title: Corinth Man Sentenced in Armed Carjacking Case

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Aberdeen, MS – A Corinth man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for armed carjacking. According to court documents, Talinn Loveless, 24, previously pled guilty to taking a motor vehicle from the presence of another through force, violence, and intimidation, as well as brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory seven years imprisonment consecutive to any sentence imposed for any other count of conviction. Senior U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Loveless to a total term of imprisonment of 144 months, which included 60 months for carjacking and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during the commission of the offense. Upon release from prison, Loveless will be on supervision for a period of three years. Loveless was also ordered to pay $5,000.00 in restitution to the victim. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal following sentencing. “Violent criminals belong in jail, and the sentence imposed today by Judge Davidson has ensured accountability for the actions of this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The Corinth Police Department and the FBI conducted an outstanding investigation that ensured serious consequences for the inherently dangerous crime of armed carjacking.” “The Corinth Police Department would like to thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their hard work and assistance in this matter,” said Corinth Police Chief Landon Tucker. “This defendant was rightfully brought to justice. We will continue to prioritize the safety of our community and ensure that those who threaten public safety are held responsible.” “Depriving innocent victims of their hard-earned property will not be tolerated,” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “Mr. Loveless’ conviction and sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to pursue violent offenders relentlessly and work tirelessly to restore safety and justice to our neighborhoods." This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Corinth Police Department, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims prosecuted the case.


title: Shippensburg Man Indicted for Threatening Former Presidential Candidate

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Steven Hartford, age 37, a resident of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury for threatening a former presidential candidate. According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that, at relevant times, Hartford accessed, controlled, and used TikTok social-media account “thealex13one13.” The Indictment further alleges that on or about July 21, 2024, a media outlet published a 17 second video on its own TikTok account. The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “Will [the Candidate] be the next Democratic nominee?” At approximately 7:32 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.” The Indictment alleges that, on or about the same date, the same media outlet published a 12 second video on its TikTok account. The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “could [the Candidate] replace Joe Biden?” At approximately 7:56 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her.” Thereafter, on or about July 22, 2024, “thealex13one13” allegedly made other comments on TikTok about and directed toward the Presidential Candidate, including: “22 250 coming her way”; “5.56 for her”; and “5.56 waiting for her.” This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Russellville Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

number: Ms. Paulette Chappelle, Public Information Officer

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Larry Douglas Cossey, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 22 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 264-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Judge Moody also sentenced Cossey to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Cossey was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2024, on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On February 3, 2025, Cossey, 59, of Russellville, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During an investigation into drug trafficking in the Russellville area, Cossey sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on January 10, 2023, and January 26, 2023. On April 10, 2023, a Russellville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cossey. While speaking with the officer Cossey acknowledged that there was marijuana inside the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and located $13,108 in currency, marijuana wrapped inside rolling paper, a vacuum-sealed bag containing marijuana, a bag containing three jars of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) wax, a baggie containing 33 suspected ecstasy pills, a smoking device with residue inside, two packs of rolling papers, two digital scales, and a safe. Officers also located a key on Cossey’s key ring which opened the safe. Inside the safe, officers located more money and a bag containing 399 grams of methamphetamine. On June 16, 2023, a Russellville Police Department officer conducted another traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cossey. After Cossey consented to a search of his vehicle, officers located a baggie containing approximately four grams of methamphetamine; a backpack containing an Arcadia Machine and Tool (AMT), model Backup, .380 caliber firearm with a loaded magazine containing six rounds and one round chambered; a smoking pipe with residue; two digital scales with residue; a baggie containing 200 grams of methamphetamine; another baggie containing approximately five grams of methamphetamine; a bag containing approximately 24 grams of marijuana; three syringes; two THC vape pens; a rubber THC pen; a spoon with residue; empty baggies; and $3,124 in currency. Cossey’s sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career offender as a result of his criminal history that includes several serious drug convictions, including drug-trafficking convictions, and a felon in possession of firearm conviction. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police Department, and the 5 th Judicial Drug Task Force. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime and Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jason Lorel Minter, 44, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 12 years and three months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and for violating supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 10, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Minter’s residence and seized 126.8 grams of fentanyl, 312.7 grams of methamphetamine, 490 grams of marijuana, a loaded Taurus model G3 9mm pistol, a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .40-caliber pistol, and $1,522. Minter admitted to possessing the seized controlled substances. At the time of this offense, Minter was serving a term of supervised release resulting from his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on January 28, 2004. Today’s sentence includes five years in prison for committing a crime while on supervised release. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-196. ###


title: Serial Fraudster Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Defrauding a California Electronics Manufacturer

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Thomas Thanh Pham has been sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding an electronics manufacturing business, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,943,840. “Fraudsters have flocked to Minnesota for far too long,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Pham is no exception. He is a serial fraudster who has demonstrated that he will not stop until he is stopped. Thanks to the hard work of law enforcement, for the next 84 months, Pham will be where he belongs—in prison.” “Bad actors like Pham take advantage of hardworking Americans in order to enrich themselves by defrauding others,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “With this sentence, Pham has been held accountable for his crimes. The FBI and our partners will continue working to stop schemes like this one and protect the public from being exploited.” Between 2019 and 2020, Thomas Thanh Pham, 53, of Burnsville, devised a scheme to defraud a California based company of approximately $1.2 million. Pham, who was the CEO of Enterprise Products, LLC, purported to provide consulting and financial services to commercial clients involved in engineering and manufacturing. Pham held himself out as a broker with supposed business relationships with large, well-known companies. As a supposed broker, Pham claimed he could arrange service agreements between an electronic manufacturing services company based in San Jose, California (identified as Victim A), and his ostensible business affiliates in the electronics and technology sectors. Pham began a series of discussions with Victim A, in which Pham pitched that Enterprise Products could facilitate multi-million-dollar manufacturing and repair contracts between Victim A and large electronics companies. None of that was true. To give the appearance of legitimacy, Pham arranged for a friend of his to pose as a corporate executive with Pham and Victim A in supposed contract negotiations. Unbeknownst to Victim A, Pham’s associate was not a business executive. In fact, Pham’s “business executive associate” was a fellow ex-convict whom Pham met while serving a prior federal prison sentence for fraud. Pham supplied Victim A with bogus documents, including fabricated contracts, correspondence, and business proposals. As part of the scheme, Pham first required Victim A to pay a “deposit bond” in the amount of $1,278,000. Pham’s fraudulent tactics resulted in Victim A agreeing to enter into a contract in September 2019, through which Victim A ostensibly would receive millions of dollars in exchange for repair services. Pham unsuccessfully pitched other phony deals to Victim A that purportedly involved even larger financial contracts deals with other companies. As part of the scheme and to give the impression that he was fulfilling the fraudulent contract, Pham caused the initial delivery to Victim A in California of approximately 20 samples of electronic devices that supposedly required repairs by Victim A. However, Pham failed to disclose to Victim A that these 20 “sample” devices were, in fact, stolen property. Pham then lulled Victim A into a false sense of security by offering a series of excuses and promises when Victim A either inquired about its money or demanded a refund. Rather than maintain the money securely in a refundable escrow as promised, Pham fraudulently misappropriated Victim A’s funds for a series of unauthorized uses and transactions. Pham received his first criminal conviction 32 years ago. Since that time, he has been convicted of numerous fraud offenses, as follows: Felony Theft of Property, in which Pham unlawfully took a victim’s identifiers in order to fraudulently purchase a $49,000 car. Felony False Statements for Property, in which Pham knowingly false statement to fraudulently purchase a vehicle valued at more than $20,000. Felony Unlawful Possession of Fraudulent Identification, in which Pham knowingly possessed identification documents of a victim without permission for purposes of defrauding the victim. Securing Execution of Document by Deception (Felony), in which Pham attempted to pass a forged check. Multiple felony check forgeries. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a federal fraud conviction out of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which Pham used the identities of victim companies to defraud victims out of $1.9 million by deceiving them into shipping high-dollar electronics and computers. In handing down the sentence today, Judge Ericksen commented that Pham has “proven [himself] to be an efficient and effective perpetrator of fraud” whose crime was “part of a skilled execution of a scheme that he has refined over decades.” At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Judge Ericksen immediately remanded Pham into custody at the government’s request, noting it “was too dangerous and too risky” to the public for Pham “to remain at liberty.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Rebecca E. Kline prosecuted the case.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 14-Year-Old Girl in New York

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – David P. Greulich, 61, of Cleveland, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after pleading guilty in March to driving more than 400 miles across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, to child exploitation, to transporting visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also referred to as child pornography. Greulich was also ordered to serve lifetime supervised release after imprisonment and to pay special assessments totaling $35,000. Restitution is to be determined at a later date. According to court documents, in February 2024, Greulich started communicating with a 14-year old girl residing in Jefferson County, New York, through the Snapchat cellphone application. After chatting with her for several weeks through the app, the defendant drove from his home in Ohio to her home in New York to pick her up on April 20, 2024. He then took her to a hotel where he kept her for two days while he violently and sexually abused her which he recorded on a digital device. Greulich drove across state lines from Ohio to New York a second time on May 11, 2024, to again engage in illicit sexual conduct with the same minor victim. He took video and photographs of the victim which he later emailed to himself. During a federal search warrant execution of Greulich’s home in Cleveland, investigators seized several electronic devices which were found to contain CSAM, including a cellphone with more than 100 images of the victim by herself as well as with the defendant. Investigators also discovered 14 sexually explicit video files of the victim in his personal cloud storage account. The investigation was led by the Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland Office, with assistance from the Jefferson County (New York) Sheriff’s Office, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Segev Phillips . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Gang Member Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Racketeering

component: USAO - New Jersey


title: El Salvadoran Man Convicted of Fentanyl Trafficking, Firearms Offenses, and Illegal Entry

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An El Salvadoran national has been found guilty in federal court of trafficking fentanyl, illegally possessing firearms, and unlawful entry to the United States. Jose Navarrete-Hernandez, 42, was found guilty of one count each of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and illegal entry into the United States. United States District Judge M. Douglas Harpool issued a verdict Monday, June 23, 2025, following a one-day bench trial on May 12, 2025. On May 11, 2023, officers with the Carthage, Mo., Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a gray Ford F-250 with an expired Texas license plate driven by Navarrete-Hernandez. After confirming that Navarrete-Hernandez did not have a valid driver’s license, the officers searched Navarrete-Hernandez and the F-250. Officers found in the truck a black backpack containing two drug scales, two glass pipes with white powdery residue, approximately 145 fentanyl pills, a Heritage Rough Rider revolver, ammunition, and a forged social security card. Officers also found a Raven P-25 pistol with an obliterated serial number in the truck. At the time, Navarrete-Hernandez was not a citizen or national of the United States and had entered the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry. Under federal statutes, Navarrete-Hernandez is subject to a sentence of up to Life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and the Carthage, Mo., Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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: Mexican man arrested, charged with illegal re-entry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jose Antonio Barcena-Ruiz, 41, a citizen and national of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 31, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel encountered Barcena-Ruiz and three others in a vehicle in Clarence, NY. When questioned about his citizenship, Barcena-Ruiz stated that he was from Mexico. When asked for documentation, Barcena-Ruiz provided a Mexican passport and a New Mexico driver’s license but had no additional documentation that allowed him to be present or remain in the United States legally. A records check determined that Barcena-Ruiz was physically removed from the United States in 2008, two times in 2009, and in 2010. Barcena-Ruiz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy this morning and was detained. These investigations are 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 complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer. 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: Gang Members Charged with Kidnapping

body_text: BOSTON –Two alleged members of the Trinitarios gang have been charged with a May 2024 kidnapping in Andover, Mass.. During the alleged kidnapping, the suspects wore law enforcement jackets and held the victim at a location for multiple days. Isiah Medina, a/k/a “Ice”, 25 and Rodderith Peralta, a/k/a “Mago”, 26, both of Lawrence were charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Both defendants are in custody on unrelated state charges and are alleged to be members of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios gang. The defendants will appear in U.S. District Court next week. According to charging documents , Medina and Peralta allegedly burst into the victim’s apartment in Andover on May 5, 2024, and forced him into a vehicle. Nearby residents called 911 and reported the incident and that the victim was screaming for help as men wearing law enforcement raid jackets put the victim into an SUV. The victim was allegedly held for multiple days, until he was released in Lowell, Mass. The victim made numerous statements to police concerning the kidnapping and the circumstances that allegedly aligned with the 911 caller information and physical evidence. Medina was arrested on an unrelated in case in April 2025, and his phone was searched pursuant to a search warrant. In the cell phone, investigators located videos and photographs allegedly taken while the victim was held captive that depict victim in handcuffs in a basement. During one video, Peralta’s hand, identified by a tattoo, can allegedly be seen interacting with the victim’s face. The charge of conspiracy to commit a kidnapping provides for a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, and up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lowell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 1-1_complaint_affidavit.pdf


title: Two Guatemalan men charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entry

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Sebastian Tzib Putul, 32, and Mario Salguero Sandoval, 36, both citizens and nationals of Guatemala, were arrested and charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entry, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the cases, stated that according to the complaint against Tzib Putul, on June 9, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stopped a vehicle in Cheektowaga, NY, which included six individuals, including Tzib Putul. When questioned regarding their citizenship and legal status in the United States, it was determined that Tzib Putul is a citizen and national of Guatemala and did not have any documents that would allow him to be or remain in the United States lawfully. Tzib Putul is a native and citizen of Guatemala, who was physically removed from the United States in January 2024. According to the complaint against Salguero Sandoval, on June 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stopped a vehicle in Buffalo, NY, which included seven individuals, including Salguero Sandoval, who was the driver of the vehicle. When questioned about his citizenship and legal status in the United States, he did not provide any statements and did not provide a valid driver’s license. Salguero Sandoval was taken into custody. It was subsequently determined that he is a citizen and national of Guatemala, who was physically removed from the United States in July 2015. Both defendants made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and were detained. These investigations are 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 complaints are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs. 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: Founder of Lender Service Provider Convicted for Role in Multimillion-Dollar PPP Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted Stephanie Hockridge, a founder of the lender service provider Blueacorn, on Friday in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain tens of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Hockridge, also known as Stephanie Reis, 42, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and previously of Arizona, conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications, including by fabricating documents that falsified income and payroll in order to receive loan funds for which they were not eligible. “This defendant exploited a national emergency to personally profit from a taxpayer-funded program intended to support vulnerable individuals and small businesses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conviction demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for defrauding the government and wasting taxpayer money.” “During a time of crisis in our country, this defendant abused the generosity of the American people by stealing money dedicated to the survival of small businesses to fraudulently enrich herself,” said Acting U. S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson for the Northern District of Texas. “We are proud of the diligent work of our law enforcement partners to hold her accountable and bring her to justice. Make no mistake, our efforts to bring such fraudsters to justice are ongoing.” “Hockridge’s conviction demonstrates the FBI's continued commitment to protecting taxpayer-funded programs from fraud and abuse,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “This program was designed to provide critical funds to those struggling during a national crisis, not line the pockets of people seeking to exploit government assistance. The FBI remains committed to pursuing anyone who abuses the public trust for personal gain.” “Ms. Hockridge defrauded the federal government of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds for her own personal gain and has been brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Jon Ellwanger of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Western Region. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners to hold Ms. Hockridge accountable.” “Exploiting the Small Business Administration’s pandemic relief programs for personal gain is an egregious theft of taxpayer funds,” said Deputy Inspector General Sheldon Shoemaker of the SBA Office of Inspector General. “SBA OIG will aggressively root out fraud to protect the integrity of SBA’s programs, which are intended to provide vital assistance to the nation’s small businesses. I want to thank the U. S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.” “This verdict is a victory for justice, accountability, and the American public,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office. “In a time of crisis, the Paycheck Protection Program was created as a lifeline to keep small businesses afloat and families fed. Ms. Hockridge saw it as an opportunity to enrich herself. Driven by greed, she used her business to steal millions of dollars intended for those in need. The women and men of IRS-CI will continue to protect what’s right and stand firmly with the honest business owners who play by the rules.” As proven at trial, Hockridge co-founded Blueacorn in April 2020, purportedly to assist small businesses and individuals in obtaining PPP loans. To get larger loans for certain PPP applicants, Hockridge and her co-conspirators fabricated documents, including payroll records, tax documentation, and bank statements. Hockridge and her co-conspirators charged borrowers kickbacks based on a percentage of the funds received. As part of the scheme, Hockridge and others offered a personalized service to their clients called “VIPPP” to help potential borrowers complete PPP loan applications. Hockridge recruited co-conspirators to work as VIPPP referral agents and coach borrowers on how to submit false PPP loan applications. To get more kickbacks from borrowers and a higher percentage of lender fees from the SBA, Hockridge and her co-conspirators submitted PPP loan applications that they knew contained materially false information. In total, Hockridge and her coconspirators processed tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent PPP loans. Hockridge was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and acquitted of four counts of wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10 and faces up to 20 years in prison. The FBI, IRS-CI, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board-CFPB Office of Inspector General, and SBA OIG investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Carr and Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U. S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www. justice. gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.


title: Jefferson Parish Resident Indicted for Fraud and Identity Theft

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JELISSA LACOUR (“LACOUR”) , age 36, a resident of Jefferson Parish, was indicted on June 20, 2025 with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. One wire fraud count alleged that LACOUR obtained numerous Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using falsified tax forms. The other wire fraud count alleged that LACOUR obtained Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the names of numerous purported renters. According to the indictment, in some instances, the PPP and ERAP applications were for accomplices who sought to benefit from the fraudulent applications, while in other instances, LACOUR misused others’ identities to obtain payments in their names. The aggravated identity theft charges relate to the use of other persons’ identities. If convicted, LACOUR faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release for each wire fraud count, and two years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to one year of supervised release for each aggravated identity theft count. Each count is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon of the of the Public Integrity Unit. * * *


title: Previously convicted felon sentenced to 95 months for firearm possession and cocaine trafficking

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

body_text: A man with multiple prior felony convictions was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison for trafficking cocaine while armed, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson. On June 18, 2025, Eric Dwayne Ned was sentenced by United States District Judge Ada Brown to 95 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Court documents reflect that Ned was arrested in June 2021 for evading arrest, unlawful possession of body armor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance by state and local authorities. He bonded out of state custody and was arrested again in September 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and resisting arrest. After bonding out of state custody again, he was arrested a third time in March 2022 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and delivery of a controlled substance. Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reviewed his March 2022 conduct and initiated federal charges. In addition to Ned’s prior felony convictions for drug offenses and several domestic violence assaults, court records reveal that Ned continued committing violent acts while incarcerated, including engaging in fights with other inmates and jail staff. ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Boyle prosecuted the case.


title: Co-Defendants Plead Guilty in two Carjackings from December 2024 and January 2025

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Erick Alvarenga, 19, and Malik Kearney, 20, both of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today to carjacking and firearms offenses stemming from two separate carjackings in December 2024 and January 2025, in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Both defendants pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The Honorable Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 29, 2025. According to the proffer of facts, on December 28, 2024, around 4:45 a.m., the first victim was in a Jeep SUV that was parked in the 6100 block of Eastern Avenue, Northeast, when the defendants approached, one of whom was armed with a black handgun. Alvarenga and Kearney told the victim to get out of the car and give them the keys. The victim complied with the demand and exited the vehicle. The defendants then drove away from the scene. The second offense occurred days later, on January 3, 2025, around 3:00 p.m. when the second victim was at a gas station in the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, Northeast. As the victim finished putting gas in his Dodge sedan, Alvarenga used the Jeep which had been stolen on December 28, 2024, to block in the second victim’s car. Kearney then approached the second victim with a handgun. The victim was ordered out of his car. Kearney got behind the wheel of the Dodge, and both vehicles fled in the same direction. Alvarenga and Kearney were arrested around 9:00 p.m. after the second victim’s Dodge had been seen traveling on the interstate before coming to a stop in the 6400 block of Eastern Avenue. Both defendants fled into the basement of a nearby home where they were detained by the police. Officers recovered two firearms from the location where the defendants were detained. One of the weapons had the serial number removed and the other was a PMF ghost gun. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Randle Wilson and Amanda Hoover.


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shootings and Carjacking

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who committed an armed 2018 carjacking, a 2021 shooting and two other crimes involving guns to 25 years in prison. Darnell L. Clemons left a string of victims terrified and traumatized, according to testimony at Monday’s sentencing hearing. On May 16, 2018, Darnell L. Clemons and a nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and her phone after placing the muzzle of a handgun to her forehead and stomach. On July 29, 2021, Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The nephew tried to steal the gun, triggering a struggle. Clemons spotted the struggle, ran into the store and shot the victim in the back, resulting in permanent injury. He fired another shot from outside of the store. On Aug. 4, 2021, following a shootout with unknown individuals in a car, Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window in the O’Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis. Police found a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition, indicating that Clemons had fired it recently. Clemons initially gave his brother’s name to police and claimed that officers planted the gun they found. A witness saw Clemons with the gun and his fingerprint was on the pistol’s magazine, however. On Dec. 8, 2021, Clemons was arrested on outstanding warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. After a foot chase through the Delmar Loop, officers found a 9mm Glock loaded with a large capacity drum magazine. Clemons again gave his brother’s name and falsely claimed that police had planted the gun. He later told police he “should have shot it out with you all” rather than surrendering, and threatened to kill an officer that he recognized, and that officer’s mother. Clemons was a “one-man crime wave” for 20 years before that arrest, placing him in the highest criminal history category, according to a sentencing memo. That crime wave included a carjacking committed by Clemons and his nephew at a church and resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age 16. Clemons also “capped off months of domestic abuse by throwing his pregnant girlfriend through a table, causing her to miscarry his own child,” the memo says. He also shot her, the memo says. In a letter to Judge Autrey, Clemons’ former girlfriend said Clemons’ gun went off while he was pistol-whipping her on Mother’s Day. “Hurting people made you laugh, and that's where you found your joy in life,” she wrote in her letter. “To this day, I still deal with not feeling safe, not even when the police would come, because you have successfully broken into my house countless times. Not only are you my worst nightmare, but also the mother of a child's worst nightmare as well.” “This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City. “This is exactly the kind of dangerous offender HSI targets: armed, repeat violent criminals who think they can operate without consequence. Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning – if you prey on the public with guns and fear, we will find you, we will build the case, and we will make sure you face the full weight of the justice system.” Clemons, 38, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis County Crime Lab investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Dozens Charged in South Florida with Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Crimes, 80 Firearms and Multiple Kilos of Fentanyl, Other Dangerous Drugs Seized

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI - U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Gordon Mallory of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Miami Field Division announced today the results of a two-month, multi-agency effort targeting repeat offenders in South Florida during a press conference. In April, the ATF launched “Operation Showdown,” an enhanced enforcement initiative focused on combating violent crime and the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms in South Florida. As part of this initiative, ATF personnel from around the country were deployed to work alongside federal and local law enforcement agencies, bringing with them a broad range of expertise—including tactical operations, technical support, and undercover capabilities. So far, the ATF-led initiative has resulted in federal charges and arrests of 31 Miami-Dade and Broward County residents with firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. In total, 80 firearms were seized along with 900 rounds of ammunition. The seized firearms include automatic and semiautomatic weapons, rifles, handguns, and machine gun conversion devices. Additionally, approximately 10 kilograms of illegal narcotics were confiscated, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, oxycodone, and others. “Drugs and guns continue to fuel the violence that threatens the safety of our community,” said U.S. Attorney O’Byrne. “By prosecuting violent offenders, in close collaboration with ATF and other federal and local law enforcement agencies, we send a clear and unified message that South Florida will not be defined by fear but by safety and justice. I commend the agents and officers that made Operation Showdown a success.” “This Enhanced Enforcement Initiative in Southern Florida has resulted in long term results,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Mallory. “ATF will continue to prioritize keeping violent offenders, those who traffic, possess, and utilize firearms illegally, and narcotics traffickers, out of our communities, because it is a critical component of keeping our communities safe. This targeted program could not have been possible without the support and collaboration from our local and federal partners. ATF strives to foster and maintain these relationships to ensure that we safeguard the public that we serve.” U.S. Attorney O’Byrne and acting ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Mallory acknowledged and commended the investigative support and assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and The Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The federal cases are being coordinated by Deputy Chief Sharad Motiani of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. United States v. Bethel , Case No. 25-cr-20256 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Montes. United States v. Breedlove , Case No. 25-mj-06411 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gerarde. United States v. Doe , Case No. 25-mj-06390 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Carre. United States v. Downing , Case No. 25-mj-06403 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran. United States v. Ferdinand , Case No. 25-mj-06409 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney. United States v. Graham , Case No. 25-cr-60143 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney. United States v. Harris , Case No. 25-cr-20264 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli. United States v. Holmes , Case No. 25-cr-60136 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky. United States v. James et al. , Case No. 25-cr-20212 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kseniya Smychkouskaya. United States v. Jefferson, Case No. 25-cr-20206 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky. United States v. McIntyre, Case No. 25-cr-20113 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Fugate. United States v. Memnon et al. , Case No. 25-mj-06406 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gerarde. United States v. Moultry , Case No. 25-cr-60131 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Thompson. United States v. Rodriguez, Case No. 25-cr-20246 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brianna Coakley. United States v. Roxton , Case No. 25-mj-06404 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney. United States v. Washington et al. , Case No. 25-mj-03196 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler. United States v. Williams , Case No. 25-mj-06402 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran. United States v. Williams , Case No. 25-cr-20112 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Fugate. United States v. Worthy , Case No. 25-cr-60139 , is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kseniya Smychkouskaya. 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). The charges contained in indictments and complaints are not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Note: images on display during the press conference can be viewed here. ###


title: Twice-deported Mexican national sentenced to 168 months in federal prison in drug trafficking conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A twice-deported Mexican national has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jose Mercedes Saucedo-Guerrero, 34, a Mexican national illegally living in Longview, was sentenced to 168 months by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025. According to information presented in court, on May 2, 2024, Saucedo-Guerrero was stopped for a traffic violation in Kilgore. During the stop, officers deployed a K9 to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert for the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 2,972 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Saucedo-Guerrero was unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously prosecuted and deported on two separate occasions for immigration crimes. 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). This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, and the Kilgore Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. ###


title: Previously deported Mexican national sentenced to 262 months for methamphetamine distribution, second Mexican national sentenced to 168 months

body_text: TYLER, Texas – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Leopoldo Alonso-Palacios, 38, and Juan Luis Salinas-Leon, 37, both Mexican nationals illegally living in Center, were sentenced to 168 months and 262 months, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025. According to information presented in court, on March 4, 2025, Alonso-Palacios and Salinas-Leon were stopped while driving on Interstate-20 in Wills Point for speeding. During the stop, they consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of 937.7 grams of methamphetamine. During his arrest, officers found Salinas-Leon in possession of a firearm. The two men then confessed to having additional methamphetamine at their homes in Center. Federal agents searched the residences, where they discovered large plastic tubs containing chicken lard that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, along with paraphernalia such as metal pots and mesh screens, materials commonly used in a methamphetamine conversion lab. At such clandestine labs, methamphetamine concealed in other substances is extracted by applying chemical processes and reconstituted into distributable drugs. In total, agents recovered more than six kilograms of methamphetamine ready for distribution as well as 22 kilograms of liquids in various stages of the conversion process, which also tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Immigration records reveal that both men were unlawfully present in the United States and that Salinas-Leon has been previously prosecuted for illegally entering the country. 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). This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive; Gregg County Sheriff's Office; and Wills Point Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.


title: Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Sadie Bramlette, 28, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, between January 2023, and January 2025, Bramlette and her drug trafficking partner, Dejian Johl, 27, of Merced, posted drugs for sale on public forums hosted through social media platforms and on dark web marketplaces. These drugs included fentanyl, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, LSD, ketamine, heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, Adderall, Xanax, promethazine, Soma, and OxyContin. As part of their drug conspiracy, Johl would process customer orders and payments and then coordinate with Bramlette to fulfill the orders via the United States Postal Service. As part of her guilty plea, Bramlette agreed to forfeit more than $100,000 in cash, jewelry, and luxury items purchased with drug money during the conspiracy. Over the course of the conspiracy, Johl made at least 1,350 transfers to Bramlette’s Cash App account, the majority of which were drug proceeds and/or money to facilitate their drug trafficking operation. Bramlette is the second defendant to plead guilty to involvement in drug dealing over the dark web and social media sites. Bramlette’s co-conspirator, Johl, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case. Johl is set for sentencing before U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Sept. 22, 2025, while Bramlette will be sentenced on Sept. 29, 2025. Bramlette and Johl each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Menachem Lieberman Sentenced To 52 Months For Fraud On Federal Childcare Programs

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that MENACHEM “MAX” LIEBERMAN was sentenced today to 52 months in prison for two fraudulent schemes involving federally funded childcare companies. LIEBERMAN previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, who imposed today’s sentence. “Max Lieberman defrauded federal childcare programs that provide vital services to our most innocent and vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers believe in opportunity, particularly for our children, and by defrauding our Head Start and childcare voucher programs, Max Lieberman exploited our collective belief in opportunity for his own financial gain. The women and men of the Southern District of New York are committed to pursuing those who breach the public trust for illicit, personal financial gain.” According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court proceedings: LIEBERMAN participated in two schemes involving federal grant programs meant to provide assistance for childcare to low-income families. First, between 2019 and January 2023, LIEBERMAN secretly “owned” and exercised control over a non-profit entity, Project Social Care Head Start Inc. (“PSCHS”), that operated in the New York City area (and which, as a non-profit entity, could not legally be privately owned). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), which administers the Head Start program, annually granted to PSCHS millions of dollars that were to be used exclusively on the Head Start program and from which earning a profit is prohibited by law. Between 2019 and 2021, LIEBERMAN paid co-defendant Martin Handler $4.7 million to obtain “ownership” over PSCHS, and used his control over PSCHS to impermissibly direct PSCHS’s Head Start funding to his own for-profit companies. In order to protect his control over PSCHS’s funding, LIEBERMAN conspired with others to impair HHS’s ability to provide effective oversight of PSCHS by, among other things: Misrepresenting to HHS that PSCHS had an independent board of directors that was monitoring PSCHS, Submitting a letter to HHS when it began investigating LIEBERMAN’s involvement that falsely stated there were no conflicts of interest or less-than-arms’-length dealings with LIEBERMAN, And coordinating false testimony to HHS investigators. Second, between July 2020 and January 2023, LIEBERMAN perpetrated a separate fraud that caused harm of nearly $2 million to the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”), which administers a federally funded childcare voucher program for low-income families. In July 2020, LIEBERMAN submitted an application to ACS on behalf of PSCHS that contained a false signature of the nominal executive director and included fake receipts for six children that purported to show those children were already attending the program, when in fact the program did not exist and no children attended. When questioned by ACS whether the executive director’s signature was legitimate, LIEBERMAN created and submitted a fraudulently notarized document supposedly from the executive director that falsely affirmed that the signature was accurate. From July 2020 through his arrest in January 2023, LIEBERMAN applied for and received over $1.8 million in ACS reimbursements, even though the program did not actually exist and no children attended the program except for a brief period from September 2022 to October 2022. * * * In addition to today’s prison sentence, LIEBERMAN, 48, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $200,000, restitution of $1,854,543.35 to ACS, and forfeit $1,774,543.35. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and HHS, Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Clayton also thanked U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance with this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel H. Wolf, Catherine Ghosh, Jacob R. Fiddelman, and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Nandita Vasantha.


title: Riverside County Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine and Heroin

body_text: Jose Miguel Perez, 42, of Corona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 11 years and three months in prison for possessing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram heroin with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Perez was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Deputies seized 56 kilograms of various narcotics in the car’s two hidden compartments. Seven kilograms of cocaine were hidden in the ceiling of the car, while an additional 37 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and 2 kilograms of ketamine were seized from a hidden compartment in the car’s roof. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Overdose Death

body_text: Lakota Tehya Wakley, 21, of Clovis, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to eight years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, between Nov. 18, 2024, and Dec. 9, 2024, Wakley conspired with others to distribute fentanyl. The investigation began after a 24-year-old Fresno man overdosed on fentanyl and died. Wakley referred fentanyl users, like the victim, to his co-defendant who would in turn sell fentanyl pills and send Wakley a cut of the profits. At sentencing, Judge Sherriff found that Wakley directly caused the victim’s death. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT), a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin Lee and Arin C. Heinz are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.


title: Las Vegas Jury Convicts Woman for Threats Against Two Federal Judges and Her Probation Officer; San Diego Trial Team Prosecuted the Case in the District of Nevada

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal jury has convicted Latonia Smith of cyberstalking and threatening two district court judges and a probation officer, all of whom were involved in her previous federal conviction for death threats she made against lawyers in yet another case. In the current case, after a six-day trial and less than one day of deliberation, a jury found that Smith threatened U.S. District Judge Richard Franklin Boulware, who presided over Smith’s 2021 trial and sentenced her to 36 months in prison for that offense. The jury also found that Smith targeted U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who presided over the defendant’s supervised release, and Shawn Mummey, her probation officer. At the time of the grand jury’s indictment in the current matter, Smith was on supervised release from that previous federal 2021 conviction. In that case, Smith targeted corporate lawyers involved in defending the 2017 firing of her mother from her job as a guest room attendant at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after she allegedly took a small amount of money from a guest’s room. “All of these victims felt threatened and emotionally distressed. They then took steps to protect themselves and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “Threats directed at members of the judiciary are not only criminal acts, but direct attacks on the rule of law. Intimidation of judges and court personnel erodes public trust and threatens the fair administration of justice for all.” “The FBI takes threats of violence very seriously and works diligently to protect the communities we serve,” said Rafik Mattar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, “We will not tolerate threats of violence to any member of our community, particularly those dedicated to safeguarding our democratic process. The defendant’s actions were dangerous and unacceptable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and investigate those who engage in violent rhetoric—ensuring accountability for anyone who threatens to harass, intimidate, or harm others.” When Smith was released from federal prison in the first case against her, she was sent to Washoe County jail to face allegations related to an October 31, 2019, armed home-invasion in Reno she allegedly committed against another lawyer involved in the Planet Hollywood case. Smith was granted bail in early June 2022. Upon her return to Las Vegas, Smith immediately began searching Google for information about Judge Boulware along with his wife, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Nancy Brune, and their family. At the same time, she googled “judges should die.” Over the next several weeks, the defendant became increasingly frustrated with judges and anyone involved with her prior federal case. On June 23, 2022, the defendant emailed her probation officer and explained, “Some good advice: Life is short, society should be careful who they piss off.” Below the warning, the defendant sent a link to a YouTube video showing a six-minute compilation of cell phone videos from the October 1 mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Over the next few days, Smith sent a series of emails. Some threatened a mass casualty event: “LET THE SHOW BEGIN. NEVADA IS GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!!” Some were designed to let victims know their loved ones were in jeopardy: “ LETS KEEP [YOUR KIDS] IN FOCUS ”. Throughout many of the emails, the defendant made it clear that she had deeply researched the recipients of her threats, accurately identifying where they could be found, either during hobby activities, or in their actual homes. For example, to Judge Jennifer Dorsey the defendant wrote: “Tell Jennifer, Henderson is nice I see why she chose that area. Lots of shops nearby. Smart.” At trial, Judge Dorsey testified that the defendant’s identification of her personal residence inspired her to immediately sell her home and move. The victims of Smith’s threats testified at trial they were frightened and believed Smith was capable of violently acting on her threats as she had allegedly done in the pending case regarding the armed home invasion targeting the lawyer in Reno. U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro reported Smith’s threats to U.S. Marshals, who protect the federal judiciary. Judge Navarro testified at the trial, telling the jury that she recognized the danger posed by the defendant and immediately took action. “I emailed the chief of probation; anybody I could get a hold of to prevent a tragedy…I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want my family to die. I didn’t want my coworkers to die.” The Marshals then contacted the FBI. After two special agents from the FBI interviewed the Smith on June 27, 2022, she was immediately taken into custody, where she has remained. During the interview, when asked what she was thinking about when she was researching mass shooters, Smith responded: “I think what they were thinking.” The investigation found that Smith, who has a biochemistry degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Googled phrases like “judges die,” “how to become a bomb maker,” “how to be a mass shooter,” “buying a gun,” and “ar 15 for sale.” She also watched the compilation of videos from the October 1 mass shooting 13 times over a three-week period. At the same time, the defendant repeatedly searched the names of her targets, some of their children, and some of their home addresses. The jury deliberated for less than a day before returning a guilty verdict on three counts of cyberstalking for the emails sent to Judges Dorsey and Boulware, along with her probation officer. The jury acquitted the defendant on the other two counts of cyberstalking. The defendant will remain in custody pending sentencing, on a date yet to be determined. The trial took place in the federal courthouse in Las Vegas. The presiding judge was Senior District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman, from the District of Oregon. Judge Mosman was appointed to preside over the case by special designation of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Smith’s prosecution was initiated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, out of their office in Reno. In March 2024, the Department of Justice recused the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and had the prosecution reassigned. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Haden and Francisco Nagel for the Southern District of California, both of whom were named Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Las Vegas after the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada was recused. DEFENDANT Case Number 22CR051-MWM Latonia Dyshawna Smith Age: 31 Las Vegas, NV SUMMARY OF CHARGES Three Counts of Cyberstalking – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 2261A Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, as to each count of conviction INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation


title: Halloween getaway driver sentenced to seven years

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: VICTORIA, Texas - A 28-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions for armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for less than two hours following a three-day trial before finding Jordan Javon Ashton guilty Feb. 20. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now handed Ashton a total 84-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from the robbery victim who described being afraid to work in public and to having nightmares, poor appetite and anxiety. The owner of the stolen truck used in the robbery also provided testimony about how his family is frightened as a result of the theft and that his son was sad because his toys were stolen. Oct. 31, 2023, Latrayveon McNeal and Jerrell Potts robbed the Morelos Supermercardos in Victoria using a stolen vehicle, gun and license plates. Wearing masks and armed with firearms, they entered the store, threatened employees at the Barri money services counter and stole U.S. currency and cashed checks. The men fled in a stolen white truck and met up with Ashton, who was armed and waiting. Ashton drove them from the scene, leaving the truck idling in the middle of the road. The jury saw numerous exhibits to include several photographs and surveillance video from the supermarket, the weapons used in the crime and heard excerpts of 911 calls made on that day. They also heard that Ashton had previously been convicted of a felony and was on parole during the commission of this crime. The defense attempted to convince the jury that he withdrew from the conspiracy. They did not believe those claims and found Ashton guilty as charged. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. McNeal, 27, and Potts, 25, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the crime. Both received 87 months in federal prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Victoria Police Department, Victoria County Sheriff’s Office and Victoria County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.


title: Charlotte Woman Sentenced To Prison For Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, And Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jessica Bailey Sowell, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Sowell was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,190.25. Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to court records, from March 2023 to February 2024, Sowell devised and executed an identity theft and bank fraud scheme using stolen personal identifying information (PII) of multiple identity theft victims obtained through stolen mail, the internet, and other sources. Sowell created fraudulent identification documents with the stolen PII, which she used at banks, hotels, and retail stores to obtain money and merchandise, and to rent hotel rooms and cars. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement found letters, bank cards, and checks in Sowell’s possession that belonged to at least 26 victims of identity theft. According to court records, a federal search warrant was executed at a hotel room where Sowell was staying, where investigators seized one suitcase containing hundreds of pieces of mail with various names and addresses; a second suitcase packed with store tagged merchandise; two handwritten journals with the names and credit information of multiple persons; and 23 driver’s licenses from different states with Sowell’s photograph and the PII of identity theft victims. Investigators also searched a rental vehicle Sowell was using and seized a credit card in the name of an ID theft victim; receipts for merchandise purchased with the victim’s credit card; an identity card printer; multiple blank identity cards; and holographic stickers, among other items. During the search of Sowell’s hotel room, investigators also found a Taurus G3 9mm handgun, bedazzled with sequins on the barrel. Sowell has a 2021 federal aggravated identity theft conviction and a 2015 state felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute MDA/MDMA and she is prohibited from possessing firearms. On August 5, 2024, Sowell pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aiding and abetting, aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The Secret Service and CMPD investigated the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Mexican National sentenced to prison for role as drug ring courier

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 33-year-old citizen of Mexico, who was illegally residing in Kent, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 22 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Martin Alonzo Peinado Torres said in court that he was lured to the U.S. by a Facebook post promising work in construction, but once he had filled out the forms for the “employer” he was told the job was to transport drugs. Peinado Torres claimed the drug ring now had all his family information and threatened family members if he did not comply. U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson noted Peinado Torres had no previous criminal history in Mexico or the U.S. saying, “You were lured to the U.S. under false pretenses.” According to records filed in the case, Peinado Torres became involved with a drug ring already under investigation. Peinado Torres arrived in the U.S. in mid-May and by mid-June investigators had identified him as someone involved with the drug trafficking organization. When search warrants were served on August 2, 2024, at Peinado Torres Kent home, he had more than three kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilo of fentanyl pills and a small amount of fentanyl powder and cocaine. He had more than $12,000 in drug proceeds in cash. In asking for a four-year sentence, prosecutors noted the latest deadly stats on fentanyl overdoses. “In King County, alone, there have been 453 overdose deaths as of June 16, 2025, with 380 of those deaths involving fentanyl. Mr. Peinado’s actions pushed highly dangerous, deadly, and addictive substances into the community, and contributed to the addiction of an unknown number of individuals,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. Peinado Torres will likely be deported following his prison term. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Puyallup Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey Conzatti. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Drug Trafficker Extradited from Colombia

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Alleged Sinaloa Cartel cell leader Brian Donaciano Olguin-Verdugo, aka Pitt, who is believed responsible for trafficking large amounts of cocaine into the United States from Mexico, appeared in federal court today following his extradition from Colombia. Olguin-Verdugo was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of California in March 2021 for International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Import Cocaine. Olguin-Verdugo was apprehended by Colombian authorities in April 2022 while visiting Cali, and Colombia granted the United States’ extradition request in May 2025. At today’s hearing, Olguin-Verdugo was arraigned and entered a not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 20, 2025, for a motion hearing/trial setting in front of U.S. District Court Judge Todd W. Robinson. “Those who export dangerous drugs to the United States and seek to evade justice will find no place to hide,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “The Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the Colombian authorities in this matter. The work of the Homeland Security Task Forces ensures that the extradition of high-level cartel targets will remain a top priority nationally, but especially in the Southern District of California.” The Southern District of California prosecution in this case is part of a multi-year investigation that, in total, has resulted in charges against over 125 people and has had a significant impact on the worldwide operations of the Sinaloa Cartel. This investigation has also offered one of the most comprehensive views to date of the inner workings of one of the world’s most prolific, violent and powerful drug cartels. Cartel members and associates were targeted in this massive investigation involving multiple countries, numerous law enforcement agencies around the United States, a number of federal districts and over 250 court-authorized wiretaps in this district alone. The case is being prosecuted by this office’s Narcoterrorism Unit. This case began in late 2011 as an investigation of what was at first believed to be a small-scale drug distribution cell in National City and Chula Vista. It became evident that the drugs were being supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel, and the case evolved into a massive multi-national, multi-state probe that resulted in scores of arrests and seizures of 1,397 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2,214 kilograms of cocaine, 17.2 tons of marijuana, 95.84 kilograms of heroin, and $27,892,706 in narcotics proceeds. The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Colombia and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia and the United States State Department provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Colombia. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in bringing the defendant back to the United States. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Sutton. DEFENDANT Case Number 21cr862-TWR Brian Donaciano Olguin-Verdugo Age: 41 Culiacán, MX SUMMARY OF CHARGES International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Import Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Customs and Border Protection Office of Border Patrol United States Marshals Service Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs Interpol The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Honduran Man Sentenced After Unlawfully  Using Identification Documents

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Honduran man who unlawfully used fraudulent identification documents was sentenced today to 102 days in prison. Ramon Calderon-Rivera, age 37, a citizen of Honduras, received the prison term after an April 24, 2025, guilty plea to unlawful use of identification documents. At the guilty plea, Calderon-Rivera admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent California driver’s license to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in November 2023 at a business in Iowa. The number on the Social Security card was assigned to someone else. Social Security cards and driver’s licenses are documents prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States. Calderon-Rivera was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Calderon-Rivera was sentenced to 102 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1014. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Dubuque Man Sentenced to 42 Years  for Sexually Exploiting Child

body_text: A man who sexually exploited a child and distributed child pornography was sentenced today to 42 years in federal prison. John James Dixon, age 41, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 22, 2025 guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that between August 2023 and May 2024, on multiple occasions, John Dixon and his co-conspirator, Justin James Paisley, committed sexual acts with a prepubescent child. They photographed and videotaped the child engaging in sexual conduct and sent those images to each other via text message. Paisley also photographed a second prepubescent child engaged in sexually explicit conduct and sent the photograph to Dixon. Dixon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Dixon was sentenced to 504 months’ imprisonment, must pay $6,000 in special assessments, and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Dixon is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-1032. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Tripoli Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing  and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: A man who distributed and possessed child pornography pled guilty on Friday, June 20, 2025, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. At the plea hearing, Austin Kingsbury, age 23, from Tripoli, Iowa, admitted that between August 2022 and June 2023, he distributed visual depictions of child pornography. Between December 2022 and June 2023, Kingsbury possessed child pornography, including of prepubescent children, on his cellular telephone. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Kingsbury remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Kingsbury faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $62,200 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Dillan Edwards and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Tripoli, Iowa Police Department, the Bremer County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department, the Anchorage, Alaska Police Department, and the Alaska State Troopers Technical Crimes Unit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-2049. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Precious Metals Depository Owner Sentenced to 65 Years in Federal Prison for $76 Million Fraud Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Following an eight-day jury trial resulting in his conviction on mail fraud, wire fraud, and income tax evasion charges, the Honorable U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika sentenced Robert L. Higgins on June 17, 2025, to the statutory maximum term of 65 years in federal prison, announced Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing revealed that Higgins, age 69, owned and operated First State Depository, a precious metals depository located in Wilmington, Delaware. First State Depository held over $100 million in customer assets, primarily in the form of gold and silver bars and coins. Over the course of at least a decade, Higgins misappropriated his customers’ assets to pay his debts and finance his personal life, including two timeshares in Hawaii and vacations to foreign countries. He did all of this while underreporting his income on his federal income tax returns. Evidence presented at trial and in sentencing proceedings revealed that Higgins stole at least $76 million from his customers and that over 1,000 customer accounts were missing precious metals. Industry sources have characterized Higgins’ fraudulent scheme as the largest theft from a precious metals depository in U.S. history. Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg stated, “Higgins lied to, cheated, and stole from customers who placed their trust in him and his businesses during a 10-year fraud scheme. He took his customers’ metals without their permission and used them to finance his personal life and keep his scheme going, all while failing to report and pay his fair share of income taxes. By robbing his many victims of their hard-earned life savings and retirement funds, Higgins irreparably hurt hundreds of people and their families. I applaud the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division for their hard work to hold Higgins accountable.” "Honest and law-abiding citizens are fed up with the likes of those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets with other people’s money as well as skirt their tax obligations,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “The more his greed grew, so did his shameful and selfish scheme. This sentence reflects how egregious Higgins’ crimes truly are. Let this be a lesson to other criminals that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate corruption or those seeking to take advantage of hardworking Americans,” said FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Ibrahim and Bryan C. Williamson, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond Falgowski, prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-44.


title: Sioux Falls-Based Federal Prosecutor Awarded Attorney of the Year by  the State Bar of South Dakota’s Women in Law Committee

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Diana Ryan, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division at the United States Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, has been awarded Attorney of the Year by the State Bar of South Dakota’s Women in Law Committee. Ms. Ryan was honored at the State Bar’s Annual Convention on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Rapid City, SD. The State Bar of South Dakota Women in Law Committee Attorney of the Year award seeks to annually recognize one South Dakota attorney who exemplifies leadership, mentorship, and professionalism while positively inspiring others. “Diana Ryan has played a critical role at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 35 years, first as a criminal prosecutor handling violent crime in Indian country and then as a civil litigator representing the United States in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “She is a fierce advocate whose depth of knowledge and practical experience as it relates to federal litigation is truly unmatched in South Dakota. In addition to zealously representing the interests of the United States, Diana has mentored countless attorneys over the course of her career, selflessly giving of her time and energy to invest in the professional development and promote the success of those fortunate enough to call her a colleague. We are thrilled that the Women in Law Committee has honored Diana by naming her Attorney of the Year for 2025.” Ms. Ryan joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1989 as a criminal prosecutor handling violent crime in the Rapid City area. She became Civil Division Chief in 2004 and has since supervised all affirmative and defensive litigation as well as the Financial Litigation Unit, which collects federal civil debts and enforces court orders for criminal restitution, fines, and penalties. Ms. Ryan has been lead counsel on more than 150 criminal cases, 750 civil cases, and 89 appeals. She has been widely recognized for both her work as an outstanding litigator and her tremendous mentorship and leadership.


title: Mexican National Sentenced For Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – LAURENCIO OLVERA-TERRAZAS (“OLVERA-TERRAZAS”) age 54, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on June 10, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M.Simpson. OLVERA-TERRAZAS was sentenced a term of time served and to 2 years of supervised release. Judge Guidry also ordered that OLVERA-TERRAZAS pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on or about August 22, 2024, OLVERA-TERRAZAS re-entered the United States after being previously deported on September 20, 1997 and March 12, 2007. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.