title: Founders Of Samourai Wallet Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Sentenced To Five And Four Years In Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, Nicolas Roos announced today the sentencings of KEONNE RODRIGUEZ and WILLIAM LONERGAN HILL, the co-founders of Samourai Wallet (“Samourai”), a cryptocurrency mixer that facilitated over $237 million in illegal transactions. RODRIGUEZ, the Chief Executive Officer of Samourai, and HILL, the Chief Technology Officer, participated in a conspiracy to operate a money transmitting business in which they knowingly transmitted criminal proceeds. The over $237 million dollars of criminal proceeds laundered through Samourai came from, among other things, drug trafficking, darknet marketplaces, cyber-intrusions, frauds, sanctioned jurisdictions, murder-for-hire schemes, and a child pornography website. RODRIGUEZ and HILL were respectively sentenced to five and four years in prison. U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote sentenced RODRIGUEZ on November 6, 2025, and HILL on November 19, 2025. “The sentences the defendants received send a clear message that laundering known criminal proceeds—regardless of the technology used or whether the proceeds are in the form of fiat or cryptocurrency—will face serious consequences,” said Attorney for the United States Nicolas Roos. “These sentences reflect the harmful impact that money laundering services have on victims by making it virtually impossible for victims to recover their stolen funds. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who profit by helping criminals hide their criminal proceeds.” According to the Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court: Beginning around 2015, RODRIGUEZ and HILL began developing Samourai, a mobile application that was designed and operated as a service for transmitting criminal proceeds. The defendants engineered Samourai around two services specifically intended to conceal the nature of illicit transactions. The first, a Bitcoin mixing service known as “Whirlpool,” coordinated batches of Bitcoin exchanges between groups of Samourai users. Through this process, the original source of particular Bitcoin holdings became obscured within the blockchain’s transactional record, effectively preventing law enforcement agencies and cryptocurrency exchanges from tracing funds back to their origins. The second service, called “Ricochet,” enabled users to introduce additional and unnecessary intermediate transactions—known as “hops”—between sending and receiving addresses. This feature served a similar obfuscation purpose, making it substantially more difficult for monitoring entities to establish connections between cryptocurrency transfers and potential illicit activities. The scale of these operations was considerable: from Ricochet’s launch in 2017 and Whirlpool’s inception in 2019, more than 80,000 Bitcoin—valued at over $2 billion at the time—passed through these services. Samourai collected fees for both services, estimated to have a total value of more than $6 million. RODRIGUEZ and HILL actively promoted Samourai to criminal users and encouraged criminal activity. HILL marketed Samourai as a transmittal service for criminal proceeds on Dread, a darknet forum dedicated to discussing illegal marketplace activities. In one exchange on that platform, a user asked about the most “secure methods to clean dirty BTC” to make it “untraceable, clean” and ensure the user would “never get caught.” HILL responded by writing that “Samourai Whirlpool is a much better option” than a competitor service to “clean dirty BTC.” Similarly, in July 2020, RODRIGUEZ engaged in a Twitter exchange in which he personally encouraged the hackers of a social media platform to “feed” and “send” the criminal proceeds into Samourai’s Whirlpool. When the hackers ultimately used a different cryptocurrency mixing service to launder the proceeds of the hack, RODRIGUEZ and HILL expressed their disappointment. The defendants also had a clear understanding that Samourai was, in fact, used for money laundering. In a WhatsApp exchange, when asked to explain the concept of “mixing,” RODRIGUEZ described the process as “money laundering for bitcoin.” The defendant’s own marketing materials acknowledged that customers would include “Dark/Grey Market participants” moving proceeds from “illicit activity.” * * * In addition to their terms of prison, RODRIGUEZ, 37, of Harmony, Pennsylvania, and HILL, 67, a U.S. national who was arrested in Portugal at the request of the United States, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release. Judge Cote also ordered that RODRIGUEZ and HILL each pay a fine of $250,000. RODRIGUEZ and HILL have paid a total of $6,367,139.69 in forfeiture, representing the fees Samourai earned, in satisfaction of an order to forfeit $237,832,360.55, the larger sum representing the total traceable criminal proceeds for which Samourai executed transactions. Mr. Roos praised the investigative work of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). He also acknowledged the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Europol, the Portuguese Judicial Police, the Procuradoria-Geral da República, the Icelandic Police, and the FBI Field Office in Pittsburgh for their assistance in the investigation of this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the July 2024 extradition from Portugal of HILL. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan, David R. Felton, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Jury Finds Taos Man Guilty of First-Degree Murder and All Other Charges in Trial Related to Brutal 2023 Taos Pueblo Slaying

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Zebadiah Romero, 37, on all charges for the October 2023 premediated murder of a Taos Pueblo man with a single gunshot to the back of his head. The verdict came after a weeklong trial and less than a day of deliberation. According to evidence presented at trial, on October 30, 2023, Romero , a non Indian, shot and killed John Doe, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, inside John Doe’s residence on the Taos Pueblo. Romero had been evicted and banned from the Taos Pueblo prior to the murder. John Doe was discovered on November 4, 2023, after Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety officers conducted a welfare check and observed a blood trail leading from John Doe’s bedroom out the front door of the home. Officers later located John Doe’s body inside an adjacent abandoned and locked structure on the property, wrapped in bedding, covered with a tarp, and concealed by other items. The Office of the Medical Investigator determined that John Doe died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. At trial, the United States presented multiple pieces of evidence implicating Romero , including surveillance footage, witness testimony, and forensic evidence showing that Romero was with John Doe early on the morning of October 30 and was later seen driving John Doe’s truck and in possession of John Doe’s young dog after John Doe disappeared. Surveillance video placed Romero driving John Doe’s truck in both Taos and Albuquerque within hours of the killing and while disposing of evidence. Evidence also established that Romero returned to the property after the killing, moved John Doe’s body, and concealed it in the adjacent structure. Jurors further heard recordings of interviews Romero provided to the FBI after he was arrested in February 2024. In those interviews, Romero gave shifting and inconsistent accounts of the events inside the home but ultimately acknowledged shooting John Doe and described removing evidence from the scene, including the spent bullet casing and the firearm. Trial evidence also showed that Romero , a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed that firearm and later disposed of it. Romero admitted to stealing and later disposing of Doe’s truck. The jury found Romero guilty of first-degree murder, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and larceny of the victim’s truck. Romero will remain in custody pending sentencing. He faces mandatory life in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse E. Pecoraro and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case.


title: Child Predator Sentenced To More Than 16 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced William Isaak Sparks (24, Kalamazoo, Michigan) to 16 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity via the internet. After being released from prison, Sparks will be required to register as a sex offender. The court also ordered Sparks to forfeit a cellphone that was used in the offense. Sparks pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025. On two separate occasions in May 2024, Sparks encountered an online undercover FBI agent posing as the father of an 11-year-old daughter who was available for sex. Sparks described his desire to have sex with the purported child and asked the agent to purchase a bus ticket so that Sparks could travel from Michigan to Jacksonville to have sex with the purported child. Before Sparks could make the trip to Jacksonville, he was arrested trying to meet a different fictitious 11-year-old for sex in Michigan. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Township of Kalamazoo (Michigan) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison  for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025. James Jenkins, 35, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Jenkins was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025. The case arose on March 18, 2025, when Jenkins was involved in an incident with the Mitchell Police Department, during which officers conducted a search of his backpack, discovering a 9mm pistol. At that time, Jenkins knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was previously convicted of a felony offense in Arizona. This case was investigated by ATF, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Mitchell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Jenkins was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.


title: Naples Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Defraud The United States

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek has sentenced Alexis Garcia to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Garcia was also ordered to pay $4,262,797.34 in restitution to the IRS. Garcia pleaded guilty on August 18, 2025. According to court documents, Garcia conspired with his co-defendant to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding or impairing the IRS in ascertaining, computing, and collecting federal payroll taxes, specifically Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes (Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and federal income tax). Between 2017 and 2019, Garcia managed and directed the operations of Tape Drywall Services Inc., located in Naples, Florida. General contractors entered into agreements with Tape Drywall to provide workers for various construction contracts and provided checks in the name of Tape Drywall for payment. Garcia and his co-conspirator cashed the checks at a check cashing business and paid a fee out of every check cashed. Garcia and his co-conspirator provided cash to the foremen who used the cash to pay the workers. In total, Garcia and his co-conspirator cashed more than 3,600 checks totaling approximately $28 million. Garcia and his co-conspirator did not report the wages that were paid to the workers in cash to the IRS, and they did not withhold Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from those wages and pay them over to the IRS, as required by law. As a result, Garcia caused a loss to the United States of more than $4.2 million. In addition, Garcia and his co-conspirator’s scheme to defraud facilitated the avoidance of the higher cost of obtaining adequate workers’ compensation insurance for many workers on the work crews when they substantially misrepresented the amount of Tape Drywall’s payroll. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler of the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division.


title: November Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Andrew Scott Hastings. Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization; Illegal Possession and Transfer of Machineguns. Hastings, 25, of Tulsa, is charged with trying to provide firearm parts and machinegun conversion devices to a foreign terrorist organization. He is further charged with knowingly possessing and transferring machinegun conversion devices. The FBI Oklahoma City – Tulsa Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel, Matthew P. Cyran, and Elliot P. Anderson for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 25-CR-442 Carolyn Ann Su Honeycutt. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Honeycutt, 43, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-445 Jeremy Allen Townsley. Robbery in Indian Country; Bank Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft. Townsley, 46, of Sand Springs and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with taking keys and a truck from the victim by force and violence. He is additionally charged with fraudulently obtaining funds from the victim's bank account without permission and using the victim’s identity while committing a felony. The FBI and the Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-448 Julio Efrain Velasquez-Bravo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Velasquez-Bravo, 38, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-446


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Conspiring to Distribute at Least 75 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Desmond Jones, 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 13 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office; Chief Robert O. McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Secretary Carolyn Scruggs, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), and Chief Richard Worley, Baltimore City Police Department (BPD). According to the guilty plea, in 2023, multiple federal agencies partnered to investigate a Baltimore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) distributing large quantities of cocaine. In August 2023, investigators learned that Jones was a member of the DTO. Investigators identified Jones through his connection with Co-Conspirator 1 (CC-1), a California resident and DTO member. In August 2023, investigators surveilled CC-1’s activities at his Baltimore City residence. From August 15 to August 24, investigators observed numerous drug traffickers, including Jones, meet CC-1 with bags at the Baltimore City residence to participate in drug-trafficking activities. On August 16, Jones visited the residence and met CC-1 with a weighted-down bag. The next day, law enforcement observed CC-1 in possession of bulk currency and then investigators observed CC-1 drive to a bank where it appeared he made a deposit. Then on August 21, Jones again arrived at the Baltimore residence with another large, weighed-down bag. When Jones left the residence, the bag was substantially smaller in size. On August 24, CC-1 left Baltimore. After conducting these surveillances, law enforcement believed that while in Baltimore, Jones provided CC-1 with money for an upcoming drug shipment. A week after CC-1’s departure, a commercial airline notified investigators that CC-1 was traveling from California to Baltimore again. On August 30, investigators set up a surveillance team at Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) where they observed CC-1 arrive, rent a car, and then drive to his Baltimore City residence. Another group of investigators set up surveillance at Jones’s Timonium, Maryland, stash location. Law enforcement observed co-conspirators carrying large duffle bags of suspected drugs into the stash location. Prior to co-conspirators bringing the duffle bags to the stash location, Jones left the premises in his vehicle. Investigators observed Jones drive to CC-1’s Baltimore City house where he picked up CC-1. Investigators followed Jones and CC-1 to National Harbor, Maryland where Jones and CC-1 parked. CC-1 exited the vehicle and met with another co-conspirator, who arrived in a different car, at the “Park and Ride” lot next to the National Harbor. After the co-conspirators conversed, both vehicles left the lot. Jones and CC-1 traveled back to Baltimore, as investigators trailed behind, and then eventually arrived at the stash location in Timonium and parked. Jones and CC-1 exited the vehicle and removed the duffle bags. While Jones and CC-1 were removing duffle bags, investigators approached the two on foot and observed that one of the duffle bags contained a large tear. Law enforcement saw kilogram packages of drugs inside the bag. Authorities seized the duffle bags and detained Jones, CC-1, and another individual who was also at the Timonium stash location. The duffle bags contained 43 kilograms of cocaine. Investigators recovered another duffel bag and a backpack containing a total of 32 individual kilogram packages of cocaine from the stash location. Additionally, law enforcement discovered equipment used to process bulk drugs, including a kilo press, cutting agents, quick cappers, digital scales, and sifters. They also found two heat-sealed bags of suspected marijuana, cash, and a money counter, along with two firearms. The firearms were a .45 caliber Auto Springfield handgun with an obliterated serial number and a .45 caliber Taurus handgun. Authorities also recovered Jones’s personal documents, including a vehicle registration, bank statement, and mail in his name. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, HSI, IRS-CI, BCPD, DPSCS, and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin C. Miner who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025. Michael Lee Terveen, 39, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Terveen was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 4, 2025. The charges against Terveen stem from law enforcement discovering him and another man passed out in a vehicle outside of Sioux Falls. Minnehaha County Sheriff’s deputies eventually searched the vehicle and found approximately 77 grams of methamphetamine and a large amount of cash. They also found a gun on Terveen’s person. Investigators later learned that Terveen was working with others to obtain methamphetamine and then redistribute it in Sioux Falls. This case was investigated by United States Postal Investigations, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Terveen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Lewiston Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced on November 18 in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Kulmiye Abukar Idris , 35, to 18 months in federal prison to be served consecutively from a 42-month state prison sentence for Gross Sexual Assault. Following his terms of imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for three years. According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers stopped a vehicle operated by Idris for traffic violations. Officers searched the vehicle and found a handgun. Idris had previously been convicted in 2024 for gross sexual assault in Androscoggin County and was, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewiston Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office. Operation Take Back America : This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Federal Prison  For Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025. Louis Iron Cloud, 34, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Iron Cloud was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025. On April 18, 2025, law enforcement learned that Iron Cloud had carried a semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement recovered the rifle in a backyard where a witness had seen Iron Cloud shortly before. The rifle was found next to four high-capacity magazines. One of the magazines was loaded. Iron Cloud was previously convicted for a crime punishable beyond a year in prison. To possess a firearm or ammunition after such a conviction is a federal felony. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Iron Cloud was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Costa Rican drug trafficker sentenced to federal prison for importing cocaine into the Eastern District of Texas

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Costa Rican drug trafficker has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking cocaine into the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Rolando Alberto Vindas Abarca, 45, a Costa Rican citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for importation into the United States, and was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison, after being extradited to the United States, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on November 12, 2025. According to information provided at court, Vindas Abarca was a Costa Rican trafficker of cocaine responsible for coordinating maritime shipments of cocaine from Colombia to the United States. Telephone intercepts of Vindas Abarca revealed that he was responsible for more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that was destined for the United States, as well as for bribing Costa Rican naval officers to permit the shipments from being intercepted. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, Colombia worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and November 1, 2025, extradition from Colombia of Vindas Abarca. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Dallas Division. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson. ###


title: 10 Arrested in Federal Indictment Charging Olympic Athlete-Turned-Cocaine Trafficker with Ordering Murder of Witness in January

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Ten defendants have been arrested – and 11 total are in custody – pursuant to a nine-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charging a former Olympic snowboarder now on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, a Canadian criminal barrister, a reggaeton musician, a would-be gangland news website operator, and others in connection with the January 31 murder in Colombia of a federal witness in a separate criminal case. Ryan James Wedding, 44, a Canadian national residing in Mexico, the case’s lead defendant, is charged with overseeing the operations of a criminal enterprise – including by engaging in witness intimidation tactics such as murder – and enriching himself with the enterprise’s laundered drug proceeds. In March 2025, Wedding was placed on the FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. There is an increased $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or prosecution. The following defendants were arrested Tuesday as part of the second phase of a law enforcement action entitled “Operation Giant Slalom”: Deepak Balwant Paradkar, 62, a.k.a. "cocaine_lawyer," of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada; Atna Ohna, 40, of Laval, Québec, Canada; Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Allistair Chapman, 33, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, 35, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, 47, of Bogotá, Colombia; Yulieth Katherine Tejada, 36, of Orlando, Florida, who is legal permanent resident from Colombia; Edwin Basora-Hernandez, 31, a.k.a. "Edwin Hernandez" and "Ed Winter," of Montréal; Wilson Riascos, 45, of Cali, Colombia; and Rolan Sokolovski, 37, of Toronto. “The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “This week’s arrests underscore our resolve to root out and punish the wrongdoers involved in this criminal organization and serve as a warning for drug lord Ryan Wedding: If convicted, you will never see the outside of a prison ever again.” “Whether you’re a kingpin or a dealer on the street, anyone who sells drugs to our kids will be arrested and prosecuted,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Ryan Wedding controls one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in this world and works closely with the Sinaloa Cartel. We will not rest until his name is taken off the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, and his narco-trafficking organization lies dismantled.” “Today’s announcement is a culmination of the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners around the world to identify and dismantle violent gang and drug organizations,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Ryan Wedding and his associates allegedly imported tons of cocaine each year from Colombia through Mexico and onto the streets of U.S. communities. His criminal activities and violent actions will not be tolerated, and this is a clear signal that the FBI will use our resources and expertise to find Ryan Wedding and bring him and his associates to justice.” “Ryan Wedding’s athletic drive snowballed into a life of violence and, instead of conquering mountains, he mastered a deadly drug distribution enterprise and will continue to order murders while he enjoys protection by his cartel associates and others,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “‘Operation Giant Slalom’ is a dynamic international investigation and involves dedicated partners collaborating in multiple countries with the shared goal of capturing Wedding, finding justice for several murder victims – including a cooperating witness – and ridding communities in North America of deadly drugs.” “No one, not even a former Olympian, is above the law,” said Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. “We are increasing our reward offer to up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ryan Wedding. We are also offering rewards of up to $2 million each for the assassins behind the murder of his associate in Colombia.” “Today we’re exposing the network of associates and enablers behind Ryan Wedding – one of the most notorious criminals and narcotraffickers still evading justice,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley. “Treasury is joining with the FBI and the Department of Justice to cut Wedding and his criminal partners off from the U.S. financial system and help dismantle the network they rely on. Our goal is simple: make it difficult for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.” “International cooperation, such as our involvement in Operation Giant Slalom, is vital to our ability to stay ahead of organized crime,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme. “The RCMP and its international law enforcement partners work together closely, regularly sharing knowledge, technical expertise, and intelligence to enable us to collectively target the most serious organized crime groups that threaten our countries - no matter where they are operating in the world.” To eliminate threats and advance his enterprise’s interests, Wedding issued orders to murder various individuals, including an order to kill the victim, a witness in a 2024 federal narcotics case against Wedding, which resulted in the victim’s death. Wedding placed a bounty on the victim and enlisted the services of others to locate and kill the victim, who was shot to death in a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025. In the 2024 indictment, Wedding is charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise, assorted drug trafficking charges, and directing the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Caledon, Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another member of that family survived the shooting but was left with serious physical injuries. Also charged in the indictment unsealed today are 18 additional defendants, including Paradkar, a criminal barrister who advised Wedding to murder the victim so that Wedding would avoid extradition to the United States from Mexico on the 2024 federal criminal charges against him. Paradkar also provided Wedding with court documents and discovery to which he would not otherwise have access, and – through attorneys whose representation he secured – access to enterprise members and associates who either were arrested, indicted, or under investigation. Bal was the co-founder and co-operator of “The Dirty News,” a website that law enforcement seized pursuant to a federal warrant. In exchange for payment, Bal agreed to not post about Wedding and instead posted a photograph of the victim so that the victim could be located and killed. Basora-Hernandez, a reggaeton musician and citizen of the Dominican Republic, provided co-conspirators with the victim’s contact information for the purpose of helping Wedding and his criminal enterprise locate and murder the victim. Concurrent with Tuesday’s arrests, law enforcement has taken immigration action against associates of Wedding’s enterprise, including Latin pop artist Samantha Melissa Granda-Gastelu, 38, a Canadian national residing in Aventura, Florida, whose husband Nahim Jorge Bonilla, 37, has been indicted on separate murder conspiracy charges. Bonilla is in currently in federal custody, charged with drug trafficking crimes. An immigration action also is being initiated against Madeline Paradkar, 27, a Canadian national residing in Chicago who is an attorney and Paradkar’s daughter. Law enforcement continues to search for Wedding, and the following three defendants: Rasheed Pascua Hossain, 32, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Bianca Canastillo-Madrid, 37, of Mexico City; and Tommy Demorizi, 35, of Montréal, who is believed to be a fugitive in the Dominican Republic. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, Wedding – and the defendants charged in connection with the victim’s murder – would face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The FBI is investigating this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department, the United States Departments of State and Treasury – Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance was provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigation Miami and Chicago and U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Ontario Provincial Police, and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group ( Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol , Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales ). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, Colombia also provided significant assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Kenneth R. Carbajal of the Major Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Galatzan, Tara Vavere, and Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, TCOs, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Ryan Wedding poster is updated - https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/ryan-james-wedding Seeking Info – Getaway driver - https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/unknown-getaway-driver Collage of five wanted unknown suspects - https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/unknown-suspects Individual wanted posters: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/tommy-demorizi https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/bianca-canastillo-madrid https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/rasheed-pascua-hossain


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $174 Million Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JAMIE P. MCNAMARA ( “ MCNAMARA ” ) , age 50, of Missouri, was sentenced on October 23, 2025, to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare by unlawfully billing hundreds of millions of dollars in claims for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing. According to court documents, MCNAMARA operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders, MCNAMARA paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by MCNAMARA submitted over $174 million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. The government previously seized several luxury vehicles from MCNAMARA and over $7 million in bank accounts. While on pretrial release, MCNAMARA violated his bond conditions by, among other things, fleeing from an unrelated arrest and cutting off an ankle monitor. He was subsequently detained. U.S. District Judge Darrel J. Papillion sentenced MCNAMARA to the maximum sentence available, 10 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release upon his release. MCNAMARA was also ordered to pay over $55 million in restitution, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, and the $7 million seized by the government was ordered forfeited. “With this significant sentence, Judge Papillion showed that white collar criminals do not get special treatment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Medicare fraud targets vulnerable populations, and our office will continue seeking just punishment for business owners and professionals who abuse this crucial trust-based system to steal taxpayer dollars.” “Our health care system depends on honest billing and legal compliance. This defendant betrayed that trust, exploiting enrollees and draining millions from a system meant to help them,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to expose fraud and hold violators of the health care laws accountable.” “The FBI respects the Court’s decision to sentence Mr. McNamara to the maximum allowed by law considering his complete and total disrespect for the system and the patients he was entrusted to serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to expose fraudulent schemes like this one that steal from the American people and vital systems like Medicare.” HHS-OIG and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . ***


title: Waterville Man Sentenced for Making Interstate Threats

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced on October 7, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making threatening interstate communications. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Benjamin Brown , 47, to time-served, which is approximately 6 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Brown pleaded guilty on June 27, 2025. According to court records, on February 8, 2024, Brown posted comments on YouTube threatening to hunt down and kill illegal immigrants. In his comments, Brown said that no one could stop him from killing illegal immigrants, not even law enforcement. Federal agents had previously met with Brown on two separate occasions to discuss other comments he had posted online and warned him about the federal crime of interstate threats. “Words matter, and when those words are violent threats, the FBI takes them seriously,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “What Benjamin Brown did in threatening to hunt down and kill illegal immigrants was not only reprehensible but criminal, and he is now being held accountable. We will continue to work with our partners to identify and bring to justice those who use the internet to incite fear and threaten violence.” “There is no online safe haven for threats to kill others,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson. “Indeed, threats posted online can have a much broader impact than those made in person. No matter how frustrated or angry you are, don’t post threats to kill someone else unless you want law enforcement to show up and hold you accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the hard-working investigators from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service for their work on this case.” The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Waterville Police Department. Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations. ###


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors in Ponzi Scheme that Took in Over $27 Million

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Florida man has pled guilty to his part in defrauding investors through a company called Peoples Equity Group (PEG), an investment company based in Miami, Florida, that operated from 2021 to 2024. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today. Dakota A. Smith , 34 , of Miami, Florida, pled guilty on November 18, 2025, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to information presented in court, Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded investors by misrepresenting to them that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities. In fact, Smith and his co-conspirator knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies in marketed. As a part of the fraudulent scheme, Smith presented fraudulent financial documents which purportedly showed the financial success of the acquired companies while on monthly video calls with investors located across the United States, including investors in West Tennessee and abroad. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2026. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Ponzi schemes and crimes of dishonesty do not pay and will be exposed. This case represents our commitment to root out fraudulent schemes, protect investors, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victims.” "This elaborate investment fraud scheme defrauded investors of over $27 million," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate those who attempt to defraud unsuspecting Americans of their hard-earned money. It is thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI Memphis Resident Agency’s White Collar Crime Squad and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee that this scheme was detected and stopped.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant United States Attorney Scott P. Smith. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Oakmont Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred. PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 36 months of imprisonment on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Melvin Gaines, 30, of the Oakmont neighborhood of Pittsburgh, on November 12, 2025. According to the information presented to the Court, between March 2024 and July 2024, Gaines participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine by functioning as a redistributor of the controlled substances. In addition, Gaines was found to be in possession of two firearms, one of which was stolen; numerous magazines; and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Gaines is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gaines.


title: Director of Richmond homeless shelter pleads guilty to stealing funds designated for the shelter

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with her operation of a homeless shelter focused on women and children. According to court documents, Kia A. Player, 41, won a grant to operate an inclement weather shelter for homeless women and children in the Richmond metropolitan area, named RVA Sister’s Keeper. RVA Sister’s Keeper obtained over $995,000 in governmental funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Richmond to implement and operate the shelter. From August 2022 through April 2023, Player, RVA Sister’s Keeper’s director, fabricated and falsified at least 35 separate invoices for costs purportedly paid for the benefit of RVA Sister’s Keeper and its homeless residents, even though Player never made corresponding expenditures on RVA Sister’s Keeper’s behalf. Player submitted these fraudulent and inflated invoices for reimbursement to the City of Richmond, causing the city to improperly disburse funds to her. For example, Player submitted at least 21 separate inflated invoices claiming RVA Sister’s Keeper made payments to an entity called “VCM Catering Services” to provide breakfast and dinner at the homeless shelter. VCM Catering Services was a fictitious business, however, and Player had hired an acquaintance to provide breakfast and dinner for the homeless residents. Player’s acquaintance was a cafeteria manager at a Richmond City public school occasionally provided RVA Sister’s Keeper residents with food taken from the school’s cafeteria – food that had already been procured with other public funds. Player also fabricated invoices for bed bug treatment, laundry services, and cleaning services at RVA Sister’s Keeper that were never provided. Player fabricated invoices for purported renovations at the shelter, including repairs to the shelter’s roof and upgrades to the plumbing and the shower of the shelter, which she never actually performed. Player’s inflated invoice scheme caused $199,163 in actual losses to HUD and the City of Richmond. Player spent the fraud proceeds on personal expenses, including on a tattoo, airline tickets, a luxury Caribbean ferry ride in Miami Beach, furniture, and items at an antiques store. Player is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25, 2026, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and George Richardson, III, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea. The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Richmond provided substantial assistance with the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth is prosecuting 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. 3:25-cr-146.


title: New Kensington Resident Sentenced for Straw Purchasing of Multiple Firearms

body_text: This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred. PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to time served, to be followed by one year of home detention, on her three convictions for violating federal firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Barbara Miller, 33, on October 16, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, on three different dates during 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Miller acted as a straw purchaser when buying firearms from several federally licensed firearms dealers by stating that the firearms were being purchased for herself, when she was actually purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Miller.


title: Davenport Man Indicted For Intending To Distribute Over A Kilogram Of Cocaine

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Alexis Irnel Cintron Victoria (39, Davenport), a/k/a “Gordo,” with the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a cocaine. If convicted, Cintron Victoria faces a minimum penalty of five years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cintron Victoria that the United States intends to forfeit any assets used in the commission of the offense. According to court records, on November 6, 2025, officers from the Lakeland Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle Cintron Victoria was driving. During the stop, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. A wrapped brick-like object was found under a false bottom within the center console. It tested positive for the presence of cocaine. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Sarasota Police Department and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.


title: Sellersburg Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing More Than 460 False Returns

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: NEW ALBANY- Anita Marie Rodriguez Perez, 51, of Sellersburg, Indiana, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to five counts of Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Presentation of False and Fraudulent Tax Returns. Perez was also ordered to pay $1,954,673.30 in restitution. According to court documents, between 2021 and 2023, Rodriguez Perez owned and operated a tax preparation business in Clark County, Indiana, known as ChuliTodo. During that time, she prepared and submitted false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients to the Internal Revenue Service. Among other schemes, Rodriguez Perez submitted tax returns containing fabricated Schedule C forms (Profit or Loss from Business), falsely claiming the taxpayers operated businesses that incurred significant net losses. In reality, none of the taxpayers had operated a business during the relevant tax periods. Additionally, many of the fraudulent returns included inflated itemized deductions under Schedule A, particularly for medical and dental expenses. These schemes caused the taxpayers to receive refunds far larger than what they were entitled to. Between tax years 2020 and 2022, Rodriguez Perez prepared and filed approximately 463 fraudulent returns, resulting in a tax loss of $1,575,250. “Tax fraud undermines the integrity of our financial system and unfairly shifts the burden onto honest taxpayers,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “When tax preparers exploit their expertise to deceive the government, they not only violate the law—they betray the trust of their clients. These cases are complex and time-consuming to investigate, and the efforts of IRS-CI send a clear message: accountability applies to everyone.” The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Federal Law Enforcement Highlight Continuity of Operations During Government Shutdown

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

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- On Wednesday, November 19 th , federal law enforcement leaders from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, FBI Indianapolis, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives gathered at a roundtable discussion to highlight each agency’s accomplishments in maintaining public safety during the 43‑day government shutdown. “No matter the circumstances, our commitment to you does not waver. We are here every day- protecting communities, upholding the rule of law, and defending the safety and rights of Hoosiers,” said U.S. Attorney Wheeler. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners in Indianapolis and across the district. Despite going without pay for six weeks, they continued to safeguard our communities and uphold the rule of law with unwavering commitment.” “I could not be prouder of the men and women of the FBI who showed up every day during the shutdown because protecting the American people isn’t something we do only when it’s convenient - it’s our mission,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “Alongside our partners we continued investigations, responded to threats, and worked to keep our communities safe, even without receiving a paycheck. That’s what public service looks like.” “ATF protects America’s communities by confronting violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives and acts of arson. Our Special Agents concentrate on identifying and dismantling illegal firearms traffickers who fuel violence by arming prohibited persons, gang members, drug cartels, illegal aliens and terrorist organizations. Through advanced Crime Gun Intelligence (NIBIN, firearms tracing, and touch DNA), ATF partners with state and local law enforcement to investigate, identify, and prosecute violent offenders. At the same time, we safeguard lawful commerce and uphold the Second Amendment.” This commitment to justice was no more evident than in the Southern District of Indiana, where the attorneys and staff of the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as our federal partners, continued critical operations to keep Hoosiers safe. For the period between October 1st and November 12 th , 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) secured federal charges against 41 individuals : 19 for violent crime and firearms 13 for federal drug trafficking 6 for child sexual exploitation 3 for fraud The USAO also secured federal prison sentences against another 30 individuals: 12 for violent crime and firearms 12 for federal drug trafficking 1 for child sexual exploitation 5 for fraud The Civil Division safeguarded the interests of the federal government in both federal and state courts, resolving allegations of fraud against the public, including a $9.6 million health care fraud settlement under the False Claims Act and Anti‑Kickback Statute. The division defended the United States, its agencies, and employees in more than forty new lawsuits, enforced debts owed by criminal defendants, and pursued asset forfeiture actions that returned thousands of dollars to crime victims. The Appellate Division advanced key prosecutions, handling 11 appeals and managing 7 district court cases. These included affirming convictions of methamphetamine and fentanyl traffickers, a child molester in possession of child sexual abuse material, and an armed robber of a cell phone store. The division also litigated appeals involving a Sinaloa Cartel member smuggling drugs across the border, local drug dealers, a police officer convicted of assaulting detainees, a felon selling meth while armed, and a robber who stole $148,000 at gunpoint from an ATM worker. These cases, and many others like them, were successfully worked by the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals and state and local law enforcement partners while the government was shut down. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked law enforcement partners throughout the Southern District of Indiana and the paralegals, victim specialists, financial investigator, and federal prosecutors who work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. ###


title: Former Florida businessman sentenced to 46 months in prison for fraud

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Florida businessman was sentenced to 46 months in prison for defrauding clients in Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Ohio by inducing them to enter into loan agreements to finance construction projects and then causing more than $8 million in victim losses by misappropriating funds. According to court documents, David Ingram, 73, of Bristol, Pennsylvania (previously of Sanford, Florida and Cornelius, North Carolina), pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Ingram was founder and managing member of AltosGroups, LLC, which purported to have warehouse lines of credit with major international financial institutions. AltosGroups signed contracts with commercial real estate developers, agreeing to secure funding to finance construction projects. Ingram required that developers pay initial deposits to gain access to lines of credit he claimed his company maintained. In reality, AltosGroups had no such lines of credit. Ingram told victims that their deposits would be kept in an account specifically dedicated towards funding their respective construction projects. Instead, he diverted the money to accounts belonging to him or his wife and used it for personal expenses and other business purposes, including the transfer of $3 million to a Mexican financial institution. The defendant failed to fund the loans and did not return the deposits to the victims. “Schemes as shady as this one merit aggressive investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation,” said St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Mr. Ingram caused a great deal of financial loss to the four victims all to fill his own bank accounts with their hard-earned money. Now it’s time for him to be held accountable for his actions.” IRS Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka prosecuted the case. ###


title: Davenport Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Rodolfo Tellez Gutierrez, Jr., 23, threw a gun out of the window of a vehicle during a traffic stop. Review of Gutierrez’s phone revealed messages with the purchaser of the recovered firearm. After completing his term of imprisonment, Gutierrez will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Scott County Sherriff’s Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Rapid City Man Arrested During 2023 Sturgis Rally Anti-Sex Trafficking Operation Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2025. James Fast Horse, 47, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and $95 in restitution to the South Dakota Internet Crimes Investigation Fund. Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025. Fast Horse was arrested following an undercover anti-sex trafficking operation conducted during the Sturgis Bike Rally. Over the course of multiple days, Fast Horse used Facebook Messenger and his cell phone to communicate with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female. The female was actually the online undercover persona of a federal law enforcement officer. During Fast Horse’s communications, he described various sex acts he intended to engage in with the girl and sent her multiple images of his private anatomy. Fast Horse asked her to send him sexually explicit photos of herself. On the night of his arrest, Fast Horse drove for more than an hour to meet the girl for sex. After he stopped at a local business to purchase sexual lubricant, he arrived at the designated meetup location and was arrested by law enforcement agents. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Box Elder Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a woman from Box Elder, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 28, 2025. Jenna Holzer, 41, was sentenced to 30 years, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Holzer was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. She pleaded guilty on August 7, 2025. Holzer joined a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 2022. During her involvement, she worked with others to obtain methamphetamine from California, typically through the mail, for redistribution in Western South Dakota. A United States Postal Inspector identified multiple packages sent from California to addresses known to be associated to Holzer. On October 16, 2024, investigators performed a traffic stop on Holzer’s vehicle. Troopers discovered an ounce of methamphetamine and approximately $3,365 in Holzer’s possession during that stop. Investigators determined Holzer was involved in trafficking approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), and the Drug Enforcement Administration. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Holzer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 4, 2025. Abel Moran, age 42, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Moran was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025. Moran was convicted of Sexual Contact in September 2005. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. In September 2024, Moran updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Rapid City, SD. In December 2024, Moran relocated to a different residence in Rapid City, but did not thereafter update his sex offender registration. On June 10, 2025, Moran was arrested in Rapid City. This case was brought as a 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by U.S. Marshalls Service and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Moran was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Ellsworth, Minnesota Man Sentenced to More than 22 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced an Ellsworth, Minnesota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025. Lugene Rafael Russell, 56, was sentenced to 22 and a half years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Russell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025. Russell’s conviction stems from an incident in July 2024 when law enforcement officers were called to his home in Ellsworth for a report of a crime. Nobles County Sherrif’s deputies eventually obtained a warrant for the home and found approximately a half pound of methamphetamine and a pistol inside the home. Deputies later returned to the home after a tip and found approximately 12 pounds of methamphetamine and three more firearms. The investigation showed that Russell worked with others to obtain methamphetamine and then distribute it to others including those on the Crow Creek and Lower Brule reservations in South Dakota. This case was investigated by the DEA and Nobles County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Russell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Counselor Man Charged in Death of 4-Year-Old Child

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Counselor man was charged in connection with the death of a 4-year-old child. According to court documents, on November 7, 2025, Randall Pablo , 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally injured his 4-year-old nephew. Emergency responders were called after the child was found unresponsive, and attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. A preliminary autopsy indicated John Doe suffered significant blunt force trauma to the head and multiple contusions consistent with a violent attack. Pablo is charged with abandonment and abuse of a child resulting in death and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Pablo faces life in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case. 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: Johnstown Resident Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Trafficking

body_text: This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the plea occurred. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. Jonathan Brunson, 54, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Counts One, Two, Three, and Five of the Superseding Indictment on November 4, 2025. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Brunson conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of crack, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Similarly, in and around June 2021, Brunson possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture of fentanyl and, in and around April 2021, possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Brunson was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Brunson. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation; United States Postal Inspection Service; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Pennsylvania State Police; Cambria County District Attorney’s Office; Indiana County District Attorney’s Office; Cambria County Sheriff’s Office; Cambria Township Police Department; Indiana Borough Police Department; Johnstown Police Department; Upper Yoder Township Police Department; Richland Police Department; Ferndale Police Department; and other local law enforcement agencies.


title: Purported Ute Mountain Ute Medicine Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Five Victims

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 59, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, was convicted of sexually assaulting five victims, including a child. A federal jury convicted Wall on 15 counts of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. According to the facts established at trial, Wall held himself out as a traditional Native American healer, sometimes referred to as a “medicine man.” Wall was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in 2020 and is a former school board member in Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1. Over the course of at least the past dozen years, Wall sexually exploited multiple women on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation under the guise of spiritual treatment. Wall created an elaborate ruse by using traditional elements of Ute healing to trick his victims into believing his actions were part of a healing ceremony. During his “ceremonies,” Wall isolated victims alone and touched them sexually for his own gratification. Wall told multiple victims that, if they told anyone about his sexual touching, the healing would not work. Over the course of trial, the jury heard from the five women who alleged that Wall had committed sexual abuse in Towaoc, Colorado. The jury returned guilty verdicts for abuse of all five women charged in the indictment. The jury also heard from a sixth woman who alleged Wall had sexually assaulted her in Alamosa and Lone Tree in 2020 and 2021 under a rule of evidence that permits evidence of other sexual assaults. A sentencing date has not yet been set. In addition to this case, Wall faces two separate allegations of sexual assault in Colorado state court. The charges in those pending cases are only allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Anyone who has information about other possible victims is asked to call the FBI Denver office at (303) 629-7171. United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial. The FBI Office in Durango, Colorado, handled the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc, Colorado. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution. Case Number: 1:24-cr-00003-GPG-JMC


title: Former Orlando Middle School Teacher Sentenced To Life In Federal Prison

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Italo Rafael Brett Bonini (26, Orlando) to life in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and 30 years’ imprisonment prison for the production of child sexual abuse material. The sentences will run concurrently. The court also ordered Bonini to forfeit a desktop computer, which he used to commit the offenses. Bonini pleaded guilty on May 1, 2025. According to court documents, on January 12, 2025, Bonini video chatted from his residence in Orlando with two child victims in Maryland through an online communication platform. During that video chat, Bonini offered currency in an online videogame in exchange for the victims to show their genitals on screen. Both child victims pulled down their pants at Bonini’s request, and one of the child victims complied with Bonini’s request to display his genitals on screen. Further investigation revealed that Bonini has victimized minor victims across the globe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has found evidence of chats between Bonini and approximately 30 minor victims, many of whom have been identified. The chats revealed that Bonini engaged in sexual activity with young children online, including exposing himself on camera, requesting and receiving sexually explicit photos, urinating and defecating on camera. Bonini also tried to entice minor victims to perform sexual acts with their minor siblings and to engage in bestiality. Prior to his arrest, Bonini was a music teacher at a middle school in Orange County, Florida. He also taught private music lessons to children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Cruz. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: Armed felon who fled from police convicted of federal drug distribution and firearms charges

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - After a four-day jury trial, a federal district court jury found Traon Turk guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Turk previously pleaded guilty in the same case to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. “Turk is a multi-convicted felon who peddled deadly drugs and illegally carried a loaded firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office is proud to partner with federal and local law enforcement so we can aggressively prosecute violent drug dealers like Turk in order to keep the community safe.” “This case is a reminder of the critical work we do to combat violent crime and drug trafficking. The ATF’s partnership with local police and federal prosecutors is vital in our mission to keep our neighborhoods safe. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that offenders like Turk face justice for their actions,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 4, 2020, Cobb County Police officers observed a vehicle that allegedly had been involved in a drive-by shooting in Marietta days earlier. Law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver, Turk, fled at a high rate of speed. Turk bailed out of the vehicle while it was still in motion, leaving his five passengers inside. While running from the police, Turk dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol, which was quickly recovered by law enforcement. About an hour later, the police found Turk hiding in a different abandoned vehicle. Law enforcement found a bag of 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pants pocket. Additionally, Turk was carrying an iPhone that was replete with evidence of drug dealing activity. From the vehicle Turk had been driving, law enforcement seized a larger bag of ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, numerous pieces of pills that matched the pills recovered from Turk’s pocket, counterfeit Percocet pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Xanax pills, and individually packaged bags of marijuana. Prior to his arrest, Turk had been convicted of numerous felonies, including violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by receiving stolen property. Traon Turk, 31, of Austell, Georgia, will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. on February 24, 2026. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cobb County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Hwang, Michael Herskowitz, Laurel Milam, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters are prosecuting this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Westland, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to cocaine trafficking, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. Roy Brown, 56, pleaded guilty on October 21, 2025, before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to conspiring to distribute a quantity of cocaine between August 2023 and August 2024. Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, 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 Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Brown.