title: Florida Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for His Role in Ponzi Scheme, Losses Exceed $20 Million

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Dakota A. Smith, 35 , has been sentenced to federal prison for his part in a Ponzi scheme. Smith previously pled guilty on November 18, 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for defrauding investors through a company called Peoples Equity Group (PEG), an investment company based in Miami, Florida that operated from 2021 to 2024. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded investors by misrepresenting to them that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities. In fact, Smith and his co-conspirator knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies it marketed. As a part of the fraudulent scheme, Smith presented fraudulent financial documents which purportedly showed the financial success of the acquired companies while on monthly video calls with investors located across the United States, including investors in West Tennessee and abroad. On May 8, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Smith to 188 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Restitution was left open for a period of 90 days to continue allowing victims to make claims. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Ponzi schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be rooted out and punished. This sentence holds this thief accountable for his deceptive criminal scheme, protects investors, and will recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victims.” “Dakota Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded innocent victims through false promises of protected investments and guaranteed returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “These schemes not only steal hard-earned money, but also erode the financial security and trust of victims and their families. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement, private sector, and international partners to protect the public’s investments and hold accountable those who facilitate these scams for their own gain.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Scott P. Smith prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Indian National Pleads Guilty for Smuggling a Dozen Illegal Aliens Across Canadian Border into United States

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Indian national pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to smuggle aliens from India across the northern border with Canada into the United States. According to court documents, Shivam LNU, 22, directed smuggling operations beginning from at least October 2024 through June 2025, coordinating the illegal transport of aliens across the U.S.-Canada border into the Northern District of New York. The defendant’s role was to coordinate drivers to pick up aliens from the border and transport them further into the United States, specifically to stash houses around Northern New York and to hotels in Plattsburgh, New York. The defendant, who expected to be paid for his role, paid his drivers for each alien they smuggled. On Jan. 25, 2025, the defendant directed a co-conspirator to smuggle 12 aliens from India and the United Kingdom from Canada into the United States. The defendant paid his co-conspirator $100 per alien smuggled. On Jan. 26, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling in tandem near the U.S-Canada border. Both vehicles accelerated to avoid agents, triggering a pursuit. One vehicle went off the road and became immobilized, while the other was later stopped in Mooers, New York. The vehicles contained a total of 12 illegal aliens. Shivam pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Deputy Chief Rami S. Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.


title: Defendant Convicted in Methamphetamine and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL – Jumoke Ace Maceo Cryer, 38, was found guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and one count of possession of body armor by a prohibited person, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Cryer is the second defendant convicted as part of this conspiracy. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, the defendant conspired with other co-defendants to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. The defendant, who was previously convicted of distributing methamphetamine in 2016, was observed on video entering a St. Paul drug stash house and leaving with 140 pounds of illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of his home resulted in the seizure of body armor, which the defendant was prohibited from possessing due to his violent criminal history. Cryer was found guilty after a 3-day jury trial before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and Garrett S. Fields.


title: Columbia Man Charged with Bank Robbery, Brandishing Firearm During Violent Crime, and Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was charged by a federal grand jury with bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Basil Jacob Kyles, 71, allegedly entered a bank in downtown Columbia, Mo., when he brandished a firearm and demanded that the teller give him money. The teller emptied her cash drawer that contained approximately $6,000 and gave it to Kyles. Kyles placed the money into a plastic bag and left the bank The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Kyles is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years on the bank robbery charge, up to life imprisonment on the brandishing firearm charge, and up to 15 years on the felon in possession of a firearm charge. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia, Missouri Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Candidate for New York City Public Advocate Charged With Wire Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging Angela Aquino, a 2025 candidate for New York City Public Advocate, with wire fraud in connection with her scheme to defraud New York City’s campaign finance system to obtain public matching funds. Aquino was arrested today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon by United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge. “The defendant, a former candidate for citywide office, allegedly engaged in a months’ long brazen scheme to obtain fraudulently $1 million in public funds, exploiting a matching funds program designed to reduce corruption in the city’s campaign finance system,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will aggressively hold accountable would-be public officials out to steal taxpayer dollars.” “New Yorkers deserve political candidates who uphold the highest standards of public service, demonstrating their integrity and commitment to the City and its people. Instead, as charged, this defendant allegedly orchestrated a bold scheme to manipulate the public matching funds system in an illegal attempt to unlawfully secure $1 million for her campaign, none of which she was entitled to receive,” stated DOI Commissioner Shihata. “I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York Office of the FBI for their partnership in rooting out corruption and protecting public funds.” “Angela Aquino allegedly attempted to steal one million dollars from New York taxpayers by fraudulently inflating her campaign’s bank account to receive matching public funds. The FBI continues to hold accountable corrupt political candidates who try to buy the public’s support,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. New York City’s Matching Funds Program The New York City Campaign Finance Board (“CFB”) offers a voluntary public financing program matching small-dollar contributions from New York City residents to candidates for city office. The program is available to any candidate running for city office, including Public Advocate. To be eligible for matching funds, candidates must meet a two-part fundraising threshold: first, they must collect a minimum number of contributions of $10 or more; and second, they must raise a minimum number of qualifying contributions from residents of New York City. To be eligible for the matching funds program, a candidate for Public Advocate must have raised at least $125,000 from at least 500 qualifying contributors. In addition, cash contributions are capped at $100 per contributor for purposes of qualifying for matching funds. For a candidate to apply cash contributions toward the threshold necessary to become eligible for public matching funds, a candidate’s authorized committee was required to submit contribution cards to the CFB that listed, among other information, each contributor’s name, residential address, employer, occupation, and date and amount of contribution. The contribution cards also had to be signed by the contributors. Candidates were prohibited from giving false information to the CFB. Candidates were also prohibited from using public matching funds for purposes that were illegal, improper, or not in furtherance of the candidate’s nomination or election. Violation of these prohibitions would render the candidate ineligible to receive public matching funds. Once a candidate met the eligibility requirements to join the program, the CFB would provide the campaign with public funds at a matching rate of $8 to $1. Therefore, if a candidate raised $125,000 toward the fundraising threshold, the CFB would provide that candidate with $1 million in public matching funds. The Fraudulent Scheme As alleged in the complaint, the defendant engaged in a scheme to obtain $1 million in public matching funds, knowing that her campaign committee was not entitled to such funds. In particular, the defendant took numerous steps to artificially inflate the deposits into her campaign committee’s bank account to make it appear that the committee had met the $125,000 threshold for public funds. In fact, very little of the deposits were eligible contributions from New Yorkers. In the first months of 2025, the defendant’s personal bank account received more than $130,000 that originated from the Philippines. Of this amount, at least $34,000 was a loan to the defendant from a contact there. The defendant, with others, repeatedly withdrew funds from her personal bank account in cash and deposited cash into her campaign committee’s bank account. These contributions were then identified to the CFB as contributions from residents of New York City that were eligible for public matching funds. Contribution cards submitted in support of these supposed contributions, which purported to identify the contributors and included their personal identifying information and their signatures, were falsified. Aquino also cycled funds out of, and back into, the campaign committee’s bank account, sometimes using bank accounts of friends and associates as intermediary accounts to obscure the true source of the funds. The purpose of cycling the funds in this way was to make the total amount of deposits into the campaign committee’s account appear higher, such that the total contributions would appear to meet the CFB’s threshold. Aquino also used funds from the campaign committee account to pay for her personal expenses, including the rent for her apartment, falsely reporting to the CFB that the payments were for legitimate campaign expenses. Aquino also lied to federal agents as to her relationship with the recipients of some of these expenditures. For example, Aquino told federal agents that her landlords helped with petitions and with campaigning, justifying the campaign’s payments to them. In fact, Aquino’s landlords had nothing to do with her campaign. The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, the defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise and Sean Sherman are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Melissa Bennett. The Defendant : ANGELA AQUINO Age: 47 New York, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-MJ- 93 sealed_complaint_signed.pdf


title: Colorado Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax Return

body_text: A Colorado business owner pleaded guilty to filing a false personal tax return with the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, Manuel Rocha, of Aurora, Colorado, owned and operated Rocha’s Drain, a drain installation business, and Rocha’s Liquor, a liquor store, both located in Denver, Colorado. While operating these businesses, Rocha diverted income to additional bank accounts to conceal the true amount of money he earned. Each year from 2015 through 2022, Rocha provided records and information to his tax preparers that omitted his diverted income. As a result, he underreported the income he and his businesses earned during each of these years. In 2021, for example, Rocha reported that his two businesses earned $57,907 in gross receipts. In reality, the businesses earned approximately $691,650—a difference of more than $600,000. In total, Rocha caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $2.2 million. Rocha is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25 and faces a maximum of three years in prison for filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys David F. Scollan and Megan E. Wessel of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Leader of Alaska drug trafficking organization sentenced to 15 years in Homeland Security Task Force case

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A California man that acted as the leader for an Alaska drug trafficking organization was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for his role in the illegal enterprise. According to court documents, in Spring 2022, Tyrone Hampton, 44, moved his pregnant wife and co-defendant, Stephanie Blanchard, 39, and two other associates from Southern California to Alaska to participate in the drug trafficking trade. The two associates were co-defendants Keith Crossley, 37, and Lawrence McGirt, 27. All three men were gang members in Southern California. Upon arrival in Alaska, Hampton and his co-conspirators began selling illegal drugs, primarily heroin and fentanyl. One of the locations Hampton used for drug trafficking was an apartment in Wasilla. On April 12, 2022, the landlord of the apartment called law enforcement to trespass multiple people frequenting the apartment. Hampton’s main drug supplier was codefendant Kevyn Watson, 43, a fellow gang member from California. At the time, Watson was serving a 40-year prison sentence in prison in Oklahoma. He had access to multiple contraband cellphones in prison. Watson used the phones to coordinate continued drug trafficking using his associates in California. Hampton and Watson coordinated the shipment of multiple packages of drugs to Alaska through the mail. At some point in April 2022, Hampton’s cousin and co-defendant, Charles Holyfield, 41, of Arizona, reached out to Hampton about a debt that Hampton owed him. During that conversation, the two men agreed to have Holyfield mail illegal fentanyl pills from a supplier in Arizona to Alaska to be sold for a high profit and split the proceeds together. On April 25, Holyfield mailed over 2,500 fentanyl pills by stuffing them inside one of two pillows and packaging the pillows up in a box and addressing it to the Wasilla apartment building. Hampton directed Blanchard to send Holyfield $2,000 via wire transfer for the cost of the pills. The next day, UPS attempted to deliver Holyfield’s package to the apartment in Wasilla but could not because there was no apartment number written on the label. UPS marked the package as “suspicious.” They searched the package, found fentanyl pills and alerted the Alaska State Troopers. This same day, Hampton directed Holyfield to board a flight to Alaska and Hampton picked him up from the airport. Hampton, Holyfield and Blanchard spent a night in a local motel. United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Holyfield et al., Case #: 3:22-cr-00084 On April 27, Hampton, Blanchard and Holyfield drove from the motel to the Wasilla apartment and realized the package had not arrived yet. What the defendants didn’t know is the Alaska State Troopers (AST) had seized the drugs, resealed the package with sham drugs and obtained a state search warrant for the Wasilla apartment. That same day, AST conducted a controlled delivery of the package and waited until Hampton, Holyfield, McGirt and Crossley returned to the building to execute the warrant and arrest them. Troopers recovered the package inside a closet and found evidence of a makeshift methamphetamine lab in the apartment. On April 28, UPS notified AST that they received another suspicious package destined for the Wasilla apartment. Inside the package, AST found a tupperware container with one kilogram of heroin wrapped in six levels of packaging. Through the investigation, law enforcement determined that Watson and Hampton coordinated the shipment of this package, referring to the one kilogram of heroin as “the whole chalupa” in text messages. Hampton directed Keith Crossley and Lawrence McGirt to each transfer $2,500 in drug proceeds via wire transfer to two individuals in California as partial payment to Watson for the shipment of heroin. United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Holyfield et al., Case #: 3:22-cr-00084 Court documents explain that in just over six weeks, Hampton deposited over $26,900 into his bank account through Cash App or ATM deposits. Extrapolated out over a year, Hampton was earning more than $228,000 a year dealing drugs in Alaska. He had no other legitimate source of income. On June 20, 2025, Hampton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Hampton to spend 10 years on supervised release after serving his federal prison sentence. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized that Hampton was motived by profit and preyed upon vulnerabilities to distribute fentanyl into Alaska. The Court also focused on Hampton’s characterization as a career offender that spent his life offending and hurting people and the communities he lived in. “Mr. Hampton is a career criminal that moved his family and friends to Alaska for the sole purpose of peddling poison to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “With no legitimate source or income, an extensive criminal history, gang membership, and a propensity to seek out crime, Mr. Hampton poses a significant risk to community safety. Communities in both Alaska and California are safer knowing that this defendant will be behind bars for the next 15 years.” “Hampton led a multi-state fentanyl and heroin trafficking conspiracy, recklessly endangering countless lives in Alaska and in the Lower 48,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As a result of this investigation, Hampton and his co-conspirators will now be held accountable for their crimes. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue using all available tools to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises, holding traffickers accountable for the havoc they wreak on our communities.” “Daily, drugs and those who peddle them put our friends and neighbors at risk. Taking drugs off the streets is critical to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to the health and safety of our communities; we will continue to bring traffickers like Mr. Hampton to justice.” “This sentence should serve as serious warning to anyone trafficking drugs in our state. The Alaska State Troopers and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable for your actions," said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. "The incredible work by all of the agencies involved in this investigation and prosecution demonstrates the level of effort that Alaska law enforcement will put into dismantling illicit drug operations targeting Alaska.” Blanchard pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on April 24, 2023. She was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Aug. 10, 2023. Crossley pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on June 7, 2024. He was sentenced to roughly two years and eight months in prison and three years’ supervised release on Oct. 7, 2024. Holyfield pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 27, 2023. He was sentenced to time served and two years’ supervised release on Sept. 17, 2025. McGirt was found incompetent to stand trial due to a severe mental illness, and his case was dismissed on March 4, 2026. Watson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy on May 17, 2024. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years’ supervised release on Aug. 22, 2024. The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers and IRS-CI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Anchorage Airport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Team and Mat-Su HIDTA Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schroeder and Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. ###


title: Virginia Man Sentenced for Making Threats Against Public Officials

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Winchester, Va., man, who made online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure former Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Barrack Obama, was sentenced recently to 30 months in federal prison. Frank Lucio Carillo, 68, pled guilty in April 2025 to one count of sending threatening communications through interstate commerce. According to court documents, Carillo used the social media platform GETTR to post thousands of messages using the name “joemadarats1.” GTTR is publicly accessible, and users can post articles, statements, and links to other websites, as well as comment on and reply to other users’ posts. On July 27, 2024, FBI Phoenix received information concerning a threat made against an employee of the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office posted on GETTR by a user with the name “joemadarats1.” FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts, comments, and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barrack Obama In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.” Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to determine that the “joemadarats1” username was used by Carillo at his residence in Winchester, Virginia. On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Investigation Determines Yale’s Medical School Discriminated Based on Race in Admissions

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has completed a year-long investigation into the admissions policies and practices at the Yale School of Medicine. Yale’s documents show that its leadership intentionally selected applicants based on their race. Yale’s documents reveal that they studied how to use racial proxies to circumvent the Supreme Court’s prohibition on using race to select students. Yale’s admissions data demonstrate that Black and Hispanic students have a much higher chance of admission to Yale than White or Asian students with the same test scores. “Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform.” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.” The investigation showed that, in general, Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted with consistently lower academic qualifications than their White and Asian counterparts. These facts support the Department’s finding that Yale violated the law by intentionally discriminating based on race in its admissions, in clear violation of federal law. Medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors. The Department is continuing its focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools, where quality and excellence are vitally important to public safety.


title: Menifee County Man Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Wellington, Ky., man, Jarod Nicely, 39, was sentenced on Thursday to 276 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On February 24, 2025, law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Nicely for suspected traffic violations on I-75. Nicely was questioned about his travels and he said he was driving to see friends in Cincinnati but initially claimed not to know where they lived of their last names. Law enforcement conducted a search of Nicely and found $12,246 in cash bound by rubber bands in his wallet. A search of Nicely’s vehicle found approximately 94 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the center console, along with a stolen firearm. Nicely admitted to possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Les Hill, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Detroit Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Check and Identity Theft Scheme

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Detroit, Mich., man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a fraudulent check and identity theft scheme. Derrick D. Walker, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Grey Kays to 90 months in prison without parole. The court also ordered Walker to pay $634,806.93 to the victims of the scheme. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. On Nov. 18, 2025, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to court documents, Walker participated in a conspiracy as a supervisor of a group that traveled around the United States cashing fraudulent checks. Members of the scheme, which included co-defendants Darrell Roseborough, Sheldon Samuels, and Tambria Davis, used the information of identity theft victims to open fraudulent accounts at financial institutions and cashed fraudulent checks that were made payable to the identity theft victims. Roseborough made fraudulent checks and participated in the production and distribution of fraudulent driver’s licenses. Roseborough used FedEx to send fraudulent documents to where the scheme was operating, and Samuels and Walker passed the fraudulent documents onto Davis and other check passers who entered the banks to cash the fraudulent checks. Roseborough, the leader of the conspiracy, was sentenced to 204 months in prison without parole on Jan. 28, 2026. Sheldon Samuels pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 78 months in prison on Jan. 21, 2026. On Jan. 27, 2026, Tambria Davis was sentenced to time served after being in custody in the Western District of Missouri since April 2024. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by the FBI. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Two Pakistani Men and One Indian Man Charged with International Narcotics Trafficking on the Dark Web

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 12, 2026 charging two Pakistani men and one Indian man living in Hong Kong in connection with international narcotics trafficking using the dark web, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Waleed Shamim, 33, Sameer Shamim, 41, and Shareef Beig, 52, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to import controlled substances. “As alleged, these defendants used dark web marketplaces and international shipping networks to move narcotics and counterfeit pills into the United States and target customers in New Jersey. Individuals who believe they can hide behind online aliases while trafficking dangerous drugs across international borders are mistaken—this Office and our law enforcement partners will identify them, disrupt their operations, and hold them accountable.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “The indictments of these foreign nationals highlight the grave dangers posed by transnational organizations who aim to distribute and import controlled substances into the United States,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our partners at U.S. Postal Inspection Service to identify and dismantle international narcotics trafficking networks that exploit the anonymity of the dark web.” “Postal Inspectors, federal prosecutors, and our law enforcement partners have diligently worked to identify and disrupt the activities of dark web marketplaces suspected of peddling illegal pills. Postal Inspectors will continue to tirelessly investigate these types of crimes that utilize the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate illegal activity and bring those behind these hidden walls to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen. According to the indictment filed in this case: Between November 2021 and June 2022, Waleed Shamim and Sameer Shamim operated vendor accounts on various illicit dark web marketplaces under the moniker “Horsemen” or “Horsemen1,” and recruited people to assist in reshipping narcotics to customers. Waleed Shamim and Sameer Shamim, along with Shareef Beig, coordinated shipments of thousands of pills containing narcotics from Hong Kong to the United States. The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to import controlled substances each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited officers and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy in Newark, and inspectors the U.S Postal Inspection Serves, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### shamimetal.indictment.pdf


title: High-Ranking CJNG Leader Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Firearm Offenses, and Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a superseding indictment yesterday against Audias Flores Silva, also known as “Jardinero,” 45, of Mexico, a high-ranking leader of the Mexico-based drug trafficking organization the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). The superseding indictment expands on charges first filed in August 2020, when Flores Silva was accused of trafficking cocaine and heroin into the United States, now alleging he also trafficked methamphetamine and conspired to launder drug proceeds from the United States back to Mexico. Before his capture on April 27 by Mexican authorities, Flores Silva was reportedly a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” the former top CJNG leader who died after a military operation to capture him in February 2026. The State Department designated the CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. “Audias Flores Silva is charged with trafficking massive amounts of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into our country and funneling the profits back to Mexico,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drugs and violence that cartels inject into communities have no place in the United States. Our mission in the Criminal Division is to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations at every level, targeting their leadership, financing and operations and ensuring those who have harmed our country face justice.” “Jardinero believed he would assume control of the violent foreign terrorist organization CJNG following the death of El Mencho. He was wrong.” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “Yesterday’s superseding indictment demonstrates the combined strength of DEA and the Homeland Security Task Force in dismantling the command and control structures of the cartels and holding their leaders accountable. I thank the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) for taking Jardinero into custody in Mexico. DEA and our partners will continue to relentlessly pursue the leaders of these terrorist organizations, disrupt their global operations, and protect the American people from the violence, poison, and chaos they spread.” “The superseding indictment of Audias Flores Silva underscores how the Homeland Security Task Force and our partners are systematically targeting the command structure of violent cartels that traffic drugs, violence, and fear into our communities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “The HSTF will continue to marshal the full strength of our interagency and international partnerships to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these transnational criminal organizations wherever they operate.” Flores Silva is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine for importation into the United States, use of a firearm, one of which was a destructive device, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted he faces a minimum penalty of at least 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. HSI and the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Federal Jury Convicts New Castle County Man of Drug and Firearms Offenses

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal jury convicted a New Castle County resident yesterday on charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Damion Thomas, 26, attempted to sell marijuana to an undercover police officer on July 2, 2024. Inside Thomas’s car, officers found pre-packaged cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Officers later searched a bedroom at a residence associated with Thomas and found more cocaine, marijuana, and drug packaging materials. Officers also located a safe inside that bedroom. The safe contained over 180 grams of cocaine, almost 150 individual packages of fentanyl, a bulk supply of marijuana, drug packaging materials, cash, and a loaded revolver. Thomas was prohibited from possessing a firearm due, in part, to a 2018 conviction for attempted first-degree robbery. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, “Today’s conviction sends a clear message that those who flood our communities with dangerous drugs—and especially those who do so while armed—will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I am grateful to our dedicated state and federal law enforcement partners whose tireless work made this just prosecution possible.” Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for possessing the revolver in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 10:00 am. The New Castle County Police Department, the Delaware Bureau of Community Corrections, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Delaware Division of Forensic Science. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill and Corey J. Hauser prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-117-RGA. ###


title: Memphis Fugitive Sentenced to over Seven Years for Illegal Possession of Seven Firearms

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

body_text: OXFORD, Miss. – Keon J. Carwell, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison, 3 years supervised release, for possessing seven firearms as a prior convicted felon after he was located in Hernando, Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, the 39-year-old Carwell was wanted as a fugitive for eight years stemming from a federal gun charge in the Western District of Tennessee from 2016. On March 31, 2024, officers with the Hernando Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Carwell was riding in. Further investigation confirmed Carwell’s identity and active warrant. Officers found Carwell in possession of seven firearms, including a pistol identified as stolen in a burglary of a federal firearms licensee store, a rifle with an obliterated serial number and a sawed-off shotgun. Six of the guns were loaded. Carwell pled guilty to the charge on a prior date. Senior U.S. District Court Michael P. Mills sentenced Carwell to 87 months imprisonment followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary stated, “The Declaration of Independence stands as one of the greatest man-made documents ever written. It is the very foundation of our country. The Declaration states that we get our rights not from government, but from God. That our government was instituted to secure these God-given rights, and that our government derives its rights from the people of this great country. I hope the people of the Northern District of Mississippi are proud of their law enforcement officers, especially the people of Hernando, Mississippi. The Hernando Police Department conducted an investigation and apprehended a man that had been a fugitive for eight years. When arrested, the defendant was in possession of seven firearms, some of which were stolen and extremely dangerous. A community is safer today as a result of their hard work. A hardy thanks also to the ATF, day in and day out your trustworthiness in bringing these cases to fruition is commendable.” “In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that ATF will continue to work alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure these offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable so we can keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Hernando Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison 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.


title: Rogers Middle School Teacher and Coach Sentenced to More Than 31 Years in Prison for Online Exploitation and Coercion of Minors

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A former teacher and coach from a Rogers Middle School was sentenced on May 13, 2026, to 375 months in federal prison without the possibility of parole to be followed by twenty-five years supervised release for the offenses of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Online Coercion and Enticement of Minors. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, Bradley Quillen , age 31, utilizing the false online persona of a teenage boy contacted multiple minor females via social media and coerced them to produce and send him sexually explicit images. In April of 2024, the Waukesha County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office contacted the Benton County Sheriff’s Office after they identified Quillen as a target responsible for the coercion and enticement of two minor children, ages 8 and 12. Thereafter, the Benton County Sheriff’ Office, in conjunction with the FBI, obtained and executed a residential search warrant at Quillen’s home. A forensic review of Quillen’s electronic devices and social media profiles revealed that Quillen had been using Snapchat and Instagram to contact and exploit multiple minor girls. At sentencing, the United States presented the Court with evidence and argument that Quillen engaged in a protracted scheme to utilize a fictitious underage social media profile in order to target, groom, and sexually exploit hundreds of minor females in Northwest Arkansas schools and across the United States. Quillen was indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in January of 2025 and entered a plea of guilty in November of 2025. U.S. Attorney Kimberly D. Harris of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Lynchburg Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Directing Drug Trafficking  Operation While Incarcerated

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg, Va. man, who used friends and family members to help him distribute more than a kilogram of fentanyl while he was incarcerated at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center, was sentenced yesterday to more than 21 years in federal prison. Tremon Jaquil Burford, 31, pled guilty on July 10, 2025, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. “We are committed to enhancing cooperative relationships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to eradicate the clear and present fentanyl threat to our citizens and communities. I commend Chief Edwards, the Lynchburg Police Department, and ATF for their outstanding work ensuring clear accountability in this case,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci. “The success of this case was built on collaboration, trust, and the collective determination of multiple law enforcement agencies working toward a common goal,” said Lynchburg Police Chief Edwards. “Our partnership with federal investigators strengthened this operation from start to finish and sends a clear message that criminal organizations targeting our community will face a coordinated and relentless response.” “Fentanyl trafficking continues to devastate our communities, destroying families and ultimately fueling violence and addiction,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Samuel Ward. Today’s sentence demonstrates our unwavering commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime and narcotics trafficking. ATF will continue identifying and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for distributing this deadly poison throughout our neighborhoods while holding those responsible fully accountable for their actions.” According to court documents, from approximately February 2023 to November 2023, Burford headed an organization that trafficked tens of thousands of pressed fentanyl pills in the Lynchburg area while he was incarcerated at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center awaiting trial on gang and firearm charges. Burford was able to accomplish this using a network of co-conspirators outside of the jail— predominantly women with little to no criminal history, including his own relatives. These co-conspirators held controlled substances and money for him, communicated with suppliers and customers, and delivered drugs and drug proceeds at Burford’s direction. Even following his conviction in this matter, Burford continued his brazen criminal activity. On September 8, 2025, he slipped a correctional officer a note offering him $2,500 to smuggle Suboxone strips into the jail. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Lee Brett and Kelly McGann prosecuted the case.


title: Monroeville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Exchanging Vapes for Sex with 13-Year-Old

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Joseph Mitchell McDonald, age 60, was sentenced to life in prison after entering a guilty plea to Sex Trafficking of Children on February 6, 2026. According to court documents, in March 2025, McDonald was found to be sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. The child was interviewed and reported that McDonald would give her vapes in exchange for sex acts. McDonald admitted that he provided the child with vapes in exchange for sex acts and her silence about the sex acts. McDonald admitted that the child was 12 years old when the abuse began. At sentencing, United States District Judge Steele imposed a life sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release in the unlikely event that McDonald is ever released from prison. During his term of imprisonment, McDonald will be subject to sex offender treatment and mental health treatment. McDonald will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. McDonald was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Officers During National Police Week

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In observance of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement and pays tribute to the officers who have fallen in the line of duty. National Police Week is observed Sunday May 10, through Saturday, May 16, 2026. “During National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women in law enforcement—especially in the Northern District of Alabama—who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. These men and women run toward danger without hesitation and deserve our unwavering respect,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “We especially remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their courage, service, and dedication to their community will never be forgotten.” In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. The names of 363 officers killed in the line of duty were added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. These names were read on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the 38 th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C. To learn more about National Police Week, please visit www.policeweek.org .


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing a firearm. Kai Wesley Burton, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 100 months in federal prison without parole, followed by three years of supervised release. Burton was previously convicted of multiple felonies including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. In May 2025, the Springfield, Missouri Police Department responded to a call at a restaurant in Springfield, Mo. Witnesses reported that a vehicle driven by Burton went through the drive-thru, bypassing the order kiosk, and drove directly to one of the windows. When he reached the window of the drive-thru, Burton had a pistol on his lap and that pistol was pointed at the building. Burton provided the employee at the window with a sticker containing a food order that had been placed and fulfilled about an hour prior. Due to the presence of the firearm, the employees made the food and gave it to Burton. Burton then drove away without paying for the food. Burton returned to the restaurant several hours later. An officer attempted to stop and contact Burton. Burton then fled the scene. As police were trying to catch up to Burton, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers located the vehicle a short time later. When officers searched the vehicle, they recovered a pistol with a 30-round extended magazine under the driver’s seat, a second pistol on the driver’s seat, methamphetamine, and a cellular phone belonging to Burton. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Boonville Man Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Lance Aaron Larkin, 35, of Boonville, Mo., was charged by a federal grand jury with receipt and possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). During a proactive investigation into individuals using peer-to-peer software to distribute and receive child pornography by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a file was shared from Larkin’s IP address. Following a residential search warrant and a review of his electronic devices, law enforcement determined Larkin possessed thousands of child pornography images and videos. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Lance Aaron Larkin is subject to a sentence of up to twenty years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by The Missouri State Highway Patrol. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Delaware Business Owner Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Multi-Year Tax Evasion Scheme

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Townsend, Delaware man was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for tax evasion. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly imposed the sentence. According to court documents, John Kungu, 62, the owner of Advanced Nursing Care, engaged in a calculated, multi-year scheme to avoid paying nearly $1.2 million in taxes. Between 2018 and 2021, Kungu submitted multiple false sworn statements to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claiming that he could not afford to pay his tax liabilities, despite having millions of dollars in undisclosed bank accounts. On one occasion, Kungu offered to settle his tax debt for $35,000, claiming he would need to take out a loan, while simultaneously holding over $5.1 million in hidden accounts. Additionally, from 2018 through 2020, Kungu filed false personal and corporate tax returns by intentionally categorizing hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal benefits and payments to himself as business expenses, thereby improperly reducing his tax burden to the government. Kungu intentionally withheld financial records from his bookkeeper and tax preparer to conceal his evasion. “John Kungu built a highly successful business, but instead of paying his fair share, he chose to line his own pockets at the expense of every law-abiding taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “When caught, he doubled down on his fraud, lying under oath to the IRS to hide millions of dollars in wealth. Yesterday’s sentence demonstrates that those who view tax evasion as a mere cost of doing business will face serious consequences, including time in federal prison.” “Yesterday’s sentencing is a direct result of the excellent partnership the IRS and the U.S. Attorney’s office has in combating violations of Federal law,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge IRS Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “This sentence shows how seriously the courts take Federal tax crimes and should serve as a deterrent to those who might contemplate similar fraudulent actions.” Upon Kungu’s release from prison, he will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. In addition to his prison sentence, Kungu was ordered to pay a $75,000 fine and $1,186,573.62 in United States Attorney’s Office District of Delaware restitution to the IRS. Kungu has since paid the restitution amount, along with applicable interest and penalties. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Ibrahim and Claudia L. Pare prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-00056-CFC.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Concepcion Soto-Rivera, a/k/a Conception Soto-Rivera, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, and the Eufaula Police Department. The Indictment alleged that on March 17, 2026, Soto-Rivera, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on October 30, 2016, October 18, 2014, August 13, 2008, June 23, 2008, May 21, 2008, May 17, 2008, and May 13, 2008. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Soto-Rivera will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Knutson and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Eight Defendants Sentenced After Federal Investigation Seized More Than 175,000 Fentanyl Pills

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced the following eight individuals for their roles in a fentanyl trafficking organization operating in Green Bay: Ricky Q. Chambers, 29, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2026 to 204 months in prison, followed by 7 years of supervised release. Jaylen T. Allen, 25, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in December 2025 to 168 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Peyton Shipman-Allen, 33, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in October 2025 to 167 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Taviaun S. Love, 24, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in July 2025 to 120 months in prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release. Darius D. Ricks, 32, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2026 to 120 months in prison, followed by 7 years of supervised release. Xzavier T. Newsom, 29, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in April 2026 to 108 months in prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release. Eugene L. Herrod, 34, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in May 2026 to 48 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Devinique E. Manjarrez, 28, of Goodyear, Arizona, was sentenced in May 2026 to time served, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Seven of the eight defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Ricky Chambers was found guilty following a jury trial. According to court records and evidence presented in court, the defendants operated a large-scale drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills in the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas. Several members referred to themselves as “GTR,” short for “Getting to Riches.” Members of the organization frequently traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, where they purchased large quantities of fentanyl pills. They then shipped the pills to various cities throughout the Midwest before distributing them in and around Green Bay. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 175,000 fentanyl pills connected to the organization. The investigation also revealed that members of GTR spent thousands of dollars on luxury travel, expensive jewelry, luxury vehicles, designer clothing, and rap video productions. Members regularly displayed large amounts of cash and luxury items on social media while promoting their music and public image. In one video, Jaylen Allen displayed a luxury watch and stated, “We really rich off nothing but fentanyl.” In numerous other videos and photographs, members of the organization posed with tens of thousands of dollars in cash. At Chambers’ trial, an expert in drug trafficking testified that high-level fentanyl traffickers can purchase fentanyl pills in Phoenix for as little as 50 cents per pill and resell those same pills in Green Bay for up to $20 per pill. The expert also testified that seven out of ten fentanyl pills tested at DEA crime laboratories contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. “While the sentencing of the last of the defendants in this drug conspiracy brings the court cases to a conclusion, the harm these individuals have caused to the very fabric of our communities will continue to reverberate for years,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “The enormous amount of fentanyl these criminals distributed in our state has resulted in devastating losses of life, damage to public health, destruction of families and the expenditure of huge amounts of public and private resources to address the poison from which these criminals profited.” “The fentanyl crisis affects families across the country to include those in our communities in Wisconsin. The criminal actors in this case sought to enrich themselves through trafficking and selling large quantities of fentanyl. They have now been held accountable for their actions,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to aggressively investigate and combat violent crime and drug trafficking throughout the United States to ensure the safety of the American people.” “The successful conclusion of this case is another example of the relentless work conducted by the Brown County Drug Task Force in partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin and the nation. Through coordinated investigations and proactive enforcement efforts, law enforcement continues to target those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities” said Brown County Sheriff, Todd Delain. “The Brown County Drug Task Force remains committed to protecting the public and holding drug traffickers accountable. Those who choose to come to Brown County to profit from the distribution of illegal narcotics should understand that it is only a matter of time before they are arrested, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions. Today, these drug dealers are no longer living a life of luxury — they are serving lengthy sentences behind bars!” This case was investigated by the Brown County Drug Task Force, the Dakota County (Minnesota) Drug Task Force, the MSP Airport Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Green Bay Resident Office and Phoenix Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alex Duros and Tim Funnell. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Deon Dewayne Grundy, 29, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 3, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Beckley residence where Grundy was living and seized 86 grams of fentanyl. As part of his plea agreement, Grundy admitted that he intended to distribute the seized fentanyl in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. Grundy further admitted that he sold approximately 5 grams of fentanyl earlier that day to a confidential informant at the Beckley residence in exchange for $300. Grundy is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-8. ###


title: Naugatuck Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SEAN SAYER, 23, of Naugatuck, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to child exploitation offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 20, 2025, an eight-year-old boy (“minor victim”) in Oregon contacted Sayer by text message and asked Sayer if he was @fornight_legends on TikTok. Sayer responded affirmatively and, over the next three days, exchanged with the minor victim more than 1,300 messages in which Sayer repeatedly and aggressively demanded sexually explicit images and videos of the minor victim in exchange for playing Fortnite with him online. The minor victim sent Sayer at least 15 videos constituting child sexual abuse material or child pornography. Sayer was arrested on June 18, 2025. A subsequent forensic review of Sayer’s cellphone revealed screenshots of Snapchat conversations Sayer had with numerous additional minor victims who Sayer coerced or enticed to send him sexually explicit photos of themselves. To date, investigators have identified approximately 89 separate minor victims. In addition, electronic devices seized from Sayer revealed more than 5,000 videos and 1,000 images containing child sexual abuse material, including images and videos depicting sexual violence against prepubescent minors. Sayer pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years of imprisonment on each count, and one count of possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Sayer, who was released on bond, has been detained since February 17, 2026, after his bond was revoked. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with the assistance of the Eugene (Ore.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale. 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: Shiprock Man Sentenced for Firing at Occupants of Vehicle

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to seven years in prison for pointing a handgun at occupants of a vehicle and opening fire as they attempted to flee. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 1, 2025, Bryson Chee , 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, arrived at a residence in Shiprock as a passenger in a vehicle with two others. After exiting the vehicle, Chee retrieved a handgun, pointed it at the occupants, and began shooting as they attempted to drive away. Chee pleaded guilty to using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Chee will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack E. Burkhead is prosecuting the case.


title: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Prosecutions Rise in New Mexico During First Year of Current Administration

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – In the year since First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison assumed leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico in April 2025, the office has brought 9,081 criminal cases related to border security and immigration enforcement, including illegal reentry, alien smuggling, immigration fraud, false statements, firearms offenses, and drug trafficking investigations stemming from southern border enforcement efforts. This represents a significant increase from the 3,457 criminal cases prosecuted during the April 2024 through April 2025 period. The office also managed a significant civil caseload during the same period, including habeas corpus matters tied to immigration detention and federal custody proceedings. “These cases show how transnational criminal organizations exploit people for profit, import violence across our southern border, and poison our communities with drugs and weapons,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “In New Mexico, we are focused on identifying the leaders, dismantling the networks they rely on, and using federal prosecutions to disrupt these operations at every level.” The District of New Mexico’s border security and immigration enforcement efforts focused on dismantling criminal networks responsible for human smuggling, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other crimes that threaten public safety and national security. Prosecutors worked closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute organizations operating across the Southwest border and throughout the United States. Many of these prosecutions were part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of Western Texas and New Mexico.


title: Third Sibling Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits Fraud

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A man from Yazoo City pleaded guilty Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food. He is the third sibling to plead guilty to stealing SNAP benefits. According to court documents and statements made in court, Christopher Hill, 43, of Yazoo City unlawfully acquired and used approximately $116,893.48 in SNAP benefits from approximately August 2022 through November 2023, by virtue of his sister’s employment as a Customer Service Representative for Conduent. Conduent plays a key role in EBT processing by partnering directly with state governments to manage the distribution of benefits such as SNAP. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. Hill pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud and will be sentenced on August 21, 2026. Hill’s sister, Kizzie Hill, pleaded guilty to the same crime on December 19, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing. Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hill’s brother, Adrian Hill, pleaded guilty in May 2025, and was sentenced on February 11, 2026 to five years’ probation with one year of home confinement. United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and United States Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk made the announcement. The United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.


title: Registered sex offender sentenced to prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 55-year-old Marysville man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse. Robert Anthony Fiore came to the attention of law enforcement when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip report from Dropbox that child sexual abuse material had been uploaded on Fiore’s account. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “Possession of images of child sexual abuse harms the child for life…. Victims are given a life sentence by the people who buy these videos.” “My office is committed to protecting the public from predators. This prison sentence will help, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This defendant was actively communicating with teens as young as twelve over the internet. It’s a good reminder for parents and guardians to be vigilant about who their children communicate with online.” Law enforcement obtained warrants and served search warrants on Fiore’s electronic devices finding 50 videos and 242 images of child sexual abuse. Fiore has sex crime convictions out of California. He pleaded guilty in federal court on November 21, 2025. In his plea agreement Fiore admitted that he was chatting online with more than a dozen minors as young as 12-years-old. “Mr. Fiore clearly did not learn his lesson from his last offense," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Despite already being registered as a sex offender, he continued to prey on young victims online. Each one of the dozens of videos and hundreds of images of child sexual abuse on Mr. Fiore’s devices contributes to the trauma and suffering of an innocent young victim. We hope this case sends a message to would-be predators that there are consequences for their actions. Law enforcement will discover their conduct and hold them accountable.” In asking for the three-year prison sentence, prosecutors noted the harm done by child sexual abuse images. “Those who collect and share images and videos of children being raped and tortured further a market that thrives on the sexual abuse of children. The collection of this material drives demand for new material and normalizes horrific acts of sexual exploitation. And it subjects victims of child abuse to perpetual re-victimization, knowing that the digital record of their worst moments forever travels the globe to satisfy the sexual appetite of child predators,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the FBI in coordination with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) with officers from the Seattle Police Department and Marysville Police Department, and the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.


title: Gang Members Sentenced to 50 Years Each for Murdering Fellow Gang Member

body_text: Two Unknown Vice Lords — a violent Memphis street gang — were each sentenced to 50 years in prison after a federal jury convicted them on Feb. 13 for a gang-related murder. “Substantial sentences like these send the loud and clear message that organized gang violence and retaliatory murder will be vigorously pursued, charged, and prosecuted by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants carried out a calculated, execution-style murder. They intended to incite fear and silence in fellow gang members and in the Memphis community. The court’s 50-year sentences means they now will be known as long-term residents of the Bureau of Prisons, and the good people of Memphis will no longer be dealing with their vice. The Criminal Division remains committed to protecting communities from violent criminal organizations and pursuing justice for victims and their families.” “These significant federal sentences have dismantled the leadership of the UVL street gang here in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “From now on, E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash will not be ‘known’ by their gang nickname, but only by their Bureau of Prisons inmate numbers.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, 42, of Los Angeles, and Deandre Rodgers, also known as Dre, 29, of Memphis, were high-ranking members of the Unknown Vice Lords also known as The Ghost Mob — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis, as well as Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of the Unknown Vice Lords committed murders, burglaries, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s so-called Supreme Elite Chief, the gang leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved. As proven at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in broad daylight, in a residential neighborhood. While the gang initially thought that a rival gang was responsible, they eventually came to believe it was one of their own who killed their leader and decided to retaliate. On Jan. 14, 2019, Allen and Rodgers obtained guns from fellow gang member Vincent Grant, also known as V-Slash, 41, of Memphis. Early the next morning around 1 a.m., Allen, Rodgers, Grant, and another gang member drove the victim to the back of a rundown apartment complex where Allen and Rodgers used the firearms Grant supplied to murder the victim. Grant was also prosecuted and found guilty in a separate trial. The jury convicted Allen and Rodgers of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering. A separate jury also convicted Grant of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering. The court sentenced him to 24 years in prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service assisted in the investigation. Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.