title: Council Bluffs Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs woman and man were sentenced on March 20, 2025 to federal prison for their roles in conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Heather Lee Vore, 34, and Nicholas Carl Thomas, 42, facilitated the distribution of methamphetamine in Council Bluffs, Omaha, and elsewhere. Vore sent money to a drug source of supply in Mexico, and recruited others, including Thomas, to communicate with the Mexican source of supply and send money to Mexico for meth. On January 16, 2025, Vore received a ten-year prison sentence, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. On March 20, 2025, Thomas received a twelve-year sentence, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department.


title: Camden County Man Admits To Distributing Methamphetamine And Fentanyl

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County man today admitted to distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced. Joseph Watson, 38, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, contrary to 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and (b)(1)(C), in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); and with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From June 2023 through October 2023, Watson conspired with Ian Dudley and others to distribute crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl in Camden County, Gloucester County, and elsewhere in southern New Jersey. During the course of that conspiracy, Watson sold approximately 927 grams of crystal methamphetamine and approximately 28 grams of fentanyl to an undercover federal agent. The counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2025. U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of L.C. Cheeks, Jr., with the investigation. Co-Defendant Ian Dudley is awaiting trial in this matter and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane in Camden. ### Defense counsel: Stanley King, Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins watson.indictment.pdf


title: Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ERIC HERMAN, 32, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to drug distribution and firearm possession offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, following two fatal overdoses involving fentanyl in 2021, both of which were believed to be connected to Herman, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stratford Police Department began investigating Herman’s drug trafficking activities. In May and June 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine from Herman. Herman was arrested on September 15, 2022. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a distribution quantity of cocaine, a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” with a laser sight attached, and additional rounds of ammunition. Herman’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug and firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Herman pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack”), fentanyl, and heroin, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Herman has been detained since his arrest. He has also pleaded guilty in state court to narcotics and manslaughter charges stemming from an overdose death investigation. The DEA’s HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.


title: Truck Yard Murderers Sentenced to Life in Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Three defendants were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping. James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, both of Miami, Fla., were sentenced to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Herbert Barr, 56, of Miami, the third defendant, was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentences come after Daniels and Rudolph were found guilty of all charges at trial on Dec. 17, 2024, and Barr pleaded guilty to kidnapping on Nov. 26, 2024. On Dec. 5, 2020, Daniels, Rudolph, Barr and other co-conspirators kidnapped three victims from a truck yard in Opa-locka, Fla. They bound and tortured the victims, duct-taped their eyes and threw them in the back of a rented van after stealing the victims’ drugs. They drove around the city for hours before taking the victims to an abandoned house in Opa-locka and attempting to execute them by shooting the three victims. Two of the victims died, while one miraculously survived. Daniels stole jewelry from one of the murdered victims, and all defendants benefitted by receiving drugs, money, or both, in exchange for their participation in the conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division announced the sentences. The FBI Miami Division Homestead Resident Agency, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau and DEA Homestead Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yara Dodin and Katie Guthrie prosecuted the case. This investigation was carried out by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The South Florida HIDTA, established in 1990, is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who, cooperatively, target the region’s drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations. The South Florida HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which sponsors a variety of initiatives focused the nation’s illicit drug trafficking threats. For more information regarding HIDTA visit https://www.dea.gov/operations/hidta . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-20431. ###


title: Two Plead Guilty to Roles in COVID-19 Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, William Powell, 34, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and Jasmine Spencer, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bank fraud. Powell and Spencer each received $15,625 in proceeds from criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, co-defendant Kisha Sutton conspired with Powell, Spencer, and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Sutton submitted a PPP loan application on Powell’s behalf on April 19, 2021, and a PPP loan application on Spencer’s behalf of May 27, 2021. Powell and Spencer were each listed as a sole proprietor hair stylist who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. Each application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, stating that the applicant had earned $75,000 in 2020. As part of their guilty pleas, Powell and Spencer admitted that they never earned $75,000 as a hair stylist in one year and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with their application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan. A PPP lender in Florida approved Powell’s loan application and a PPP lender in California approved Spencer’s. The $15,625 in proceeds from each loan was deposited in their respective personal bank accounts in late June 2021. Between June 30 and July 20, 2021, Sutton received $2,000 from Powell and $3,000 from Spencer as her shares of the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds. Powell and Spencer each transferred the money to Sutton using a digital wallet application. Powell and Spencer spent the remainder of their respective fraudulent loan proceeds on personal expenses. The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Powell is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2025, and Spencer is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2025. Each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Powell and Spencer each also owe $15,625 in restitution. Powell, Spencer, and Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, are among seven individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. The indictment against Sutton and the other defendants remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage, Jennifer D. Gordon, and Holly Wilson are prosecuting the case. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192. ###


title: Violent Crime Consortium Keeps Public Safety at Forefront

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – The Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium (NOVCC) recently brought together more than 100 regional law enforcement participants, representing more than 20 agencies, to take part in a region-wide initiative to discuss public safety. The annual event is hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio. The District covers the 40 northern-most counties in the state of Ohio, which is home to more than 5.7 million people. The violent crime consortium was established in 2007 through a Department of Justice grant to specifically address violent crime issues in eight Northern Ohio cities: Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo, and Youngstown. As the current top federal law enforcement officer for the District, Acting U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik provided welcoming remarks on the importance of the consortium’s work to keep crime off the streets. Photo courtesy of Jessica Salas Novak, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Consortium’s purpose is to prevent and reduce violent crime through the use of data-driven and evidence-based technologies,” said Skutnik. “NOVCC enhances our member agencies through skills training on accepted best practices and emerging technologies.” Subject-matter experts addressed several key topics at this year’s gathering including the importance of inter-agency data sharing and information to combat crime, promising law enforcement practices, and modern policing in the digital age. The USAO would like to acknowledge and thank the following for attending and participating in this year’s event: Event speakers representing Fordham University Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions Blacksburg, Virginia Police Department Brookhaven, Georgia Police Department Research Innovations, Inc. Law enforcement agencies represented Akron Police Department Avon Police Department The University of Akron Police Department Barberton Police Department Berea Police Department Canton Police Department Cleveland Division of Police Cuyahoga County Sheriff Elyria Police Department Lorain Police Department Mansfield Police Department Maple Heights Police Department North Royalton Police Department Put-in-Bay Police Department Sandusky Police Department Toledo Police Department Warren Police Department Westlake Police Department Youngstown Police Department State agencies Ohio Adult Parole Authority Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services Nonprofit agency Partnership for a Safer Cleveland Federal agencies ATF-Cleveland FBI-Cleveland U.S. Marshals Service-Cleveland U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Legal Policy For more information about the consortium, contact Thomas McCartney at 216-622-3955. Photo courtesy of Jessica Salas Novak, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Richland County Man Sentenced for Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jocobia Dozier-Eaddy, 37, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Dozier-Eaddy and others were responsible for shipping and selling cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl through the U.S. Postal Service from Arizona into South Carolina. During this investigation agents seized marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and counterfeit oxycodone pills. Agents were able to identify Dozier-Eaddy following his sale of counterfeit pills to an undercover agent. During the sale, Dozier-Eaddy sold the undercover agent 200 counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Following his identification, the agents learned that Dozier-Eaddy called the USPS to inquire about a package that had been seized by them. The package contained two individually wrapped packages containing over 900 grams of cocaine and 5 grams of crack cocaine. The package was supposed to be delivered that day. Dozier-Eaddy confirmed the package seized was the correct package and gave the correct tracking number, his cellular telephone number, and the correct address for delivery. During the time of this conspiracy, Dozier-Eaddy also wired money to the supplier of the drugs in Arizona, who was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations in a separate investigation in Arizona. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dozier-Eaddy to 46 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Clairton Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Tracey Smith, age 56, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2023, Smith was hired as a comptroller at a Pittsburgh engineering firm where she embezzled company funds for her personal use by issuing herself additional payroll checks to herself, making unauthorized credit card transactions with company credit cards, and by falsifying expense reports, all totaling approximately $673,556.80 in embezzled funds. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both as to each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smith.


title: Starkville Man Sentenced to Three Years for Possession and Sale of Illegal Glock Device

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

body_text: Oxford, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced today to three years in prison for possession and transfer of a “Glock switch,” which is a device that converts a semi-automatic handgun to fully automatic. According to court documents, Kylen Ingram, also known as “KTM Prime,” 22, previously pled guilty to possession and transfer of a “Glock switch” which constitutes a machinegun under federal law. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Ingram today to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Ingram was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing. U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson; and FBI Jackson Field Office Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Starkville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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: A Resident of Both Pittsburgh and Chicago Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of both Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Ashok Panigrahy, age 53, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from on or about November 21 through November 22, 2022, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Panigrahy knowingly possessed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Homeland Security Investigations (Pittsburgh and Chicago) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Panigrahy. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Brazilian Citizen Charged with Illegal Re-entry into U.S.


title: San Francisco Man Charged With Production Of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Ricci Lee Wynne on charges of producing child sexual abuse materials. Wynne made his initial appearance in federal court this morning. According to the indictment filed March 18, 2025, Wynne, 39, of San Francisco, allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing videos and/or images of the conduct on or about April 9, 2022, and Oct. 29, 2022. Wynne has been in federal custody since December 2024 following a report of a supervised release violation in another case. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on March 26, 2025, for a status conference before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Wynne is charged with two counts of production of child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Wistar Wilson and Eric Cheng are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa and Marina Ponomarchuk. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI appreciate the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department and HSI. Anyone with information relevant to this case can report it by contacting the FBI at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov. Ricci Lee Wynne Indictment


title: Defendant Who Failed to Surrender for Service of Prison Sentence Gets More Prison Time

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Tamara Smith, 39, of Detroit, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to surrender to the United States Marshal in Detroit for service of a prison sentence as ordered by the Court, announced Acting United States Attorney, Julie A. Beck. Beck was joined in the announcement by Megan Howell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. On June 26, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey sentenced Smith to imprisonment for 60 months for her convictions for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. At that time, Smith was out on bond. Rather than being taken immediately into custody to commence service of her 60-month sentence, Smith asked for more time on bond, assuring the Court she would voluntarily surrender for service of her sentence when ordered by the Court. The Court agreed to her request, ordering her to voluntarily surrender to the United States Marshal in Detroit on July 1, 2024. Smith acknowledged her obligation in court at the time of the sentencing hearing. Despite being aware of her representation to the Court that she would voluntarily turn herself in, Smith deliberately failed to self-surrender to the U.S. Marshal as ordered. On July 2, 2024, the Court issued an arrest warrant for Smith for failing to surrender. Smith failed to surrender as ordered, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service arrested her on July 18, 2024. Judge Grey’s 18-month sentence for failing to surrender as ordered will run consecutive to Smith’s underlying 60-month sentence for fraud and identity theft. “This case should send a message to anyone who deliberately chooses to violate a court order in a criminal case that you will be punished. Orders of courts must be respected and followed. This defendant violated the trust of the court and abused the criminal justice system - she needed to be held accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Beck. "Tamara Smith has been convicted multiple times of defrauding unemployment insurance (UI) programs that are intended to support unemployed American workers. Following her recent conviction and sentencing related to UI fraud charges, she failed to surrender as mandated and made efforts to avoid apprehension. This sentencing affirms the Office of Inspector General’s commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to circumvent the justice system,” said Megan Howell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The investigation of this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Corbett.


title: Shiprock Man Charged with Assault After Shots Fired at Pedestrian

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly fired multiple shots at an unsuspecting pedestrian. According to court records, on March 13, 2025, the Navajo Nation Police responded to a shots-fired report. Isaiah Benally , 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly fired multiple shots at a passerby who escaped unharmed despite bullets striking nearby. Benally was taken into custody by the Navajo Nation SWAT team after a brief standoff. Inside his residence, officers found body armor and firearm accessories. Benally has a history of arrests for aggravated battery and assault. Benally will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Benally faces up to 10 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Benally).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Defense Contractor MORSECORP, Inc. Agrees to Pay $4.6 Million to Settle Cybersecurity Fraud Allegations

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – MORSECORP, Inc. (MORSE), of Cambridge, Mass., has agreed to pay $4.6 million to resolve allegations that MORSE violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in its contracts with the Departments of the Army and Air Force. The settlement resolves allegations that MORSE submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment on contracts with the Departments of the Army and Air Force, and that those claims were false or fraudulent because Morse knew it had not complied with those contracts’ cybersecurity requirements. As part of the settlement, MORSE admitted, acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the following facts: From January 2018 to September 2022, MORSE used a third-party company to host MORSE’s emails without requiring and ensuring that the third party met security requirements equivalent to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Moderate baseline and complied with the Department of Defense’s requirements for cyber incident reporting, malicious software, media preservation and protection, access to additional information and equipment necessary for forensic analysis and cyber incident damage assessment; The contracts required that MORSE implement all cybersecurity controls in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, but from January 2018 to February 2023, MORSE had not fully implemented all those controls, including controls that, if not implemented, could lead to significant exploitation of the network or exfiltration of controlled defense information and controls that could have a specific and confined effect on the security of the network and its data; From January 2018 to January 2021, despite the contracts’ system security plan requirement, MORSE did not have a consolidated written plan for each of its covered information systems describing system boundaries, system environments of operation, how security requirements are implemented and the relationships with or connections to other systems; In January 2021, MORSE submitted to the Department of Defense a score of 104 for its implementation of the NIST SP 800-171 security controls. That score was near the top of the possible score range from -203 to 110. In July 2022, a third-party cybersecurity consultant notified MORSE that its score was actually -142. MORSE did not update its score in the Department of Defense reporting system until June 2023—three months after the United States served MORSE with a subpoena concerning its cybersecurity practices. “Federal contractors must fulfill their obligations to protect sensitive government information from cyber threats,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will continue to hold contractors to their commitments to follow cybersecurity standards to ensure that federal agencies and taxpayers get what they paid for, and make sure that contractors who follow the rules are not at a competitive disadvantage.” “We are pleased with today’s settlement, which further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army and Department of Defense,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Fraud Field Office. “We’re committed to protecting the warfighter and maintaining the Army’s operational readiness while holding those who engage in such acts accountable.” “Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors,” said Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). “AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information.” “Protecting the integrity of Department of Defense (DoD) procurement activities is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Failing to comply with DoD contract specifications and cybersecurity requirements puts DoD information and programs at risk. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of false claims on DoD contracts.” The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower to receive an $851,000 share of the settlement amount. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Berich v. MORSECORP, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-10130 (D. Mass.). The settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, DCIS and the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled by Brian LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien Mundele in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DOJ Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova.


title: Hardy County Man Admits to Federal Firearms Violation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Justin Ray Guessford, age 40, of Fisher, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Guessford, also known as “Justin Ray Gilbert,” was found with a .22 caliber rifle in Hardy County. Guessford is prohibited from having firearms because of prior malicious wounding and child neglect convictions. Guessford is facing up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Public Land Violations Douglas Wolfley, 49 of Fairview, Wyoming, was sentenced to a 10-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days served after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in Yellowstone National Park, his third DUI conviction in 10 years. He also pled guilty to possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. In addition to the term of incarceration, Wolfley was placed on 3 years of unsupervised probation, terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that period and was ordered to pay $3,050 in fines and court costs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 18, 2025. Angela Flaherty , 44, of Seattle, Washington was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration after pleading guilty to violating 36 CFR 7.13(j), which requires all foot travel in thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park be confined to marked trails or boardwalks. Ms. Flaherty left the boardwalk and viewing area surrounding Old Faithful geyser and walked approximately 10 feet onto the cone of Old Faithful. Some of her conduct was captured on video by another park visitor. In addition to the term of incarceration, Ms. Flaherty was ordered to pay $40 in mandatory court costs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 19, 2025. Yiyang Shen , 25 of Doraville, Georgia was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration and five years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park, after he drove off the designated roadway and parked his vehicle in a thermal area in Yellowstone. Mr. Shen was charged with operating a motor vehicle in a prohibited area in a manner that caused damage to park resources and foot travel in a thermal area not confined to any designated and marked trail or boardwalk. In addition to the terms of incarceration and probation, Mr. Shen was ordered to pay $1,050 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 12, 2025. Firearm Offenses Jeffrey Cletus Geist , 58, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 12, 2024, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office stopped Geist on his motorcycle for a traffic violation. A canine was deployed on the exterior of the motorcycle and immediately alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies located three bags of methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun. Geist is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was indicted on Sept.18, 2024 and pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on March 11 in Casper. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00157 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Antonio Pacheco-Bautista, 37, of Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. Upon release, the defendant shall be delivered to a duly authorized immigration official for deportation in accordance with the established procedures provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service Act. According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2024, Pacheco-Bautista, was arrested by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence and an open container. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined Pacheco-Bautista is not a United States citizen, had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. Pacheco-Bautista had a history of illegally re-entering the U.S. since 2009. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 21 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00025 Omar Pacheco-Alonso, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, with no term of supervised release. According to court documents, on Jan. 19, 2025, Pacheco-Alonso was arrested by the Gillette Police Department for driving while under the influence of alcohol. ICE determined Pacheco-Alonso is not a United States citizen, had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Pacheco-Alonso has a previous conviction for illegally re-entering the U.S. ICE investigated the crime. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 21 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00024 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Ottumwa Man Sentenced to 125 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – An Ottumwa man was sentenced today to 125 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in early 2024, Nolan Ryan Rork, 19, was on probation with the State of Iowa. In April 2024, Rork removed his electronic ankle monitor. In June 2024, law enforcement located Rork. While fleeing, Rork threw his backpack, which had two loaded firearms and more than 60 grams of methamphetamine. After completing his term of imprisonment, Rork will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and the Ottumwa Police Department. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Romanian Men Indicted  For Card Skimming

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DANIEL IULIAN TEUTOC (“TEUTOC”) , a/k/a “Simon Mikula,” and CONSTANTIN CALIN (“CALIN”) , citizens of Romania, were charged on March 21, 2025, in a nine-count indictment for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1344, and 1349; conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 1029(a)(3) and 1029(a)(4); and seven counts of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3). According to the indictment, TEUTOC and CALIN went to Walmart stores across the Eastern District of Louisiana, including Laplace, Slidell, Harvey, Boutte, Chalmette, and New Orleans. TEUTOC and CALIN captured card information at different the points of sale, from card skimming devices that had been previously installed by other members of the conspiracy. TEUTOC and CALIN used magnets to activate the card skimmers and send the card information electronically to TEUTOC and CALIN’s cell phones. After gaining possession of the Walmart customer’s credit, debit, and EBT card information, TEUTOC and CALIN sent the information to another co-conspirator with the intent to allow members of the conspiracy to make fraudulent charges with the stolen card information. If convicted of the conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, TEUTOC and CALIN face up to 30 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. If convicted of the conspiracy to commit access device fraud, TEUTOC and CALIN face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. If convicted of possession of unauthorized access devices, TEUTOC and CALIN face up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each count, TEUTOC and CALIN, individually, face payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, New Orleans Police Department, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, and St. John the Baptist Parish’s Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit, Nicholas Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator, and André Jones, lead OCDETF Narcotics Task Force Attorney, are in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). * * *


title: Woodbury Man Pleads Guilty in Child Sextortion Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Timothy Lennard Gebhart, a Woodbury man, has pleaded guilty to the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and for coercing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, on multiple occasions between approximately July 10, 2021, and March 11, 2022, Timothy Lennard Gebhart, 38, coerced a 16-year-old child, Minor A, and a 14-year-old, Minor B, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing pornographic videos. After obtaining the images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, Gebhart distributed the videos via computer and cellular phone. Gebhart then used the pornographic videos to extort money and other items of value from Minor A, threatening to damage the victim’s reputation by sending nude photos and videos to their family and friends. Gebhart pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today before Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to two counts of child pornography production, one count of child pornography distribution, and one count of interstate communication with the intent to extort. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date. Gebhart faces a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence. “Sextortion—threatening to share explicit images of a victim unless they comply with a predator’s demands—is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “All too often, our children become victims of these monstrous schemes. My office will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.” 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Woodbury Police Department, Greene County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police, and the FBI, with assistance from the Owatonna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen is prosecuting the case.


title: Fort Eisenhower woman pleads guilty to murder in child’s death

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A U.S. Army spouse at Fort Eisenhower awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to the stabbing murder of her infant son. April Evalyn Short , 31, of Fort Eisenhower, pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The negotiated plea agreement subjects Short to a sentence of 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release following her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. As described in the plea agreement, on Nov. 15, 2023, at Fort Eisenhower, Short killed her 11-month-old son “willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought,” using a knife. Short remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. “This plea is a testament to the outstanding investigative efforts of our Army CID personnel, particularly the child forensic interview team, as well as the dedication of the DOJ prosecution and Victim Advocacy teams, and is indicative of our commitment to ensure justice for victims of heinous crimes such as this,” said Steven Ausfeldt, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Southeast Field Office. “Army CID will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who would harm the most innocent members of our communities, and to hold them fully accountable for their actions.” “April Short will now have 20 years to think about her heinous actions,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This plea cannot undo that tragedy and loss, but brings another measure of justice to those who knew and loved the child during his short life.” The case is being investigated by Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Patricia G. Rhodes. For any questions, please call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.


title: Woodbury Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Armed Robbery

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Alfonso Lee Seals, a Woodbury man, has been sentenced to 182 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon and interfering with commerce by robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, on June 14, 2023, Minneapolis police responded to a 911 call reporting a shootout between two cars along University Avenue Northeast. Responding officers found an abandoned car crashed into a utility pole. On the floorboard of the driver’s seat, law enforcement discovered a Glock model 27 .40 caliber pistol with a “switch” or “auto-sear” attached to it, making it fully automatic. Forensic testing confirmed that that the defendant, Alfonso Lee Seals, 28, possessed the pistol. On November 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s brother’s home where they recovered a Taurus model G2S 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, which had been reported stolen from Mounds View, Minnesota, in October 2022. Forensic testing confirmed that the defendant possessed that pistol as well. On October 17, 2023, the defendant and an accomplice robbed a convenience store at gunpoint in Oakdale, Minnesota. Security camera footage showed the defendant ordering the victim cashier to his knees, placing a semiautomatic firearm to the cashier’s back, forcing him to open a cash register, and repeatedly threatening to kill the cashier during the robbery. On December 23, 2024, Seals pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm as a felon and one count of interfering with commerce by robbery. In his plea agreement, Seals admitted that he knowingly and willingly possessed both firearms and that he possessed the Glock in connection with two other felonies—felony drive-by shooting and intentionally discharging a firearm under circumstances that endanger the safety of another. He also admitted that he and his accomplice robbed the convenience store at gunpoint and threatened to kill the victim cashier. Because Seals has multiple prior felony convictions for assault in both Hennepin and Dakota Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. “Minnesotans should have no tolerance for armed and violent career criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “This behavior is shocking and unacceptable. My office will continue to hold Seals—and others who would terrorize our community—accountable.” Seals was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Donovan W. Frank. This case is the result of an investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Oakdale Police Department, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Announces Anticipated Distribution of at Least $2B to Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism in 2026

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Today, Special Master Mary Patrice Brown announced that she will authorize sixth-round payments for all eligible claims in the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) by Jan. 1, 2026. The Fund, which continues to collect deposits, anticipates that the sixth distribution will be at least $2 billion. The amounts available for this distribution come from qualifying federal enforcement actions and the termination of the Beirut barracks / Khobar Tower reserve fund. “It is a privilege for the Criminal Division to administer the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which has provided more than $7 billion to victims of state sponsored terrorism since its founding,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement of a distribution of at least $2 billion to victims in 2026 is the largest general distribution in the Fund’s history and will make a significant difference in victims’ lives. Victims are at the heart of everything we do at the Criminal Division, and we are proud to support them through our administration of the Fund.” The Fund was established by Congress and is administered by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), under the leadership of the Fund’s Special Master. To date, the Fund has paid more than $7 billion to thousands of victims of state sponsored terrorism and their families in five rounds of distributions and two rounds of lump-sum catch-up payments. The anticipated distribution announced today is in addition to these prior distributions. Apart from an initial appropriation of approximately $1 billion from Congress and additional congressional appropriations for lump-sum catch-up payments, funds available for distribution come from certain Justice Department prosecutions and cases and other United States government enforcement actions. The Fund continues to accept applications from potential new claimants. As the Special Master announced, the deadline for new claimants to submit applications to be considered for sixth-round payments is June 1. Claimants who were eligible for payments in prior rounds remain eligible for the sixth distribution and should not complete new applications. More information about the Fund’s compensation to victims of state sponsored terrorism is available on the Fund’s website at www.usvsst.com , including application materials, frequently asked questions, and publications.


title: Armed robber sentenced to over 12 years in prison

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesterfield man was sentenced today to 12 years and three months in prison for armed robbery. According to court documents, on April 22, 2023, two victims were robbed at gunpoint on Dunston Avenue in Richmond. The victims described the incident and the robber to police, who then located surveillance cameras that captured a suspect vehicle. Police identified the vehicle as a four-door Acura with a moon roof and distinctive stickers on the two rear passenger windows. They also identified the license plate and determined that the Acura was registered to the girlfriend of Kumkio Leftha Martin, 31. The next day, Martin entered a convenience store in Chesterfield, pointed a gun at the victims inside, and demanded money and cigarettes. He took the victims’ iPhones as well as a bag containing a laptop, payroll checks, credit cards, cash, and car keys. Footage from a nearby camera showed a sedan resembling the Acura. On May 4, 2023, Martin entered a tobacco store in Richmond and, while brandishing a firearm, demanded money and vaping products from a store employee. Martin's girlfriend was also in the store. About two minutes after Martin fled, the Acura with the distinctive stickers on the passenger side rear windows drove past the store. Police located Martin and the vehicle and performed a felony traffic stop. Law enforcement later performed a search of Martin’s girlfriend’s residence and located the firearm the defendant used in the May 4, 2023, robbery. On Nov. 12, 2024, Martin pled guilty to armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence related to the May 4, 2023, robbery. As a part of his plea, the defendant also admitted to committing the April 23, 2023, robbery. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Anthony and Vetan Kapoor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-150.


title: Evolutions Flooring Inc. and Its Owners to Pay $8.1 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Evaded Customs Duties

component: Civil Division

body_text: Evolutions Flooring Inc. (Evolutions), a South San Francisco, California-based importer of multilayered wood flooring, and its owners, Mengya Lin and Jin Qian, have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly evading customs duties on imports of multilayered wood flooring from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The settlement is based on Evolutions’ and its owners’ ability to pay. “Import duties provide an important source of government revenue and level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers against their global competitors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets, including by evading the duties owed on goods imported into this country from China.” To enter goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and the amount of duties owed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects applicable duties, including antidumping and countervailing duties assessed by the Department of Commerce and Section 301 duties imposed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Antidumping duties protect against foreign companies “dumping” products on U.S. markets at prices below cost, while countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. Section 301 duties similarly protect U.S. industry by imposing trade sanctions on foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in other unreasonable acts that burden U.S. commerce. During the relevant time period, PRC-manufactured multilayered wood flooring products were subject to antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties. The settlement resolves allegations that Evolutions, at the direction of Lin and Qian, knowingly and improperly evaded customs duties, including antidumping, countervailing, and Section 301 duties, on multilayered wood flooring manufactured in the PRC that Evolutions imported between Sept. 1, 2019 and July 31, 2022. Among other things, the United States alleged that Evolutions caused false information to be submitted to CBP regarding the identity of the manufacturers and country of origin of the imported multilayered wood flooring. “The outcome of this case demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and its CBP partners will continue to safeguard the nation’s economic well-being,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally for the Central District of California. “Fraud in international commerce deprives the United States of vital revenue and creates an unfair advantage over businesses that operate legitimately. The settlement sends a message that we will not stand aside when companies try to cheat the system.” “The team at CBP was instrumental in providing expertise and logistical support to this investigation,” said Director of Field Operations Cheryl M. Davies of the CBP Los Angeles Field Office. “Through its efforts, which included a site visit to factories in Thailand, review of identified shipments by CBP experts on multilayered wood flooring, an analysis of import records and data by Office of Trade Regulatory Audit, and involvement in interviews with witnesses, CBP contributed to a successful outcome in this matter.” The settlement with Evolutions and its owners resolves a lawsuit filed by Urban Global LLC under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California and is captioned United States ex rel. Urban Global LLC v. Struxtur Inc. et al. , No. CV20-7217 (C.D. Cal.). As part of today’s resolution, relator Urban Global LLC will receive approximately $1,215,000 of the settlement proceeds. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Chief Counsel, West Region and Trade Regulatory Audit and the Center of Excellence and Expertise for Industrial and Manufacturing Materials within CBP’s Office of Trade. Senior Trial Counsel Christelle Klovers of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Desmond Jui for the Central District of California handled the case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Former Smyrna Detective Sentenced to 10 Years in  Federal Prison for Coercion/Enticement of a Minor

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Kealty, of Magnolia, Delaware, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to 10 years in federal prison for his crime of coercing and enticing a minor into sexual activity. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews issued the sentence. According to Court documents, Mr. Kealty met a 16-year-old girl online and groomed her for six months into producing sexually explicit images and videos of herself. At one point Mr. Kealty threatened to expose the girl’s images to the public if she did not continue to perform for him. Mr. Kealty’s online accounts also showed his attempted exploitation of additional, unidentified minor girls, including a 13-year-old. Mr. Kealty—a former detective with the Smyrna Police Department—was charged in October 2023 with Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. On October 15, 2024, Mr. Kealty pleaded guilty to an enhanced charge of Coercion/Enticement of a Minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson stated, “Mr. Kealty betrayed his oath, his badge, and his community by exploiting the most vulnerable members of our community, our children. Today’s sentence sends a message that no one is above the law. I commend the FBI for their diligent pursuit of justice in this case and for ensuring that child predators like Mr. Kealty are brought to justice.” “There is absolutely no tolerance for any actions that hurt a child. Kealty’s crimes are especially egregious considering he swore to protect our communities and children,” says Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “Delaware is safer with him locked up where can no longer victimize or abuse anyone else.” This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Marion Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Misspending Money from Special Needs Trust

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who spent nearly all of the funds in a special needs trust on her own expenses pled guilty on March 20, 2025, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Megan Middaugh, age 39, from Marion, Iowa, was convicted of wire fraud. In a plea agreement, Middaugh admitted that in September 2019 she petitioned a state court for the authority to, among other things, settle a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of the victim and establish a special needs trust for the victim. The court granted her petition in October 2019. In February 2020, Middaugh opened a checking account as the medical assistance special needs trust for the victim and funded it with $67,070.50 from the lawsuit settlement. Middaugh was the trustee on the account. Thereafter, Middaugh spent nearly all of the funds in the trust on her own personal expenses, including gambling. Between February 2020 and January 2021, Middaugh spent $52,000 of the trust funds on online gaming. Middaugh failed to file required annual accountings of the trust in 2020, 2021, and 2022 with the state court. After appearing at a compliance hearing with the court, Middaugh created and filed false reports that appeared to show regular expenditures on the behalf of the victim. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Middaugh remains free on bond previously set. Middaugh faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by Marion Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-0089. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Hartford Man Charged with Narcotics Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen P. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a three-count indictment charging JOSE BARET, 33, of Hartford, with narcotics trafficking offenses. The indictment was returned on January 29, 2025. Baret appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on separate charges. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Baret was arrested on related state charges on April 10, 2024. On that date, a search of Baret’s vehicle and a hotel room he used revealed a distribution quantity of fentanyl, and a search of his residence on Goodrich Street in Hartford revealed quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The indictment charges Baret with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin. Each offense carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Larceny

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on March 24, 2025. Zyin Wright, age 22, was sentenced to time served from his arrest on March 27, 2024, through March 24, 2025, equal to approximately one year in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wright was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,124.47. Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on December 16, 2024. The conviction stems from conduct that occurred in March of 2024. On the evening of March 26, 2024, Wright stole a motor vehicle from a residence in Rapid City. He then drove the vehicle to Mission, South Dakota, in the Rosebud Indian Reservation. The vehicle was reported stolen on the morning of March 27, 2024, and it was located in Mission a short time later with the assistance of vehicle-tracking software. Wright was arrested in Mission later that day. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.


title: Arizona man gets life in prison for kidnapping victim and sexually exploiting minors

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – An Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting his victim at gunpoint as he transported her across state lines. A federal judge also sentenced the defendant to 95 years in prison for other related crimes, to be served concurrent with his life sentence. Martin Brandon Gillen, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of transportation for criminal sexual activity, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. In late 2021, Martin Brandon Gillen began an online relationship with a minor female who was then 17 years of age. He persuaded her to take and send him sexually explicit images and videos which he kept and later used to threaten the victim. Over the course of the online relationship, Gillen repeatedly made violent threats against the victim. In March 2024, Gillen traveled to Illinois to pick up the victim then transported her across state lines, from Illinois to Missouri to Kansas. During this trip, Gillen sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Gillen and the victim were found in Kansas by officers with the Iola Police Department. In his possession, Gillen had a firearm, multiple magazines, and zip ties. Gillen admitted to officers that his cell phone contained child sexual abuse materials. Subsequent examination by law enforcement revealed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse materials on his cell phone, as well as sexually explicit images of the female from when she was 17 years old. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also found images of Gillen sexually abusing an unrelated 4-year-old child from Utah on the phone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Iola Police Department, the New Baden, Illinois Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood 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, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Burglarizing a Kern County Post Office

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — Shawn Van Dixon, 39, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez for burglarizing a U.S. Post Office in Caliente, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, on Oct. 28, 2023, Van Dixon forcefully broke into the U.S. Post Office in Caliente by smashing in a glass door with a black hatchet. Van Dixon broke in just before working hours when the post office was empty. Once inside he stole several mail items, including envelopes, letters, and packages, from P.O. boxes and other locations belonging to more than 10 victims before driving off in a stolen truck. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.


title: Corpus Christi jury convicts Cuban national for transporting illegal aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 52-year-old Cuban citizen lawfully residing in Jacksonville, Florida, has been convicted for transporting seven illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The federal jury deliberated for under two hours before finding Jorge Grimon Maturell guilty following a less than two-day trial. On Nov. 1, 2024, Maturell drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a tractor-trailer. After a K-9 alerted to the vehicle, authorities directed him to secondary inspection. At that time, they discovered three individuals hiding in the corner of the sleeper area and four underneath a mattress. All seven were illegal aliens with no authority to be in the United States. The jury heard that authorities also found $20,684 in his possession and discovered communications between Maturell and others discussing transporting people for approximately that same amount of money Maturell claimed an unknown person at a gas station in Edinburg had threatened him earlier that day to smuggle the illegal aliens. The investigation revealed no evidence he had stopped at the specified gas station at all that day. The jury also heard Maturell directed the illegal aliens where to hide when entering his vehicle and to not make any noise when they arrived at the checkpoint. Testimony further revealed Maturell made no stops after the aliens got into the vehicle before arriving at the checkpoint. The defense attempted to convince the jury he transported the illegal aliens under duress. Maturell took the stand and admitted his original statement of being threatened in Edinburg was not true, but that he was really threatened in Laredo. He claimed he was directed to travel to McAllen where he then picked up the illegal aliens and proceeded to travel north through the checkpoint. The jury did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge David Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for June 25, at which time Maturell faces up to five years in federal prison. Previously released on bond, Maturell was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Patrick Overman are prosecuting the case.


title: Court Sentences Felons for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition in Project Safe Neighborhoods Cases

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. At the core of PSN is setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announces the following PSN prosecutions that resulted in sentences in the beginning of 2025. Arturo Talamantes , 31, of Fresno, was sentenced today to four years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Dec. 16, 2023, police responded to a 911 call from a crowded bar in Fresno reporting a man with a gun. When officers arrived, Talamantes had a loaded black Kahr P40 handgun that he carried through the crowded bar, ignoring officer commands to stop. Once inside, he hid the gun in a hallway storage area where officers found and seized it. Talamantes is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for manufacturing a short-barreled rifle and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. **** David Diaz , 48, of Bakersfield, was sentenced on March 3, 2025, to eight years and eight months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2023, Diaz and co-defendant Jesus Alejandro Lopez , 47, of Bakersfield, drove to Fresno after agreeing to sell 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Both men were armed when they arrived. Shortly after arriving, police arrested the men and seized a stolen Rock Island Armory .45 caliber handgun loaded with seven rounds from Diaz. Diaz is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to three prior felony convictions involving possession and transportation of a controlled substance and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. On March 10, 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on June 23, 2025. Lopez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. **** Tionte Beard , 25, of Fresno, was sentenced on March 3, 2025, to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, on Oct. 28, 2023, police conducted a probation compliance check at Beard’s apartment after Beard posted pictures of guns on his social media. Police seized an Anderson Manufacturing model AM-15 .223-caliber rifle, a Sig Saur model P320 9 mm handgun, and several rounds of ammunition hidden in a laundry basket in a closet. Beard is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions for carjacking, illegally possessing a firearm, and inflicting corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. **** Amed Taylor Muhammad , 24, of Fresno, was sentenced on Jan. 13, 2025, to two years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Sept. 26, 2023, police responded to reports of a shooting in southwest Fresno near a high school and middle school. Officers stopped Muhammad near the location of the shooting after eyewitnesses spotted him from the location with others while holding something in his waistband. After a brief struggle, officers detained Muhammad and seized a loaded black Taurus PT140 G2, .40 caliber pistol from his front waistband. Muhammad is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, vehicular theft, and illegally possessing a firearm. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple. **** Felix Alejandro , 38, of Delano, was sentenced on Jan. 6, 2025, to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on Aug. 2, 2023, police pulled Alejandro over for violating traffic laws. Alejandro consented to a search of his car and police found a 0.40 caliber semi-automatic Polymer 80 pistol wedged between the driver’s seat and center console. The handgun was loaded with 10 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Alejandro was on federal supervised release for a prior drug trafficking felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was the product of an investigation by the Delano Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Jeffrey A. Spivak prosecuted the case. These cases are 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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: Missoula man sentenced to ten years in prison for trafficking meth and fentanyl

body_text: MISSOULA — A Missoula man who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Andrew David Ambler, 27, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that on May 24, 2024, Ambler was arrested by members of the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force on a parole violation for suspected drug trafficking and firearm-related offenses. Prior to being taken into custody, Ambler attempted to flee on foot while trying to get to his vehicle and discarded a backpack and a bag that were on his person. The backpack and bag contained a loaded .22 caliber pistol, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. A search of Ambler’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills, which he admitted he intended to distribute. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . XXX


title: Missoula woman sentenced to thirteen years in prison for trafficking meth and fentanyl

body_text: MISSOULA — A Missoula woman who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 156 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Emily Svoboda, 31, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that on November 23, 2022, a confidential source purchased 100 fentanyl pills from Svoboda for $600. The source asked Svoboda if she had any “clear” – a slang term for meth – and Svoboda said she did not currently but likely would be resupplying later in the evening. The confidential source asked for a “roll” of fentanyl pills (100), and Svoboda said she could provide that. Svoboda had a bag of approximately 200 pills but was not willing to sell all of them. Five days later, on November 28, 2022, the confidential source purchased 26.5 grams of methamphetamine and 50 fentanyl pills from Svoboda for $1,000. And on December 9, 2022, Svoboda sold the source 53.7 grams of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills for $1,400. A review of Svoboda’s Facebook pages revealed messages related to drug transactions and she admitted to law enforcement she sold drugs. She said she received between two and four ounces of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator every two to four weeks from roughly September to December 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF, Missoula Police Department, and Missoula HIDTA conducted the investigation. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . XXX


title: Native of Guatemala arrested, charged with making a false statement

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gendry Amilcar Niz-Niz, 25, a native of Guatemala, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Henning and Sasha Mascarenhas, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 16, 2025, Niz-Niz was pulled over on Main Street in the City of Lockport for numerous vehicle and traffic violations. The Lockport Police Department requested assistance from U.S. Border Patrol personnel after Niz-Niz provided a foreign identification document. He presented an identification card appearing to have originated from the Republic of Guatemala Department of Transportation, bearing the name Juan Martinez-Chavez. When asked his name and country of citizenship by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, Niz-Niz responded “Juan Martinez.” The photo on the identification card matched the defendant. An immigration check utilizing the name and date of birth listed on the identification card did not show any documentation of a legal entry into the United States. In addition, Niz-Niz admitted to entering the U.S. illegally and stated that this was the first time he had been encountered or arrested by immigration authorities. Niz-Niz was then taken into custody. Further investigation determined that Niz-Niz had previously been arrested under the name Gendry Amilcar Niz-Niz in Tucson, Arizona in November 2021. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steven Abbott and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Pittsford father and son facing multiple fraud and ID theft charges in Rochester area credit card scam

body_text: ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Talib Hussain, 74, and Mirza Khan, 46, both of Pittsford, NY, were charged by criminal complaint with bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, since January 2015, JP Morgan Chase, Discover Financial Services, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Bank of America, Barclay Bank, US Bank, Capital One and American Express have identified fraudulent credit card activity in the Rochester area. A high number of newly issued credit cards were charged to their maximum credit limit and almost all the cards had no valid payments applied to the accounts. The investigation determined that several of the credit cards were connected. The credit cards were applied for using an actual social security number but a fabricated name and date of birth to create a new, or “synthetic” identity, which was then used to acquire lines-of-credit used by the creator and/or his co-conspirators to make fraudulent purchases until the credit limit was reached. Some of them were used to pay property taxes to the City of Rochester and the Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation bills for properties in Rochester, including Lucky Beverage on Norton Street, Chili Express on Chili Avenue, and Easy (EZ) Food Market on Plymouth Avenue. A total of 32 different fraudulent credit cards were used to make periodic online property tax payments for the three properties between 2016 and 2022, totaling approximately $163,000. Further investigation determined that Lucky Beverage and Chili Express are owned by Mirza Khan, while Easy Food Market is owned by Khan’s father and co-defendant Talib Hussain. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Harry Chavis, Acting Executive Special Agent in Charge, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Rensselaer County Man Admits to Distributing Methamphetamine

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Justin Zimmer, age 45, of Wynantskill, New York, pled guilty today to distributing methamphetamine. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. Zimmer admitted to distributing over 5 grams of pure methamphetamine in Albany County, on or about January 14, 2022. Zimmer is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on July 28, 2025. He faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. ATF investigated the case with the assistance of the New York Police Department High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Troy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting the case.


title: Wilburton Resident Sentenced For Illegal Firearm Possession

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Teresa Louise Lightfoot, age 51, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Lightfoot pleaded guilty to the charge on November 8, 2024. According to investigators, on September 28, 2023, Lightfoot knowingly possessed a .40 S&W caliber semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. 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. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lightfoot will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.