title: Tuba City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Wyatt Op Maloney, 24, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced on March 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Maloney previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. On July 14, 2023, Maloney assaulted the victim by striking and kicking him multiple times in the head and face, causing the victim to sustain fatal blunt force trauma injuries. Maloney, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation. The victim was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The FBI Phoenix office in Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-08099-PCT-DLR RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-053_Maloney # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Aviation company employee attempted to take proprietary information to China

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty after lying to U.S. customs officials while attempting to board a flight to the People’s Republic of China with proprietary information belonging to his employer. According to court documents, Junjie Zhang, also known as Jeff Zhang, 57, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement. Zhang, a naturalized United States citizen originally from China, worked for an aviation company in Wichita. His position as a senior material and process engineer provided him access to confidential data and proprietary information. In 2018, Zhang’s employer reported him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after an incident during a work trip to China where he displayed suspicious behavior. In September 2019, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped Zhang at an airport in Dallas, Texas, as he was attempting to board a flight to China. During an interview, agents asked if he had any work-related information on his electronic devices to which he responded, “no”. Zhang told the agents the thumb drive and laptop he carried only contained personal information. However, when CBP agents examined the devices, they discovered documents belonging to Zhang’s employer marked “Proprietary” and “Confidential” along with graphs and blueprints associated with the aviation company’s work. Zhang then changed his story to say that his employer had given him permission to have the documents. CBP alerted the FBI who contacted Zhang’s employer. The company informed the FBI that Zhang was not authorized to have confidential documents on his personal devices or to leave the country with that information. “Americans invest heavily into technological research and development. Intellectual property theft causes U.S. companies across numerous sectors to lose billions of dollars a year. Often that cost ultimately falls on consumers. Not only are Internet hackers a risk for this theft but so are insider threats from rouge employees,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Department of Justice works tirelessly to safeguard the hard-earned intellectual property of Americans and their companies from theft.” The proprietary data on Zhang’s devices is estimated to be valued at more than $100,000. Zhang is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Taylor Hines are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Cleveland Man Who Led Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Operation Gets More Than 24 Years in Prison

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

body_text: CLEVELAND – After a multi-year federal investigation, a 38-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role as the leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed deadly controlled substances throughout Northeast Ohio. Jerone Tate, 38, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in July of 2025 to the following offenses: Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (fentanyl and cocaine) Distribution of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (cocaine) Tate was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. According to court documents, in 2021, federal agents began an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization suspected of being led by Tate. During the investigation, it was discovered that Tate was responsible for organizing and distributing large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl throughout Northeast Ohio. Agents executed multiple search warrants related to the DTO and raided a residence in Cleveland, Tate’s personal residence in Avon Lake, and a restaurant he owned in Richmond Heights. Throughout the investigation agents seized: Approximately 1,902 grams of cocaine Approximately 494.2 grams of fentanyl Approximately 112.53 grams of fentanyl analogue Approximately 19 kilograms of marijuana Approximately $63,111 in cash A drug press, cellphones, drug ledgers, and other drug paraphernalia. Co-conspirator Terrill Colbert, 40, of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the DTO and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Norfolk man convicted at trial for his role in a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A federal judge convicted Brehon Kanell Davis, 44, of Norfolk, today on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Davis was further convicted on two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least April 2021 to December 2023, Davis’ co-conspirators procured cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and parafluorofentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia. Davis and others then received the drugs for further distribution in Norfolk. Davis and his fellow distributors used internet payment services, such as Cash App, to pay for the narcotics. Davis faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 28. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Norfolk Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Cournoyer are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graham Stolle and Marc W. West assisted in the prosecution. This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-53.


title: Illegal Alien, a Convicted Cocaine Dealer Previously Deported Five Times, Sentenced to 122 Months

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON -- Damion Alexander Peddie, 54, a Jamaican citizen who previously had been convicted of multiple drug trafficking offenses and removed from the United States on at least five prior occasions, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 122 months in federal prison in connection with possessing a cache of weapons and narcotics and for illegally re-entering the country, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Peddie pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2025, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to a three-count information charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, alien in possession of a firearm, and unlawful re-entry of a previously removed alien. In addition to the 122-month prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Peddie to serve three years of supervised release and to comply with any order of deportation. “Damion Peddie showed a complete disregard for our laws and our borders—deported five times, yet he chose to come back and arm himself with a cache of weapons and narcotics. A previously convicted drug trafficker, he continued to put American communities at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This career criminal illegal alien is exactly the type of offender the Trump administration is working tirelessly to remove from our country—after serving his sentence, he will be deported.” According to court documents, in the Summer of 2024, FBI agents initiated a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking conspiracy centered around the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. Law enforcement had identified an alleged fentanyl and PCP trafficker with a stash house in the 2900 block of Knox Place. Over the course of their investigation into the trafficker’s narcotics suppliers, investigating agents determined that Peddie was conspiring with members of the drug trafficking operation (DTO) in the redistribution of fentanyl, amongst other narcotics. On August 26, 2025, FBI agents executed a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of Taylor Street NW as part of a coordinated arrest and search warrant operation in connection with the Knox Place DTO investigation. Agents encountered Peddie walking down the stairs from the second floor of the residence. In Peddie's bedroom, agents found a ghost gun, a privately manufactured black 9mm Polymer 80 pistol bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement, along with a .22 caliber handgun. Agents also recovered about seven pounds of marijuana, along with distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine. On the first floor of the home, agents found an H&R .32 caliber revolver, an AR-style ghost gun, six ammunition magazines, assorted rounds of ammunition, and a High Point 9mm carbine rifle. This criminal case marks Peddie's fifth federal conviction for unlawful re-entry of a previously removed alien. He previously had been convicted of the same offense in the District of Maryland in January 1996, and in the District of Columbia in May 2004, October 2010, and October 2013. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. This case was prosecuted under the auspices of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) network, which is directed under President Trump’s Executive Order titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion . The mission of the HSTF network is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations, and to ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, with assistance from the DEA Washington, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, John Crabb, and Sarah Akhtar of the Violence Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section. Valuable assistance was provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and John Parron. 25cr380 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Morgantown Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Mansfield Davis, 69, of Morgantown, was sentenced today to five months in prison for failure to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The sentence is to be served consecutively to previously imposed sentences totaling seven years and 10 months in prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was living in South Charleston when he failed to register as a sex offender as required following his conviction for possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia on May 20, 2024. For that offense, Davis was sentenced on September 5, 2024, to six years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Davis failed to self-report to prison as required on October 4, 2024. Law enforcement officers arrested Davis in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 15, 2024. Davis was sentenced on August 20, 2025, to one year in prison for failing to surrender for a federal sentence, with the sentence to run consecutively to the sentence for possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-189. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recovers and Forfeits More Than $600K in Cryptocurrency from Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, has recovered and forfeited more than $600,000 in cryptocurrency associated with a fraud scheme. As alleged in court documents, in September 2025, a Connecticut resident identified as “T.M.” received a letter purporting to be from “Ledger Security & Compliance.” The letter claimed that T.M.’s Ledger device, which is a device used for storing cryptocurrency, needed to undergo a new mandatory security check. In reality, when T.M. followed the instructions in the letter, the fraudsters were able to compromise T.M.’s Ledger device and steal approximately $234,000 in cryptocurrency. The FBI and Connecticut State Police traced the cryptocurrency transactions through multiple cryptocurrency wallets and successfully seized approximately $600,000 worth of Tether, a form of cryptocurrency. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint ( 3:26-cv-28 ) alleging that the Tether cryptocurrency was the proceeds of wire fraud and that it was involved in money laundering. On March 31, 2026, the U.S. District Court entered a decree of forfeiture. Generally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first seeks to forfeit the cryptocurrency, then works with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section to, in many cases, return it to crime victims so that victims have clear title to the property without risk of further litigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson. More information on cryptocurrency fraud schemes and where to report related criminal activity is available here: https://www.ic3.gov/CrimeInfo/Cryptocurrency .


title: Associate of Motorcycle Gang Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An associate of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine. Daniel Loughman, a/k/a “Swiss,” 40, of Wakefield, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025 , Loughman pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Loughman was one of four individuals charged in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring operating in Eastern Massachusetts by members and associates of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club. In approximately October 2023, Loughman was identified as a drug trafficker who distributed methamphetamine to customers throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Investigators conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Loughman, as well as from his co-conspirators James Snow, of Tewkesbury, Danielle Steenbruggen, of Peabody, and James Adams, of Byfield. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms were seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and search warrants. Loughman is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case. Steenbruggen pleaded guilty in August 2025 and was sentenced to 93 months in prison in November 2025. Snow pleaded guilty in December 2025 and was sentenced to 90 months in prison on March 23, 2026. Adams pleaded guilty in December 2025 and was sentenced to 151 months in prison on March 20, 2026 . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Steven A. Skory of the Wakefield Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Newbury, Newburyport, Haverhill, Peabody and Hampton (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Everett Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Selling Firearms

body_text: BOSTON – An Everett man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for selling more than half a dozen firearms, including AR-15 style rifles. Joao Victor Da Silva Soares, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to time served (18 months in prison), to be followed by two years of supervised release. In December 2025 , Da Silva Soares pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. Da Silva Soares was arrested in September 2024 in a related state case. Da Silva Soares was charged in federal court by criminal complaint in January 2025 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025 . Between August and September 2024, Da Silva Soares supplied firearms for sale in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on Aug. 26, 2024, Da Silva Soares delivered two AR-15 style rifles and sold them for $6,000 in a parking lot in Malden. On Sept. 11, 2024, Da Silva Soares participated in another sale involving a total of five firearms (consisting of rifles, pistols and a shotgun) outside a residence in Milford. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Malden and Milford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Mount Pleasant Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Create and Distribute Animal Crush Videos Containing Violent Torture of Monkeys

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Joseph Garrett Buckland, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Buckland and others conspired to pool their money to commission the creation of animal crush videos—that is, videos that show actual obscene conduct in which living non-human mammals, in this case, monkeys, were purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury—and then distributed those videos to other group members and chat groups via an instant messaging application. Buckland admitted to sending money on more than 15 occasions to commission animal crush videos and collecting money from others involved in the conspiracy to pool resources to commission such videos for distribution to individuals on the instant messaging app. “Producing and trafficking in animal crush videos is a serious federal crime,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Intentionally inflicting harm and torture on innocent animals not only feeds a broader market of criminal depravity, it also often is linked to, or leads to, additional dangerous and violent conduct that further erodes society and public safety. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute all crimes involving violations of federal law relating to horrific acts of cruelty to animals.” “Today’s plea should serve as a warning: animal crush videos are illegal and we will prosecute individuals engaged in this sadistic behavior,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Investigating and prosecuting cases like this is not easy, and we commend all who worked to bring this perpetrator to justice.” “Buckland’s decisions, actions, and financial investments directly contributed to the brutal torture of defenseless animals,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans. “Thanks to the diligent investigative efforts of our special agents, in collaboration with the FBI, he has now admitted his role and will face justice in federal court. HSI will continue to investigate these heinous crimes and work with our law enforcement partners, domestically and abroad, to identify, pursue, and hold offenders accountable.” Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Emily Stone of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans’ Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Buckland.


title: Four Admit to Drug Trafficking in North Central West Virginia

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Four people have pled guilty in federal court this week for fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Michelle Denise Gallo, 57, of Fairmont, West Virginia, pled guilty today to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, Gallo was working with others to sell methamphetamine and other drugs and had firearms with her during her drug trafficking work. She’s facing 10 years to life for the drug charge and 5 years to life for the firearms charge. Lisa Dawn Andrews, 40, of Montrose, West Virginia, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Andrews admitted to working with others to sell methamphetamine in Randolph County and elsewhere. She’s facing 10 years to life in federal prison. Shawn Galin Whitley, Jr., 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Whitley was traveling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Lewis County, West Virginia when the vehicle he was in was stopped by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department. Officers found a small amount of fentanyl stamps and cash in the vehicle. During a lawful search of Whitely’s hotel room, task force officers seized more than 3,700 fentanyl stamps. He’s facing up to 20 years in prison. Justin Michael Hoover, 35, of Huttonsville, West Virginia, pled guilty to the distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. According to statements made in court, Hoover was selling methamphetamine from his home. He’s facing 5 to 40 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. 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. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: Two Georgia Men Face Life in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl from China

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATHENS, Ga. – Two men are facing a maximum of life in prison for trafficking fentanyl and a new synthetic designer drug from China into Georgia, one of whom was an inmate directing the operation from behind bars. Devito Duran Young, aka “Big” aka “Big Man,” 46, of Macon State Prison and Marietta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Young faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and an $8 million fine. Trace Davrin Works, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Works faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and an $8 million fine. The defendants pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on April 1. Their sentencing dates are scheduled for July 8, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system. “From a Georgia prison, the defendants trafficked fentanyl from China, profiting from the suffering of others,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office, in collaboration with law enforcement, is dedicated to dismantling criminal organizations, whether they operate from prisons or across borders.” “These defendants profited from the opioid epidemic and endangered thousands of lives by trafficking fentanyl,” said FBI Georgia Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs. “Disrupting the manufacturers and distributers of this poison remains a high priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners.” “These defendants were involved in a fentanyl trafficking ring contributing to the opioid crisis in our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This case demonstrates the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its partners’ commitment to protecting the public, combating the spread of deadly drugs and holding accountable those who profit from addiction.” The following individuals have been charged by a federal indictment returned on May 14, 2025, and unsealed on August 7, 2025: Andreaus Benard Oliver Sr., aka “Doomie Oliver,” 43, of Macon State Prison and Cordele, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $2 million fine; Andreaus Benard Oliver Jr., aka “Dray Oliver,” 27, of Cordele, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of using or maintaining a drug premises and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; Xin Wang, 28, of China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a $5 million fine for the fentanyl charge and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance charge; and Gao Yong, 29, of China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Oliver Sr. and Oliver Jr. had their initial appearances in August 2025 and were remanded into federal custody by U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle. Wang and Yong are fugitives and have active warrants for their arrest. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Photos of Xin Wang and Gao Yong. According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Young conspired to acquire and distribute fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana) from China to the United States beginning in 2023. It is alleged that Oliver Sr. conspired with Young while both were inmates at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia. The shipments of the synthetic cannabinoids arrived at an address allegedly occupied by Oliver Jr. on 4th Avenue in Cordele. Wang and Yong are alleged to have facilitated the sale and distribution of synthetic controlled substances from China to customers around the world, including to Oliver Sr. and Young. Online advertisement of drugs for sale; this evidence was admitted as part of the forfeiture proceedings. Yong allegedly communicated directly with customers, negotiated the sale of the drugs and provided shipment tracking information. Wang allegedly directed the sale of fentanyl worldwide and maintained cryptocurrency wallets for payments. Yong was allegedly aware that the substances were being introduced into prison facilities. Young placed multiple orders of fentanyl using encrypted chat applications he accessed using a contraband cellphone while in prison. Young directed Works to acquire the fentanyl and ship it to customer addresses, including addresses in the Middle District of Georgia, and both Young and Works paid for the drugs with cryptocurrency. Oliver Jr. and other co-conspirators allegedly placed multiple orders for synthetic cannabinoids from Wang and Yong online and paid them with cryptocurrency, directing the packages to addresses in Cordele and his 4th Avenue residence, referred to as the “lab.” After a package originating from China was intercepted by law enforcement, agents executed a search warrant at Oliver Jr.’s residence on July 22, 2024, and found more than 175 metal pans with sheets of paper; multiple jugs and bottles containing suspected cannabinoids; several measuring beakers; more than 350 dried sheets of paper soaked with cannabinoids; return address labels purporting to be from various attorneys; shipping labels addressed to inmates in jail and prison facilities around the country; cash; and ledgers indicating how many sheets had been processed. In addition, $170,000 in cryptocurrency was seized and forfeited from Wang as part of the investigation. Interior of Oliver Jr.’s residence which allegedly served as an illegal drug conversion lab. This image shows papers being soaked in pans with synthetic cannabinoid liquid. This evidence was admitted during the criminal proceedings. Young and Works are being held accountable for trafficking 2,610 fentanyl pills weighing 279.64 grams and 5,502.55 grams of MDMB-4en-PINACA, a new synthetic cannabinoid. 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated the case, with assistance from the GBI and Georgia Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Former State Department Contractor Sentenced for Sexual Assault While Deployed to Embassy in Iraq

component: Criminal Division

body_text: WACO, Texas – A Killeen man was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 18 months in prison for abusive sexual contact, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Taurean Clarence Coppage, 40, sexually assaulted a woman in her residence while he was a contractor with the U.S. Department of State in Baghdad, Iraq. Coppage was to leave Iraq on Feb. 19 and attended a going-away party at the bar on the U.S. Embassy compound the night prior, on Feb. 18. After the party, Coppage walked the female to her residence on the embassy grounds. The two agreed that, given the time of day, Coppage would sleep at the woman’s residence to avoid being out past curfew. A factual basis filed in the court documents states that, at one point in the night, the woman woke up to Coppage attempting to engage in sexual activities with her, which she rejected and pushed him away before losing consciousness. She reported the events to the authorities, launching an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and Coppage admitting he sexually assaulted the victim. Coppage was summoned to appear in federal court on March 24, 2025. A superseding information was filed on July 31, and he pleaded guilty on Aug. 5. On March 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge David Counts sentenced Coppage to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $4,949.98 in restitution to the victim. DSS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Kucera and Department of Justice Criminal Division Trial Attorney Daria Andryushchenko prosecuted the case. ###


title: Newtonville Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Distribution

body_text: BOSTON – A Newtonville man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to a drug distribution offense involving cocaine. Trevor Headley, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2026. Headley was arrested and charged in October 2025. In August 2025, Headley distributed cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on multiple occasions. On Aug. 12, 2025, after arranging the first transaction through a series of communications, Headley met the undercover officer at a pre-arranged location and sold approximately 112 grams of cocaine. On Aug. 27, 2025, Headley conducted a second controlled transaction, this time distributing approximately 451 grams of cocaine. Additionally, on recorded phone calls with the undercover officer in September 2025, Headley discussed obtaining an additional kilogram of cocaine for sale and expressed interest in obtaining firearms and machinegun conversion devices – stating that the firearms would be included as part of the negotiation, in exchange for the cocaine. During a search of Headley’s residence following his arrest in October 2025, approximately three kilograms of cocaine packaged for distribution, along with more than $32,000 in cash and other items consistent with drug trafficking were recovered. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: New Jersey Man Who Engaged in Sexual Activity with Minor, Gave Her Cocaine, Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL FRANCISCO GUZMAN, 31, of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 168 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for child exploitation and drug distribution offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 18, 2025, Guzman began messaging on Snapchat with a girl under the age of 13 (“minor victim”) in Connecticut. Guzman solicited sexually explicit images from the minor victim and sent sexually explicit images of himself to the minor victim. Later that night, Guzman travelled to Connecticut and engaged in sexual conduct with the minor victim. He also coerced the minor victim into ingesting cocaine. A court-authorized search of Guzman’s Snapchat account revealed that, between March and May 2025, Guzman attempted to solicit sexually explicit images and arrange sexual encounters with other minors. Guzman has been detained since his arrest on August 12, 2025. On November 6, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age 21. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of local police in Connecticut and the Woodbridge Township (N.J.) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Illegal Alien who Shot at DEA Agents Charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – An illegal alien who shot at Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents attempting to arrest him during a fentanyl sale on Feb. 24, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted murder. Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, has been charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. His codefendant, Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, was also indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. The two men were arraigned today in federal court. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, we are driving a nationwide effort to choke off the flow of fentanyl at every level- from transnational criminal organizations to street-level distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “We continue to stand by our federal agents as they confront these violent criminal networks head on.” The indictment alleges that the men conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on Feb. 24, 2026. According to court documents, from Jan. 30, 2026, through Feb. 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their Dodge Ram truck, Valenzuela Lopez opened fire on officers. In response, officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators then discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the truck, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the truck’s passenger compartment. Later, law enforcement also located a brick of fentanyl powder weighing approximately 1 kilogram at Valenzuela Lopez’s residence. Convictions for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer and Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Law Enforcement Officer each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Convictions for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense; Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States is 15 years in prison. The FBI Phoenix Division investigated the assault on a federal officer. DEA Phoenix conducted the drug investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00284 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-055_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news


title: Providence Man Charged After Attempting to Obtain Fentanyl Shipped from California

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging the Kelvin German Luperon De Jesus with attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Luperon De Jesus, 32, is charged with one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was arrested in October 2025. An arraignment date in federal court on the indictment is not yet scheduled. According to court documents, on October 14, 2025, Luperon De Jesus attempted to obtain a package that was shipped from California to Rhode Island and contained fentanyl. The package was flagged as being suspicious and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents tested the contents and determined that the package contained approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Two days later, the defendant was arrested by DEA agents as part of an undercover investigation. If convicted, the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman. The matter was investigated by the DEA. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Registered sex offender arrested on multiple new child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Peterson, 42, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography by a person with a prior child pornography conviction, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in June 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the messaging app Kik that two files of suspected child pornography were uploaded between June 14 and June 16, 2025. The files were uploaded with the username “hardinny41_mkc” and were shared with other Kik users. On July 05, 2025, NCMEC received another CyberTip from Kik that a file of suspected child pornography was uploaded on June 28, 2025 by someone with the username, hardinny4_mf7” and had also been shared with other Kik users. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Peterson. On December 3, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant on Peterson’s person, seizing his cell phone. A forensic analysis identified approximately nine image files and five video files of suspected child sexual abuse material. Some of the images included infants, toddlers, and prepubescent children. Peterson is a level 1 sex offender following a 2010 misdemeanor conviction in Carroll Town Court for Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16 Year of Age. He was subsequently convicted in 2023 in Chautauqua County Court of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16 Years of Age and Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Peterson made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on April 2, 2026. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Florida man who traveled from Florida to Western New York to have sex with a minor going to prison

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jose Francisco Cardoso Tehovnik, 23, of Orlando, Florida, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that in February 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik, who was 21 years old at the time, began communicating with a 16-year-old minor victim on social media. Between February 2024 and April 2024, the minor victim sent a video file and two image files depicting the minor victim to Cardoso Tehovnik, each of which constituted child pornography. In late April 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik flew from Florida to the Western District of New York and rented a hotel room to meet the minor victim in person. On April 27, 2024, the minor victim met Cardoso Tehovnik in the hotel room and the two engaged in sexual intercourse. Between April 2024 and June 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik continued to communicate with the 16-year-old victim on social media. On June 4, 2024, Cardoso Tehovnik again traveled to the Western District of New York to meet the minor victim. Cardoso Tehovnik picked up the minor victim from her school and left the district with the minor victim, intending to take her to Florida. Law enforcement located Cardoso Tehovnik with the victim in New Jersey and Cardoso Tehovnik was arrested and taken into custody. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari, with assistance from the Beach Haven, NJ, Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Markoski. # # # #


title: Guatemalan National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Depredation

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Guatemalan National unlawfully residing in the United States pleaded guilty today after intentionally striking a government vehicle with his car. Alvaro Carrillo, 33, pleaded guilty to depredation of government property. According to court documents, on November 11, 2025, federal border patrol agents assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop of a car Carrillo was driving. Carrillo put the car in drive and fled the scene. Carrillo struck the border patrol agents’ vehicle several times during the pursuit, ultimately losing control of his car and colliding with a concrete barrier. On December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Carrillo with aggravated assault and depredation of government property. Carrillo was sentenced today to time served after serving nearly five months in custody and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409.27. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Felon Indicted for Allegedly Possessing a Firearm as a Restricted Person Following a Shooting in Downtown Salt Lake City

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a previously convicted felon of a firearm crime after he allegedly opened fire outside a downtown Salt Lake City bar where two people were shot. SLCPD Angelo Mark Garcia, 40, of Salt Lake City, was initially charged by complaint on March 19, 2026. According to the allegations in court documents, on March 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) responded to a shots fired call outside a bar in downtown Salt Lake City. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a victim with a gunshot wound. At approximately 1:17 a.m. a Utah Highway Patrol trooper stopped a white SUV near 400 South State Street in Salt Lake City for a traffic violation. The trooper noticed the driver, identified as Garcia, and his passenger had red-brown stains on their clothing and appeared to have been in a recent altercation. During a preliminary search of the vehicle, the trooper observed a firearm underneath the front passenger seat. Subsequently, a search warrant was obtained, and SLCPD detectives seized a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic pistol. At the scene of the shooting, multiple 9mm casings were recovered. Detectives also obtained video of the incident from multiple sources, and Garcia is allegedly shown firing into the air before firing multiple rounds in the direction of several individuals. Investigators later learned a second person had been shot during the incident. As a previously convicted felon, Garcia is restricted from owning or possessing a firearm and ammunition. Garcia is charged with felon in possession of a firearm. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 3, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The Salt Lake City Police Department’ Patrol Division and Gang Unit is investigating the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Utah Highway Patrol and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Utah Licensed Osteopathic Physician Indicted for Allegedly Receiving Misbranded Drugs from China and Selling them to Patients

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today against a Utah physician who allegedly received, recommended, delivered, and sold to his unwitting patients, misbranded drugs from China that were not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the allegations in court documents, Justin Bradley Watkins, 39, of Pleasant View, Utah, obtained misbranded drugs from China, specifically peptides that he knew were not FDA approved. Watkins obtained the drugs through a middleman between February 2024 to April 2025. The peptide orders included, among others, Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, Retatrutide, Cagrilinitide, BPC-157, TB500, Ipamorelin, CJC 1295, GHK, GHK-CU, and NAD+. Watkins purchased the peptides at a deeply discounted price, and knew they were not backed by proper, reliable testing and clinical trials. In furtherance of the fraud, Watkins made and affixed labels to vials and/or pill bottles before providing them to clinic staff. None of the labels disclosed the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor, as required by the FDA’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). During the fraud period, Watkins recommended, provided, delivered, and sold misbranded, non-FDA-approved peptides to over 200 trusting patients. Watkins is charged with receipt in interstate commerce and delivery for pay misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, and aiding and abetting. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), and the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). Assistant United States Attorney Mark Y. Hirata of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Files Petition Seeking Information to Locate Violent Criminal Aliens in Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon filed a petition seeking information from four Oregon counties, Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington, to locate violent felons who are likely subject to removal from the United States and under these counties’ supervision. On November 24, 2025, the U.S. District Court granted a similar petition against the same counties for information to locate 10 violent criminal aliens Oregon officials released into the community. The violent criminal aliens had been convicted in Oregon of a variety of crimes, including rape and sodomy of a minor child, assault, kidnapping, and manslaughter. In its order, the court noted that Oregon law “explicitly permits state law enforcement agencies to ‘exchange information with a federal immigration authority.’” Currently, there are more than 300 active immigration detainers at the Oregon Department of Corrections for criminals likely subject to removal from the United States. “The District of Oregon will continue to prioritize the safety of all Oregonians,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will continue our efforts to prevent violent criminal aliens from further harming our community.” This petition seeks information possessed by the counties to locate more than 30 violent criminal aliens who have victimized Oregonians through a variety of criminal conduct like sexual abuse, rape, assault, and domestic violence. Following prison sentences, Oregon officials released these violent criminal aliens into Oregon communities rather than to federal immigration authorities, who sent immigration detainers to Oregon officials. State officials did not honor those detainers and released the following violent criminal aliens into Oregon communities: Criminal Alien 3 was convicted in 2019 of three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14. He was sentenced to 225 months in prison and 45 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 5 was convicted in 2018 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 75 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 6 was convicted in 1996 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, sentenced to several years of supervised probation, and required to register as a sex offender. In 2018, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 45 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 7 was convicted in 2018 of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Strangulation– Constituting Domestic Violence, and sentenced to 160 months in prison, 24 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 8 was convicted in 2017 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, and one count of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree. He was sentenced to 160 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2020 of Attempted Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and sentenced to 45 months in prison and 75 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 11 was convicted in 2015 of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. In 2016, he was convicted of one count of Rape in the First Degree and one count of Sodomy in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 200 months in prison, 144 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 12 was convicted in 2011 of three counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree involving a victim under the age of 14, sentenced to 60 months supervised probation, and required to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in 2018 of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and sentenced to 18 months supervised probation. In 2019, he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and sentenced to 8 months in prison. In 2021, he was convicted of Burglary in the Second Degree and sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation. In 2023, he was convicted of Burglary in the Second Degree and sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation. Criminal Alien 13 was convicted in 2012 of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. In 2016, he was convicted of Attempted Murder with a Firearm and sentenced to 90 months of prison and 36 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 14 was convicted in 2020 of one count of Rape in the First Degree, one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, one count of Extortion, one count of Coercion, two counts of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and one count of Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was sentenced to 194 months and 364 days in prison, several years’ post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 19 was convicted in 2020 of one count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and one count of Strangulation–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment and 36 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 20 was convicted in 2008 of one count of Rape in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 175 months of imprisonment, 120 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. In 2016, he was convicted of one count Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14 and sentenced to 75 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 21 was convicted in 2012 of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation. In 2016, he was convicted of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a victim under the age of 14 and sentenced to 150 months in prison, 45 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 22 was convicted in 2016 of one count of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to a total of 175 months in prison, 140 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 23 was convicted in 2017 of two counts of Attempted Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and two counts of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 120 months in prison, 24 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 24 was convicted in 2016 of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Strangulation–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 36 months of probation. In 2018, he was convicted of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was sentenced to 195 months in prison, 95 months post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 25 was convicted in 2015 of one count of Rape in the First Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 100 months in prison, 3 years of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 26 was convicted in 2015 of one count Rape in the First Degree and sentenced to 100 months in prison, 140 months of post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Criminal Alien 27 was convicted in 2016 of Coercion–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 3 years of probation. Then in 2017, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 28 was convicted in 2017 of Theft in the Second Degree and sentenced to 12 months of probation. She was convicted in 2020 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 30 was convicted in 2020 of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 150 months in prison and 120 months of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 31 was convicted in 2018 of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree and sentenced 5 years of probation. That probation was revoked in 2023 and he was sentenced to 19 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 32 was convicted in 1992 of two counts of Public Indecency and sentenced to 3 years of probation. He was convicted in 1994 of Theft in the Second Degree and sentenced to 30 days in jail and 2 years of probation. In 1996, Criminal Alien 32 was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 19 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision. In 2025, he was convicted of Failure to Report as a Sex Offender and sentenced to 2 years of probation. Criminal Alien 33 was convicted in 2017 of three counts of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and two counts of Rape in the Third Degree and sentenced to 238 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 34 was convicted in 2014 of three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, eight counts of Sodomy in the Second Degree, three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and sentenced to over 1,000 months in prison and 3 years of post-prison supervision. In 2024, however, the judgment was amended to reflect convictions only for three counts of Attempted Sodomy in the Second Degree. Criminal Alien 35 was convicted in 2017 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 36 was convicted in 2016 of Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 36 months of probation. In 2019, he was convicted of two counts of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison and 5 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 38 was convicted in 2016 of Rape in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree–Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to 287 months in prison and 20 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 40 was convicted in 2017 of Sodomy in the First Degree and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 250 months in prison and 20 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 42 was convicted in 2011 of Menacing – Constituting Domestic Violence and sentenced to two years of probation. In 2015, he was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision. Criminal Alien 44 was convicted in 2020 of Rape in the Second Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 150 months in prison. After a successful appeal, however, the judgment was modified to one conviction for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and one conviction for Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree with a total sentence of 89 months in prison and 10 years of post-prison supervision.


title: Honduran Citizen Guilty Of Illegally Re-entering the United States

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that JULIO VALERIO-SENTENO (“VALERIO-SENTENO”) , age 39, pled guilty on March 30, 2026 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, VALERIO-SENTENO was previously removed from the United States on July 1, 2011, February 27 2012, and October 2, 2013. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 15, 2025 and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States. United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe accepted the guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing date of May 21, 2026. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Keisand Santiago-Maldonado, 33 years old, of Milton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury convicted him of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Santiago-Maldonado was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Santiago-Maldonado was driving a rental car on the interstate in LaPorte County. Law enforcement observed Santiago-Maldonado commit traffic infractions and performed a traffic stop. During the stop, officers found 997 grams of cocaine underneath the passenger’s seat. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, and Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius, Hannah T Jones, and Appellate Chief Joseph P. Falvey.


title: Michigan City Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Jalen Wilson, 33 years old, of Michigan City, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Wilson was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on two separate occasions, Wilson sold fentanyl to another person. On another occasion, Wilson sold a firearm that was affixed with a machinegun conversion device. Wilson has a prior federal felony conviction for conspiring to distribute heroin and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. “Jalen Wilson decided to ignore the lessons he should have learned during his first trip through the federal criminal justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “Instead, he escalated by diversifying his illicit business into to fentanyl and firearms. Thankfully, the committed public servants with DEA, ATF, LaPorte County Drug Task Force, and our Office brought this recidivist drug dealer to justice. I commend them all for their efforts.” “Fentanyl remains the country’s deadliest drug threat, claiming nearly 50,000 lives last year. The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with its law enforcement and prosecution partners, will continue to hold accountable anyone who is cruel and evil enough to drive more Americans towards the poison of fentanyl. Mr. Wilson will have much time in a federal penitentiary to think of the lives he destroyed; and hopefully he will discern ways to be a productive member of society once he is free again,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “Every machinegun conversion device taken off the streets is a potential mass shooting prevented. The sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness of these offenses as well as the threat dangerous drugs and illegal machinegun conversion devices pose in our community. ATF, alongside our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office, will continue to work together to ensure these violent offenders are held accountable,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Andrew A. Krumwied. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shaylyn Holmes, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged Homes with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic pistol and nine rounds of assorted ammunition on January 30, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Holmes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.


title: Maryland Woman Admits to Role in Drug Trafficking Operation

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Cumberland, Maryland woman has admitted to her role in a drug trafficking operation from Maryland to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Alyssa Ellen Hockenberry, 23, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Hockenberry was one of the suppliers and distributors of controlled substances, illegally distributed in Mineral County, West Virginia and elsewhere. Hockenberry faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maryland State Police; the Hagerstown Police Department (MD); and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (MD). 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. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.


title: Clarksburg Woman Admits to Firearms Violation

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia woman has admitted to purchasing a firearm for someone who was prohibited from possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Shayla Ann Jackson, 27, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to straw purchase a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jackson was working with others to purchase firearms for a person prohibited from possessing firearms. Jackson faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. 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. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of a Machine Gun & Other Firearm Offenses

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – James Wiley Kelley, Jr., 51, of Altha, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon, possession of a machinegun, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “ Operation Take Back America is not just a powerful initiative that deploys the full might of the Department of Justice toward targeting dangerous criminals, it is a long-overdue recognition that our citizens deserve safe streets and crime-free communities. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from the perpetrators of violent crime who have plagued our streets, neighborhoods, and communities, and my office will continue to fulfill that promise with every successful prosecution we deliver.” Court documents reflect that United States Customs Border Protection Agents identified a parcel bearing a fictitious name and an Altha, Florida, address while inspecting packages from a flight originating in China. Examination of the parcel revealed a small box purporting to be plastic vent mounts for a smart phone but contained three metal component parts comprising a machinegun conversion device (MCD), which enable a semi-automatic firearm to be converted into a fully automatic weapon. Following a controlled delivery of the MCD, agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, resulting in the seizure of pistols, rifles, shotguns and ammunition of various calibers, as well as methamphetamine. The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to prior felony convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude a marked police car and possession of a controlled substance. The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Federal Prosecutor for District of South Dakota Recognized as Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: (Left to Right Group): U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons, AUSA Mark Hodges, Midwest HIDTA Director Dan Neill, EAUSA Alison Ramsdell, FAUSA and Criminal Chief Gregg Peterman SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges has been selected by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as the Outstanding Prosecutor of Year. Hodges was presented with the Award by Daniel Neill, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA, Office of National Drug Control Policy, during a ceremony at the Sioux Falls Police Department on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. “This well-deserved award is a recognition of Mark’s tireless commitment and incredible success working with agents and offices at all levels of law enforcement in the prosecution and conviction of drug dealers and their money launderers throughout the state, our nation, and reaching across international borders,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “His hard work and dedication, day in and day out, helps make South Dakota a safer place to live. Mark is truly a prosecutor’s prosecutor, and we are proud to have him as our colleague.” “A critical component of Midwest HIDTA’s mission is to reduce the availability of illicit drugs by targeting, disrupting, and dismantling drug trafficking organizations. The Midwest HIDTA Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative for the District of South Dakota is strategically designed to strengthen the capacity of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ensure aggressive, coordinated federal prosecution. AUSA Hodges’ efforts exemplify the impact and intent of this initiative—holding traffickers accountable while making our communities safer,” said Executive Director Neill. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges began his career as a federal drug prosecutor in 2020, when he was selected to serve as the HIDTA-funded Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. After just one year in that position, he was hired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division. Since joining the office, he has prosecuted dozens of complex, multi-defendant drug conspiracies and fentanyl overdose deaths, racking up more than 2,500 years of federal prison time for drug dealers. In 2024, he was promoted to OCDETF Lead Attorney, and today, he serves as the District’s Homeland Security Task Force Lead Attorney. Comprised of 73 designated counties in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Illinois, the Midwest HIDTA is designed to disrupt the market for illegal drugs throughout the “heartland” of America by identifying, targeting, and dismantling the most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations operating in the Midwest. Its goal is to enhance and facilitate the coordination of regional drug-control efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies—through information and intelligence sharing, cooperative investigations, and joint operations—to reduce drug trafficking and its deadly consequences across the region. The Midwest HIDTA currently supports 61 different initiatives across seven states, including 44 drug task forces, six domestic highway interdiction programs, and five intelligence initiatives.


title: Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Helping Other Illegal Aliens Obtain Counterfeit Identity Documents

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Edgidio Vasquez-Mencho, 41, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to 6 months in custody for conspiracy to transfer false identification documents. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “Vasquez-Mencho deserved to be prosecuted and punished. It is bad enough that he has repeatedly violated our immigration laws by crossing the border without permission. Worse than that, once he got here, he operated an illegal document business that allowed others like him to illegally obtain employment and claim taxpayer-supported public services. This conduct must stop.” Vasquez-Mencho is the second of three defendants charged with and convicted of participating in a scheme by Guatemalans illegally present in the United States to advertise, manufacture, and sell fraudulent Social Security and Permanent Resident cards, as well as other false identification documents, to other persons illegally residing in the Grand Rapids area during 2024 and 2025. The conspirators profited by receiving payments for the counterfeit documents, and the recipients benefitted by using the documents to obtain employment and access to services intended for citizens and immigrants legally in the United States. Vasquez-Mencho’s role was primarily to deliver the counterfeit documents to and collect payments from the purchasers. This is the third time Vasquez-Mencho was found in United States illegally. The first time he was located here, he was allowed to voluntarily depart and the second time, he was removed by immigration authorities to Guatemala. After the completion of his sentence, he will again be removed to his native Guatemala. “This sentencing sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue and dismantle criminal organizations that traffic in fraudulent identification documents and exploit our immigration system,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities, uphold the integrity of our nation’s laws, and ensure that those who undermine public safety face the full consequences of their actions.” The Grand Rapids office of Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels prosecuted it. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Michigan Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Nigerian Fraudster Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Nigerian man, Saheed Sunday Owolabi, to 15 years in federal prison for his role defrauding victims from the United States and laundering over $1.5 million to Nigeria. A jury convicted Inmate Owolabi of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. “Who hasn’t suffered some form of the ‘Nigerian Prince’ schemes. Inmate Owolabi, no prince, stole from our vulnerable citizens. This case shows that if you try to defraud the citizens of the Eastern District of North Carolina, our office will bring you to justice no matter where you are. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "This conviction underscores the FBI's unwavering commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling international fraud and money laundering networks who target victims across the United States. The defendant’s role in coordinating complex cyber-enabled schemes demonstrates both the sophistication and global reach of these criminal enterprises." said Charlotte Special Agent in in Charge Reid Davis, "Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue anyone who targets the U.S. to commit fraud and ensure they are brought to face justice in our U.S. Courts." Inmate Owolabi pretended to be a woman to build online relationships with men in the United States, a scheme known as a romance scam. He and his co-conspirators used these fake relationships to cheat victims into sending money and personal information. Inmate Owolabi and others used bank accounts provided by the victims to launder money from other fraudulent operations and stole more than $120,000 from a victim in the EDNC, among many other victims. In sentencing Inmate Owolabi to 15 years in prison, Chief Judge Myers determined that Inmate Owolabi was a leader or organizer within an extensive organization, engaged in sophisticated money laundering, and caused substantial financial hardship to victims from his schemes. At sentencing, the prosecution highlighted images discovered on Inmate Owolabi’s phone at the time of his arrest showing how he greedily blew this stolen money. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Brad DeVoe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-137-2M.


title: District Man Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for Murder and Carjacking

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Maleek Thomas, 23, was sentenced Friday to 19.5 years in prison, in connection to a deadly carjacking that killed Melvin Dock, Jr., , in Southeast Washington, D.C. on October 30, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Thomas pleaded guilty on December 2, 2025, to one count of second-degree murder while armed for the murder of Melvin Dock, Jr. and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for the shooting of the victim. On March 27, 2026, Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced Thomas to 19.5 years of incarceration and five years of supervised release at the conclusion of his sentence. The government’s evidence indicates that on October 30, 2023, Thomas messaged an individual, the intended carjacking victim, via Instagram to hang out in Southeast DC. The individual travelled from out of town to meet the defendant. Unbeknownst to this victim, Thomas’ true intention was to carjack this victim at gunpoint. When the defendant got into this victim’s car, he pointed a pistol at the victim and instructed the victim to give up the car. The victim would not relent. Instead, the victim attempted to flee. Around the same time as Thomas attempted to carjack the victim, Melvin Dock, Jr., approached the driver-side door of the car. The defendant pulled the trigger and, because the pistol was equipped with a “switch” that initiated automatic gunfire, multiple rounds were expelled and both the victim and Dock were shot. The victim slammed on the gas and made his escape. He ultimately survived. Dock, however, succumbed to his injuries later that night. Thomas was arrested by MPD in February of 2024. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wes Faulkner, Jr. and Sabena Auyeung. 2024 CF1 001758