title: Kalkaska County Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Case Tied to Fentanyl Overdose

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Robert Graham Ward, 43, from Rapid City, Michigan, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. According to court records, on January 12, 2025, first responders responded to a 911 call at a hotel in Gaylord, Michigan and pronounced a 25-year-old man dead of a drug overdose. A woman who was last with the decedent before his death cooperated with law enforcement and stated that she received the drugs the day before from Robert Graham Ward at his residence in Rapid City, Michigan. Unbeknownst to Ward, investigators utilized the woman to order additional drugs from the defendant under police supervision. When Ward arrived, he was taken into custody. Investigators found several grams of heroin and fentanyl in his car. Investigators also executed a warrant at Ward’s Rapid City home and found over 21 grams of fentanyl. Months after Ward was told that his fentanyl killed a man, and weeks after he was warned that he was the target of a federal drug trafficking investigation, a trooper with the Michigan State Police (MSP) stopped the defendant’s vehicle in Kalkaska County on April 4, 2025. Police searched Ward’s vehicle and found 5.69 grams of a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer resistant to naloxone, [1] 7.9 grams of methamphetamine, and other drugs. “Fentanyl distribution has devastated communities large and small across our district,” stated U.S. Attorney VerHey. “In this case, the defendant’s persistent drug dealing can be tied to the tragic loss of a 25-year-old. Our office remains steadfast in bringing to justice those responsible for endangering our citizens through drug dealing.” “Fentanyl trafficking continues to threaten lives and destroy families throughout Michigan,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case underscores the dangers posed by drug traffickers who disregard the death and destruction they bring to our communities. HSI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and disrupt narcotics networks, and to hold accountable those who endanger our communities with these lethal substances.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE), Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT), and Michigan State Police (MSP). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vito S. Solitro. [1] See, e.g., “The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs,” DEA Joint Intelligence Report (Oct. 2022) available at https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/The%20Growing%20Threat%20of%20Xylazine%20and%20its%20Mixture%20with%20Illicit%20Drugs.pdf .


title: Koreatown Man Arrested on Charges that He Obtained More Than $2 Million in COVID Business Loans That He Invested in Cryptocurrency

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A rideshare driver from the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles has been arrested on a five-count federal indictment charging him with fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 pandemic business-relief loans on behalf of his nonexistent companies, which he instead used to buy cryptocurrency, the Justice Department announced today. Bruce Choi, 34, was arrested Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport after arriving on a flight from Japan. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and one count of transactional money laundering. He is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court in San Francisco. He will be arraigned in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks. According to the indictment, which was returned in October 2025 and unsealed today, from May 2020 to December 2024, Choi schemed to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and financial institutions out of government funds aimed to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout. Choi, representing himself as the CEO and owner of a business called “Premier Republic,” applied for a $1,995,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. In support of this application, Choi falsely claimed that Premier Republic had an average monthly payroll of $798,000, was in operation in mid-February 2020, and paid salaries and payroll taxes. In fact, Premier Republic was a fictional entity that neither had business operations nor hired anyone. To support his false claim that Premier Republic was a real business, Choi submitted to a lender several fraudulent documents, including a fake 2019 individual tax return that claimed his “company” received gross receipts of nearly $11.8 million in 2019 and that it made a gross profit of nearly $9.6 million that year. Choi also submitted a fake bank statement listing “deposits” and “transfers” of $798,000 during the fictitious period of February 1, 2020, through February 31, 2020. Further, Choi submitted a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application through the SBA in which he falsely stated his business “Bruce” was involved in real estate, employed 10 people, and enjoyed gross revenues of $475 million in 2019. In fact, no such business existed. As a result of his scheme, the victim lender disbursed $1,995,000 to Choi and the U.S. Treasury disbursed a $10,000 EIDL advance. Choi later wired proceeds from his scheme to a Kraken cryptocurrency exchange account. Pursuant to a court-issued warrant, federal prosecutors have seized nearly 40 bitcoins and other cryptocurrency as part of the investigation. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, Choi would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering count. IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, are prosecuting this case.


title: Federal Correctional Officer Indicted for Sexually Abusing Inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging James Johnson, a current employee of the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP), with sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a ward, and making false statements to federal law enforcement officers, all arising from the defendant’s sexual abuse of an inmate he was responsible for guarding while working as a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (MDC). Johnson was arrested earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Office (FBI); and Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) announced the arrest and charges. “As alleged, Johnson leveraged his position as a correctional officer to take advantage of a man he was supposed to be protecting in his capacity as a prison guard and used his access to gratify his own sexual desires,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office is steadfast in its commitment to root out corruption and abuse within federal prisons, especially when that abuse is perpetrated at the hands of guards and jeopardizes the safety and security of the institution and the inmates.” Mr. Nocella thanked the New York State Police for its assistance with the investigation. “The alleged sexual abuse of an inmate by a federal correctional officer is a grave betrayal of public trust and will not be tolerated,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Federal correctional officers are sworn to protect, not prey upon, those in their care. No one is above the law and we will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who violate the rights of federal inmates.” “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse by federal Correctional Officers and, with our partners, bring these perpetrators to justice,” stated DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Geach. As alleged in court documents, in May 2025, Johnson was employed by the BOP as a correctional officer and mentor coordinator at the MDC. On at least two occasions during that month, Johnson ordered an inmate at the MDC (John Doe) to accompany him from John Doe’s assigned unit to other locations at the MDC where the defendant sexually abused him. The evidence of this sexual abuse included DNA evidence secured through a court ordered search warrant. Further, Johnson took steps to conceal his actions and lied to federal agents during an interview about his conduct. Specifically, when asked if he had ever engaged in any sexual acts with inmates, Johnson answered unequivocally that he had not. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Johnson faces up to life in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and Public Integrity Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Turner Buford are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow. The Defendant : JAMES JOHNSON Age: 36 New York, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-060 (RER)


title: Lake County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials Charges

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old Lake County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexual abuse images and videos of children with others on a social media platform. Todd Oravecz, of Kirtland, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $39,000 in restitution. Court documents show that federal agents received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected CSAM activity on a social media platform. Investigators found that the sexual abuse materials observed online were linked to an account in the Cleveland area and Oravecz was identified. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and among the items seized were six cellphones, a laptop, a computer tablet, a handgun, and ammunition. During the investigation and analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, agents found more than 100 CSAM images and videos that included prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Other evidence presented in court includes a 2021 police report accusing the defendant of sexually assaulting a five-year-old minor. The investigation leading to the indictment was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kirtland Police Department. The USAO would also like to acknowledge valuable assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org , or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Mexican man who entered the United States after being previously removed was sentenced today to time served, 219 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Juan Diego Rojas-Meneses, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of reentry of a removed alien. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that on August 12, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Belgrade, Montana where they discovered Rojas-Meneses. He was interviewed at the scene and admitted being a citizen of Mexico without the necessary documentation to be in the United States. A records check confirmed Rojas-Meneses is a citizen of Mexico who was last was removed from the United States on September 1, 2024, and September 23, 2024, through El Paso, Texas. There is no record that he obtained the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Belgrade Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations. 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. XXX


title: Consent Judgment Entered Against Bucks County Company Resolving Allegations of False Claims for Billing Group Art Classes in Assisted Living and Adult Day Facilities as Occupational Therapy

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced today that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment against Segal Arts, LLC, and its sole owner and manager, Irina Segal. In its complaint against Segal and her business, the United States alleges that they violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729–3733, by submitting or causing the submission of claims for payment to Medicare for one-on-one occupational therapy services that were not provided. Instead of the medically necessary one-on-one therapeutic exercise described in Segal Arts’ Medicare billing, Segal Arts provided group arts-and-crafts sessions to Medicare beneficiaries at assisted living and similar facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. “This investigation and its resolution by consent judgment reflect our ongoing focus on pursuing individuals who defraud Medicare, especially when occupational therapy providers in the Medicare program should be providing medically necessary services to our older adult populations,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Civil enforcement is an important component in safeguarding the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This agreement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Medicare program dollars are only paid for services that were actually provided to patients.” Among other things, the complaint alleges that, even after Segal was interviewed and educated by HHS-OIG agents about the individual, skilled therapy requirements associated with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code used in the billing, Segal Arts failed to repay to the Medicare program the amounts it had reimbursed for non-covered, group art sessions. The consent judgment requires Segal to repay $200,000, based on her ability to pay. The allegations are described in detail in the complaint. The case is captioned United States of America v. Segal Arts, LLC , Civil No. 26-1693 (E.D. Pa.). The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca S. Melley and litigative consultant Priscilla Brandon. All claims in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.


title: 17 alleged gang members and associates charged with RICO conspiracy, murder and other violent crimes

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment involving the Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang, a criminal enterprise that allegedly controlled territory throughout the Houston area. All 17 alleged gang members and associates are charged with racketeering conspiracy. Several also face allegations of racketeering murder, attempted murder and assault; and/or firearms offenses. Ralph Eugene Kellum aka REK, 42, Vidor, is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 10 a.m. March 19, while Romeo Jose Ferrer aka Primo, 36, Kingsville, is expected to appear in Corpus Christi at 9:45 a.m. Mark Anthony Magallan aka Loco, 51, Houston, will have a detention hearing at 2 p.m. before Judge Bryan March 19. The remaining individuals have already made appearances in federal court in Houston or are expected to in the near future. “The indictment alleges a pattern of violence, intimidation and murder to expand the reach of a criminal enterprise and settle scores on our streets and highways,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. “That kind of lawlessness has no place in the Southern District of Texas. Anyone who attempts to turn our roadways into battlegrounds should expect an aggressive federal response, and today we delivered on that commitment.” “It’s not every day you get to disrupt and dismantle a criminal motorcycle gang driven by violence and intimidation, but with this morning’s arrests of four more Homietos alleged members and associates and their superseding indictment, today is that day,” announced Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson, of the FBI Houston Field Office. “The charges are significant and are the long-awaited result of an extensive investigation fueled by the relentless pursuit for justice by our FBI Houston team and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. The Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang is no more.” According to the charges, Homietos OMG was an organization engaged in crimes such as murder, robbery, narcotics distribution and witness intimidation. The gang allegedly formed in 2015 in the Houston area as an extension of the Tango Blast prison gang, then expanded beyond Houston and Texas. The group recruited members and associates, enforced rules, rewarded violence and used intimidation, threats and assaults to protect and enhance its power, territory, reputation and profits, according to the indictment. They also allegedly created a “Mexican Terror” patch to reward violence on behalf of the enterprise. The superseding indictment, returned under seal March 11, also alleges overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy including directives to engage in violence against rivals. Some of the allegations include a February 2020 shooting of a rival outlaw motorcycle gang member in Harris County, a September 2020 assault and robbery involving members of another motorcycle club at a Homietos anniversary party in Houston, an April 2022 shooting at suspected rivals along Interstate 45 near Madisonville and multiple April 14, 2023, shootings that allegedly resulted in the deaths of three rival gang members. Ferrer, Magallan and Kellum along with Joe Frank Barrera aka LJ, 37, Houston, and Bryce Clay Hazleton Cook aka Cowboy, 28, Angleton, are all charged with engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity that included violent retaliation against members of rival gangs. Ferrer, Magallan and Kellum also allegedly committed racketeering murder. In that instance on April 14, 2023, Homietos members traveling in a convoy on an interstate highway encountered members of the rival Bandidos motorcycle gang, according to the charges. Magallan allegedly shot and killed a Bandido member. The charges further allege that shortly thereafter, Ferrer and Kellum shot and killed two other Bandidos and wounded a third. Others also charged in relation to the overall conspiracy with various offenses to include racketeering attempted murder, racketeering assault and/or using a firearm during violent crimes are Raymond William Burnett aka Ray Ray, 38, Alvin; Morgan Shane Cooper aka Coop, 51, William Espinoza, 49, Mario Humberto Gomez aka Gator, 52, Edgar Mauricio Hinojosa aka Charro Bean, 40, Ricardo Quinones aka Scooter, 40, and Moises Soriano aka Oso, 42, all of Houston; Rudolph Christopher Lopez aka Yao, 40, Fort Worth; Jesse James Mulrein aka Fort Worth G, 38, Dallas; Joe Rios aka Jo Daddy, 50, Baytown; Mahir Alihodzic aka Geno, 40, Kansas City, Kansas; and Christopher Daniel Holt aka Butt Head, 32, Harrah, Oklahoma. If convicted of the racketeering conspiracy, each faces up to life imprisonment. The murder in aid of racketeering charges are punishable by a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of death. Those charged with assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to assault in aid of racketeering and attempted murder in aid of racketeering could receive up to 20, three and 10 years, respectively, upon conviction. The other related firearms and other offenses carry penalties ranging from 10 years to life in federal prison. Each count also carries a potential fine of up to $250,000. FBI – Houston led the investigation along with Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigative Division, Texas Rangers and Highway Patrol, and Texas Board of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General with assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; sheriff’s offices in Montgomery, Harris and Leon counties; police departments in Huntsville, Madisonville, Fort Worth, Houston and Shenandoah, as well as Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; U.S. Marshals Service; and district attorney’s offices in Walker, Madison and Montgomery counties. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keri L. Fuller and Byron H. Black are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Repeat felon sent to prison following discovery of weapons in vehicle while unconscious in driver’s seat

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Chase Langston Wiatt pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2025. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Wiatt to serve 92 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Wiatt’s prior convictions and arrests involving the possession and use of a firearm. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his extensive criminal history and prior violence. On Oct. 28, 2021, law enforcement responded to a call regarding an unconscious driver in a vehicle. They arrived and found Wiatt unresponsive in the driver’s seat with the vehicle in drive. Authorities noted Wiatt had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He admitted to consuming a cannabis edible prior to operating the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two pistols - one located between the driver’s seat and center console and the other on the passenger seat. The investigation revealed Wiatt had prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, escape and credit card abuse. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case.


title: Milton Man Indicted for Possessing a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 17, 2026, charging a Milton, Delaware, man with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. According to the indictment, on December 9, 2025, Andre Brickhouse, 34, was found in possession of a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number, a large-capacity magazine, and 21 rounds of ammunition. Brickhouse is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction. Brickhouse is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division made the announcement. ATF and the Laurel Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey J. Hauser is prosecuting 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. 1:26-cr-45. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Former San Diego State University Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Possessing Sexually Explicit Videos Featuring Children

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former sergeant with the San Diego State University Police Department pleaded guilty today to possessing more than 600 files that contained sexually explicit videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Paul Aurelio McClain, 46, of Menifee, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since March 2025. According to his plea agreement, in July and August of 2024, law enforcement conducting an undercover operation on a peer-to-peer network determined that an Internet Protocol (IP) address linked to McClain’s home in Riverside County had been used to possess a sexually explicit video of a girl who appeared to be approximately 6 to 8 years of age. In March 2025, federal agents executed search warrants at McClain’s home and seized multiple digital devices, including a hard drive that contained videos of girls who appeared to be approximately 8 to 10 years old. Law enforcement found other CSAM files during this investigation, totaling more than 600 files. McClain admitted in his plea agreement that he knowingly possessed CSAM that he downloaded from the internet onto his digital devices, that he knew the files contained depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, that he knew the depictions involved the use of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and that the CSAM depicted real children who were less than 18 years old. He further admitted to knowingly possessing CSAM that he downloaded from the internet depicted prepubescent minors and minors who had not yet reached the age of 12 years old. United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett scheduled a June 24 sentencing hearing, at which time McClain will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter with assistance from the West Covina Police Department, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team, and the San Diego State University Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Cory L. Burleson and Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.


title: Maryland Man Admits to Role in a Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Hagerstown, Maryland man has admitted to his part in a large-scale drug operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties that has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. David Reyes, 61, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. According to statements made in court, Reyes was a source of supply, organizer, and decision-maker within the drug conspiracy. Reyes worked with those in Puerto Rico to further the drug operation. Saul Alex Padilla-Garcia, the leader of the organization, and 17 others, including Reyes, were operating the fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The group imported significant amounts of drugs from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel. Of the 18 defendants in this case, 12 have entered guilty pleas and 8 have been sentenced for their roles in the organization. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.


title: Dayton man who exploited teens online sentenced to more than 22 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man who preyed on minors online on multiple social media and messaging platforms was sentenced in federal court here today to 270 months in prison for coercion and enticement. David A. Snell, 37, used multiple usernames and fake identities to connect with victims. According to court documents, from May to July 2024, Snell used various Reddit accounts to identify and target vulnerable minors, and to communicate with two minor females, 16 and 17 years old. Snell groomed these minors and coerced and enticed them to send him child pornography images and videos – including degrading depictions of sexual activity and acts of self-harm – for Snell’s sexual enjoyment. Snell was charged federally in August 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: Wilmington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Wilmington, Delaware, man pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm as a prohibited individual. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika accepted the plea. According to court documents, members of the Wilmington Police Department were on patrol in the vicinity of S. Harrison Street and Maryland Avenue when they saw a car commit traffic violations. Officers stopped the car and identified Ikeem McDole, 32, as one of the passengers in the car. McDole attempted to flee the car and was taken into custody at the scene. During a search of McDole, officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson firearm concealed in his jacket. McDole was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to prior felony convictions. McDole pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years 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 July 21, 2026. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer made the announcement. ATF, with assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill is prosecuting 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. 26-cr-004. ###


title: Dominican National Extradited to The United States for Allegedly Laundering Proceeds from Elder Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national has been extradited to the United States for his alleged role in a transnational “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. In total, the investigation identified over 400 victims with an average age of 84, including at least 50 in Massachusetts, and more than $5 million in losses. Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, 42, was arrested in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States and extradited on March 18, 2026. He appeared in federal court in Boston today and was detained pending trial. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy. According to the charging documents , the defendant allegedly served as a money launderer for a sophisticated “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic that defrauded hundreds of elderly victims in the United States. English-speaking employees of the call center carried out what are commonly known as “grandparent scams,” in which they tricked elderly victims into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. One employee would call victims and pretend to be a grandchild who was in an accident. Then, another employee would allegedly follow up with another call, pretending to be the grandchild’s attorney, asking for a sum of money to pay for the grandchild’s attorney’s fees. Callers would instruct elderly victims to provide cash to “runners” in the United States. As alleged in the indictment, the defendant laundered illicit proceeds from the operation back to the Dominican Republic. The defendant provided the call center operators with access to bank accounts in the names of purported businesses. The runners would then deposit cash from victims into those bank accounts. The defendant also arranged for the runners to hand-deliver cash from victims to individuals in New York and elsewhere. The defendant then provided cash to the call center operators in the Dominican Republic. The defendant allegedly charged the call center operators a fee of approximately 8 to 10 percent in exchange for transmitting scam proceeds from the United States to the Dominican Republic. Charges were unsealed in August 2025 against the defendant and 12 others who operated the call center or served as runners. Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case, or other elder fraud scams, should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Suspected fraud can also be reported on the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center . The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Nuñez Nuñez. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dominican National Police; División Especial de Investigación del Crimen Organizado Internacional (DEICROI); Central de Investigaciones Criminales (DICRIM); and the Ministerio Publico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Maryville Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Attempted Enticement

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 18, 2026, Ryan Patrick Garrett, 41, of Maryville, TN, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Garrett will be on supervised release for 30 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Garrett agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of attempted enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). According to filed court documents, on March 13, 2025, detectives with the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested 41-year-old Ryan Patrick Garrett on a federal complaint of Enticement of a minor for the purposes of an illegal sexual act. Garrett was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force revealed that Garrett was making plans to meet at a location in Knoxville to engage in sexual activities with a nine-year-old and twelve-year-old. KPD Detectives and HSI Special Agents took Garrett into custody after he arrived to meet the children. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. The arrest and criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by KPD, the lead agency of the Tennessee ICAC Task Force which is a partnership of 74 state and local law enforcement agencies. The TN ICAC Task Force operates under a grant from the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The investigation was led by HSI KPD ICAC Task Force Officer Tom Evans. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.” ###


title: Reedsburg Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Chrystal D. Mueller, 41, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mueller pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2025. Between January 14, 2022, and April 8, 2022, Mueller and others worked together to distribute fentanyl pills in Wisconsin. The drugs would be sent from California and mailed to residences associated with Mueller, who would then distribute them locally. Mueller would get a discount on the fentanyl for her part in the conspiracy. In rejecting her request for a probationary sentence, Judge Peterson noted that Mueller participated in the conduct for almost two years and brought her then-significant other into the conspiracy. Kenneth O. Phillips, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the local leader of the group, was sentenced on November 21, 2025, to six years in prison. Brandon Stevens, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to a year and a day in prison. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels containing drugs that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller. The investigation determined that a total of 19 parcels were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April and found they contained fentanyl pills. Another individual in the conspiracy, Ames Basham, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on April 7, 2026. The charges against Mueller were the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Evidence After Helping Boyfriend Charged With Snap Benefits Fraud

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Virginia woman pled guilty to a superseding indictment in federal court today. The charges stem from her attempt to help her boyfriend tamper with evidence after authorities arrested him for participating in a SNAP benefits fraud scheme. Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, is charged with tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins attempted to help her boyfriend Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, alter an email account associated with the scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office. According to the guilty plea, in March 2025, Collins spoke to Andrew on the phone while he was detained at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. During the conversation, Andrew asked Collins to delete a Google email account to make it unavailable for use in an official proceeding. Collins then submitted a request to Google to delete the email account. Collins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Thursday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m. In January 2026, Andrew pled guilty to a federal 10-count superseding indictment, including SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. Andrew’s sentencing is slated for May 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation, and the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Woodford County Woman Sentenced for  Fentanyl Trafficking Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., woman, Melissa Wilhoite, 40, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. According to her plea agreement, on November 22, 2024, emergency personnel responded to an overdose at the Woodford County Detention Center. It was discovered that after Wilhoite’s arrest on November 21, 2024, she smuggled a quantity of fentanyl into the facility, and then distributed it to two of her cell mates. Those two victim inmates exhibited signs of an overdose, including loss of consciousness and discoloration, and were transported to a hospital for further treatment. Wilhoite later admitted to distributing fentanyl inside the facility. Under federal law, Wilhoite must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will each be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Ron Young, Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Versailles Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Twice Deported Ecuadorian National Previously Convicted of Sex Abuse, Other Offenses, Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE RAUL MAITA, 55, a citizen of Ecuador, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. As alleged in court documents, in June 1996, Maita was granted status as a legal permanent resident in the United States following approval of an application based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. In February 1998, Maita was convicted in Westchester County Court in New York of sexual abuse first degree involving sexual contact by forcible compulsion. The victim of the offense was nine years old. Maita was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to register as a sex offender. In November 2000, Maita was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In August 2001, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated and for violating his probation stemming from his sexual abuse conviction. Maita’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to one year of incarceration. In October 2003, Maita was deported to Ecuador. It is further alleged that Maita illegally reentered the U.S. and, in November 2006, he was convicted in Westchester County Court of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In April 2007, he was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In April 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Maita and, in October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of New York of unlawful reentry. In August 2009, Maita was again removed to Ecuador. It is further alleged that, on September 20, 2025, Maita, who identified himself as “Jose P. Maita” and provided a false date of birth, was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Southbury on charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a license and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Maita was subsequently released on bond. On November 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Maita with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested this morning in Waterbury. Maita appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Maita faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. 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: Felon Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Possession of Firearm

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – David Oday Smith, 39, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Smith pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, before Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge Moss ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department Crime Suppression Team officers observed Smith near a bus stop carrying a bag that appeared to be weighed down by an object. When officers approached, Smith fled on foot, throwing the bag over a fence behind a nearby business. A witness standing nearby observed Smith toss the bag. Officers recovered the bag and found a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol loaded with one round in the chamber and 14 rounds in the magazine. Police found Smith on the porch of a nearby residence and placed him under arrest. Smith had been previously convicted in Prince George's County, Maryland, of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a handgun during a crime of violence, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2009. He served about 15 years of that sentence before his release. That prior felony conviction made his firearm possession in this case a federal offense. This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss as part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 25cr207


title: Four Illegal Aliens Charged in Connection with Alien Smuggling Interdiction off the Coast of Miami-Dade County

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Four illegal aliens were charged by federal complaint for their roles in an alien smuggling venture that led to a high-speed maritime pursuit off the coast of Miami-Dade County, during which law enforcement was forced to disable the vessel to stop it. According to court records, Theron Don Mills, 26, of The Bahamas; Oswaldo Sisa Heredia, 39, of Ecuador; and Joel Perez-Matos, 41, and Pablo Antonio Alvarez Rodriguez, 33, both of the Dominican Republic, made their initial appearance on Monday after attempting to evade law enforcement in a vessel carrying multiple undocumented migrants heading towards the U.S. The suspect vessel, operated by Mills, was initially detected approximately 21 miles east of Miami-Dade County and traveling west toward shore. On March 11, just before midnight, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) law enforcement vessel located the boat approximately two miles from shore. When law enforcement approached, the vessel fled. Despite law enforcement activating lights and sirens, the vessel continued to evade authorities. After the vessel failed to stop, agents first discharged warning rounds. When that did not work, disabling rounds were discharged into the engine, ultimately bringing the vessel to a halt. Law enforcement identified 15 aliens onboard the small center-console vessel. All were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter WILLIAM FORES for biometric screening and records checks. Those checks revealed that Mills, Sisa Heredia, Perez-Matos, and Alvarez Rodriguez had previously been deported from the U.S. All four Defendants are charged with illegal re-entry of a deported alien. Mills is also charged with encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the U.S., based on his role as the vessel’s operator. If convicted, Mills faces up to five years in prison on the inducement charge, and each defendant faces up to two years in prison on the illegal reentry charges. The remaining 11 aliens were not charged and were repatriated to The Bahamas. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement. HSI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from CBP AMO and the USCG. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case. An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-mj-2508. ###


title: Lake City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing a gun pled guilty March 18, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. Clayton Brown, age 34, from Lake City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Brown has seven prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing guns. At the plea hearing, Brown admitted being in a conspiracy that distributed at least four pounds of methamphetamine in about eight-months in 2025. Twice in October 2025, Brown distributed over 80 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a search of Brown’s home, officers seized a Glock handgun, methamphetamine, marijuana, over $2,000 in cash, and other items related to drug distribution. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brown remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brown faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-3057. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Independence Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for of tax evasion. Michael Robert Jett, 60, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Douglas Harpool to 23 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of post-release supervision, and ordered to pay $361,078.81 in restitution for tax evasion against the United States. “Those who violate our tax laws cause honest taxpayers to lose faith that the system is fair,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden. “For that reason, IRS-CI partners with the US Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who willfully choose tax evasion. Falsifying documents to avoid paying taxes is stealing, and offenders must be held accountable.” “This time of year is a good reminder to all taxpayers of the consequences of not timely and accurately paying your fair share,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “You will be prosecuted and face the loss of your freedom if you do not.” Jett, a salesperson for a time share company, falsely claimed that he was exempt from paying federal or state income taxes. As a result, Jett’s employer did not withhold any money from his wages. Jett, despite having no taxes withheld from his salary, then either refused to pay his yearly income taxes or submitted false tax return documents to evade any payment of his personal income taxes. Over the period of six years, between 2017 and 2022, Jett failed and willfully evaded his financial responsibility to pay his yearly income taxes to both the United States and the State of Missouri. Jett was ordered to pay $330,649.43 to the United States Government, and an additional $30,429.38 to the State of Missouri, for a total restitution amount of $361,078.81. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.


title: Little Rock Man Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase with Kilograms of Fentanyl in Car Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A drug dealer who led police on a chase reaching speeds of 114 miles per hour with multiple kilograms of fentanyl and a firearm in his car will spend 140 months in federal prison. Clifford Siglar, 38, of Little Rock, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which also included five years of supervised release. A grand jury indicted Siglar on September 11, 2024, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Siglar pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl on October 1, 2025. A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation revealed that Siglar was distributing fentanyl out of a residence in Little Rock. In the summer 2024, officers observed Clifford conducting what they believed to be narcotics sales. On August 26, 2024, officers saw Clifford at the residence known for drug sales place what was believed to be narcotics in his vehicle, a black Chevrolet Camaro. Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Camaro. Siglar noticed the presence of law enforcement before officers could initiate a traffic stop and fled. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police (ASP) joined in the pursuit of Siglar, with the chase reaching speeds over 114 miles per hour. An ASP trooper immobilized the Camaro, which then crashed into trees. Siglar was ejected from the car and continued to flee on foot before being caught by police. Law enforcement searched the Camaro and located a .57-caliber handgun on the driver’s floorboard and a backpack in the trunk of the vehicle which contained approximately 2.6 kilograms of fentanyl and scales. Fentanyl can be used and sold in doses as small as one-tenth of a gram, which would have resulted in more than 26,000 individual doses of fentanyl from the backpack seized. Siglar has a prior felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver. The case was investigated by the DEA, along with the Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Eldridge. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Rigging Bids for Healthcare-Related U.S. Air Force Projects

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The owner of a storage sales company pleaded guilty to two felony counts for conspiring to rig bids and defraud the U.S. Department of War in connection with the sale of shelving and storage products to the U.S. Air Force to service multiple healthcare facilities, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today. According to the information and plea agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Eric J. Caddy, 62, of Huntington, Texas, and his co-conspirators submitted collusive bids for multiple healthcare-related projects at Air Force Base Moody in Valdosta, Georgia, including: (1) the Medical Logistics Warehouse Project; (2) the Pharmacy Modernization and Renovation Project; (3) the Veterinary Clinic Project; and (4) the Dental Lab Clinic Project. One of Caddy’s co-conspirators instructed Caddy to submit intentionally higher prices for the projects and even provided Caddy with the specific pricing to include on bids for the projects. Caddy then submitted the collusive bids to a prime vendor for the federal government, which in turn submitted the collusive bids to the U.S. Department of War. Caddy and his co-conspirators concealed the bid rigging from the government by having Caddy “re-write” certain bid forms “in [Caddy’s] own handwriting” before transmitting them. The projects, which totaled over $1.6 million, were funded through the Defense Logistics Agency’s Facilities Maintenance, Repair, and Operations Program. The guilty plea is the first in an ongoing investigation into bid rigging and fraud impacting U.S. military facilities in the United States. “Defending free and fair competition in healthcare spending is a critical priority for the Antitrust Division, particularly when it affects the U.S. military,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force and its partners will continue to find and prosecute those who corrupt the competitive process and increase healthcare-related costs in the United States.” “Bid rigging harms taxpayers, honest contractors and all of us who play by the rules, and will not tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division has been an invaluable partner in ensuring that competition remains free and fair in the Middle District of Georgia.” “The Air Force Office of Special Investigations remains steadfast in our mission to protect the integrity of Department of War procurement processes and safeguard resources critical to the readiness and welfare of our Airmen,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Southeast Field Office. “Bid rigging schemes like this undermine fair competition, inflate costs for essential healthcare infrastructure, and ultimately harm the brave men and women serving in our military. Working alongside our partners at the Antitrust Division, DCIS, and DLA OIG, we will continue to vigorously investigate and hold accountable those who seek to defraud the United States.” “Bid rigging involving military healthcare contracts isn’t just illegal, it’s a direct betrayal of the service members and their families who rely on these facilities,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jason Sargenski, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that companies and individuals who cheat the competitive bidding process for contracts that support our nation’s defense will be held accountable. DCIS, alongside our partners, remains committed to protecting the public interest and the integrity of the defense contracting process.” The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Daniel Chung and Christian Neumeister of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud the United States is five years in prison and a $250,000 criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. Caddy is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards .


title: Billings man sentenced to almost four years in prison for illegal possession of firearm

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Isaac Clyde Martinez, 38, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on May 24, 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic violence call. When they arrived, officers found Jane Doe, who told them that she and Martinez had been arguing since the previous evening, and Martinez had pulled out a firearm and pointed it at her chest. She said that after Martinez cooled down, he placed the gun in a silver grill outside the residence. Jane Doe directed law enforcement to the location of the gun. Law enforcement discovered the firearm where Jane Doe said it would be. The firearm was a black Taurus, model TH9, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol. Also discovered in the same location was a pistol bag, containing loose ammunition as well as a full box of 9mm ammunition. Fingerprints taken off the loose ammunition and box were later positively matched to Martinez. On or about October 13, 2021, Martinez was sentenced in the United States District Court for the District of Montana for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Billings Police Department. XXX


title: Owner of Now-Closed Milwaukee Prenatal Care Coordination Company Sentenced to 121 Months’ Imprisonment for Healthcare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 17, 2026, Markita Barnes (age 33) was sentenced to 121 months’ incarceration for committing a healthcare fraud scheme through which she stole $2,361,799.17 from a Medicaid benefit program meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children. Following a two-week trial in November 2025, a federal jury convicted Barnes of ten counts of healthcare fraud, three counts of false statements related to healthcare matters, three counts of violating the anti-kickback statute, one count of attempting to obstruct a healthcare fraud investigation, one count of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper discussed the substantial negative impact Barnes’ fraud scheme, and others like it in the Milwaukee area, has had not only on public trust in government benefit programs, but on the availability of the benefit program she defrauded. Chief Judge Pepper noted that, because of significant fraud surrounding this benefit program, the state of Wisconsin has scaled back the benefit to such an extent that it is largely not available to the women who actually need it. Chief Judge Pepper also explained that the significant sentence of incarceration she imposed was necessary to account for the seriousness of Barnes’s conduct and to send a message of deterrence to others considering engaging in fraud against hard-working taxpayers. In addition to the 121-month period of incarceration, Chief Judge Pepper issued a money judgment of forfeiture in the amount of $2,361,799.17 and ordered Barnes to pay restitution to Medicaid in the same amount. “The substantial sentence holds Ms. Barnes accountable for her very serious crimes. She stole limited public resources that were intended for our neighbors most in need of public assistance,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Many people in need will not receive help due to the defendant’s actions. This is a strong message to other fraudsters that we are coming for them, and they will be punished.” “The FBI is dedicated to ensuring those who defraud the American people through healthcare fraud face justice,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “Markita Barnes devised a scheme in which she defrauded Medicaid of millions of dollars at the expense of at-risk mothers and children. The lengthy sentence and order of restitution should serve as a warning for those who seek to enrich themselves through fraud. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat healthcare fraud and root out those who steal from the American people.” “The defendant’s appalling conduct undermined the ability of vulnerable individuals to get support,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “This outcome demonstrates how seriously government benefits fraud is taken.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit, the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Firearms Trafficking Nets D.C. Man 160 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Michael Stuckey, 36, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 160 months in federal prison in connection with conspiring to traffic firearms from North Carolina into the District, including handguns illegally converted to machine guns, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Stuckey pleaded guilty on Jan. 13, 2026, before Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy. In addition to the 160-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Stuckey to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, from at least August 2022 until July 2024, Stuckey worked with a co-conspirator to acquire and traffic firearms. The co-conspirator purchased multiple Glock pistols from licensed firearms dealers in North Carolina through straw purchases, falsely certifying on federal ATF forms that he was the actual buyer. The co-conspirator then transferred the firearms to Stuckey in the District. Stuckey is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and knew his receipt of the guns constituted a felony. On May 15, 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle being used by Stuckey in the 500 block of Parkland Place SE. Inside a backpack bearing Stuckey’s name, officers recovered two loaded Glock pistols. One of the Glocks had a machine gun conversion device installed, effectively converting it into a weapon able to fire continuously with one pull of the trigger. Officers also seized 10.2 grams of methamphetamine, about 64 grams of marijuana, and drug distribution packaging. On July 1, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Stuckey’s residence in the District. Inside officers found a loaded Glock pistol converted to a fully automatic weapon, two additional machine gun conversion devices, magazines, ammunition, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base packaged for distribution, and drug distribution supplies. Stuckey previously had been convicted of multiple felony drug and firearm offenses, which prohibited him under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement of the sentencing were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Solomon S. Eppel. 24cr307 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nicholas J. Fisher, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Fisher pleaded guilty to this charge on December 19, 2025. On May 3, 2025, law enforcement arrested Fisher on a probation warrant. Upon searching his vehicle, they discovered approximately 1,322 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug-dealing paraphernalia. At the sentencing, Judge Peterson considered that Fisher had a decades-long history of criminal conduct but also that his crimes were primarily driven by his addiction and did not involve violence. The charge against Fisher was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Producing and Transporting Child Sexual Abuse Material Involving an Indian River County Minor

body_text: MIAMI – An Arizona man was sentenced Thursday in Fort Pierce to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor online and traveling to Florida, where he sexually abused the victim. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon sentenced Joshua Black, 38, to 480 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to production of material involving sexual exploitation of minors and transporting material involving sexual exploitation of minors. “This defendant used the internet to target a 13-year-old child, manipulate her into sexual exploitation, and preserve those images for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He then crossed state lines to continue that abuse in person. Production of child sexual abuse material is among the most serious crimes we prosecute because it permanently records a child’s victimization. Forty years in federal prison ensures accountability and protects other children from future harm.” According to court records, Black sexually abused a minor victim between 2023 to 2025, when she was between 13 and 15 years old. During that time, Black took screenshots of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct during a video call with him. Black later transported those images to Indian River County, where he traveled to meet the victim and engage in sexual activity with her at a Vero Beach hotel. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami, Fort Pierce Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Kahn Obenauf and Justin Hoover prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-14016. ###


title: The Frightening Reality of Online Predators

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: The Department of Justice is calling on parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members to join law enforcement in the fight against a dangerous and growing category of online predators. These networks, often referred to as “764” or “Nihilistic Violent Extremism” (NVE), represent a decentralized extremist subculture that weaponizes digital platforms to exploit and radicalize children. These perpetrators also may be engaging in criminal activity for sexual gratification, seeing an opening to prey on children. Other individuals may be drawn to the groups by a desire for social status or a sense of belonging and may not be ideologically motivated. Regardless, these networks exist on publicly available online platforms, such as social media sites, gaming platforms, and mobile applications commonly used by young people. The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat posed by these networks and is investigating hundreds of subjects nationwide, including investigations involving perpetrators and victims right here in the Central District of Illinois. Despite the determined work of FBI agents along with their partners at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, more and more children are finding these groups online. The Federal Bureau of Investigation currently has identified over 450 subjects tied to these networks nationwide. The majority of victims are under the age of 18, with some as young as nine years old. Understanding the Threat: What is NVE? Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a form of violence motivated by a hatred of society and a drive to cause its collapse through indiscriminate chaos. Unlike traditional extremist groups with clear political or religious agendas, NVE members advocate for destruction across the world by glorifying mass killers, promoting animal cruelty, and urging self-harm. These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens, on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion," manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own lives. “Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.” “We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool, from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.” Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared areas of the home. These predators methodically target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and teens, on social media and gaming platforms. Once contact is established, they use "sextortion," manipulation, and blackmail to coerce victims into producing "gore" content or child sexual abuse material or performing acts of violence and self-mutilation, often demanding these acts be livestreamed. These actors have even manipulated children to take their own lives. “Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a direct assault on the safety of our youth,” said FBI Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge, Karen Marinos. “These groups specifically seek out vulnerable children to coerce them into horrific acts of self-harm and violence. The FBI’s priority is to disrupt these networks at their source, ensuring that the predators who orchestrate this exploitation are held accountable for the lives they attempt to destroy.” “We are working tirelessly to protect our children and ensure that those who perpetrate these evil acts face justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated prosecutors and staff in my office, alongside our FBI partners, will use every available tool, from sophisticated digital forensics to community outreach, to dismantle these nihilistic networks and protect the Central District of Illinois.” Awareness and Prevention: Warning Signs for Parents Awareness is the first line of defense: do not count on filters or parental controls to stop these activities. NVE actors are highly skilled at bypassing restrictions or teaching victims how to bypass them. Law enforcement urges parents to have open, ongoing conversations with their children about their digital lives and to discourage the use of devices in nonshared areas of the home. Potential signs of victimization include: Physical Markers: Fresh cuts, scratches, or scars, often in patterns (including "764"-related terms or platform names). These cuts will often be on hidden places of the body (thigh, chest, groin). Behavioral Changes: Becoming suddenly withdrawn, moody, or irritable. Changes in school performance, eating, or sleeping habits. These may be drastic and without warning. Animal Cruelty or Aggression: Sudden interest in harming animals or unexplained aggression toward younger siblings. Digital Red Flags: Reports of personally identifying information being posted online ("doxing") or unexplained gifts/packages arriving at the home. Dark Ideation: Openly talking about death, "not being wanted," or threatening suicide. Actively seeking tools for violence such as firearms, explosives, or chemicals. Reporting and Resources If you or someone you know is a victim of these tactics, retain all digital evidence (usernames, emails, platform names) and report it immediately: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov In case of imminent danger, call 911. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides a free service known as Take It Down, which helps minor victims, or adults who were victimized as minors, to remove or stop the online sharing of nude or sexually explicit content taken while under 18 years old. For more information, visit https://takeitdown.ncmec.org . These investigations are part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement .


title: Lame Deer man sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted sexual abuse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who attempted to sexually abuse a minor was sentenced today to 216 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 46, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of attempted sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in 2009, Wallowing Bull and John Doe, a minor at the time, were drinking together at Wallowing Bull’s residence. Doe eventually fell asleep on a couch in the basement. When he awoke, he could see Wallowing Bull laying behind him and felt him reaching over Doe’s stomach toward his crotch. Doe got off the couch to leave, but Wallowing Bull blocked the doorway. Doe returned to the couch and fell asleep again. After approximately 15 minutes, Doe awoke to find Wallowing Bull laying behind him again and reaching toward his crotch. When Doe tried to get off the couch to leave, Wallowing Bull pinned him to the couch to prevent him from escaping. Doe fought back and Wallowing Bull eventually allowed Doe to exit the basement. Evidence gathered throughout the investigation established that Wallowing Bull intended to remove Doe’s clothing in order to have anal or oral sex with Doe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, and Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services.


title: Texas woman pleads guilty for her role in cross country narcotics conspiracy originating in Mexico

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shannell Gosine, 28, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler, Donna Duncan, and Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who are handling the case, stated that between April 2023, and February 20, 2025, Gosine conspired with others to sell cocaine that came from Mexico and was transported from Texas to multiple locations throughout the United States, including Buffalo. Gosine’s role was primarily that of a drug courier and the receiver of bulk currency for counting. She personally made numerous trips with bulk cocaine to Buffalo and took numerous trips back to Texas with bulk U.S. currency. On April 8, 2023, the Ohio State and Highway Patrol seized 18.93 kilograms of cocaine from a co-conspirator who was attempting to transport the cocaine from Texas to Buffalo. On December 12, 2023, Tennessee’s 23rd Drug Task Force seized $100,000 in U.S. currency from Gosine and one of her co-conspirators, some of which currency had come from Buffalo. On May 7, 2024, the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office seized 9.3 kilograms of cocaine and 3,528 grams of pure methamphetamine from a co-conspirator during a traffic stop. On a typical trip, Gosine or her co-conspirators transported approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine to Buffalo and additional kilograms of cocaine to other destinations. Gosine was arrested in April 2025, along with six other defendants, including: Winnie Taru Woods a/k/a Ru, Sharron McCullough a/k/a Black, Marlon Holt, Jr. a/k/a Scooter a/k/a Professor, Gary Sudesh Gosine, Sr., Ian Dyer, and Norman Patillo. Gosine is the second to be convicted. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Enforcement Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ontario County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, the 23rd Judicial Taskforce, Tennessee, as well as Homeland Security Investigations in NY, and Houston and Austin, Texas. Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo. # # # #