title: New York Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man has been charged for engaging in a scheme to defraud multiple lenders by using the personally identifiable information of a Hudson County man to submit fraudulent loan applications to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars of loans, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Humza Khan, 28, of New York, New York, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Khan appeared on July 2, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Around December 2020, Khan submitted loan applications to secure a $150,000 accounts receivable finance loan on behalf of a Florida-based specialty pharmacy in which Khan had a financial interest. Khan used the personal information of an elderly individual who lived in Hudson County, New Jersey—including their name and social security number—in the loan application without permission, in order to conceal that Khan was receiving the loan proceeds. Based on those fraudulent misrepresentations, the victim lenders provided Khan with approximately $150,000. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft count carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Brandley of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Zach Intrater, Esq. and Daniela Manzi, Esq. khan.complaint.pdf


title: South Bay CEO Sentenced For Employment Tax Crimes

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS. The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time. Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year. From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million. To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee. Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars. In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement. IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini and Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced For Possessing An Unregistered Explosive Device

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Brandon Pearce, age 56, of Indianola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device). The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On November 25, 2024, Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. According to investigators, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to blast reports at Pearce’s residence. There, agents encountered Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade. An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades. “This case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred. Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime.” “Pearce’s actions were egregious and could have been fatal,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm. Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pearce will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.


title: Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses Related to Sexual Abuse Minor

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HERNAN AYALA, 33, of Manchester, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to child exploitation offenses related to his sexual abuse of a minor. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a complaint that a minor female had been sexually abused by Ayala. The minor female reported that Ayala had engaged in sexual conduct with her for more than eight years, and that Ayala had recorded his sexual abuse of her on his cellphone. On that date, investigators searched Ayala’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including his iPhone. Analysis of the seized phone revealed numerous videos and images of Ayala engaging in sexual conduct with the minor victim. Ayala pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver on September 30. Ayala has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 9, 2024. This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Manchester Police Department, the Glastonbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy V. Gifford. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of Hartford and Tolland for their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Boca Raton Resident Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Boca Raton resident pled guilty today in the Southern District of Florida to securities fraud based on an insider trading scheme that netted over $420,000. According to court documents, during a July 4 th gathering in 2020, Charles Lawrence Baugh, Sr. (“Baugh”), 60, learned of a pending partnership between Google LLC and ADT Inc. (“ADT”). Baugh also learned that Google LLC would be making a substantial investment in ADT. At the time, ADT’s shares were publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange. A close family member who occupied a senior role at ADT revealed the pending partnership and investment to Baugh. Baugh knew that the news was material, non-public information and that he had a duty to keep the information confidential. Nonetheless, in violation of that duty, Baugh proceeded to purchase in trading accounts he controlled approximately 1,000 ADT call options and 800 ADT shares. Baugh began purchasing the securities on July 6, 2020—the first trading day after the July 4 th holiday. In addition to trading in his own accounts, Baugh traded in ADT securities in the accounts of at least two other family members and convinced two additional family members to buy ADT securities, all while news of the partnership and investment was non-public. On August 3, 2020, news of the partnership and investment became public. ADT’s share price increased over 50%. Baugh sold all 1,000 call options, netting over $314,000. As part of his guilty plea, Baugh agreed to forfeit $316,044, all the proceeds from the scheme he personally received. Baugh’s sentencing will take place before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks at a later date. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, who previously sued and settled with Baugh. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Paster is handling asset forfeiture. This is the fifth insider trading conviction in 2025 secured by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the FBI Miami Field Office. Convictions were previously obtained in United States v. Federico Nannini et al ., 24-20398-CR, and United States v. Stephen George , 25-60011-CR. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-80089. ###


title: Richard R. Barker Concludes Service as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – On July 7, 2025, Richard R. Barker stepped down as the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Barker will be returning to private practice in Spokane after a distinguished career in public service. Acting United States Attorney Barker has over a decade of experience as a career prosecutor, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2014. During his career, Barker has held the positions of First Assistant United States Attorney, Tribal Liaison, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Coordinator, Digital Asset Coordinator, and Public Affairs Officer. From 2014 – 2019, Barker served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the nation’s capital, where he served as a dedicated homicide prosecutor. In early 2019, Barker joined the Eastern District of Washington, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) in the Spokane office. Acting United States Attorney Barker has dedicated his career to serving victims of violent crime, while handling numerous homicide and violent crime cases. Late last year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Michael J. Ellis in the trial of Zachery Holt and Dezmonique Tenzsley for the double murder of two Tribal members and the attempted murder of a federal officer on the Colville Indian Reservation. In 2023, Barker successfully prosecuted Ronald Craig Ilg , who attempted to hire hitmen on the dark web to harm his wife and a former work colleague. Earlier this year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Nowles Heinrich and Echo Fatsis in the successful trial of Luis Esquival Balonos , who was convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges stemming from more than one hundred pounds of illegal drugs being distributed on and around the Colville Indian Reservation and into Montana. Barker, who carried an active caseload while leading the office, was the first Eastern Washington U.S. Attorney in nearly two decades to try a case to a verdict while serving in the U.S. Attorney role. Throughout his career, Acting United States Attorney Barker also handled several significant drug trafficking prosecutions. In 2023, Barker, with co-counsel AUSA Stephanie Van Marter, prosecuted the “ Fetty Bros ” Drug Trafficking Organization, which was distributing hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and other drugs into Eastern Washington and using extreme violence to insulate their organization. In his efforts to further address the fentanyl crisis, Barker worked with now former U.S. Attorney Waldref and the City of Spokane to create a Special U.S. Assistant Attorney position focused on prosecuting those responsible for illegal narcotics impacting the Spokane area. As First Assistant United States Attorney, Barker supervised the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s litigating units, which include the Criminal, Civil, and Appellate Divisions. As the Chief Deputy to the U.S. Attorney, Barker helped establish the District’s dedicated Appellate Division and worked closely with the Office’s administrative team to obtain additional DOJ resources for increasing public safety throughout Eastern Washington. Throughout his service, Former Acting U.S. Attorney Barker built strong relationships with Washington’s Native American communities and worked tirelessly to honor federal treaty rights with Tribal Nations in Eastern Washington and address the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous people. In early 2024, Barker played a key role in hiring the district’s first MMIP AUSA, who is fully dedicated to prosecuting cases of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People . For Barker’s dedication to working with Native American communities and improving public safety, he received a Department of Justice Director’s Award in 2024. “Serving as a federal prosecutor has been the highlight of my career,” said Barker. “It has been an honor to represent the United States and seek justice for victims and their families. Spokane has truly become home for me and my family, and I look forward to remaining active in the legal community as I return to private practice right here in Eastern Washington.” Former U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated, “Acting U.S. Attorney Barker is an exceptional leader, a talented trial attorney, and a fearless advocate for justice. His service to the Department of Justice and dedication to protecting the communities of Eastern Washington is second to none. He led the District with distinction, focusing every day on doing the right thing for victims and the community and maintaining an unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law.” Outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Barker will continue to serve as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, where he has taught courses in Trial Advocacy and Conflicts of Law. Barker also serves as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Stephanie Van Marter will be assuming the role of Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I’m honored to pass the torch to Acting U.S. Attorney Van Marter,” said Barker. “Steph has dedicated her career to the Department of Justice, and she will lead this office with the same honor, integrity, and commitment to justice as those who have served before her.” A formal announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Ms. Van Marter’s new role will be issued in the coming days.


title: Fairbanks man sentenced to 22 years for distributing fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to 22 years in prison and, upon release, will serve five years on supervised release for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022. According to court documents, beginning in May 2022 and continuing to July 2022, Edward Ginnis, 39, agreed with co-conspirators to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, Ginnis distributed controlled substances to a co-conspirator, who then sold the substances to others. Ginnis’ actions were a small part of a larger drug trafficking enterprise allegedly being directed by an inmate in a California prison. On June 7, 2022, Ginnis sent an overnight package containing money to a co-conspirator in California, paying in advance for a shipment of drugs intended for a co-conspirator in Fairbanks. On June 11, a package arrived for the co-conspirator in Fairbanks. Ginnis and the alleged leader of the enterprise had orchestrated this shipment. Drug ledgers found in the alleged leader’s prison cell indicate that the shipment contained “chocolate,” which was a term that members of the enterprise used for heroin. The alleged leader also arranged to have additional packages containing heroin sent to Alaska, and Ginnis received more packages on June 16 and 21, 2022. Later in the day on June 11, 2022, Ginnis sent text messages to several distributors asking if they had potential purchasers. One of the distributors, the co-defendant in this case, allegedly offered to help sell drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen, 32, an individual who struggled with heroin usage, messaged the co-defendant asking to purchase drugs. Around noon, the co-defendant allegedly agreed to sell drugs to Sakkinen and he sent the co-defendant $50.00 before messaging that he was on his way. Later, at 12:58 p.m. that same day, local fire and emergency medical services responded to a single car accident on the side of a road in Badger. First responders found Sakkinen unconscious behind the wheel of a car with drug paraphernalia in his hands and near him. Law enforcement officials tested the paraphernalia, and it tested positive for fentanyl. First responders administered six doses of Narcan to Sakkinen and he regained a pulse. Sakkinen was transported to two hospitals and was put on life support at a hospital in Anchorage. Sakkinen spent 11 days in the intensive care unit before he passed away. A sample of Sakkinen’s blood was sent for testing and lab results found that he had 20 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of his death. Reports show that the average lethal level of fentanyl in the bloodstream is eight nanograms per milliliter. On July 14, 2022, Ginnis was arrested in Fairbanks based on a violation of his state probation. He was in possession of fentanyl that he intended to distribute to others in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He also possessed over $13,000 in cash. On Jan. 18, 2025, Ginnis and a co-defendant were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. On April 3, 2025, Ginnis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance resulting in death. His co-defendant is awaiting trial. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the law enforcement agencies that came together to investigate this crime and help bring justice to the family of the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William Narus for the District of Oregon. “Fentanyl traffickers choose profit over people when they sell drugs that lead to addiction and death,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This sentence holds Mr. Ginnis accountable for this choice and sends a clear message that the DEA and our partners will bring to justice those who seek to poison and destroy our communities.” “The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our federal and local partners to bring dangerous drug traffickers to justice,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Drug dealers have no place in our great state. This sentencing sends a clear message: if you traffic dangerous drugs in Alaska, law enforcement will find you, and you will face serious consequences for your actions.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or Acting U.S. Attorney Narus in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal. The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Two Sacramento Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Two members of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for fentanyl trafficking and related crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to launder money. Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, 28, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Lopez-Zamora was the leader of the organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. The group also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine. Fourteen other co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to over 10 years. Rosario Zamora Rojo and Jose Aguilar Saucedo are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. Luis Lopez Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To Prison For Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, on October 24, 2023, Flores-Garcia, a previously deported alien that was residing illegally in Monroe, N.C., went to a neighbor’s home. When the neighbor answered the door, Flores-Garcia pointed a red handgun at the neighbor and demanded her wallet and car keys. Flores-Garcia then drove the victim’s car to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he robbed that establishment. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the clerk before taking money from the store and fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle. Flores-Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter. Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Leader Of Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The leader of a multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme and one of his co-conspirators were sentenced to prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kotto Yaphet Paul, 50 of Waxhaw, N.C., was ordered to serve 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Latoya Tameika Ford, 50, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both Paul and Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Paul also pleaded guilty to money laundering and aiding and abetting. A third co-conspirator, Bruce Howard Marko, 66, of Charlotte, was sentenced in April to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million for his role in the scheme. A fourth individual charged in this case, Love Norman, of West Palm Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and is awaiting sentencing. Four additional defendants were previously convicted of bank fraud conspiracy for their involvement in the scheme. Amrish D. Patel was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Dwight A. Peebles, Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Denise Woodard was ordered to serve 36 months in prison, and Derrick L. Harrison, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution ranging from $620,000 to more than $3.1 million. According to filed court documents and court proceedings, beginning in 2018, the co-conspirators executed a scheme that defrauded at least 17 federally insured financial institutions of more than $17 million in fraudulent loans. Paul, who was the organizer and leader of the scheme and the primary beneficiary of the fraud conspiracy, relied on a network of co-conspirators that included Ford, to prepare and submit the fraudulent loan applications to financial institutions and facilitate the fraud. The fraudulent loans were of several types, including business loans purportedly for the purchase of equipment, land development loans, and residential mortgage loans. To secure the loans from the financial institutions, Paul and his co-conspirators made material misrepresentations on the loan applications and provided fraudulent documentation, including false income and employment information; financial statements; bank statements; and tax returns. The loan applications also contained misrepresentations about the purpose of the loans and the operations of the relevant businesses. Based on the fraudulent loan applications, Paul and his co-conspirators secured at least 42 loans from the victim financial institutions. Contrary to information provided on the loan applications about the purposes of the loans, the defendants used the loan proceeds to purchase real estate, cover unrelated business expenses, make investments, make payments toward earlier loans, and pay for personal expenditures. According to court documents, Paul engaged in money laundering in furtherance of the fraud and executed monetary transactions using funds derived from the criminal scheme. For example, in 2020, Paul wired nearly $400,000 to a title insurance company that Norman used to purchase a home in Florida. Court documents show that the defendants defaulted on most of the loans, causing substantial losses to the victim financial institutions that issued the loans. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charlotte, and the Charlotte Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, for the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.


title: El Salvadoran with prior sex offense pleads guilty to illegally reentering United States

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from El Salvador pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony. Adiel Hernandez-Orellana, 39, was previously convicted in Arkansas of sexual assault. In 2003, Hernandez-Orellana was arrested for unlawfully entering the United States. In 2004, he was ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear for an immigration court hearing. In 2010, he was convicted of sexual assault in Sebastian County, Arkansas, and sentenced to seven years in prison. Following his prison sentence, he was removed from the United States. In March 2025, the defendant was detained at the Delaware County jail in Ohio for outstanding traffic warrants. He was then processed for the instant immigration offense of illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony. Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to up to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Transporting illegal aliens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Lemar Legrand, 23, of Beaver, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 16, 2023, Legrand sold approximately 7.2 grams of fentanyl for $600 to a confidential informant. The transaction took place at Legrand’s residence in Beaver. Legrand admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling a total of approximately 6.2 grams of fentanyl for a total of $1,200 to a confidential informant at his residence on two other occasions in February 2023. On March 2, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Legrand’s residence and seized an American Tactical .410-gauge shotgun, a Rossi .38-caliber handgun, two loaded magazines, digital scales, a vacuum sealer, body armor and $2,505. The cash included pre-recorded currency from the confidential informant transactions. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted 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. 5:24-cr-13. ###


title: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650M Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million. According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico. “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.” “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.” “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.” “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren't just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who've been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice." “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.” Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency. According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle. Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses. The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme. Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI. Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case. If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fundador y promotor de OmegaPro acusado de realizar una estafa global de 650 millones de dólares en cripto inversiones y divisas

body_text: El 8 de julio de 2025, se hizo pública una acusación formal en el Distrito de Puerto Rico que acusa a dos hombres por su presunto rol en la operación y promoción de OmegaPro, un esquema de inversión internacional que defraudó a los inversionistas víctimas por más de 650 millones de dólares. Según documentos judiciales, Michael Shannon Sims, de 48 años, de Georgia y Florida, fue fundador, consultor estratégico y promotor de OmegaPro; y Juan Carlos Reynoso, de 57 años, de Nueva Jersey y Florida, dirigió las operaciones de OmegaPro en América Latina y partes de los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. “Como se alega, los acusados se aprovecharon de personas vulnerables en los Estados Unidos y en el extranjero, estafándoles por más de 650 millones de dólares con falsas promesas de ganancias sustanciales y de que su dinero estaba seguro”, declaró Matthew R. Galeotti, jefe de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia Federal. “La División Penal se compromete a procesar a estos malhechores y a buscar justicia para sus numerosas víctimas. Gracias a la dedicación de nuestros socios, tanto de agencias como de organismos internacionales, encabezamos los esfuerzos para combatir estas complejas e insidiosas estafas de inversionistas en activos digitales”. “Como se alega en la acusación formal, los acusados operaron un esquema de fraude global a través de OmegaPro, engañando a los inversionistas con falsas promesas de ganancias extraordinarias, solo para malversar cientos de millones de los fondos de las víctimas”, declaró el fiscal federal W. Stephen Muldrow para el Distrito de Puerto Rico. “Seguimos comprometidos con el desmantelamiento de los esquemas financieros internacionales que se dirigen a las víctimas estadounidenses, incluso aquí en Puerto Rico, y con la recuperación de las ganancias ilícitas mediante el enjuiciamiento penal y el decomiso de bienes”. “El FBI no se quedará de brazos cruzados mientras el público estadounidense es defraudado”, declaró el subdirector Joe Perez, de la División de Investigación Criminal del FBI. “Mediante la coordinación con nuestros socios, estas personas tendrán que defender sus acciones ante un tribunal”. “Este caso expone la despiadada realidad de los delitos financieros modernos”, declaró Guy Ficco jefe de la División de Investigación Criminal del IRS (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro prometió libertad financiera, pero trajo la ruina financiera: robó más de 650 millones de dólares a personas comunes y los desvaneció en moneda virtual. No se trataba de simples estafas; eran traiciones minuciosamente planificadas. Nuestra labor es defender a quienes han sido explotados y continuar la colaboración interinstitucional hasta que los responsables sean llevados ante la justicia”. “Este caso pone de relieve el rol crucial que desempeñan las alianzas internacionales para desmantelar las redes transnacionales de fraude financiero que explotan los mercados globales y victimizan a inversionistas desprevenidos”, declaró Ricardo Mayoral, subdirector de Operaciones Internacionales de la División de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU. (HSI por sus siglas en inglés). “HSI mantiene su compromiso de colaborar con sus socios en todo el mundo para desmantelar las redes criminales que utilizan tecnologías emergentes para ocultar ganancias ilícitas y defraudar al público”. Sims y sus cómplices fundaron OmegaPro alrededor de enero de 2019, y Reynoso se unió unos meses después, alrededor de abril de 2019. Según se alega, los acusados y otros operaban y promocionaban OmegaPro como un esquema de marketing multinivel (MLM) para que los inversionistas adquirieran “paquetes de inversión”, que los acusados y otros prometieron falsamente que generaría rendimientos del 300% en 16 meses mediante la compraventa de divisas (forex) por parte de operadores de élite. Se instruía a los inversionistas a comprar estos paquetes de inversión utilizando moneda virtual. Según documentos judiciales, Sims presuntamente engañó a las víctimas al asegurar el rendimiento comercial de OmegaPro y la habilidad de los operadores contratados, y al anunciar falsamente la seguridad de invertir en OmegaPro. Reynoso presuntamente declaró falsa y engañosamente que OmegaPro operaba con una licencia legítima y, en otras ocasiones, que OmegaPro no estaba sujeto a las leyes de ningún país. La acusación formal alega que Sims y Reynoso, junto con sus cómplices, organizaron ostentosos eventos promocionales y capacitaciones de OmegaPro en todo el mundo, incluyendo, por ejemplo, la proyección del logotipo de OmegaPro sobre el Burj Khalifa, el edificio más alto del mundo, en un evento en Dubái. El objetivo de estos eventos promocionales supuestamente era convencer a los inversionistas actuales y potenciales de que OmegaPro era una empresa legítima que ofrecía un camino hacia la riqueza y un estilo de vida lujoso. Además, Sims, Reynoso y sus cómplices usaron las redes sociales para promocionar sus costosas vacaciones y autos, así como su ropa y relojes de diseñador. La acusación formal alega que, mediante declaraciones falsas de los acusados y otros, OmegaPro recaudó más de 650 millones de dólares en moneda virtual de miles de inversionistas. Después de que OmegaPro anunciara que había sufrido un ataque informático, Reynoso y otros informaron a las víctimas alrededor de enero de 2023 que sus inversiones estaban seguras y que OmegaPro las estaba transfiriendo a otra plataforma llamada Broker Group. A pesar de estas declaraciones, las víctimas no pudieron retirar dinero ni de sus cuentas de OmegaPro ni de las de Broker Group, lo que les causó pérdidas millonarias. Los más de 650 millones de dólares recaudados de las víctimas supuestamente se enviaron primero a direcciones de monederos virtuales controlados por ejecutivos de OmegaPro y luego se transfirieron supuestamente a miembros de OmegaPro y promotores de alto rango para distribuir los fondos y ocultar su origen. Según se alega, Sims y Reynoso se beneficiaron millonariamente de este esquema. Ambos acusados están acusados de un cargo de conspiración para cometer fraude electrónico y un cargo de conspiración para lavado de dinero. De ser declarados culpables, Sims y Reynoso enfrentan una pena máxima de 20 años en prisión cada uno por cada cargo. El FBI, el IRS-CI y HSI Nueva York están investigando el caso, con la asistencia de la Unidad de Activos Virtuales del FBI, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogotá, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Estambul, HSI Londres, HSI Miami, HSI Nueva Delhi, HSI La Haya, la Fiscalía General de la Nación de Colombia y los Jefes Conjuntos de Ejecución Fiscal Global (J5), una alianza entre la Oficina Australiana de Impuestos, la Agencia de Ingresos de Canadá, el Servicio de Información e Investigación Fiscal de los Países Bajos, la Oficina de Ingresos y Aduanas de Su Majestad del Reino Unido y el IRS-CI. Los fiscales Ariel Glasner y Tamara Livshiz de la Sección de Fraude de la División Penal y el fiscal federal adjunto Jonathan Gottfried para el Distrito de Puerto Rico y destacado en la Sección de Delitos Informáticos y Propiedad Intelectual están procesando el caso. Si cree que fue potencialmente víctima de OmegaPro o tiene información relevante para esta investigación, visite el sitio web de Víctimas y Testigos del FBI en forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims o comuníquese con OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov . Una acusación formal es simplemente una alegación. Todos los acusados se presumen inocentes hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable ante un tribunal. ###


title: Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Ray Amundson, age 39, of Roland, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. On January 15, 2025, Amundson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 1, 2023, officers serving a search warrant at Amundson’s residence discovered nearly half a pound of methamphetamine buried in the backyard. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Amundson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Lawrence County Man Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Webbville, Ky., man, Kenneth Ison, Jr., 55, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 120 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, in September 2024, the Kentucky State Police, assisted by the Grayson Police Department, obtained a search warrant for Kenneth Ison’s residence in Lawrence County and a vehicle used by Ison. During the search, officers located approximately 168 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 33 grams of suspected fentanyl, and marijuana; subsequent lab testing confirmed the presence of at least 76 grams of actual methamphetamine and 26 grams of actual fentanyl. In addition to the narcotics, officers seized 17 firearms, one of which was stolen. At the time of his arrest, Ison was on parole for a prior felony conviction of trafficking in a controlled substance from the Carter Circuit Court; as a felon, Ison was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Ison admitted that he possessed the narcotics with intent to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Under federal law, Ison must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Tony Cantrell, Grayson Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, KSP, and Grayson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. – END –


title: Chinese national pleads guilty to falsifying material facts, is sentenced

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jiaxuemo Zhang, 30, of Arizona, pleaded guilty to falsifying, concealing, or covering up a material fact and was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Zhang was then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that Zhang is a Chinese national who had been studying at the State University of New York at Buffalo (U.B.) under an F-1 non-immigrant visa issued by the U.S. Department of State in 2021. In June 2021, Zhang applied for the visa at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, stating that he would be attending U.B. and would be majoring in aerospace engineering. However, Zhang failed to include that he had conducted research and studied at Beihang University in China, between approximately September 2017 and December 2019. Beihang University implements or supports the People’s Republic of China’s “military-civil fusion strategy.” Specifically, he conducted research in the Fluid Mechanics Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and the National Laboratory for Computational Fluid Dynamics. Individuals who have a current or prior affiliation with, among other schools, Beihang University, are prohibited from entering the United States by Presidential Proclamation 10043. The State Department would therefore have denied Zhang’s application for an F-1 student non-immigrant visa. The plea and sentencing are the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Grimm, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge Stephen Kaiser, and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. # # # #


title: Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court Following Robbery of a Montgomery Dry Cleaner Business

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that Zedekiah Sykes, 58, of Montgomery, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to his role in the March 10, 2025, robbery of a Montgomery dry cleaning business. Sykes entered his guilty plea in federal court on July 3, 2025. According to court records and Sykes’s plea agreement, on March 10, 2025, Sykes and three accomplices forced their way into the business, located on East South Street in Montgomery. The group shattered the front door with a rock to gain entry. Once inside, the assailants confronted the business owner and forced him into an office that housed a locked safe. One of the individuals brandished what appeared to be a handgun—later determined to be a BB gun—and demanded the owner open the safe. When the owner hesitated, struggling to recall the combination, one of the assailants struck him in the left eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. The group eventually gained access to the safe and stole approximately $8,000 in cash. The robbers then restrained the owner by zip-tying his hands and feet, then stole his cell phone and car keys. Sykes and the others fled the scene in the owner’s vehicle using the stolen keys. Sykes pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, a federal offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. In a related development, on May 27, 2025, Spencer Thomas, 57, of Prattville, Alabama, was arrested and subsequently indicted for his involvement in the same robbery. An indictment is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Another Member of the Marion Gardens Street Gang Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences without the Possibility of Parole

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Five more members of the Marion Gardens street gang were sentenced by the Honorable Michael E. Farbiarz for their roles in the racketeering enterprise, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. On July 2, 2025, Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G,” 24, was sentenced to four consecutive terms of life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, each stemming from a separate gang-related murder. He was also sentenced to an additional consecutive sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, consisting of 20 years’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act robbery, and three ten-year terms of imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Also on July 2, 2025, Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45,” 28, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3,” 23, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy. On July 1, 2025, Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz,” 28, was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. On June 26, 2025, Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG,” 25, was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy. Earlier in June, three other members of the Marion Gardens street gang were sentenced for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. On June 17, 2025, Myron Williams, a/k/a “Money,” a/k/a “Tunchi,” 31, of Newark was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, plus 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and 120 months’ imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, with all sentences to run consecutively. Also on June 17, 2025, Jawaad Davis, 23, of Jersey City, was sentenced to 170 months’ imprisonment for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang, which included orchestrating a robbery that resulted in murder. Additionally, on June 5, 2025, Khalil Kelley, a/k/a “Billski,” 26, of Jersey City, was sentenced, to life imprisonment, plus a consecutive ten-year term of imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang and a gang-related murder. Three other individuals who previously pled guilty before trial are pending sentencing. Each defendant will be sentenced before Judge Farbiarz in Newark as follows: Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks” July 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8” July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Herbert Thomas October 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Myron Williams, Khalil Kelley, Roger Pickett, Jawaad Davis, Anthony Rogers, Quaseame Wilson, Andre Alomar, Keith Anderson, Javon Williams, and Naim Richardson are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. Since 2013, they and their fellow gang members have committed numerous acts of violence, including three separate murders, on March 29, 2021, Nov. 20, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2022. On March 29, 2021, Kelley and other gang members lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the victim’s fellow gang member. When the victim opened the door to his residence, Kelley and another gang member brandished firearms, and the victim was shot multiple times in the chest, killing him. Pickett and Myron Williams then picked up Kelley and other gang members after they abandoned the murder vehicle in Newark. On Nov. 20, 2021, Myron Williams, Pickett, and Richardson lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the second victim’s fellow gang member. Williams and another gang member shot the victim when he opened the door to his residence. On Nov. 1, 2022, Davis facilitated the murder of the third victim by coordinating a narcotics transaction with the victim and the victim’s associate. When the victim and his associate arrived at the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to complete the narcotics transaction, they were robbed of their narcotics supply. During the robbery, Pickett and Wilson held the victim and his associate at gunpoint. After a struggle ensued, Pickett shot and killed the victim while his associate fled. Pickett then fled the Marion Gardens Housing Complex with Wilson. For months, investigators observed and documented hundreds of narcotics transactions in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. The investigation likewise revealed that Herbert Thomas was a primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens street gang. When each defendant was arrested on March 17, 2023, law enforcement seized contraband at several different locations, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and a loaded handgun. U.S. Attorney Habba credited investigators of the Gang Intelligence Unit and the Homicide Unit of the Major Case Division of Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., and investigators of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the convictions. She also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the U.S. Marshals, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, for their assistance. This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center. The government is represented by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Maloy and Javon Henry, of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Roger Pickett – Brandon Minde, Esq. Keith Anderson – Eric Jaso, Esq. and Francesca Simone, Esq. Javon Williams – Joseph Rubino, Esq.


title: Salvadoran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Salvadoran national has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Arsenio Valladares, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2025. Valladares was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025 . Valladares was deported from the United States on or about April 23, 2008. Sometime after his removal, Valladares illegally reentered the United States without permission. Prior to his removal, Valladares was convicted of offenses including assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, operating under the influence, larceny and malicious destruction of property. In November 2024, federal immigration authorities became aware of Valadares’ presence in the United States after being notified that his fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in Massachusetts. Valladares was detained by immigration authorities on March 18, 2025. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Benjamin is prosecuting the case.


title: South Kingstown Man Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A South Kingstown man is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, charged by way of a federal indictment for allegedly trafficking cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. The grand jury returned an indictment on July 2, 2025, charging Hector Villa, 40, with distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charging documents alleged that Villa delivered three kilograms of cocaine to another individual on June 3, 2025, while under law enforcement surveillance. He was detained and arrested a short time later. The drugs were seized by law enforcement. Charging documents reflect that following Villa’s arrest, a court authorized search of a suspected drug stash house in North Providence was conducted. The search resulted in the seizure of a kilogram of cocaine, a firearm, and various items used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie White. The matter was investigated by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force. ###


title: Orlando Man Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Donald Brown (34, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child sex abuse material. Brown faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2025. Brown has agreed to forfeitthe electronic devices which were seized from his home pursuant to a search warrant. According to the plea agreement, on January 27, 2023, Brown shared a child sex abuse video that was playing on one of his screens with another individual over the internet via an online website that randomly pairs strangers for one-on-one chat sessions and calls. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu. 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 Attorney’s 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: Jamaican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Aggravated Illegal Re-Entry Charges

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Sarah Maud Jess, 62, a Jamaican national living in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pled guilty to two counts, distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and re-entry of an alien removed after conviction for an aggravated felony. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to her guilty plea, Jess disseminated at least 40 grams of fentanyl in Maryland and elsewhere between at least November 2023 and October 2024. Jess distributed the fentanyl in the form of pressed fentanyl pills – round, light blue pills imprinted with “M30.” As part of the investigation, a DEA undercover (UC) agent purchased fentanyl pills from Jess. Law enforcement also seized fentanyl pills from her vehicle as she was en route to distribute to the UC and recovered additional fentanyl pills and a firearm from Jess’s residence. In total, law enforcement recovered more than 3,000 fentanyl pills, totaling more than 350 grams of fentanyl, from Jess. During the investigation, on June 21, 2024, after coordinating with Jess via text message, the UC conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 600 fentanyl pills from Jess in a Greenbelt, Maryland restaurant parking lot for $3,600. Jess provided the UC with a black sock containing a clear plastic baggie with pills totaling more than 65 grams of fentanyl. Then on September 4, the UC conducted another purchase of approximately 1,000 pills from Jess for $6,000. Jess again met the UC in the Greenbelt restaurant parking lot and provided the UC with a black sock containing a clear plastic baggie with fentanyl pills comprised of more than 100 grams of fentanyl. On September 30, Jess texted the UC asking how many pills he or she wanted to purchase. Jess agreed to sell the UC 700 pills. Then on October 2, Jess and the UC spoke and arranged to meet at a Silver Spring, Maryland mall parking lot. Law enforcement officers surveilled Jess while she drove to the mall. As Jess drove to meet the UC, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop. Law enforcement found the pills Jess intended to sell to the UC and took her into custody. Jess provided the officers with a fake driver’s license with a fake name and an address that was not her actual residence. However, law enforcement saw her visit that address during the investigation. While searching the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered a black sock with a clear plastic baggie inside containing approximately 700 blue pills — weighing more than 75 grams of fentanyl — that Jess intended to distribute to the UC. Additionally, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jess’s residence. During the search, law enforcement discovered a plastic baggie containing 46 fentanyl pills — weighing more than five grams — and a handgun loaded with nine rounds of ammunition in Jess’s bedroom. Throughout this timeframe, Jess was an alien illegally in the United States. Jess was previously convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Based on the conviction for an aggravated felony, Jess was previously removed from the United States after proceedings before an immigration judge. As part of her removal, Jess was advised that she was permanently excluded from re-entering the United States because of her prior conviction. Jess voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection or permission. She never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission. Jess faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for the fentanyl charge. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for the illegal re-entry charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, at 2 p.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the DEA, FBI, MCPD, and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: TWO MEXICAN BROTHERS PLEAD GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY REENTERING THE COUNTRY

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Juan Hurtado-Solano, 43, and his brother Candido Hurtado-Solano, 39, both pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry by a removed alien. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have made enforcing our nation’s immigration laws a top priority, and my office stands ready to fulfill that priority. These charges should be a warning to all illegal aliens that violations of our nation’s immigration laws will not be taken lightly by my office.” Court documents reflect that both brothers were first encountered by immigration officials in May 2012 following Candido’s arrest for driving under the influence. Both brothers were determined to be in the United States illegally and were removed to Mexico in August 2012. Both brothers illegally re-entered and were removed a second time in September 2012. They were most recently found in the country on May 29, 2025, during the execution of a search warrant at a construction site in Tallahassee. Both men face up to two years in prison followed by removal from the United States. The cases involved an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Keen and James A. McCain. Candido Hurtado-Solano’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2025, at 11:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. Juan Hurtado-Solano’s sentencing has yet to be scheduled but will occur before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Greenup County Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Flatwoods, Ky., man, Geoffrey Potts, 25, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 114 months in prison, for receiving child pornography. According to his plea agreement, in March 2024, law enforcement received information that a user was downloading child pornography, and linked the user’s IP address with Potts’ residence. Law enforcement searched Potts’ cellphone and found numerous images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that had been downloaded via the internet. In total, over 219 images and 45 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were located on Potts’ cellphone. Under federal law, Potts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and W. Todd Kelley, Chief of the Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, and Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. – END –


title: Eight facing federal meth charges after two-week drug arrest and search operation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – Following a two-week coordinated operation led by the FBI, eight individuals are facing federal charges for distributing meth or possession with intent to distribute in southern Illinois. A federal grand jury charged: Sarah L. Elverd, 35, of Centralia, with one count of possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of meth, Alan D. Fleming, 41, of Mount Vernon, with four counts of distribution of meth, John A. Fowler, 49, of Mount Vernon, with eight counts of distribution of meth, James B. Lockwood, 43, of Mount Vernon, with four counts of distribution of meth, Cedric R. Long, 32, of Bluford, with two counts of distribution of meth, Christopher L. Webb, 38, of Mount Vernon, with one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, Scott T. Miller, 40, of Centralia, with two counts of distribution of meth and one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, and Damion D. Thrailkill, 39, of Mount Vernon, with one count of distribution of meth. “Dealers know how addictive and destructive meth is for users but choose to infect communities and place profits above people,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. The arrests are the result of a multi-agency investigation targeting crime throughout southern Illinois in late May and early June. The investigations were spearheaded by the FBI Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force, a task force composed of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers dedicated to dismantling violent criminal networks and safeguarding the communities they serve. “These arrests send a clear message,” said Karen Marinos, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Springfield Division. “We’re taking a more aggressive posture toward violent crime. No matter how remote the area or how insulated the group thinks it is—if you threaten the safety of our communities, we will act swiftly and decisively. This operation was only possible because of the strong coordination among our law enforcement partners—a partnership that grows stronger every day. When we work together with a unified mission, there’s nowhere left for violent criminals to hide.” In addition, the task force arrested three individuals on state charges in Jefferson County. Janay Branch, of Mount Vernon, was charged and pled guilty to charges. Branch was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on one count of conspiracy to distribute. Anthony Smith, of Mount Vernon, faces one count of conspiracy to distribute meth. Adrian E. Carruth Jr., of Mount Vernon, was charged with one count of meth delivery 100-400 grams, possession of cocaine 15-100 grams and conspiracy to distribute meth. Beyond making arrests, law enforcement executed a series of search warrants during this operational period and seized firearms, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, cannabis and U.S. currency. Indictments are merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. Agencies assisting in the investigation and arrests include the U.S. Marshals Service’s Benton and East St. Louis Office, Carlyle Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff Office, Mount Vernon Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff Office, Bond County Sheriff Office, Centralia Police Department, and the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office. Charges for the federally arrested individuals were filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or arrests may follow.


title: GUATEMALAN MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY AFTER MULTIPLE PRIOR REMOVALS

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Frizli Merari Miguel-Martinez, 35, of Guatemala, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The defendant not only repeatedly violated our national laws by illegally entering our country, he also committed numerous crimes while here. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have promised to Take Back America by making the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws a top priority, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to ensure habitual illegal alien offenders are prosecuted, punished, and then swiftly removed from our country.” On April 14, 2025, a deputy with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Miguel-Martinez pursuant to a traffic stop. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) subsequently determined that Miguel-Martinez, a native and citizen of Guatemala, was illegally present in the United States. Miguel-Martinez had previously been removed from the United States once in 2017 and twice in 2019 for his illegal presence in this country. During his stints in the United States, Miguel-Martinez acquired a long history of traffic offenses including convictions for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to appear, and providing false information to law enforcement on multiple occasions. Miguel-Martinez was previously convicted for Illegal Reentry in the Northern District of Florida and for Illegal Entry in the District of Arizona. An ICE detainer has been lodged against Miguel-Martinez, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term. The imprisonment sentence will be followed by a one-year term of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. The case involved a joint investigation between ICE’s operational directorates, Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Edgar Warren Willis Jr., 39, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 27, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Red Oak Street residence in Charleston where Willis was staying. Officers found a backpack in a bedroom containing a Lorcin Engineering Model L380 .380-caliber pistol during the search. Willis admitted to possessing the seized firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Willis knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, to-wit heroin, on January 21, 2022, and for wanton endangerment and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance, to-wit heroin, on August 10, 2015, all in Kanawha County Circuit Court. Willis has a long criminal history that also includes convictions for domestic battery, violation of a protective order, brandishing and petit larceny. Willis was on parole at the time of the current offense. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department-Street Crimes Unit. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 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. 2:24-cr-89. ###


title: CRESTVIEW MAN SENTENCED FOR TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dion’te Wingate, 24, or Crestview, Florida, was sentenced to 162 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. According to court records, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) searched the defendant on December 14, 2023, after he was found in a vehicle with a wanted felon and illegal drugs, and found large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, and fentanyl pills on his person. OCSO encountered the defendant again on June 19, 2024, outside a bar in Destin, when he was found sleeping in a vehicle that smelled strongly of marijuana. Investigators arrested the defendant on a state warrant, but later discovered that he discarded a bag of fentanyl powder near his vehicle right before he was searched. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant has flooded our communities with deadly poison that inflicted untold harm and destruction, but thanks to the incredible work of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office he will spend his days in a federal prison cell. My office will stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave men and women of our state law enforcement partners to make our communities safe by aggressively prosecuting those who traffic dangerous drugs.” “Fentanyl and methamphetamine are poisoning our communities at an alarming rate. This case however is a great example of how teamwork between local and federal agencies can help get dangerous individuals and the poison they peddle off our streets,” said Sheriff Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. “People who peddle these deadly substances have zero regard for other lives,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “They profit on suffering, and our agents will not stop until these traffickers are brought to justice.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Union City “Ghost Preparer” Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Seeking Over $4 Million in COVID-19 Employment Tax Credits

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: Scheme caused IRS to issue over $1.5 million in fraudulent tax refunds AUGUSTA, GA: A truckdriver who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business on the side in Union City, Georgia, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to executing a mail fraud scheme to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits. Dantavious Jackson , 39, of Union City, Georgia, pled guilty to mail fraud, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jackson now faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. As described in the plea agreement, Jackson owned and operated a trucking business in Union City, Georgia. On the side, Jackson also prepared tax forms for others for a fee. Any individual who prepared and assisted in preparing federal tax returns for a fee was required to obtain a preparer identification number (“PTIN”) from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). A paid preparer was required to place his or her PTIN on each tax return he or she prepared for a fee to identify the preparer of that return. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act, enacted on March 27, 2020, provided for an employee retention credit (“ERC”), a refundable tax credit, which was designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ERC was claimed by an employer by filing an IRS Form 941, “Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns” (“Forms 941”) with the IRS for the relevant quarter. Between June 2022 and August 2023, Jackson executed a scheme to defraud the United States by preparing and filing thirty-five IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients that falsely claimed they were entitled to receive $4,112,297 in tax refunds based on fraudulently claimed ERCs. The Forms 941 Jackson prepared and filed with IRS were false and fraudulent because they listed employees and wages that did not actually exist. Jackson’s use of fake employees and wages to claim ERCs induced the U.S. Treasury to mail $1,567,855 in fraudulent tax refunds to himself and his clients. Jackson prepared and filed the tax returns as a “ghost preparer,” meaning that he did not identify himself through a PTIN or by any other self-identifying information in the “Paid Preparer Use Only” section on the returns he filed for clients. “Jackson’s guilty plea serves as a reminder to those who committed fraud on programs under the CARES Act that they will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are still opening cases and investigating those who stole funds that were intended for American workers, families, and small businesses.”