title: Texas Residents Charged with Federal Drug and Gun Violations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ELIBERTO GUAJARDO (“GUAJARDO”), age 37, of San Juan, TX., and BRICE STRAIN (“STRAIN”) ,age 43, of Houston, TX, were charged in a four-count indictment with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and Federal Gun Control Act. GUAJARDO and STRAIN were indicted in Count 1 for Conspiracy to Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Distribute, Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1),841(b)(1)(A), and 846. If convicted of Count 1, the defendants face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to life imprisonment; a fine of up to $10 Million; and at least five years of supervised release. GUAJARDO and STRAIN were indicted in Count 2 for Distribution of Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. If convicted of Count 2, the defendants face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to life imprisonment; a fine of up to $10 Million; and at least five years of supervised release. STRAIN was indicted in Count 3 for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). If convicted of Count 3, STRAIN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to life imprisonment; a fine of up to $10 Million; and at least five years of supervised release. STRAIN was also indicted in Count 4 for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 924(c)(1)(A). If convicted of Count 4, STRAIN faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and up to five years supervised release. According to court documents, beginning on an unknown date, but at least by June 2025, and continuing to on or about January 27, 2026, the defendants GUAJARDO and STRAIN allegedly conspired to distribute, possess with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. Additionally, according to court documents, on or about January 27, 2026, STRAIN allegedly possessed a firearm, a Glock Model G43, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendants also face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count for which they are charged. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and assisted by the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Briana N. Williams of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ***


title: Five-Time Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Restricted Person

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah man and convicted felon who was squatting on federal lands was sentenced today to 31 months’ imprisonment after he possessed firearms and ammunition as a restricted person. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Michael Lee Rasmussen, 49, of West Jordan, Utah, pleaded guilty on December 5, 2025, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to his sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Rasmussen to three years of supervised release and imposed a three-year ban from federal public lands in the District of Utah as a condition of his supervision. According to court documents and statements made at Rasmussen’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning in late 2024, Mr. Rasmussen, a five-time felon, along with others, constructed a makeshift compound on federal public lands near Manning Canyon, Utah. At its peak, the compound had vehicles, trailers, tents, appliances, and extensive amounts of litter. Rangers with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also documented raw waste being disposed of on the public land. Despite multiple warnings to move the camp, Mr. Rasmussen’s squatting continued, eventually prompting complaints from locals about gunshots, audible threats, stolen property, and unusual nighttime traffic to and from the camp. On September 22, 2025, BLM law enforcement rangers, working with state and federal partners, launched an operation to arrest Mr. Rasmussen on his open state warrants and dismantle the camp. During the operation, law enforcement officers safely arrested Mr. Rasmussen, who later admitted to purchasing and shooting firearms and possessing ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so as a convicted felon. Throughout the camp, officers found small amounts of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, firearms, associated ammunition, and spent brass casings. After the operation, trash and vehicles were removed and the area was thoroughly cleaned. “Ensuring the safety of those who visit Utah’s federal lands is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “We appreciate the brave work of BLM rangers, the U.S. Forest Service, and our critical state partners, who put a stop to Mr. Rasmussen’s dangerous activities and restored the public’s access to the area.” “BLM law enforcement worked with federal, state, and county partners to safely dismantle the encampment and remove hazards,” said Camm Stephenson, BLM Utah West Desert District Chief Ranger. “Unauthorized occupation and firearms violations on public lands pose serious risks, and the Bureau is committed to protecting people and resources." “Our natural resource officers are committed to protecting Utah’s lands and ensuring the safety of all who recreate on them,” said Todd Royce, Director of the DNR Division of Law Enforcement. “Illegal activities like those seen in this case not only threaten public safety but also cause significant damage to our shared natural resources. We value the strong partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management and our local sheriff's offices that allow us to effectively address these complex issues and protect our public lands.” The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, Utah Division of Natural Resources and Tooele County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Luisa Gough and Tanner Zumwalt of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal alien sentenced for third narcotics violation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 50-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute approximately 11 kilograms of cocaine found in his vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Delber Turrubiates-Garcia pleaded guilty April 25, 2025. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Turrubiates-Garcia to serve 120 months in federal prison, to run concurrently with a 24-month sentence imposed for violating the terms of his supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court noted this conviction marks his second federal narcotics offense. On Aug. 15, 2024, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a 2019 Ford pickup truck in McAllen. Turrubiates-Garcia was the driver. A search of the vehicle revealed two boxes containing 10 packages of cocaine in the rear passenger seat. The packages weighed approximately 11.6 kilograms and field tested positive for cocaine. Turrubiates-Garcia admitted he knew the boxes contained narcotics and said he was to be paid to pick up and distribute them. He also claimed he had retrieved similar packages from the same location in the past and had been paid between $500-$1,000 on each occasion. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Hidalgo County Constable's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. District Court rules in favor of the government after weeks-long trial in alleged birth injury case against military providers in Alaska

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman announced today a complete defensive verdict in a medical malpractice claim brought against the U.S. under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). On Nov. 6, 2025, a judgment was entered in favor of the U.S. following a three-week bench trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Scott A. Rash. On Feb. 10, 2026, the Court entered a judgement against the plaintiffs and ordered them to pay $44,000 in legal costs to the U.S. On June 13, 2023, the plaintiffs, Emily and Justin Acker, filed a medical malpractice complaint against the U.S. for alleged birth injuries sustained by their baby, who was born at Bassett Army Community Hospital at Fort Wainwright in late 2020. Under the FTCA, the U.S. is liable for medical malpractice claims arising from the actions of its employees acting within the scope of their employment. A plaintiff bringing an FTCA complaint must prove healthcare providers breached the standard of care and caused injury to the patient. In their complaint, the plaintiffs claimed doctors and nurses at the hospital caused the child to suffer a skull fracture and permanent brain injury during a C-section delivery. However, the evidence demonstrated that at birth, the child was in excellent condition but returned to the hospital three weeks later manifesting symptoms of a severe brain injury, a rib fracture, and a fractured wrist. The Ackers were seeking over $14 million in economic damages. In an order filed on Nov. 6, 2025, the Court found that the evidence did not demonstrate or establish that the healthcare providers at Bassett breached the applicable standard of care during the birth of the child. The Court specifically remarked that “[g]iven the extensive injuries [the infant] presented with… it strains credulity to find that such injuries occurred at birth but did not have any medically significant manifestation for approximately twenty days.” The Court found the evidence did not demonstrate any medical providers deviated from the standard of care and that the child’s injuries were not caused by the doctors. The Court ordered the plaintiffs to pay the U. S. $44,000 in costs accrued while defending the case. “I want to commend our Assistant U.S. Attorneys of their tireless fight to receive a defensive verdict on behalf of the U.S. in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Their work helps ensure that our military medical professionals can work to provide our armed forces and their families with the best possible care, as well as protects the American taxpayers from frivolous claims.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Traini and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Scheperle handled the case on behalf of the U.S. ###


title: Jamestown woman pleads guilty to narcotics conspiracy and firearms charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Sabrina Flores a/k/a Notorious Marie, 25, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and being a user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Flores was an associate of Zaid Mendoza, a Jamestown-based drug trafficker, distributing heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine on Mendoza’s behalf. She utilized Facebook to conduct her drug trafficking activities. On December 7, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Mendoza’s West main Street residence, seizing $1,800 in cash, 34 grams of fentanyl, 14 grams of methamphetamine, a gram of a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, para-fluorofentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, 4-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidine (ANPP), and methamphetamine, a semi-automatic pistol, and a large capacity magazine. Flores admits that at the time of her possession of the firearm, she was an unlawful and habitual user of fentanyl. Charges remain pending against Zaid Mendoza. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Dansville woman pleads guilty to bilking elderly victim out of tens of thousands of dollars

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nahtahna Castner, 46, of Dansville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a minimum penalty of two years in prison, a maximum of 22 years and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2020, and February 2023, Castner and another individual (co-conspirator) conspired to defraud an elderly victim. In July 2020, Castner had the trust of an elderly and vulnerable neighbor, who was over 90 years old. Using Castner’s position of trust, the co-conspirator gained access to the victim banking information. Castner and the co-conspirator then began withdrawing large sums of cash from ATMs, initiating wire transfers to Castner’s personal bank account, and making purchases using the victim’s debit card. Castner and the co-conspirator executed approximately $252,672.97 worth of unauthorized transactions. Most transactions executed by Castner and the co-conspirator were not authorized by the victim. Over the course of the fraud, the victim bank account savings went from approximately $283,954.95 to $99.59. In addition, Castner and the co-conspirator also used the victim’s personal identifying information to apply for three credit cards in the victim’s name. They then used the credit cards to make purchases resulting in fraud against three financial institutions in the amount of $2,039.04, $819.33, and $809.74. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera and the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow. Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2026, before Judge Siragusa. # # # #


title: Former Tupelo Neurologist Sentenced for Downloading & Distributing Thousands of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: GREENVILLE, Miss. – A Pakistani national and former neurologist was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, Ali Ahmad, 38, of Tupelo, Mississippi plead guilty to using applications and the internet to download and distribute images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified Ahmad, a Neurologist at the North Mississippi Medical Center prior to this charge, as a perpetrator on at least one application. The Lee County Sheriff’s Department led the investigation and secured search warrants for Ahmad’s profile on the application, as well as his residence. Investigators encountered extensive child pornography on Ahmad’s application profile, as well as “selfie” style images depicting Ahmad in various sexual poses. Chief Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Ahmad to 144 months of incarceration, 5 years supervision and ordered to pay $112,000.00 in restitution to the victims of his offense. This is $4,000 rewarded to each identified minor child that requested restitution and provided documentation to support that request. Because of his arrest on state charges, Ali Ahmad’s work visa has been revoked, therefore, he will be deported after serving his sentence. Ahmad’s state charges are also still pending. “Silence in the face of evil allows evil to flourish,” states US Attorney Scott F. Leary. “Some argue there is no such thing as evil, that it is simply a human construct. They are wrong. Child exploitation to satisfy distorted adult appetites is evil. Child pornography is evil. There is a moral responsibility to take action when a society, or person, confronts evil. Good men and women stepped forward in this case and confronted the evil of child pornography. I want to first applaud the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. They stepped forward and their professional response to this crime was invaluable. I also want to commend prosecutor Parker King. We are blessed in the Northern District of Mississippi to have the most capable Project Safe Childhood [PSC] prosecutors in the nation, and Parker King is one of them. I hope the citizens of the Northern District of Mississippi understand that we work for them. The PSC initiative is an important component of our service to you. PSC is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.” “The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting our community’s most vulnerable members,” said Lee County Sheriff Jim H. Johnson. “We are pleased to announce that Mr. Ahmad has been brought to justice in federal court. Cases involving child victims are of utmost importance to our agency, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to ensure their safety and well-being. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Northern District of Mississippi Assistant United States Attorney Parker King for her invaluable collaboration and dedication throughout this case. As the matter now proceeds at the state level, we look forward to its resolution and reaffirm our pledge to pursue justice for victims of child exploitation. We hope this case stands as a clear message to the public: the exploitation of children will not be tolerated in Lee County, and we will employ every legal resource available to hold offenders accountable.”


title: Jamestown sex offender going to prison for 20 years on child pornography charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Timothy Douglas, 65, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction related to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Douglas must also register as a sex offender. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that in August 2023, employees at a local grocery store found an unattended cell phone by the checkout area. When they opened the phone to look for the owner’s information, they found sexually explicit images of young girls and immediately called Jamestown Police. Jamestown Police notified the FBI who helped identify the children in the images. A forensic examination of the cellphone located images depicting prepubescent minors or minors under 12-years-old. The investigation determined that between July 2022 and August 2023, Douglas produced images of three minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. One of the children was five years old and the other two children were approximately 10 years old. Some of the images sadistic in nature. In 2003, Douglas was convicted in New York State of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16 years old, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the 2nd Degree. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. # # # #


title: Prior felon going back to prison for selling meth and possessing firearms

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Albey H. Braster, 44, of Elmira, NY, who was convicted of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of firearms, was sentenced to serve 128 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. Braster was also ordered to forfeit $1,861.00 in seized U.S. currency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that on multiple occasions between December 4, 2023, and January 18, 2024, Braster distributed over 166 grams of methamphetamine, four firearms, and over 100 rounds of ammunition to an undercover investigator with the New York State Police. Braster, who has multiple prior felony convictions, was arrested January 18, 2024, after members of the ATF Violent Crime Task Force, New York State Police, and the Elmira Police Department executed a search warrant at his Columbia Street residence, during which they recovered approximately 2.4 grams of methamphetamine, and $1,861 in cash. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Violent Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the Elmira Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kristen Thorne. # # # #


title: Jury convicts Laredo man for human smuggling

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 61-year-old man has been found guilty for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Gonzalo Chavez following a three-day trial. On Oct. 27, 2025, law enforcement observed a Dodge Durango enter a golf course near the Rio Grande in Laredo before leaving shortly thereafter. Authorities noted the vehicle’s rear suspension appeared lower than when it entered. During a subsequent traffic stop, law enforcement observed four individuals lying down in plain view and attempting to conceal themselves. Authorities determined all four were illegal aliens without legal authorization to be present in the United States. At trial, the jury heard evidence that Chavez coordinated with human smugglers in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to provide immediate transportation to the illegal aliens after they crossed the Rio Grande. Chavez admitted his role was to transport these aliens to their next destination. The jury also heard evidence regarding Chavez’ prior alien smuggling conviction. U.S. District Judge John Kazen presided over the trial and set sentencing for March 30. At that time, Chavez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Chavez has been held in custody pending trial and remain so pending sentencing. United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manuel Cardenas and Michael Poyfair are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Former San Leandro City Council Member Pleads Guilty To Accepting Bribes In Exchange For Actions To Benefit Housing Company

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Former San Leandro City Council Member Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty in federal court today to engaging in a conspiracy to accept bribes in exchange for using his official position to obtain favorable treatment and city contracts for a housing company, and to lying to federal investigators. Azevedo, 49, of San Leandro, Calif., was charged by information on Oct. 20, 2025, with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of making a false statement to federal investigators. He pleaded guilty to both counts. In connection with his plea, Azevedo admitted that in the summer of 2023, he attended a delegation trip to Vietnam sponsored by a business association controlled by the family of an individual identified in the information as Co-Conspirator 1. The business association paid all of Azevedo’s expenses for that trip, including business class airfare, hotel, and meals for approximately 10 days. After the Vietnam trip, Azevedo agreed with Co-Conspirator 1 and an individual identified as Co-Conspirator 2 that Azevedo would use his official position to advocate on behalf of their modular housing company with other members of San Leandro City government, to take city council votes that would benefit their modular housing company, and to ensure that the City of San Leandro purchased housing units from the modular housing company. In exchange, Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 2 agreed that Azevedo would receive a percentage of the sales price from all modular housing company units the City of San Leandro ultimately purchased. To help conceal the expected future payments, Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 2 instructed Azevedo to open an LLC and bank account in his wife’s name for the purpose of receiving the kickback payments and avoiding detection. Co-Conspirator 1 indicated that he had concealed payments in this way with other politicians. While San Leandro never purchased housing units from the modular housing company, Co-Conspirator 1 paid Azevedo $2,000 in cash to fund the bank account set up in Azevedo’s wife’s name. Azevedo admitted that he took several steps in his official capacity to benefit the modular housing company between August 2023 and June 2024 in exchange for the payment received and the promise of future payments. Specifically, during a city council meeting on June 17, 2024, Azevedo voted in favor of an emergency shelter ordinance, as instructed by Co-Conspirator 1. In addition, Azevedo advocated for the emergency shelter ordinance with members of San Leandro City government, took members of San Leandro City government to tour model units, and advocated for the purchase of the modular housing company’s units by the City of San Leandro. In January 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at Azevedo’s residence in San Leandro, during which Azevedo sat for a voluntary interview. During that interview, Azevedo falsely told agents that Co-Conspirator 1 never provided him with cash and said that Co-Conspirator 1’s family did not have any business interests before the City of San Leandro. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood made the announcement. Azevedo is next scheduled to appear in district court on December 3, 2026, for a status hearing before District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Azevedo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the honest services fraud count and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false statement count. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant United States Attorneys Abraham Fine, Molly Priedeman, and Lloyd Farnham are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, and USPIS.


title: Jury Convicts Mexican National of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Murders of Couple and their Unborn Child

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – A federal jury today convicted Ricardo Orizaba-Zendejas, a Mexican national in the country illegally, of drug and firearms crimes. Orizaba was working for the drug trafficking organization implicated in the fatal shootings of a husband and his pregnant wife, who were also members of the same drug trafficking organization but wanted out and had spoken to federal agents. After six hours of deliberation, the jury found Orizaba guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. According to evidence presented at trial, Orizaba was working as a drug dealer and enforcer for a drug-trafficking organization based in Yakima, Washington, which sourced its drugs from Mexico and moved them through ports-of-entry in the Southern District of California. The cell’s activities were centered at a remote desert ranch outside of Yakima, where they stored drugs, firearms, and stolen vehicles. Orizaba worked for cell leader Benjamin (“Tony”) Madrigal-Birrueta, selling drugs sourced by Madrigal, collecting debts owed to the organization, protecting the organization’s property, and protecting Madrigal’s leadership of the organization. On February 8, 2023, agents arrested Orizaba and executed a search warrant at his home. They seized 11 bags of fentanyl pills and three bags of heroin, along with an AR-15 rifle with a scope, large amounts of cash, a drum magazine with ammunition, other magazines for rifles and handguns, various caliber ammunition, body armor, a scale, and an electronic money counter – all from Orizaba’s bedroom. The evidence showed that the case began with a traffic stop of Orizaba’s brother and Madrigal’s brother, which led to the discovery of 150,000 fentanyl pills in the car registered to one of the eventual murder victims, Maira Hernandez. The subsequent investigation led authorities to Hernandez and her husband, Cesar Murillo, both of whom had been involved in the drug trafficking cell with Madrigal and Orizaba. On August 23, 2022, agents approached Hernandez --by this time visibly pregnant-- at her home, questioning her about load vehicles registered to her and money transfers she sent to load drivers. Hernandez admitted to sending the money, consented to an inspection of her phone, and agreed to ask her husband to speak to the agents. The next day, Murillo voluntarily met with agents and surrendered a stolen vehicle connected to the conspiracy. At the trial, a witness testified that Madrigal was at the couple’s home when federal agents arrived and was aware that the agents later spoke with Hernandez and Murillo. The trial witness said this visit led to an argument, during which Hernandez and Murillo told Madrigal they wanted to quit the drug business and cooperate with the investigation. Madrigal grew angry, saying something to the effect of, “You are not leaving me alone with this.” The following weekend, Madrigal asked Murillo to accompany him to the Yakima Ranch; it was the last time Murillo was seen alive. After Murillo failed to return home or contact her, Hernandez grew anxious. A few days later, Madrigal contacted Hernandez and told her to come to the Yakima Ranch to reunite with her husband. On September 2, 2022, Hernandez was dropped off at a parking lot near Yakima. She left in a car with Madrigal, never to be seen again. Six days later, agents in Yakima executed search warrants at the couple’s residence and the Yakima Ranch. While they found evidence of drug distribution in both locations, and seized approximately 37 firearms from the Yakima Ranch, they did not find Hernandez or Murillo. What followed was an exhaustive, years’ long investigation that employed geophysicists, ground penetrating radar, aircraft, laser imaging, chemical testing of the soil, numerous cadaver dogs, and other law enforcement techniques to search for the victims’ remains. More than a year after their deaths, HSI Special Agents successfully recovered the remains on September 13, 2023, aided by a Washington State Police Crime Scene Investigations team. Madrigal pleaded guilty in September 2025, admitting that he and coconspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and the torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument at the remote Yakima ranch. He also admitted that on September 2, 2022, Madrigal persuaded Hernandez, 33, who was unaware of her husband’s death, to come to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting for her there. Madrigal admitted that when Hernandez arrived at the ranch, his co-conspirators shot her multiple times in the head. The child died in utero when Hernandez was shot, killed and buried. Orizaba is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw on May 29, 2026, at 9 a.m. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Wong and Alexandra Foster. DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr1684-DMS Ricardo Orizaba-Zendejas Age: 23 Yakima, WA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years and up to life, or death Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime – 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Drug Enforcement Administration Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington State Police California Highway Patrol Yakima Police Department Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Visalia Police Department Fresno Sheriff’s Office Fresno Police Department This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.


title: Honolulu Woman Sentenced to Seven Months  for Threatening to Kill Presidents Biden and Trump

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Rebecca Ann Folley, aka Becca Waters, 49, of Honolulu, Hawaii was sentenced yesterday to seven months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release for threatening to kill Presidents Biden and Trump. Folley, who was incarcerated since her arrest on April 3, 2025 until November 6, 2025, received time served for her sentence. Her supervised release conditions include mandatory mental health and drug treatment. Folley pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in October 2025. According to court records and statements made in court, on March 2, 2024, Folley threatened President Biden on her “Becca Waters” Facebook page by posting “Going to kill the president […].” On January 30, 2025, using that same account, Folley threatened President Trump by tagging a post on Honolulu City and County Councilman Tommy Waters’s Facebook wall stating, “LETS SEE IF THIS WILL TRIGGER THE GOVERNMENTAL RED FLAGS, AS TO REACH FEDERAL OFFICE’S OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII. 1/30/2025…” Folley attached screenshots stating, “I AM GOING TO BLOW UP THE WHITEHOUSE AND KILL THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” On February 3, 2025, using the same account, Folley posted, “YUP, EVERYONE, PLEASE LOOK AT MY BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC PRESIDENTIAL DEATH THREATS AND PUBLIC THREATS TO BLOW UP The White House BECAUSE I CAN LEGALLY GET AWAY WITH IT…” United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching prosecuted the case.


title: Honolulu Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Devan Caulk, 21, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today to fifteen years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for producing child pornography. He must also register as a sex offender. Caulk pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in October 2025. As part of his guilty plea, Caulk admitted that he began an online interaction with a child and coerced the child into producing and sending him sexually explicit content. Caulk falsely told the child that he was fifteen years old and instructed her in a video transmission over Instagram to take off her clothes and engage in specific sexual acts. When the child refused to engage in the sexual acts, Caulk threatened to post a screenshot of the child naked online to others. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Imperial Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Imperial, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Ja’Shon Spencer, 22, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about June 16, 2025, Spencer possessed a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD) or “Glock switch.” A MCD is a device that converts a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Under federal law, both the MCD itself as well as the firearm equipped with it are considered machineguns and are illegal. Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Spencer will remain in federal custody. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Spencer. 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: Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Bank Robberies

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tyler James Martinez, 35, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced on February 11, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for two counts of bank robbery. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Martinez to 96 months’ imprisonment for each count to be served concurrently. Additionally, Martinez’s sentence was ordered to run consecutively to a sentence that Martinez is currently serving in Wisconsin bringing his total sentence to 192 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Martinez’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. On or about March 11, 2022, Martinez entered the Centris Federal Credit Union at 343 North 114th Street in Omaha. Martinez approached the teller and displayed a note that stated, “This is a hold up. No GPS. No dye. Don’t make a scene. Give me the money. Stay quiet. Don’t sound the alarm. Don’t get the manager.” The teller gave Martinez $1,000 and he told the teller, “Have a nice day,” and left the credit union. The Centris Federal Credit Union was insured by the National Credit Union Administration. On March 15, 2022, Martinez entered the Mabrey Bank at 2525 E. 21st Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Martinez approached the teller. Martinez handed the teller a note that read, “No Alarm’s. Give me All the money in the till/Drawer. I want $2,500 or Better. No Dye packs. No GPS. Do not look at anyone. Stay calm. Give me my money now!! You can hit Alarm after I leave.” The teller gave Martinez $2,500 and Martinez left. The Mabrey Bank was insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegally Possessing a Machine Gun and Felon in Possession

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

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tyler Webster, 28, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on February 6, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for illegally possessing a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Webster to 120 months’ imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Webster’s release, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release on each count to run concurrently. On November 13, 2023, Omaha Police officers dispatched to an apartment near 61st and Spencer streets in Omaha where a tenant reported that a male wearing a ski mask, later identified as Tyler Webster, had broken into her apartment and was holding a hammer. Officers arrived and took Webster into custody and found a high-capacity handgun magazine in his pocket. On November 15, 2023, the tenant found a 9mm Polymer 80 handgun concealed in a plastic bin in her apartment that Webster had discarded while hiding. The handgun was equipped with a ‘Glock switch’ machine gun conversion device making it capable of fully automatic fire, and a machine gun as defined in federal law. On January 29, 2024, at 3:28 am, while patrolling Leavenworth Street near South 31st Avenue, Omaha Police officers heard gunshots coming from a Chevy Equinox travelling eastbound, leaving behind .45 ACP caliber shell casings. Officers attempted a traffic stop but the Equinox led them on a high-speed. The Equinox eventually came to a stop near a construction site on 13th and Farnam streets where Webster, the vehicle’s front passenger, threw a stolen Springfield .45 ACP caliber handgun from the window into a construction site before continuing their flight onto I-80, into Iowa. Iowa law enforcement continued the pursuit and eventually punctured the Equinox’s tires with stop sticks, causing it to stop near Shelby, Iowa. The driver remained with the vehicle, surrendered, and was ultimately taken into custody. Webster fled through a field on foot and escaped arrest. He was arrested later that day at a residence in Omaha. Webster has the following prior felony convictions punishable by more than one year of incarceration: Criminal Conspiracy, a Class II Felony, and Robbery, a Class II Felony, both in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska (CR l7-406, November 9, 2017). This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department.


title: Honduran Citizen Indicted on Illegal Re-Entry Charge

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a citizen and national of Honduras. Samuel Rios-Rodriguez, 33, is charged with illegal re-entry into the United States. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the indictment, Rios-Rodriguez was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2017. Law enforcement found Rios-Rodrigeuz in the District of Maryland again after he was arrested in December 2022 and then convicted of first-degree attempted murder and use of a firearm in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County in October 2023. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. Rios-Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison for illegal re-entry. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Williston Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. --Demetrius McIlwain, 51, of Williston, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed deputies with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to a location looking for a suspect alleged to have committed domestic violence. During their investigation, deputies found McIlwain in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle and a female in the passenger seat. The deputy attempted to identify McIlwain to determine if he was involved in the incident, but McIlwain refused to cooperate. When deputies asked McIlwain to step out of the vehicle, he told them that there was a shotgun in the vehicle, then he immediately drove away. After McIlwain tried to evade the deputies, he wrecked his truck and ran. During a search of the vehicle, deputies found an AR style pistol in the front seat, a shotgun in the back seat, and a third firearm in a toolbox in the vehicle. Deputies also found a small amount of fentanyl in the driver’s side cupholder. The passenger later identified McIlwain as the driver, and deputies further connected him to the vehicle from paperwork found inside of the truck. McIlwain was later arrested and admitted he was the driver of the vehicle. McIlwain is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior criminal convictions for grand larceny, burglary 2nd non-violent, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree, burglary 1st, burglary 2nd degree, malicious injury to personal property, and assault and battery with intent to kill. McIlwain faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence McIlwain after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: TALLAHASSEE MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Tabias K. Bryant, 37, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of attempted enticement of a minor. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Bryant appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for March 23, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Bryant, faces up to Life imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: MILTON FELON INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Darin Leroy Vanness, 32, of Milton, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Vanness appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026 at 8:30 am, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. If convicted, Vanness faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Milton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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, human and drug trafficking. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Justice Department Files Action to Protect National Security by Enforcing President’s Order of Chinese Company’s Divestment from U.S. Company

component: Civil Division

body_text: Yesterday, the United States filed a complaint under section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to enforce a presidential order prohibiting Suirui Group’s acquisition, through Suirui International, of California-based Jupiter Systems and compelling Suirui to divest from Jupiter Systems. On July 8, 2025, the President issued the Order based on his findings that the transaction “threatens to impair the national security of the United States.” This is the first such action ever filed in federal district court. While foreign direct investment is important to the United States’ economy, foreign investment in certain companies and certain industries, particularly those involved in defense or critical infrastructure, can pose national security concerns. To address these concerns, the President has the authority to take such action for such time as the President considers appropriate to suspend or prohibit such a transaction that threatens to impair the national security of the United States. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is empowered to review and investigate such transactions. According to the Complaint, in 2020, Suirui Group, a Chinese company, through its Hong Kong subsidiary Suirui International, acquired all of Jupiter Systems, which provides video communications hardware and software to commercial and U.S. Government customers. On July 8, 2025, the President issued an Order prohibiting the transaction and, among other things, requiring Suirui to divest all its interests in Jupiter Systems within 120 days. According to the Complaint, despite CFIUS granting two extensions of the divestment deadline, to Feb. 3, Suirui and Jupiter Systems have failed to comply with the Order. The United States thus filed this action to protect the country’s national security interests. The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch is handling the matter. The case is captioned United States v. Suirui Group Co., Ltd., et al. , No. 26-cv-00369 (D.D.C.). This case is being handled by Trial Attorney Sam Bean of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Matthew Robert Hudson, 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on Monday, February 9, 2026, to distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2025, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hudson in Huntington. Officers searched the vehicle and seized approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine found in the handbag of Hudson’s passenger. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine, asked his passenger to hold the methamphetamine for him, and intended to sell the methamphetamine in exchange for money. Hudson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-195. ###


title: North Carolina Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Isiah Hawkins, 35, and Emmanuel Lee Baldwin, 35, both of Gastonia, North Carolina have been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for a money laundering conspiracy involving theft from the United States Treasury. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Hawkins and Baldwin conspired with each other to fraudulently alter a legitimate U.S. Treasury check intended for a business based in New Hampshire. Hawkins and Baldwin altered the $191,456.30 check by making it payable to Baldwin. Baldwin previously opened a bank account in Rock Hill using a forged check from another institution. The pair deposited the Treasury check into Baldwin’s account and then laundered the money by sending it to a New York-based LLC controlled by Hawkins. The pair used the money for personal expenses, including a vehicle Baldwin purchased with the stolen funds. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Hawkins to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Lydon sentenced Baldwin to 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Although a potential fine was waived, they were ordered to pay $194,075.01 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and Bank of America. Hawkins and Baldwin are joint and severally liable for the restitution. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case. ###


title: Fraud Tourists Plead Guilty to Minneapolis Medicaid Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two Pennsylvania men pleaded guilty yesterday to repeatedly traveling from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to defraud Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program of approximately $3.5 million and concealing the scheme by using artificial intelligence to create fake records when questioned by insurance companies. This case is part of a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section to combat prolific fraud on government programs in Minnesota. It also represents the first charges involving the use of artificial intelligence to further a fraud scheme targeting health care programs in Minnesota. “Criminal fraud not only robs taxpayers — it shatters trust in our institutions. Under President Trump’s leadership, yesterday’s convictions are just the beginning,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our prosecutors will work tirelessly to unravel criminal fraud schemes and charge their perpetrators in Minnesota and across the country.” “Minnesota will no longer be a haven for fraud under our watch,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Justice Department has been investigating billions in taxpayer fraud across the country and has already successfully convicted 66 individuals and counting in Minnesota. The collaboration between the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is a prime example of how we restore justice and public trust, while holding criminal fraudsters accountable.” “Defrauding those who rely on government programs takes away critical resources, and the use of artificial intelligence to carry out these crimes is dangerous and will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Yesterday’s convictions demonstrate the FBI’s dedication to investigating and holding accountable criminals that target and take advantage of vulnerable members of our communities.” “These defendants had no connection to Minnesota or its communities. They traveled across the country for one purpose: to prey upon and steal millions in taxpayer dollars meant for people struggling with homelessness, addiction and disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Although programs like HSS are run by the states, they are funded with federal tax dollars. The Criminal Division will not stand by while fraudsters put all Americans’ tax dollars at risk.” “The defendants brazenly siphoned millions from a program created to provide vulnerable individuals with stable housing — a deliberate betrayal of public trust that will not be tolerated,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This scheme diverted critical resources from those who need them most and eroded confidence in programs intended to support people with disabilities and mental health challenges. HHS-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to protect taxpayer-funded programs and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold perpetrators fully accountable.” “Anthony Jefferson and Lester Brown tried to hide fraud behind artificial intelligence, but technology doesn’t replace math — or accountability;” said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco. “Our special agents followed the money, broke down the data, and exposed a scheme that siphoned public assistance dollars from a program meant to support vulnerable Minnesotans. When people steal from safety net programs, they don’t just take money — they weaken public trust. IRS-CI will continue to identify, unravel, and stop fraud, no matter how sophisticated the tools behind it.” “Criminals who target the most vulnerable members of our communities will become the target of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We pursue them without pause, making sure they are held accountable and feel the full weight of justice. Yesterday’s sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to those we serve and protect.” According to court documents, Anthony Waddell Jefferson, 37, and Lester Brown, 53, both of Philadelphia, set up businesses in Minneapolis and enrolled as HSS program providers, purportedly to help people with disabilities – including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders – find and maintain housing. Rather than provide those services, Jefferson and Brown – who marketed themselves as “The Housing Guys” – repeatedly traveled from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries at homeless shelters and Section 8 housing facilities. The defendants signed those individuals up for HSS and then billed the program for services that were not provided. When asked to provide supporting documentation for their claims, Jefferson and Brown fabricated e-mails discussing their purported “clients” and used ChatGPT to create fake client notes. In total, from February 2022 through June 2025, Jefferson and Brown stole approximately $3.5 million from HSS for services they fraudulently claimed to have provided to approximately 230 Medicaid beneficiaries. Jefferson and Brown each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI, IRS-CI, HHS-OIG, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case. Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Rebecca Kline and Matthew Murphy are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.


title: Galax Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A convicted felon from Galax, Va., who was prohibited from possessing firearms, was sentenced Friday to 36 months in federal prison following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office. Michael Shane Mathis, 30, pled guilty in November 2025 to one count of being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm while also being a user and addict of any controlled substance. According to court documents, on February 18, 2025, deputies with the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for a welfare check involving the vehicle Mathis was occupying. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located a Hi Point 995 9mm rifle, a Hi Point CF380 .380 caliber pistol, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Deputies also found a plastic baggie containing over nine grams of methamphetamine, a glass smoking device with residue, scales, a loaded hypodermic needle, a large knife, and body armor. Mathis admitted to law enforcement he was a violent offender for a previous conviction of unlawful wounding and the substance found was methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office. Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement Assistant United States Attorney Corey Hall prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tyron Charles Kimbro, also known as “T-Mow,” 42, of Huntington, was sentenced on Monday, February 9, 2026, to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, also known as “crack.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2025, Kimbro sold approximately 55.6 grams of crack to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Kimbo admitted to the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and to conducting it at his Huntington residence. Kimbo also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On April 8, 2025, Kimbro sold approximately 27.4 grams of crack to a confidential informant. Kimbro admitted to the transaction and to conducting it at his residence. On April 22, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kimbro’s residence and seized approximately 36 grams of crack, a quantity of fentanyl, five firearms, and approximately $2,200. Kimbro admitted that the seized cash was drug proceeds. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor 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. 3:25-cr-102. ###


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Agent Making Arrest Under Laken Riley Act

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, age 39, a citizen of Nicaragua, pled guilty yesterday to an indictment charging him with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. According to the plea and documents previously filed in the case, Garcia Rojas entered the United States illegally in 2023 and had been engaged in removal proceedings since that date while living freely in the United States. In March 2025, HSI learned that Garcia Rojas and another illegal alien had been charged with the New York State misdemeanor offenses of Petit Larceny and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Given the nature of the state charges, both aliens were subject to immediate detention under the then-newly enacted Laken Riley Act. HSI promptly went to effectuate the arrests before the subjects were released on the state charges. Upon his arrest by federal authorities, Garcia Rojas was handcuffed and placed inside the backseat of a federal law enforcement vehicle. He then got out of the vehicle and attempted to walk away. An HSI Special Agent confronted Garcia Rojas and attempted to place him back under arrest. Garcia Rojas fought back, striking the agent in the face and throwing him into a door as the Special Agent wrestled to subdue Garcia Rojas. It ultimately took numerous law enforcement officers and the use of a taser to subdue and rearrest Garcia Rojas. Garcia Rojas inflicted numerous injuries on the agent, including numerous abrasions and bruises, including to the agent’s jaw, and a back injury that kept the agent out of work for months. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone said: “Thanks to the Laken Riley Act, we have taken a violent illegal alien off the streets here in the Northern District of New York. Garcia Rojas’ assault on a federal agent faithfully doing his job should be a stark reminder to everyone of the danger these criminals pose. I commend my prosecutors and HSI for their exceptional work in bringing swift justice to this defendant.” Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “The brazen and violent actions of Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, a Nicaraguan national with a prior criminal history, represent a direct threat to the safety of our agents, officers and the communities we serve, and reflect the danger law enforcement face each day. Assaulting a federal agent in the line of duty is an egregious and unacceptable crime that will not be tolerated. This case underscores the critical importance of strong enforcement measures like the Laken Riley Act, which empower law enforcement to protect our nation from those who disregard our laws. HSI remains steadfast in pursuing justice for those who endanger our personnel, our partners, and the public alike.” Garcia Rojas is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on June 16, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and deportation following any term of imprisonment. Garcia Rojas will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Violent Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for violently sex trafficking five young victims, including a 15-year-old girl, and kidnapping two of them. DENNIS WILLIAMS used threats, violence, drugs, and other coercive means to force five victims to engage in commercial sex. Williams often restrained or assaulted the victims to force them to comply and turn over the proceeds to him. Williams also caused a 17-year-old girl, whom he also assaulted repeatedly, to assist him in trafficking the victims. Williams ran his sex trafficking operation out of his Chicago residence and motels in Lansing, Ill., in 2022 and 2023. Last year, a jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago convicted Williams, 33, on all seven sex trafficking and kidnapping counts against him. All five of Williams’ victims, including both of the kidnapping victims, bravely testified about their ordeals at trial. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland imposed the 28-year prison sentence during a hearing on Feb. 4, 2026, in federal court in Chicago. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lansing, Ill. Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Evergreen Park, Ill. Police Department, Joliet, Ill. Police Department, Manhattan, Ill. Police Department, Orland Park, Ill. Police Department, Palos Heights, Ill. Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and Illinois Attorney General’s Office. “Williams’ crimes were violent, exploitative, and incredibly serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju and Michelle Parthum argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Although the young women and girls that he victimized are now free of defendant’s grasp, the harm that he inflicted on them is likely to reverberate throughout the rest of their lives in the form of increased risk of mental illness and other struggles.” If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: Former Bank Employee Found Guilty of Targeting Elderly Victims in Identity Theft and Fraud Scheme

body_text: CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted a Chinese national of using his role as a bank employee to access confidential client information to target elderly customers and create a scheme to steal their money and then use it for his personal benefit. After a five-day trial in front of U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, Yue Cao, 36, was found guilty on 10 counts of Bank Fraud, four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count of Money Laundering. According to court documents and evidence presented before the jury, Cao was a quant analytics manager at an Ohio-based bank who was hired to help protect customers from fraud. Instead, from approximately 2022 to 2023, he used his access to steal the identities and money of elderly customers who had not enrolled in the bank’s online services. He did this by first utilizing an offshore service to create email addresses in the names of more than 100 victims. Then, he used these emails to enroll the victims in online banking—all without their knowledge or authorization. Additionally, Cao directed the victims’ bank statements and other notifications to the email addresses he created. Because he controlled their online banking, he transferred the victims’ money directly to his personal bank and credit card accounts. He also used the victims’ identities to open accounts in their names without their knowledge and transferred their money into them. Some of these were brokerage accounts, where he then engaged in options trading using their money. He even arranged trades between the unauthorized accounts he set up and his own brokerage account. Victims resided in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington, and Ohio (Canton) and ranged in age from 90-103 years old at the time that Cao secretly enrolled them in online banking. In total, he conducted approximately $2 million in unauthorized transfers using his control of the victims’ accounts. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled. The defendant faces a minimum, mandatory term of two years, and maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Former President and Vice President of Jacksonville Teachers Union Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling Millions in Union Funds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Teresa Brady (70, Jacksonville) to 27 months in federal prison, and Ruby George (82, Jacksonville) to one year and one day in federal prison followed by six months of home confinement, both in connection with their guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, aiding and abetting wire fraud, and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Brady also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. As part of their sentences, the court ordered the forfeiture of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, which cumulatively totaled $2,600,235.99. Further, the court ordered Brady and George to pay the same amount in restitution to the victim of their offenses, Duval Teachers United (DTU). United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Brady and George were the President and Executive Vice President of DTU, a labor union that represents Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) teachers, paraprofessionals, and office personnel. DTU has approximately 6,500 members and represents approximately 80% of eligible DCPS employees. DTU’s annual revenue is approximately $5 million, which is comprised of funds paid by dues-paying members. From 2013 to 2022, Brady and George engaged in a conspiracy to steal more than $1.2 million apiece from DTU by selling back to DTU leave time that they had not accrued or earned, and by paying themselves unauthorized bonuses and fake reimbursements. They concealed their scheme by providing false information to DTU’s auditor, and by signing each other’s checks when distributing the unaccrued and unearned payments, hiding those distributions from the DTU Secretary/Treasurer and its board of directors. Brady and George also hid their embezzlement from the State of Florida’s Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC), in legally required annual financial statement filings, some of which were mailed to PERC. “This sentencing demonstrates that individuals who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Brady and George engaged in a prolonged scheme that harmed the members and integrity of the organization she was entrusted to lead. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to detect and disrupt complex financial fraud crimes.” “Individuals who exploit their authority for personal gain and betray the trust placed in them will face justice,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This case sends a clear message: IRS Criminal Investigation stands firm with our federal partners in relentlessly pursuing those who engage in fraud and corruption, no matter how long the scheme lasts. Our mission is to protect the integrity of our institutions and ensure justice for the victims.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Coolican and Kelly S. Milliron, and former Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Harrington and Julie Simonsen handled the forfeiture and restitution matters.


title: Wallingford Man Charged with Trafficking 16 Kilograms of Fentanyl into Connecticut

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that JOSEPH MONTANEZ, also known as “Jose” and “Max,” 44, of Wallingford, has been charged by indictment with a fentanyl trafficking offense. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on January 13, 2026, law enforcement stopped a car on I-80 in Nebraska that contained approximately 16 kilograms of fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Montanez had rented the car in Connecticut and arranged to pay a courier $20,000 to drive to California, pick up the fentanyl, and drive it back to Connecticut. Thereafter, investigators arranged a controlled delivery of the drug shipment to Montanez using approximately 40 grams of fentanyl and 16 kilograms of fake fentanyl. It is further alleged that, on January 15, 2026, investigators observed Montanez as he traveled to meet a vehicle carrying the fentanyl, exit his vehicle, enter the vehicle carrying the fentanyl, and direct the driver to go to a service plaza on Route 15. Montanez’ first vehicle then traveled a short distance away to the area of Exit 58 in Wallingford. Investigators stopped the first vehicle, detained the driver, and seized approximately $23,000 in cash. Montanez was then taken into custody at the service plaza. He has been detained since his arrest. On January 28, 2026, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Montanez with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Montanez appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force, DEA Omaha, and the Seward County (Neb.) Sheriff’s Office. The Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven, Waterbury, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, Middletown, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Miami Gardens-Based Return Preparer and Business

body_text: Yesterday, the Justice Department filed a complaint seeking to bar a Miami Gardens-based return preparer, Christopher Brown, and his business, Superior Taxes LLC, from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others. The United States filed its civil complaint against Brown and Superior Taxes in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleges that Brown and Superior Taxes prepare federal income tax returns on which he claims fraudulent credits and deductions to purposely underreport the tax his customers owe and claim inflated refunds. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Brown prepared returns that claimed incorrect “head of household” filing status, false or inflated business expenses and losses, as well as false residential energy credits and education credits. Brown also, according to the complaint, claimed the false filing status, expenses, and credits to maximize his customers’ earned income tax credit (EITC), and he failed to follow the IRS’s EITC due diligence requirements. The government alleges in the complaint that Brown and Superior Taxes caused a tax loss of more than $5 million in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Elizabeth Duncan and Rachel Iacangelo are handling the case. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.


title: Political Operative Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Acting as Covert Agent of People’s Republic of China

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Yesterday, a San Bernardino County man, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, California, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner for the Central District of California to 48 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including while serving as the campaign advisor for a political candidate who was elected to the city council of a Southern California city. Sun pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. “For years, Sun received and executed taskings from Chinese government officials, distorted our public discourse by disseminating Chinese propaganda, and surveilled groups in the United States that China viewed as threatening its interests as part of a campaign of intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His conduct represents a brazen violation of our national sovereignty. This sentence reflects our commitment to prosecuting those who would extend the authoritarian reach of the Chinese government on U.S. soil." “When Americans vote for elected officials, they expect them to represent the interests of their constituents – not those of a foreign adversary like the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “By exploiting his position as a campaign advisor, Yaoning Sun attempted to undermine our political processes and democratic institutions for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party. This sentencing underscores the unwavering commitment of the FBI and our partners to defending the homeland and holding accountable anyone who tries to subvert the will of American voters at the behest of our adversaries.” “Federal law enforcement will not allow hostile foreign nations to infiltrate the governance of our nation’s political bodies,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “The relentlessness of PRC intelligence operations in our country must be met by equal relentlessness on our part to secure, protect, and defend the United States.” According to court documents, from at least 2022 to January 2024, Sun knowingly acted within the United States as an agent of the PRC and officials of its government – without notifying the Attorney General, as required by U.S. law. At the direction and control of PRC government officials, Sun coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, “orchestrat[ing]” a team to help elect a politician identified in court documents as “Individual 1” to political office and promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States. Sun also closely surveilled the then-President of Taiwan during her April 2023 visit to Southern California, reporting directly to PRC officials on her movements. At the direction of PRC officials, from 2020 through 2023, Sun and Individual 1 worked together to operate a purported news website for the local Chinese American community. Sun and Individual 1 received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content. Throughout 2022, Sun also worked as the campaign advisor for Individual 1 who was running for a city council seat in a Southern California city. Individual 1 was elected to that city council in November 2022. In December 2022, Sun attended a meeting in Southern California with a group of other people, including Individual 1, whom PRC officials were told was a “team dedicated” to PRC interests, according to Sun’s plea agreement. In February 2023, Sun drafted a report for PRC officials to solicit additional money and taskings from the PRC government. Sun’s report summarized his personal experience, including his past service in the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military. In the report, Sun stated that he had worked in the United States to lead “delegations of U.S. dignitaries and cultural workers to China,” “persist in resisting any hostile forces that undermine the friendship of U.S.-China relations, and Chinese secessionist forces,” and, “most of all, during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, I orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council” for Individual 1, whom Sun called a “new political star,” Sun’s plea agreement states. Sun’s report described various issues concerning “anti-China forces” overseas, including opposition to independence for Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang as well as issues involving Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China. The report further proposed “using part of our Los Angeles organization’s professional core team,” to seek to counteract those forces, according to court documents. To that end, Sun’s report requested $80,000 from the PRC government to fund a pro-PRC demonstration at a Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Sun communicated with an official at the consulate general of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles regarding activities in Southern California related to Taiwan. In April 2023, President Tsai Ing-Wen of Taiwan visited Southern California. Sun sent real-time updates on President Tsai’s movements to a Los Angeles-based PRC consular official and sought approval from this official to publish an article about President Tsai’s visit on the website he operated with Individual 1. Sun also took photographs of individuals protesting in support of and opposition to President Tsai and sent those photographs to the consular official. “As an agent for the PRC, [Sun] worked covertly in the United States with his primary co-conspirator John Chen, a/k/a ‘Chen Jun,’” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Chen was a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite [Chinese Communist Party] functions, including military parades…[and] met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping . . . . Per his own report, and other communications between Chen and PRC officials, [Sun] served as Chen’s right-hand man in the United States for decades.” Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official. The FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the National Security Division prosecuted this case with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.