assets throughout the Bureau, this disturbing scheme was uncovered, and the defendants were brought to justice.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin J. Hakes prosecuted it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . Combatting online child sexual abuse remains a priority for the Department of Justice. To report an incident of actual or suspected online child sexual exploitation, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) 24-Hour Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, submit a CyberTip report to NCMEC at report.cybertip.org , or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov .


title: Belarusian Woman Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting U.S.-Sourced Aviation Components to Russia

body_text: WASHINGTON — Yana Leonova, 33, a Belarusian citizen most recently residing in Russia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with procuring and illicitly exporting numerous avionics and other aircraft equipment from the United States to Russia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Leonova, aka “Yana Liavonava,” pleaded guilty before the Honorable Loren L. AliKahn to violating the Export Control Reform Act. Following the plea hearing, Judge AliKahn scheduled sentencing for Aug. 10, 2026. “Anyone who thinks they can exploit U.S. supply chains to arm our adversaries should look carefully at what happened to Yana Leonova,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Leonova used shell companies, false paperwork, and foreign intermediaries to conceal the unlawful export of U.S.-origin aircraft components to Russia. Investigators traced the scheme across multiple jurisdictions and brought her to justice. There is no distance far enough to protect those who threaten our national security interests.” “No matter where you are, the FBI will not stop to ensure you face justice when you violate U.S. laws,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile of the Kansas City, Mo., Field Office. “Today’s actions in federal court ensure that the defendant will be held accountable for their actions in skirting our laws for their own benefit. We thank all parties and partners involved in this case and commend their efforts to ensure justice has been done.” According to court documents and admissions during the plea hearing, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in May 2022, Leonova and her U.S. and Armenian co-conspirators illicitly procured aircraft components from U.S.-based distributors. Leonova and her co-conspirators repeatedly concealed and misstated the true end users and end destinations of the aircraft components ordered by Leonova by submitting false information on documents. Using companies located in Armenia and elsewhere, Leonova and her co-conspirators transshipped the components to Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, in violation of federal law. In addition, Leonova, her former Russian employer, and her co-conspirators caused payments in U.S. dollars to be transmitted from foreign bank accounts to bank accounts in the United States. The exported items were for use on private aircraft operated or maintained by Leonova’s former employer, a company identified on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List for engaging in or enabling activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. In November 2025, Leonova was extradited to the United States from France in connection with this case. This case is being investigated by FBI Kansas City and BIS/OEE Atlanta and New York. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma Dinan Ellenrieder and John W. Borchert of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Significant assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart D. Allen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Further significant assistance on the extradition was provided by French authorities and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. The Department expresses deep appreciation for the support of our French allies. 24cr421


title: Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA hosts ONDCP Director and Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies to discuss Path to Zero, a USPIS law enforcement initiative to continue fighting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the HSTF

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) hosted ONDCP Director Sara Carter and federal and state law enforcement agencies to discuss Path to Zero , a United States Postal Inspection Service law enforcement initiative to continue fighting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Homeland Security Task Force Initiative. Combating drug trafficking through the mail is one of the highest priorities for postal inspectors. Across the country postal inspectors play a central role in disrupting the drug supply chain globally; working diligently with agency partners, all committed to fight drug trafficking. Postal inspectors will not allow the mail to be a back door for drug and firearms trafficking organizations operating in Puerto Rico, or in any American community. Today, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Postal Inspection Service) announced the results of operation “Path to Zero,” a Puerto Rico based drug interdiction initiative. Operation Path to Zero, led by the Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division, and its San Juan Domicile, was launched in January 2026 and to date has resulted in the seizure of over 556 kilograms of cocaine found in over 448 USPS parcels destined for the mainland United States. Operation Path to Zero has been a partnership with, and supported by, Postal Inspection Service – Puerto Rico Police Task Force, the US Attorney’s Office – District of Puerto Rico, and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division. Puerto Rico serves as a gateway for a large portion of cocaine shipments sent through the U.S. Mail by foreign terrorist organization to the mainland United States. The Postal Inspection Service through Operation Path to Zero is closing this gateway for good, and has increased its resources in Puerto Rico, and implemented a strategy that is focused on the interdiction and removal of drugs from the mailstream at the source in Puerto Rico. The Postal Inspection Service has also increased its focus on the interdiction of firearms, criminal proceeds, and dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, destined to Puerto Rico from the mainland United States. “We will not allow for the U.S. Postal Service to be used to traffic drugs,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “As a result of this operation we have removed a significant amount of illegal drugs from the mailstream before it could reach the mainland United States. We are not done. Postal inspectors will continue to work with our Homeland Security Task Force, the Puerto Rico Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office partners to stop the flow of drugs, firearms, and criminal proceeds through the mail.” “Under President Trump’s leadership and newly-released National Drug Control Strategy, the United States continues to wage a relentless offensive against illicit drugs. This drug seizure operation shows how Puerto Rico has been targeted for exploitation by smugglers,” said Sara Carter, National Drug Control Policy Director. “No matter how drug traffickers try to smuggle drugs, we will stop them at every point of entry—including borders, waters, airspace and mail. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their hard work.” “Law enforcement agencies in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean continue the efforts to attack drug trafficking cartels, transnational organizations and violent crime,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Our common goal is to make our communities safer, and with the help of ONDCP, HIDTA, and initiatives like Path to Zero and the Homeland Security Task Force we will continue producing great results and dismantling drug trafficking networks that only bring violence and death to our communities.” “The HIDTA program is unique in its ability to support coordinated law enforcement strategies which maximize the effectiveness of local resources to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in our communities and the United States as a whole,” said John F. Kanig, Executive Director, Puerto Rico / U.S. Virgin Islands High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. “We are committed to working with our public safety and public health partners for a better future”. The Postal Inspection Service utilized a variety of methods to identify drugs sent through the mail, including information from the public. The Postal Inspection Service offers rewards of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for drug trafficking related offenses. Information on drug trafficking may be reports to postal inspectors at 877-876-2455 or online at www.uspis.gov . ###


title: Perry Man Sent Back to Federal Prison for 10 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Robert “Bobby” Shane Willis, 46, of Perry, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our communities safe and our streets drug-free is a top priority for my office, and we will continue to back up the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to send drug traffickers to prison where they belong.” According to court records, on March 5, 2025, the defendant sold 6.6 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine during an undercover law enforcement operation. The defendant was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense, having been sentenced in 2018 to nine years in prison for multiple drug-trafficking and firearms offenses. "Bobby Shane Willis has been involved in the illicit drug trade in Taylor County and the City of Perry for years, said Chief Jamie Cruse, Jr., Perry Police Department. “This is not his first conviction for such crimes, having chosen to follow a career as a criminal, participating in the drug trade and committing offenses that are closely associated with the illicit sale of drugs the entire time, and while on Supervised Release for the same offense. Willis' conviction and incarceration will remove him from a society to which he has distributed dangerous drugs for years. The Perry Police Department is proud to partner with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, The Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a concerted effort to remove Willis and other dangerous career criminals that continuously spread the poison of dangerous drugs to the youth and other Citizens of North Florida.” Taylor County Sheriff Padgett said: “Bobby Shane Willis is an individual who has spent years committing crimes and putting the safety of our community at risk. Thanks to the hard work and strong partnership between the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, and our federal law enforcement partners, he will no longer be able to prey on the citizens of this community. This ten-year sentence sends a clear message that those who repeatedly victimize others will be brought to justice.” When he is released from prison, the defendant will serve 10 additional years on supervised release. “This joint investigation removes a career offender from our North Florida streets,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “Methamphetamine has been all too present in this area, and we are committed to stopping the flow of this poison into our communities.” This conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Perry Police Department, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Former East Bay Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty To Operating A Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi Scheme

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Edwin Emmett Lickiss, Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with a decades-long Ponzi scheme. Lickiss, 78, of Danville, Calif., admitted that from 1998 through September 2024, he defrauded more than 93 investors of at least $9.5 million. To induce investments, Lickiss falsely claimed that he would place victim funds into exclusive, safe, tax-free bonds, with some generating returns in excess of 20 percent. Lickiss also issued fraudulent promissory notes on the letterhead of his former firm, Foundation Financial Group. In fact, Lickiss used subsequent victim funds to make payments to those who had invested earlier, consistent with a Ponzi scheme. Lickiss also diverted victim funds for his own use, including cash withdrawals, home renovations, travel, and payments on vehicles, mortgages, and personal credit cards. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew Cobo, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement. Lickiss was released pending a sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for August 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Lickiss faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil enforcement action against Lickiss in the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wolinsky is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Atlanta Regional Office of the SEC for its assistance in the investigation.


title: Superseding Indictment Returned for New Jersey Pastor and Self-Proclaimed Prophet Who Compelled Labor and Sex from Congregants

body_text: A grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging Treva Edwards, 61, Orange, New Jersey, with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, three counts of forced labor, and conspiracy to commit forced labor. The superseding indictment also charged his wife, Christine Edwards, 64, also of Orange, with conspiracy to commit forced labor. According to the superseding indictment, Treva and Christine Edwards were the founders and pastors of a church they named “Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost,” which they operated out of a multi-unit apartment building in Orange, where they conspired with each other and others to obtain the compelled labor of church members. As charged in the superseding indictment, between 2010 and 2025, the defendants identified and recruited victims who were facing struggles in their personal lives, including financial and familial, to join the church and live and worship at the church building. Treva Edwards told the victims that he was a prophet who could communicate directly with God and that disobeying him would result in spiritual retribution, as well as physical, emotional, and financial harm. The Edwardses secured labor contracts to provide manual labor in and around Orange, including cleaning and gutting commercial and residential properties, shoveling snow, removing bulk trash, moving furniture, cleaning raw sewage, and exterminating rodent infestations. The Edwards couple dispatched the victims to perform the contracted labor. They did not pay wages to the victims for their work and kept the money earned from their labor. Treva Edwards preached to the victims that he communicated God’s will, that it was God’s will for them to work, and that members had to perform labor to serve God. The defendants convinced the victims that they would lose favor with God and “the Prophet” if they did not perform the prescribed labor. Treva Edwards spread fear among the victims through verbal and emotional abuse and threats of reputational harm, homelessness, hunger, spiritual retribution, punishments, and additional hard labor to gain their obedience and compel them to perform unpaid labor. The Edwardses instituted and enforced strict rules about when and whether the victims could eat or sleep, when and for how long they were to pray and work, and whether they could speak to non-members or leave the church building. They isolated the victims, monitored their communications and whereabouts, and convinced them that non-members were evil or possessed by the devil. They also deprived the victims of sleep and typically fed them only once a day after they completed their work. According to the allegations in the superseding indictment, Treva Edwards controlled and subjected two victims to repeated physical and sexual assaults, impregnating one victim and instructing her to get an abortion, and telling the other victim that having sex with him was God’s will and would prevent her from becoming mentally ill. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion against Treva Edwards carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The forced labor charge against Treva Edwards carries a maximum penalty of 20 years or life in prison if the violation included aggravated sexual abuse. The conspiracy to commit forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey, Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Field Office, and Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito for the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General made the announcement. HSI Newark Field Office and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Newark Field Office are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Chenoweth and Susan Millenky for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. HSI Newark is asking anyone with information about Treva Edwards, Christine Edwards, or their organization known as Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost (JLHG), to contact its tip line at (866) 347-2423 or email HSINewarkHumanTrafficking@hsi.dhs.gov. The tip line is monitored 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, there is an online tip form. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.


title: Bourbonnais Woman Sentenced to One Year In Prison for Pandemic-Related Fraud

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A Bourbonnais, Illinois, woman, Octavia Renee Murphy, 37, of the 700 block of Double Jack Street, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to one year in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Murphy was also ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release following her imprisonment and to pay $169,949.97 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). On January 27, 2026, Murphy pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless in Springfield, Illinois, to conspiring with others to defraud the SBA by submitting false applications for pandemic era relief, namely, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Murphy admitted recruiting relatives, co-workers, and friends to file fraudulent applications for EIDL advances and PPP loans falsely claiming that they operated small businesses prior to and during the pandemic. Murphy admitted that, when those applications were successful, those individuals paid kickbacks to her out of the fraud proceeds. Murphy further admitted that she filed false PPP loan forgiveness applications for those same individuals, as well as attempted to disguise and conceal the PPP loan that she personally received by transferring the money to another account and falsely claiming it was for “payroll”. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence establishing that Murphy was the leader and organizer of a fourteen-defendant conspiracy that defrauded the SBA of $169.949.97 by submitting false EIDL advance and PPP loan applications. The government also established that Murphy was gainfully employed by the State of Illinois at the Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee, Illinois, at the time of her fraud and was motivated by greed, not any financial need. During the hearing, Judge Lawless rejected Murphy’s request for a minimum sentence of one day of imprisonment, stating that she could not ignore that Murphy was the leader of this large conspiracy to defraud the SBA and that Murphy’s conduct warranted a sentence of imprisonment. Murphy will remain on bond pending reporting to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date to serve her sentence. “Exploiting a program designed to assist small businesses in staying viable during a crisis is inexcusable.” said Acting United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners and protecting the taxpayers by holding these fraudsters accountable for their actions.” “Pandemic relief funds were meant to protect communities during a crisis, not to line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Ryan Presley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Springfield Field Office. “By organizing a network to steal from taxpayers, the defendant chose personal greed over public need. This case shows that if you defraud emergency federal programs, we and our partners will hold you accountable.” “Today’s sentencing reflects the coordinated efforts of our office, our investigative partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in addressing fraud involving federal relief programs,” said Basil Demczak, Special Agent in Charge of Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “We remain committed to protecting taxpayer funds and holding accountable those who exploited pandemic relief programs intended to support individuals and businesses in need.” The statutory penalties for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and each count of wire fraud are up to thirty years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, full restitution, and a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalty for money laundering is up to twenty years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Federal charges remain pending against the remaining thirteen defendants, with a trial date of July 6, 2026, scheduled before Judge Lawless in Springfield. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General has estimated over $200 billion nationwide in fraudulent pandemic-relief payments under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case investigation was conducted by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Production Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Colon, age 52, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to 300 months in prison by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for three counts of production of child pornography and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Colon communicated with multiple minor victims who he then enticed into creating images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit activity and then directed the children to send those images to him via cellphone. At the time that the Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant for Colon’s cellular devices in 2024, Colon, who was a convicted felon and prohibited possessor, was additionally in possession of multiple illegal firearms, including a stolen handgun. “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting children from those who seek to exploit their vulnerability for personal gain,” said HSI Philadelphia Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel. “This sentence is a result of HSI’s relentless pursuit to prosecute predators who manipulate and coerce minors into illegal acts, and we will use every resource at our disposal to bring them to justice. Most importantly, our efforts in this case provided an opportunity to rescue five young victims and ensure they are no longer subject to this abuse. The safety and well-being of our nation’s children will always be our top priority.” The Department of Homeland Security and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case. 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Presents Hometown Hero Award to Retired Pittsburgh Police Officer in Recognition of His Bravery and Dedication During Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania this morning presented former Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (PBP) officer Daniel Mead with a U.S. Department of Justice/United States Attorney’s Office “Hometown Hero Award” during a brief ceremony held at PBP headquarters. Mead received the award in front of PBP’s command staff. Offered in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, the Hometown Hero Award honors the enduring ideals of liberty, service, and civic responsibility, and is bestowed in recognition of brave men and women who exemplify steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded. The award was presented to Mead, now retired, in recognition of his courage and sacrifice during the October 27, 2018, Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, where Officer Mead and his partner, Michael Smidga, were the first to arrive at the Synagogue that morning in response to the harrowing 911 calls about an active shooter. Armed only with a handgun, Mead quickly approached the entrance of the Synagogue and observed the shooter inside of the building before being shot through the hand and needing to retreat. Mead was one of four police officers and SWAT operators to be shot and injured by the shooter, who killed 11 congregants and seriously wounded two others during his antisemitic attack. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is pleased to honor Daniel Mead with the Western District of Pennsylvania’s Hometown Hero Award in conjunction with the celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday,” said United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. “Nearly eight years after the shooting, our gratitude and admiration for the heroic bravery and selfless dedication of the first responders that day endures. On the morning of October 27, 2018, Officer Mead walked directly into the line of fire in fulfillment of his sworn duty to uphold the law and protect his fellow citizens. Today, we honor him. He is Pittsburgh’s Hometown Hero.” U.S. Attorney Rivetti with Daniel Mead Daniel Mead with U.S. Attorney Rivetti, Officer Smidga, Tree of Life survivors, and PBP Chief Lando Daniel Mead with PBP command staff


title: Former Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced to 110 Months for Assault Against Rivals

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in separate assaults against members of rival motorcycle clubs. Mark A. Cottman, aka “One Shot,” 51, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 110 months in federal prison without parole for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering. On Sept. 17, 2022, Cottman and 12 other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo. Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle. Cottman, who was a Pagan’s prospect at the time, and the others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg. Several weeks later, Cottman received his Pagan’s patch, becoming a member of the Pagan’s. On July 20, 2023, Cottman and two other Pagan’s assaulted a lone rival motorcycle gang member at a bar & grill in North Kansas City, Mo. One of the Pagan’s told the victim that they were there to shut the victim’s club down, then flipped a table over knocking the victim to the ground. Once on the ground, Cottman and the two others began stomping, kicking and punching the victim. The victim later told law enforcement that those who assaulted him were wearing steel-toed boots. Cottman and the two others fled the bar & grill before any law enforcement arrived. The victim was later transported by ambulance to a local hospital, suffering from a head contusion, rib fracture, hemothorax (accumulation of blood in the area between the chest wall and lungs), a left pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and a traumatic brain injury. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Missouri Police Department, the Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Homeland Security Task Force This prosecution 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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.