title: Nicaragua National Who Unlawfully Attempted to Purchase Firearm Indicted for Assault of ICE Officer

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Nicaragua illegally residing in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of assaulting a federal officer, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Darwin Alexander Davila-Perez, 33, as the sole defendant. Davila-Perez was initially charged in a December 23, 2025, Criminal Complaint. According to the Indictment and Criminal Complaint, on December 17, 2025, Davila-Perez assaulted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer while being apprehended for being illegally present in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security previously had learned that Davila-Perez had attempted to purchase a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL) in the Western District of Pennsylvania, claiming to be a United States citizen. The firearm sale was denied by the FFL as Davila-Perez is a citizen and national of Nicaragua with no legal status to be present in the United States. Federal law prohibits those without legal status from purchasing firearms. When officers with ICE activated the emergency lights on their vehicle and attempted to detain him, Davila-Perez forcefully resisted, including backing his vehicle into a law enforcement vehicle with an officer still inside, fleeing his vehicle, elbowing an officer in the face, attempting to unholster an officer’s service weapon, biting an officer’s arm, and striking an officer in the forehead with a swinging handcuff. Throughout this incident, officers gave commands to Davila-Perez, such as to stop and to give up his hands, in both English and Spanish. Davila-Perez, however, actively resisted, ignored their commands, and remained noncompliant until he was secured and in handcuffs. The officers suffered contusions, abrasions, and a bite mark, requiring medical attention. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Davila-Perez has been in custody since his arrest and remains detained pending resolution of this criminal charge. Assistant United States Attorney Lee A. Fry is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Houston Semitruck Driver Sentenced to Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Houston man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 41 months in prison for conspiring to transport illegal aliens in his commercial semitruck, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Francisco Javier Diaz, 35, was arrested at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Eagle Pass on May 3, 2024. While Diaz waited in his semitruck in the inspection lane, a USBP canine conducted a free air sniff and alerted agents to the sleeper compartment of the vehicle. Further inspection revealed five people under the mattress in the compartment and an additional man hidden in a compartment on the side of the bed. All six passengers were determined to be illegal aliens, whom Diaz was transporting from Eagle Pass to Houston. Diaz was indicted for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, to which he pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presided over the case. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the USBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Trafficking of Fentanyl and Heroin

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on February 3, 2026, to charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Jamar Perminter, 26, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on July 31, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants of Perminter’s person, residence, and two vehicles, and recovered a loaded and chambered 9mm pistol, a firearm magazine, and 9mm ammunition. In addition, law enforcement recovered dozens of bricks of fentanyl/heroin, a digital scale, multiple cell phones, and approximately $84,000 in United States currency from Perminter’s home and vehicles. Perminter has previously been convicted in federal court of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of heroin. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 45 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Perminter will remain in custody pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stowe Township Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Perminter. 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: INDEPENDENCE MAN SENTENCED TO 235 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG CONVICTION

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Kurt Wall announced the sentencing of Michael D. Nelson, age 56 of Independence, Louisiana, in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation aimed at a large-scale cocaine and heroin trafficking network based in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles sentenced Nelson to 235 months in federal prison following his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Nelson to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. In imposing Nelson’s prison term, the Court found that from approximately July 2017 through February 2018, Nelson ran a drug trafficking business and, pending trial, obstructed justice, made false statements to law enforcement, and threatened a witness. In total, the Court found Nelson responsible for ten kilograms of cocaine and over 280 grams of methamphetamine. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Nelson was associated with Travis James, who led a group of co-conspirators, namely Troy James, Joshua Mansion, Kim Murphy, Yascia LaFrance, Belinda Carter, Cornelius Carter, and others in a venture to obtain kilograms of cocaine from various sources in Houston, Texas, and transport said cocaine to stash houses located in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Some amounts of cocaine were broken down for distribution to others, including Nelson, while other amounts were converted by James into crack cocaine for sale to others. In many instances, the amounts transported by this group into the Middle District involved five or more kilograms of cocaine per trip. During this investigation, authorities seized and forfeited over $500,000 in drug trafficking proceeds from James as well as approximately eight firearms, two kilo presses, and heroin and cocaine testing kits. The investigation also revealed that James was making plans to branch out into heroin trafficking using the money he had accumulated from the sale of crack and powder cocaine. He was planning to commence that enterprise by purchasing a kilogram of heroin. Chief Judge Dick previously sentenced seven other individuals in connection with this scheme. Travis R. James, age 42, of Port Allen, Louisiana, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and one or more kilograms of heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Troy James, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Joshua Mansion, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Mansion to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Kim Murphy, age 61, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Murphy to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Yascia LaFrance, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison following her conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced LaFrance to serve four years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment. Cornelius Carter, age 36, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to obtain, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and one or more kilograms of heroin and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Belinda Carter, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison following her conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment. This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baton Rouge comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.


title: Two Mescalero men charged in assault

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Mescalero men are facing federal charges in connection with a unprovoked assault. According to court documents, on September 11, 2025, John Doe was at a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation when he was allegedly assaulted without provocation by Harlyn Cody Geronimo , 49, and Raymond Shaun Chee , 28, both enrolled members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Geronimo and Chee allegedly struck John Doe and repeatedly kicked him while he was on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness. As a result of the attack, John Doe sustained multiple injuries, including serious head injuries that required medical treatment. Witnesses reported that Geronimo , who was wearing steel toed boots, kicked John Doe in the head and that Chee also participated in the assault. After the incident, Chee fled the scene. Following his arrest, Geronimo ’s steel-toed boots were recovered and found to contain dried blood. Geronimo later denied assaulting John Doe, despite witness statements to the contrary. Geromino and Chee are charged with assault causing serious bodily injury. If convicted of the current charges, Geromino and Chee face ten years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Delgado is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Columbia Man Admits to Gun Offense

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. Gerrell Eugene Lawrence, 30, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., admitting that he possessed a Glock 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun on Oct. 1, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. Due to a prior felony conviction, Lawrence is not permitted to possess a firearm. Under federal statutes, Lawrence is subject to up to 15 years’ imprisonment for his possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. This maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes, but Lawrence’s ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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: McLean executive convicted at trial for $1.5M precious metals Ponzi scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted the owner and operator of an Alexandria-based precious metals investment firm yesterday on charges of wire fraud and violating the Travel Act relating to a precious metals Ponzi scheme. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, beginning in November 2021, Warith Deen Muhammad, 39, of McLean, falsely told more than a dozen investors that if they invested with him and his business, Niagara Gold and Silver LLC, he would use their money to buy, trade, and sell precious metals. Muhammad guaranteed profits of five to ten percent and told investors that they would receive their principal plus interest back, typically within 30 days. To mask the fraud, Muhammad used new investors funds to pay prior investors, leading investors to believe that their investment had been “successful,” inducing them to invest more money and to recruit others to invest. In total, from November 2021 through June 2023, Muhammad used fraudulent representations to induce more than 12 investors to send him over $1.5 million. In addition to spending investor money to pay prior investors, Muhammad also used investor funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. He leased high-end sports cars, including a Ferrari FF, Bentley, and Dodge Challenger Demon. He paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent luxury properties, and he spent tens of thousands of dollars at retailers, including Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Chanel, among others. Muhammad faces up to 20 years in prison for count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for Travel Act violation when sentenced on May 6. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Morgan and Zoe Bedell are 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. 1:25-cr-284.


title: CONVICTED FELON CHARGED WITH ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Scott D. Oranje, 52, of Mary Ester, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Oranje appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, Oranje faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl count, a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance count, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count. The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced for Selling Dangerous Counterfeit Car Airbags

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Raleigh man to one year and a day for importing and selling thousands of counterfeit car airbags into the Raleigh area over the past two years. The defendant, Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, 31, sold the counterfeit airbags locally and to online buyers through Facebook Marketplace. The court also ordered Alignaghian to pay restitution in the amount of $83,405.95 to the victims who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit airbag, and to the car manufacturers, and forfeit $154,693.16. “Selling fake airbags recklessly puts our citizens in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence makes clear that we do not tolerate criminals who endanger drivers on our roads. We will keep working with our partners to take these threats off the streets and out of our cars.” “Unregulated and untested counterfeit airbags threaten the safety of the traveling public and place unsuspecting consumers at significant risk,” said Greg Thompson, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region. “Today’s sentencing underscores DOT-OIG’s commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to keep these dangerous products out of the nation’s vehicles and off our roads” “This case spotlights the serious consumer health and safety dangers posed by many counterfeit products like fake vehicle airbags and exemplifies the importance of interagency cooperation in protecting public safety and bringing counterfeiters to justice,” said Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Alinaghian, imported approximately 2,500 counterfeit air bags into Raleigh between May 2022 and April 2024. Alinaghian imported airbags with counterfeit markings of Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota, from a supplier in the United Kingdom. Alinaghian then sold the counterfeit airbags to unsuspecting customers using the Facebook Marketplace seller profile of “Matt AutoParts” or “Medo Smith” to advertise and sell the counterfeit airbags. According to testing done by Honda, General Motors, and Toyota, the steering wheel airbags obtained and sold by Alinaghian were not manufactured by the car companies and often included materials of lesser quality. In testing, the counterfeit airbags often malfunctioned, either not fully inflating or worse, inflating late – posing a potentially serious risk of injury to the vehicle driver. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. The investigation included a search of Alinaghian’s house, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 counterfeit airbags, and multiple seizures by Customs and Border Control of in-bound packages from the United Kingdom containing counterfeit airbags en route to Alinaghian. After identifying that Alinaghian was importing the counterfeit airbags from a source in the United Kingdom, HSI contacted law enforcement abroad. As a result, the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PICU) executed a search warrant on September 19, 2024, PICU officers searched two residential and one business address and seized a total of 500 counterfeit airbags and an estimated £140,000 in cash. Three men were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit goods. The UK investigation is still ongoing . Although not specifically linked to this case, according to a consumer alert published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three people in the U.S. were killed and two people suffered injuries from September 2023 to July 2024 as a result of their vehicles being fitted with substandard replacement airbags. Individuals who suspect they purchased a counterfeit airbag should consult their brand’s dealership or a reputable mechanic to determine if the parts need to be replaced, and report it to their local Homeland Security Investigations office or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton prosecuted the case. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the N.C. Secretary of State Trademark Enforcement Division or Anti-Counterfeit Task Force. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-00013-FL.


title: Convicted rapist found guilty of failing to register as a sex offender

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A U.S. District Court Judge convicted James Dion Palmer, 56, yesterday on two counts of failing to register as a sex offender. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on May 2, 2001, Palmer was convicted in the Circuit Court for Henrico County of a rape he committed on Oct. 13, 2000, which required him to register for life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA requires offenders to provide information related to intended travel. Without disclosing his travel plans or receiving permission to travel, Palmer flew from Norfolk to San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2021. On March 3, 2021, Palmer traveled from California to Washington, and on March 4, 2021, his ankle-worn GPS tracking device ran out of charge. After his departure and before his GPS monitor ran out of charge, Palmer communicated by telephone with his probation officer, who encouraged Palmer to register as a sex offender in San Francisco and informed him that he was in violation of his obligations as a sex offender. On Oct. 31, 2021, Palmer submitted documents to the Virginia State Police indicating a change of location of residence and probationary oversight. Palmer had written his probation officer’s name on the document, but the probation officer had neither submitted nor approved the document. On Nov. 16, 2021, Canadian Border Patrol notified the Virginia State Police that Palmer was found in Vancouver, Canada, and Canadian authorities determined that Palmer did not enter Canada through an official border control point. Palmer had neither notified his probation officer of his plans to travel to Canada nor received approval for such travel. Palmer faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Anne Cournoyer are 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. 2:22-cr-113.


title: NEW JERSEY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD, AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT AND FALSE USE OR FORGERY OF A PASSPORT

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Michael Scott Hillwig, 59, of Camden, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false use or forgery of a passport. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “It is of vital importance to raise awareness about the vulnerability of our personal identifying information online, which fraudsters relentlessly pursue as they seek to enrich themselves by exploiting their victims. As this defendant has learned, my office is just as relentless in our pursuit of criminals like him, and we aggressively prosecute such frauds to the fullest extent to achieve justice for the victims of these crimes.” Court documents reflect that in May 2023, the defendant unlawfully obtained personal identification information of other people, including their names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and passport card numbers. He then fraudulently withdrew funds from the bank accounts of multiple victims by presenting U.S. passport cards bearing his photograph, but with the personal identifying information of the victims. During the course of this fraud scheme, Hillwig travelled to financial institutions in South Carolina and throughout Florida, including in Bonifay, Niceville, and Winter Garden, where he would provide bank tellers with a victim’s social security number and the fraudulent U.S. passport card in order to make withdrawals from their bank accounts. Hillwig faces up to thirty years’ imprisonment for the bank fraud counts, up to ten years’ imprisonment as to false use or forgery of a passport, and a mandatory two years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other prison sentence as to aggravated identity theft counts. The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


body_text: Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges CONCORD – Craig Pearson, 42, of Manchester, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. According to the plea agreement, in late June and early July 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized a total of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine during two separate controlled purchase operations involving Pearson. As a result, on July 7, 2022, DEA arrested Pearson, searched a hotel room he rented, and seized an additional 400 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of fentanyl, and a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. The charging statute for the drug trafficking offense provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. The charging statute for the firearm violation provides for a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to life in federal prison, consecutive to any prison term imposed on the drug trafficking offense, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samanta D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2026. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case. This effort 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: DC Man Indicted for Strangling His Romantic Partner

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tyrell West, 30, of Bowie, MD, was indicted by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on three counts stemming from a November 2025 assault on a woman, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. West was indicted on February 2, 2026, on one count each of strangulation, threats to do bodily harm and simple assault. According to the indictment, on November 26, 2025, West threatened to assault the victim, his romantic partner, and then punched her in the face and strangled her in the presence of their young child. The victim lost consciousness during the assault. She fled to a neighbor’s apartment and called 911. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivis Hinerfeld. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025FD3017538


title: Rock Island Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Cocaine Charges

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

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Rock Island man was sentenced on January 28, 2026, to seven years in federal prison for false statements during purchases of firearms, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Lashawn Leroy Williams, Jr., 24, purchased at least 21 firearms between September 2022 through December 2024 and falsely claimed he was not a drug user and provided a false address. Seven of the guns Williams purchased have been recovered by law enforcement, including during drug and homicide investigations. In March 2025, Williams was arrested with a distribution quantity of cocaine and a firearm with an extended magazine that he carried for protection. After completing his term of imprisonment, Williams 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). 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. PSN aims to hold illegal firearm possessors and straw purchasers accountable. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN


title: U.S. Attorney Ganjei announces record-breaking year for border security, cartel dismantling, and espionage disruption

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas marked major milestones in the pursuit of justice and fulfilled its duties with substantial results in safeguarding the district with important actions in the recent year, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The highlighted matters include major announcements throughout the district, Houston/Galveston cases as well as significant actions from other divisions, to include Corpus Christi/Victoria , McAllen , Laredo and Brownsville . Most notably was the implementation of “ Operation Pick-Off ,” an initiative created in the Southern District of Texas that targets criminal illegal aliens who are currently serving terms of probation following convictions for state crimes, such as drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud, burglary, assault and other violent crimes. The enforcement effort, originally announced Aug. 25, 2025, led to federal charges against 67 illegal aliens in the Rio Grande Valley area, 65 of whom had returned to the country after being previously removed, only to commit other crimes, according to the allegations. In a subsequent roundup in Laredo , law enforcement took another 28 into custody, including a convicted murderer. More actions are in place for the remaining counties within the district. In a case out of the Houston Division, Operation Gatekeeper uncovered a scheme in which Alan Hao Hsu and Benlin Yuan allegedly conspired together to obtain export-controlled Nvidia GPUs through straw purchasers and falsely claimed the goods were destined for approved locations. The GPUs were routed through U.S. warehouses, relabeled under a fake company name and misclassified as generic computer parts before being shipped to the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong, according to the charges. Prosecutors also announced charges against 14 Banditos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang members for racketeering activity, assault and murder. According to the indictment, members and associates engaged in a conspiracy to commit racketeering activity and carried out violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder, as part of a turf war with rival gang BEAST that began in 2019. The indictment alleges Bandidos leadership authorized a “smash on site” order targeting BEAST members, resulting in gunfire on public roadways and in public establishments with civilians present. As part of Operation Double Down , numerous Houston-area residents were indicted on various charges including conspiracy, operating illegal game rooms, bribery and money laundering. Approximately 700 law enforcement officers from 18 agencies served a total of 45 search and 40 seizure warrants at locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area and closed 30 illegal gaming rooms. Also in 2025, a 33-year-old Chinese state-sponsored hacker was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in U.S. computer intrusions, including the reckless and indiscriminate HAFNIUM campaign that compromised thousands of computers worldwide. According to court documents, in early 2020, Xu Zewei and his co-conspirators targeted U.S.-based universities and researchers conducting COVID-19 vaccine, treatment and testing research and reported their activities to officers in China’s Ministry of State Security, who directed the hacking operations. In a major case out of Laredo, the extradition of three Guatemalan nationals were part of a national announcement for their charges stemming from a 2021 mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico. The crash allegedly involved a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens – many of them Guatemalan – that killed more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. The three smugglers – Tomas Quino Canil, Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala – were arrested in Guatemala last December and made their appearances in Laredo Sept. 4, 2025. A six-count second superseding indictment was also unsealed in Houston, charging four Venezuelan nationals for providing material support to foreign terrorist organization, Tren de Aragua, as well as international drug trafficking. According to court records, Yohan Jose Romero and Juan Gabriel Rivans Nunez are two of the topmost leaders of TdA involved in the illegal mining of gold in Venezuela. Giovanni Vicente Mosquera and Jose Enrique Martinez Flores are TdA leaders allegedly involved in international drug trafficking. In another Houston case, charges allege Venezuelan national Juan Carlos Cairo-Padron and Thomas Michael Fortinberry conspired for years to sell chemical catalysts, industrial equipment and associated services to Venezuelan state-owned steel mills and petrochemical companies that are subject to U.S. sanctions. According to the charges, the scheme involved U.S. and overseas front companies, foreign bank accounts and falsified shipping documents to conceal the fact that goods and services were destined for sanctioned entities. Notable sentencings out of the Houston Division included Fredrick Douglas Shelton who received 27 years after he was linked to three fentanyl overdose deaths. At the hearing, the court commented on the disturbing fact that after the deaths, Shelton continued to sell fentanyl with a verbal warning to customers that the drugs were strong. Mexican national Eustorgio Quiroz-Salto was ordered to serve 240 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute bulk methamphetamine. He arranged to deliver over 20 kilograms in the parking lot of a church. A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 93.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 firearms, a silencer, 351 rounds of live ammunition and multiple firearm parts. In other Houston cases, two local men received major sentences for child exploitation crimes. Manvel resident Brian Jones received 840 months after uploading more than 1,000 child pornography files and had over 11,000 images and more than 850 videos. They depicted children engaged in sexually explicit conduct which included sadistic and masochistic conduct. During sentencing, the court heard additional evidence regarding how he convinced a woman to send videos of her sexually abusing her own children. Also sentenced was 28-year-old Vermont man Daniel Lee Hicks , who received 300 months for the production of child pornography and coercion of enticement of a child. Hicks began communicating with the 14-year-old minor victim, during which he sent demeaning and threatening messages to coerce the minor to create and send videos and images depicting sexually explicit conduct. A 25-year-old Houston resident was sentenced to 60 years for robbing five fast-food and convenience store locations. At trial, the jury heard Carl Pickens carried out a series of armed robberies at McDonald’s locations while wearing a red Nike sweatshirt or black hooded jacket, brandishing a pistol and threatening victims as he demanded money from the safe. He then fled through the back door and fled in a stolen black Chevrolet Tahoe, which needed scissors to start. Another notable sentencing involved a 39-year-old Mexican national with a felony criminal history. Luis Adrian Torres-Tamayo received 105 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country after removal. He has prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance and in 2022, Torres-Tamayo assaulted two members of law enforcement during a domestic violence dispute. He seized their taser guns and attacked them with his fists. Other pending Houston division cases include seven Houston residents who were charged for their roles in a $110 million hospice fraud and kickback scheme. According to a superseding indictment, Dera Ogudo and Victoria Martinez operated United Palliative & Hospice Company. The indictment alleges the company falsely enrolled elderly Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in hospice care and misrepresented the services provided. They also allegedly paid kickbacks to group home operators and a physician to improperly certify patients as terminally ill. Another notable case involves a nationwide business email compromise scheme for which seven people have been indicted. The investigation began when an individual used a synthetic identity to open a bank account that received $3 million in fraudulent payments from a Catholic church in Indiana, according to the charges. Law enforcement has allegedly identified over 80 victims, including public entities, insurance companies, law firms, schools, real estate companies and churches. More than 50 people have been indicted nationwide, including nine in the Southern District, with the group allegedly responsible for more than $100 million in fraud routed through Australian banks. A 40-year-old Nigerian citizen who illegally resided in Houston has pleaded guilty for his role in a business email compromise conspiracy and nationwide romance scam. From 2018 through 2023, Leslie Chinedu Mba and others accessed business email accounts, redirected payments to fraudulent accounts and moved the proceeds as money mules. Mba also attempted to obtain U.S. permanent residency through fraudulent marriages after being ordered removed. A podiatrist and the self-proclaimed CEO of a local medical clinic were also charged in a $90 million Medicare fraud scheme in a 15-count superseding indictment. The charges allege David Jenson and Nestor Rafael Romero Magallanes conspired to bill Medicare for skin substitute products for patients who did not have qualifying wounds or any wounds at all. The charges allege they falsified medical records to make it appear patients had chronic wounds and continued billing even after a 2023 audit denied the claims and flagged the conduct as improper. In Galveston, eight high-level Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, gang members pleaded guilty to racketeering activity, murder and other violent crimes and are facing prison terms of 35-50 years. MS-13 members committed multiple murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery and obstruction of justice in and around the Houston area. They committed the murders to maintain or elevate their status, targeting suspected rivals with law enforcement or opposing the gang. They killed the victims using machetes, baseball bats and strangulation, then sent photos of the bodies to senior MS-13 leaders in El Salvador. From the Corpus Christi Division, Honduran national Marvin Reyes received 108 months in federal prison. He was the leader of an alien smuggling organization responsible for transporting hundreds of illegal aliens from the border further into the United States. Reyes and others coordinated the movement of illegal aliens through the Border Patrol checkpoints near Sarita and Falfurrias as well as by airplane. He also arranged private flights for illegal aliens from Weslaco to Houston. Valentine Cancino received 324 months for production of child sexual abuse material, otherwise known as sexual exploitation of a child. The investigation began when authorities received multiple cyber-tips indicating CSAM had been uploaded onto the internet. A search warrant led to the seizure of two electronic devices. Upon inspection, law enforcement discovered a video recording Cancino made of himself engaging in sexual activity with a minor relative. Also of note was the sentencing of Robstown resident Guadalupe Calderon III for pointing a gun at a law enforcement officer. During a traffic stop on Calderon’s truck, he pointed a Ruger pistol at the officer’s face and pulled the trigger. When the firearm misfired, he fled the scene in his truck. After locating him riding in another vehicle, authorities discovered the firearm in the backseat along with over 30 rounds of ammunition and a high-capacity drum magazine. In McAllen, a 35-year-old Mexican citizen who illegally resided in Palmview received a life sentence for producing CSAM of a family member and coercing the production of the material using various chat platforms. At the hearing, the court heard that Jesus Adrian Barraza-Vega’s ongoing abuse of a minor family member continued until just days before his encounter with law enforcement. Also of note was the sentencing of three members of the Pasia gang for assaulting two federal corrections officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center. The inmates, who were already in custody pending federal immigration charges, outnumbered the officers and repeatedly punched and kicked them. They were housed in a gang-designated unit within the facility. One inmate wielded a sock with a bar of soap as a weapon during the assault. One correctional officer sustained injuries that resulted in multiple staples in his forehead. Laredo’s Operation Noreste Parte Dos resulted in the convictions of six individuals for their roles in an alien-smuggling conspiracy that led to the death of a Guatemalan man in July 2024. Each person filled key roles in the operation, including transportation coordinator, driver, scout, vehicle purchaser, stash-house operator and Mexico-based logistics coordinators. A father and son were also charged in the division with trafficking over 500 weapons along with ammunition and magazines. Emilio Ramirez Cortes and Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz were smuggling the weapons and related items in exchange for payment and had done so on multiple occasions. Authorities had found false walls in both trailers which resulted in the discovery of approximately 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items. They have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. In another Laredo case, Jesus Covarrubias , a convicted felon and Hermanos de Pistoleros gang member, orchestrated a long-running straw purchasing scheme that supplied over 50 firearms, including high-powered rifles, to a Mexican cartel. Covarrubias falsely reported the weapons stolen and later fled to Mexico after killing a man in a Laredo bar while out on bond. He was returned to the United States and received 120 months in federal prison. In Brownsville, an armed repeat illegal alien was sentenced to 60 months for his part in a human smuggling event. Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza was a river guide and had conspired with Issac Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle illegal aliens in the bed of a truck after they illegally arrived from Mexico via boat on the Rio Grande River. Ramirez-Carranza, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, admitted to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm. The final two members of a deadly alien smuggling group were also ordered to prison in 2025. Julia Isairis Torres and Erasmo Garcia were involved in the attempted smuggling of illegal aliens in March 2019 by motor vehicle from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston. During this failed attempt, a vehicle rolled over and caused the deaths of four non-U.S. citizens with serious injuries to one other. Authorities had identified a Rio Grande City-based smuggling organization as responsible and linked it’s leader and others to a separate February 2022 human smuggling attempt by watercraft from South Padre Island to the Corpus Christi area. The watercraft capsized, resulting in the deaths of four other non-U.S. citizens and serious injury to another. A 38-year-old Georgia woman pleaded guilty to smuggling 17 firearms and 27 magazines concealed in a vehicle’s gas tank. Mirna Luna attempted to cross into Mexico at the Brownsville-Matamoros Port of Entry. Authorities discovered the weapons during secondary inspection. Luna admitted she owned and drove the vehicle but did not have a license to export the firearms. Finally, a Brownsville federal jury also returned a guilty verdict against the owners of Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Café in Los Fresnos for employing and housing illegal aliens within their restaurant. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Leonardo Baez-Lara and Alicia Avila-Guel guilty as charged following a two-day trial. Testimony revealed they hired and harbored workers who were in the United States illegally or on B1/B2 visas without having the right to work. The jury heard that employees were living in a storage area with only one exit, sleeping on mattresses and rarely had hot water. The district remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Assaulting Postal Carrier with a Deadly Weapon

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – GILBERT DARBY (“DARBY”) , age 48, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on January 30, 2026, for assaulting a federal officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 111(a)(1) and (b); discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii); and being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on or about January 12, 2026, DARBY assaulted a United States Postal Carrier of the United States Postal Service during the performance of his official duties. During the assault, DARBY discharged a deadly weapon. If convicted of the assault count, DARBY could receive up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. If convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence count, DARBY could receive a mandatory minimum of ten (10) years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to a maximum of 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. If convicted of the felon in possession of ammunition count, DARBY could receive up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. United States Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Postal Inspectors and the New Orleans Police Department for investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Hubbell, I.V. of the Violent Crime Unit. * * *


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Armed Carjacking & Kidnapping

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced a Baltimore man to more than two decades in federal prison in connection with armed carjacking and kidnapping charges. Donte Davon Stanley, 35, received a 25-year prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the violent carjacking. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler, Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey, Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. In June 2024, after a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted Stanley and co-conspirator Dennis Allen Hairston, 35, of Catonsville, in connection with the carjackings. The jury found Stanley guilty of kidnapping and robbery conspiracies; kidnapping; and carjacking. Evidence at trial established that Stanley, Hairston, and others planned and organized the kidnapping of an employee with the goal of robbing the check-cashing businesses where the victim worked. Additionally, the co-conspirators planned and organized the carjacking of the victim’s vehicle. According to the evidence, from May 5-6, 2021, the co-conspirators followed the victim from the check-cashing business where she worked. The co-conspirators then posed as law enforcement officers and used a police-style light bar to pull the victim over. Stanley and Hairston, who were wearing police vests and badges, brandished firearms to remove the victim from her vehicle. They then handcuffed the victim’s hands behind her back, zip-tied her feet, blindfolded her by placing a mask and duct tape around her face, and forcibly placed her into the rear of a vehicle. While Stanley drove, Hairston struck, sexually assaulted, and repeatedly burned the victim with a blowtorch to obtain information from her to access the check-cashing business where she worked with the intent to remove all the cash from the business. As Judge Hurson imposed the sentence, he described the offense as “grotesque, depraved, reprehensible conduct.” Judge Hurson sentenced Hairston to 40 years in federal prison back in December 2025, in connection with this armed robbery and a second abduction that occurred May 15-16, 2021. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Spencer L. Todd who prosecuted this case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Morris Anthony Campbell, who previously served a 46-month federal prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was on supervised release, will spend the next 180 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down Tuesday, February 3, 2026, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. A federal grand jury indicted Campbell, 43, of North Little Rock, in a three-count Indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On October 1, 2025, Campbell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Moody also sentenced Campbell to three years’ supervised release. Additionally, Judge Moody revoked Campbell’s supervised release from his 2020 federal conviction and ordered Campbell to serve two years in prison concurrent with the 180-month sentence for this conviction. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that on April 3, 2025, law enforcement officers observed Campbell driving a vehicle with fictitious tags and initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, Campbell, officers could smell the odor of marijuana and initiated a search of the vehicle and Campbell. During the search, officers located in Campbell’s pants a bag containing a scale, empty baggies, a smaller bag containing pills, and two separate bags containing marijuana. When officers searched Campbell’s vehicle, they located in the engine compartment an FN, Model 509, 9mm loaded firearm wrapped in a shirt and previously reported stolen. The magazine inserted in the stolen firearm contained 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Campbell admitted to the officers that he was aware of the firearm and the marijuana. Campbell has at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes a February 27, 2020, federal drug conviction where he received a sentence of 46 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release and a 2009 federal conviction for distribution of cocaine base. At the time of his arrest in this case, Campbell was on supervised release for the 2020 federal conviction. Campbell criminal history also includes a conviction for robbery, convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree assault on a family or household member. This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


body_text: Repeat Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Lakes Region CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Christopher Davis, 54, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe. In October 2025, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, after selling the drug during a controlled purchase. This was his third felony conviction for distributing controlled substances in the Lakes Region. “The defendant has persistently and brazenly distributed drugs throughout the Lakes Region across multiple decades,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to pursue individuals and organizations who profit from the trafficking of methamphetamine and other dangerous substances in our state.” “Christopher Davis is a repeat offender, committed to selling methamphetamine and making money,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Today’s sentence shows how the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force is just as committed to getting illegal drugs and the career criminals who peddle them off the streets. We’re working hard every day to make the Granite state safer by removing those who have no regard for the incredible damage they’re inflicting on people’s lives.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Laconia Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Man Who Fired Shots on Columbia Street Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brandon Chanell Joyner, 29, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm during a 2023 shooting on Greystone Boulevard in Columbia. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 18, 2023, law enforcement responded to the corner of Greystone Boulevard and Stoneridge Drive regarding witnesses seeing a man shooting a gun into the air. Joyner saw a police car nearby and fired three shots, which hit the vehicle. Additional units responded and pursued Joyner. He then abruptly turned and fired several shots at the group of police cars. Joyner retreated to his hotel room where he reloaded his firearm and began shooting again. Law enforcement eventually returned fire and struck the defendant in the back. The defendant again retreated to his hotel room, changed clothes, and then exited the room. He made contact with police and told them he was an innocent bystander. Officers determined he was the shooter and immediately placed him under arrest. Law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the parking lot of the hotel where Joyner was staying. Joyner’s DNA was found on the gun. Testing showed the casings recovered at the scene matched casings from the firearm recovered from the hotel. Joyner has previous felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing a firearm. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr sentenced Joyner to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Joyner was sentenced to 25 years in state prison after pleading guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder. These sentences will run concurrently. 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 case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case. ###


title: Dangerous Felon Convicted of Armed Drug Trafficking Crimes

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Deontai Williams, 33, of Indianapolis, guilty of trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, illegally possessing eight firearms while being a convicted felon, and possessing those firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on January 17, 2025, Williams was found in possession of approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of cocaine, and 80 grams of fentanyl pills and powder (which equates to approximately 800 doses of fentanyl), as well as the following firearms: Delton AR-style pistol American Tactical AR-style pistol 12-gauge shotgun 28mm pistol Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver Rexio 22Lr firearm Glock 9mm pistol Springfield 9mm pistol Evidence demonstrated that despite having previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14, unlawful residential entry, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and dealing in methamphetamine, Williams continued his armed drug trafficking. This evidence also included photographs of Williams brandishing multiple firearms. His prior felony convictions prohibited Williams from legally possessing firearms. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. U.S. District Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II presided over the trial and will sentence Williams at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Gibson and Samantha Spiro, who are prosecuting this case, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist, Shané Penney. ###


title: Jamaican National Sentenced to Prison for Engaging in Fraud Scheme Targeting the Elderly

body_text: Tucson, Ariz. – Deeno Roberto Jackson, 27, of Jamaica, was sentenced on Jan. 28, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. “American seniors should be respected, not taken advantage of,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Scammers use fake sweepstakes, health care, tech support, and government imposter schemes to steal seniors’ hard-earned savings. In this case, an Arizona victim lost more than $480,000. My office, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue justice for victims of fraud.” “Most people work hard for their well-earned money; Mr. Jackson did not. He preyed on the trust and good faith of our elderly population for personal gain,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “Any and all reporting of elder fraud is significant, and we are grateful to the victims in this case who came forward. Consistent reporting helps us identify patterns, stop offenders, and protect others who are being scammed. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it.” Jackson took part in a conspiracy to defraud elderly victims in what is commonly referred to as a lottery or sweepstakes fraud scheme. Through materially false representations, the co-conspirators created the false impression that the victims won a prize. The co-conspirators communicated that to obtain these winnings, the victims were required to pay fees or taxes. However, in real lotteries, fees and taxes are paid by the winner after receiving the proceeds. In furtherance of the fraud scheme, the co-schemers falsely represented that they were acting as representatives of the federal government. Victims were directed to purchase gift cards, and to deposit funds into bank accounts controlled by Jackson and others. One Arizona victim lost over $480,000 from the scheme. Jackson was also ordered to pay restitution to various victims totaling $74,530. The FBI, Tucson office, conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 4:25-cr-02403-RM-LCK RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-016_Jackson # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Chattanooga Man Charged with Assaulting a Corrections Officer

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Huntsville has charged a man with assaulting a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Thomas Elliott, 31, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, with forcibly assaulting a corrections officer. According to the indictment, in November 2025, Elliott assaulted a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer. The assault occurred at the DeKalb County Detention Center. The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation, along with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Davis A. Barlow is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty for the offense charged is 20 years imprisonment. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Eleven Individuals Indicted in a Marriage Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of a three-count indictment charging 11 individuals for their alleged roles in federal conspiracies related to marriage fraud and bribery. The indictment alleges the following charges against each defendant: Charge Offense Dates Name Maximum Penalties Marriage Fraud Conspiracy March 2024 – February 2025 Anny Chen (54, New York) Sha Xie (38, China) Linlin Wang (38, Chine) Jiawei Chen (29, China) Yafeng Deng (23, New York) Hailing Feng (27, New York) Kiah Holly (29, Maryland) Xionghu Fang (41, China) Tao Fan (26, China) Jaden Bullion (24, Florida) Kin Man Cheok (32, China) 5 years Marriage Fraud August 31, 2024 Anny Chen Linlin Wang 5 years Bribery Conspiracy November 2024 – February 14, 2025 Anny Chen Hailing Feng Kin Man Cheok 5 years According to the indictment, the above named individuals allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to recruit United States citizens, preferably members of the armed forces, to enter into sham marriages to Chinese nationals for the purpose of evading immigration laws and illicitly obtaining lawful permanent resident status for the Chinese nationals. The sham marriages took place around the country, including in Jacksonville, as well as in New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. To create the illusion of a real marriage, the conspirators took photographs of the couples to create evidence that could be presented to immigration authorities to suggest that the marriages were legitimate, and the couples were in loving, committed relationships. In reality, the conspirators had agreed to a payment plan whereby the United States citizen spouse would receive a cash payment up front for marrying the Chinese national, a second payment when legal immigration status was obtained, and a final payment after the divorce. Anny Chen and Wang are charged additionally for a sham marriage that occurred in Jacksonville in August 2024. In related cases, Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey, former servicemembers in the United States Navy, have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the same scheme. Their sentencing hearings are pending. The indictment also alleges that Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok conspired to bribe a public official. Specifically, in January 2025, a confidential source reported to law enforcement that Navy reservist Raymond Zumba (who has also already pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official) had offered to bribe the source and the source’s spouse who worked at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of Defense identification cards. The source reported that Zumba asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized ID cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engage in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash. After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on February 13, 2025, with Anny Chen, Feng, and Cheok. Zumba brought these individuals to NAS Jacksonville where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for Anny Chen and Cheok to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him two cards in exchange for $3,500. Zumba was promptly arrested, and the cards were recovered. 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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican.


title: Leader Of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To More Than 33 Years For Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine And Money Laundering

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Omar Pitter (45, San Diego) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to 33 years and 4 months in federal prison for his role in shipping over 65 kilograms of methamphetamine to the Middle District of Florida and conspiring to launder the proceeds of his methamphetamine distribution. A federal jury found Pitter guilty after a four-day trial in September 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in February 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Colin Zirpoli for suspected methamphetamine distribution. The investigation into Zirpoli led to Zirpoli’s supplier, Elizabeth Poff, and later to her supplier, Tony Marsh. Investigation into Tony Marsh led to the identification of his source of supply, Hopeton Goslin. Search warrants executed at Goslin’s home and storage unit led to the recovery of more than 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Goslin, Marsh, Poff, and Zirpoli have all pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and have all been sentenced. Further investigation led to the identification of Goslin’s source of supply in San Diego. Agents identified Omar Pitter as Goslin’s source of supply, and the investigation revealed that Pitter had been commercially shipping Goslin cocaine and methamphetamine since 2023. Investigators testified at trial that the estimated combined weights of the shipments were 34 kilograms of cocaine and 697 pounds of methamphetamine. DEA agents traveled to California to arrest Pitter and search two addresses he was associated with. At that time, they also learned of an additional co-conspirator, Pitter’s friend Ciara Guss. Text messages in Pitter’s and Guss’s phones showed that Pitter and Guss had been shipping packages, similar in size and weight to ones sent to Goslin, all over the country since 2021. Guss brokered the deals and received payments for the shipments. Guss was also found guilty at trial of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. During a search of Pitter’s residence, agents located numerous money orders that were either blank or made out to a fictitious person. Agents also seized over $400,000 in appraised jewelry. The photos below depict several items of jewelry located in Pitter and Fulton’s apartment. DEA then began investigating Pitter’s girlfriend, Keona Fulton, as well as Pitter, for money laundering. DEA’s financial investigation revealed that Fulton had four bank accounts, including a business bank account, which she used to layer and co-mingle Pitter’s narcotics proceeds. The investigation showed that Fulton and Pitter used some of the money to obtain high-end vehicles, clothing, and jewelry. Fulton was also convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit money laundering and is pending sentencing. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.


title: Insect Shield LLC and Co-Founder’s Estate Agree to Pay $1.4M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Insect Shield LLC, located in North Carolina, and the Estate of Richard Lane, a co-founder and co-owner of Insect Shield, have agreed to pay a combined $1.4 million to resolve allegations that Insect Shield and Lane caused the submission of false claims to the Department of Defense (DoD) under contracts to provide Army Combat Uniforms. Lane served as the president and chief operating officer of Insect Shield until his death in December 2022. The United States filed its complaint-in-intervention in December 2023 alleging that Insect Shield, a subcontractor to multiple defense contractors who manufacture Army uniforms, violated the False Claims Act by falsifying test results regarding the application of permethrin, an insect repellant, to Army uniforms. The United States alleged that between 2015 and 2021 Insect Shield and Lane failed to follow the permethrin testing requirements by inappropriately combining results from different rounds of testing, re-labeling test samples to hide the true origin of the samples, performing re-tests of uniforms in excess of what the contract permitted, and concealing failing test results. “Government contractors and subcontractors must comply with contractual commitments and share truthful information with the government,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue those who defraud the American taxpayers by failing to properly perform required testing on goods supplied to our soldiers.” “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), is fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Manipulating and failing to perform contractually required testing is not only fraudulent, but compromises military readiness. DCIS will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and hold accountable those who submit false claims.” “Our Soldiers rely on government contractors to provide equipment that they can depend on while serving their country,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. “The result of this investigation shows that our Army CID and our partner law enforcement agencies are relentless in their pursuit of anyone who may attempt to defraud the U.S. Government by falsely reporting compliance with contractually obligated requirements for equipment used by our Soldiers The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when a defendant has submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for government funds and receive a portion of any recovery. Ms. Downs will receive $315,000 as her share of the settlement. The qui tam case, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, is captioned U.S. ex rel. Downs v. Insect Shield, LLC et al. , No. 1:19-cv-1026 (M.D.N.C.). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina with assistance from the DoD Office of Inspector General, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Contract Management Agency, and Defense Contract Audit Agency. The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorneys Jonathan Hoerner, Jikky Thankachan, and Jeffrey McSorley and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Middle District of North Carolina. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Note : Read the Insect Shield Agreement here ; and the Estate of Richard Lane Agreement here .


title: Previously Convicted DC Man Indicted for Felony Burglary with Enhancements for Two Prior Convictions for Crimes of Violence

body_text: WASHINGTON – Michael Scott, 34, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on four counts related stemming from an October 2025 assault on two women, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced. Scott was indicted on February 2, 2026, on one count each of first-degree burglary, assault, destruction of property and resisting arrest. According to the indictment, on October 25, 2025, Scott entered the home of a woman, Victim 1, with the intent to assault his ex-romantic partner, Victim 2, who was also inside the dwelling. Upon entering the apartment, Scott broke down the bedroom door, assaulted and threatened Victim 2. Scott has two prior convictions for crimes of violence. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivis Hinerfeld. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025FD3014218


title: Menasha Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 29, 2026, Todd E. Grimm (age: 57) of Menasha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach. In April of 2025, in response to a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”), law enforcement sought and received a warrant to search Grimm’s residence and electronic devices. That search uncovered a flash drive containing over 12,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) downloaded off the internet. The flash drive was in an envelope hidden behind a desk drawer. The flash drive also contained “stories” authored by Grimm depicting the drugging and sexual assault of young children. At sentencing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, the effect these crimes have on their victims, and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Grimm will spend 15 years on supervised release. Grimm will also be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. “Child pornography monetizes children being sexually abused and robbed of their innocence,” said U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “The worldwide multi-billion-dollar child pornography industry is directly supported by people like this defendant who perpetuate sexual violence against children every time they seek out, view or share these materials. Justice for those children demands that we lock up these predators.” This case was investigated by the City of Menasha Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ 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.projectsafechildhood.gov. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


body_text: Plymouth Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Over Seven Pounds of Methamphetamine CONCORD – Jessica Olena, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 8 years in federal prison and 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Olena previously pleaded guilty to two counts of methamphetamine distribution. “Today’s sentence reflects the serious threat posed by those who deal in dangerous drugs like methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “This defendant was distributing large quantities of this highly potent substance. Our office will continue supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in drug interdiction efforts to prevent illicit drugs from reaching our streets, and to hold accountable those who seek to profit from poisoning New Hampshire communities.” “DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Olena accountable for her crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire.” Between January and June 2024, a confidential source, acting at the direction of law enforcement, arranged to purchase more than one and a half pounds of methamphetamine from Olena. When law enforcement arrested Olena for these drug transactions on June 26, 2024, she admitted to selling a pound of methamphetamine to someone else the night prior and to routinely purchasing significant quantities of methamphetamine for distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The New Hampshire State Police Mobile Enforcement Team provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson prosecuted the case.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DWAYNE CLAUD SINGH, 39, a citizen of Jamaica last residing in New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 22 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2014, Singh was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of drug, weapon, and forgery offenses and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. He was deported to Jamaica in January 2018. Singh illegally reentered the U.S. and obtained a California driver’s license in the name of “Kevin Anthony Smith.” He began using that false identity and the fake license to obtain employment and to register and obtain insurance on two vehicles in Connecticut. Singh has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on July 23, 2025. At the time of his arrest, he also had an active state arrest warrant for breach of peace and threatening offenses, which was issued in March 2023. On October 4, 2025, Singh pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful reentry. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. 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: Mexican National Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol Agent

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Efrain Pacheco-Ovalles, 30, of Culiacan, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pacheco-Ovalles pleaded guilty to assault of a federal officer and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate assaults on federal agents nor the criminal networks that exploit our southern border,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “In Tucson and across Arizona, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to stop these networks from smuggling people and drugs into our country. We will protect our agents, secure the border, and hold accountable those who profit from lawlessness.” In January and February of 2025, the defendant was working as a scout for a transnational criminal organization (TCO). Scouts are trusted TCO members who are integral to successfully moving aliens and controlled substances without being interdicted by law enforcement. TCOs have long used remote areas of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation to smuggle narcotics and aliens from Mexico into the United States. Scouts act as the “eyes and ears” of TCOs. Scouts position themselves on mountain tops in smuggling corridors so that they have views of roads and smuggling routes. They use binoculars to look for law enforcement, and radios and cellphones to communicate with other members of the conspiracy to ensure coconspirators and illegal aliens escape apprehension by law enforcement. The defendant in this case admitted he was expected to scout for three months and was going to be paid $40 per alien that successfully arrived in the Phoenix area. On Feb. 4, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents conducted an operation to disrupt the scout site on Nine Mile Mountain in a remote area of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation. When agents located the defendant trying to hide under a tree, he fled down the mountain. An agent pursued the defendant. The agent repeatedly identified himself as a USBP agent in English and Spanish. The air unit also maintained visual. The agent chased the defendant downhill for about 1.5 miles. The defendant was taking pictures and videos of the agents while he ran. Agents also saw the defendant throw his binoculars and backpack. When one agent got close enough to try to apprehend him, the defendant intentionally elbowed the agent in the face, resulting in a black eye. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Sector, investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 4:25-CR-01353-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-017_ Pacheco-Ovalles # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Shiprock man pleads guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty in federal court to a violent assault in which he stabbed a victim three times in the back without provocation. According to court documents, on April 19, 2025, Matthew David Charley , 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, stabbed John Doe three times in the back without provocation, causing serious injury. Charley pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing Charley faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant 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 Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.


title: Ohio Man Indicted for Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Ohio man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Massachusetts in connection with multiple sales of firearms transported from Ohio to Massachusetts. Ruben Joel Sanchez Jr., 31, of Youngstown, Ohio, was indicted on one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sanchez was arrested on Jan. 8, 2026 , and remains in federal custody. According to the charging documents, beginning at least as early as June 2025 through January 2026, Sanchez engaged in the business of unlawful trafficking in firearms. Specifically, in June 2025, Sanchez, who is not licensed to deal in firearms, allegedly sold three firearms to an individual in exchange for $4,000. It is further alleged that, on Jan. 8, 2026, Sanchez was recorded and observed selling four additional firearms to the same individual in return for $8,500. Sanchez was arrested at the scene where an AR-style pistol equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a rifle equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a loaded pistol equipped with an extended magazine; and an additional loaded pistol were allegedly recovered. The charge of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful trafficking in firearms provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.