title: Lowell Father and Daughter Arrested for Tax Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man and woman who allegedly operated temporary employment agencies without collecting and paying over employment taxes have been arrested on federal tax charges. Lim Ou, 69, and his daughter, Nalen Ou, 39, are charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy and failure to collect and pay over taxes. According to the charging document, Lim Ou and Nalen Ou allegedly operated temporary employee agencies that provided temporary workers to businesses engaged in manufacturing, packaging, laundry services and other general labor. Temporary employment agencies are responsible for paying wages to their employees, reporting the wages to the IRS on a quarterly basis, withholding payroll deductions from workers’ wages for income taxes, Social Security obligations and other amounts, and paying those taxes over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Temporary employment agencies bill client companies for the number of workers and the number of hours worked, and the client companies pay the agencies for the workers’ services. Since 2013, the defendants allegedly operated temporary employee agencies under several successive names, including recently under the names KHL, Inc. and Top Labors, Inc. Between 2019 and 2025, the defendants allegedly used a check cashing company in Worcester, Mass. to cash more than $57 million in checks that the defendants’ agencies received from client companies in payment for workers’ labor. The defendants allegedly used more than $ 48 million of the $57 million to pay employees their wages in cash “under the table,” that is, without reporting the payroll to the IRS or paying required taxes on the wages. The defendants also allegedly failed to pay more than $12 million in federal employment taxes they owed to the IRS from their agencies’ operations. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. The charge of failure to collect or pay over taxes also provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. 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 Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Convicted Felon Out on Parole is Sentenced Back to Prison for Paying Others to Purchase Firearms on His Behalf

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

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison again for paying others to buy firearms for him while he was out on parole for a separate offense. Heath Turner was sentenced to 102 months (8.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to: Making a False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm, and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include Aggravated Burglary, Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery, and Felonious Assault in 2015. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. According to court documents, investigators found that Turner enlisted the help of several individuals to illegally acquire firearms. Due to his status as a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from having firearms or ammunition in his possession. However, he collaborated with these individuals to make false statements on purchase applications to deceive federally licensed firearms dealers. After each purchase, these accomplices then transferred the firearms to Turner. During a search of Turner’s residence in June 2024 conducted by his parole officer, law enforcement found several firearms in his possession that others purchased for him including six pistols, two rifles, and a shotgun. Three other defendants, also of Cleveland, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in this case: Antwon Holt, 37, 37 months in prison; three years of supervised release. Cassandra Relik, 34, nine months in prison; three years of supervised release. Kristy Standen, 42, three years of probation. This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Towing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Bribe Bexar County Sheriff

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to bribe the Bexar County Sheriff in an attempt to obtain a Bexar County towing contract, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Muhammad Choudary, 78, owned and had operational control over a vehicle towing and heavy-duty recovery business which operated within Bexar County. On or about March 28, 2025, Bexar County solicited bids for towing and wrecking services for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and Bexar County Constable Offices. Choudary used an associate, co-conspirator Anwar Tahir, as a middleman. During an April 16, 2025 lunch meeting set up by Tahir, Choudary and Tahir told the Bexar County Sheriff that they would pay the Sheriff $30,000 to use his position to award the Bexar County towing contract to Choudary’s company. The following day, the Bexar County Sheriff reported the bribery attempt to FBI. The FBI then introduced an intermediary posing as a representative of the Sheriff. At an ensuing lunch meeting, Tahir, on behalf of Choudary, offered to pay the Bexar County Sheriff, through the representative, $10,000 upfront plus a payment of $25,000 a year for the life of the contract, in exchange for the Sheriff’s assistance in awarding the towing contract to Choudary’s company. Choudary pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and faces up to five years in federal prison. Tahir pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge on March 31. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former DuBois City Employee Pleads Guilty to Helping to Embezzle and Launder $1.5 Million from City Funds

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A former employee of the City of DuBois, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of federal program theft and money laundering, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Roberta Shaffer, 61, of DuBois pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on May 27, 2026. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from 2010 until 2022, Shaffer was employed as assistant to the City Manager of DuBois, which received federal assistance through grants, subsidies, loans, guarantees, insurance, and other forms in excess of $10,000 in each of the calendar years from 2008 to 2022. In her role as assistant, Shaffer and then-City Manager John Suplizio opened four secret bank accounts that were neither approved nor signed for by the appropriate City officials as required under Pennsylvania law, with Shaffer instead signing the account opening documents at Suplizio’s direction. Suplizio then diverted approximately $1.5 million that should have been deposited into accounts controlled by the City into the secret accounts, from which Suplizio used the stolen money to make payments on his personal credit card and to pay for various personal expenses, as well as for substantial cash withdrawals made for Suplizio’s benefit. Shaffer wrote and signed many of the checks that paid for the credit card bills and resulted in the cash withdrawals. The secret accounts were also used to pay for donations to local politicians, a fundraiser dinner for a local judge, and a City employee’s wedding reception. In addition, several cashier’s checks purchased through withdrawals from the secret accounts, as well as numerous large cash deposits, were later deposited into Suplizio’s personal banking accounts. Judge Haines scheduled Shaffer’s sentencing for September 22, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Suplizio’s trial is scheduled to begin October 5, 2026. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer Carroll (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General) are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaffer. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: D.C. Man Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of a Jersey Mike’s

body_text: WASHINGTON – Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Ponson pleaded guilty before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Judge Chutkan scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026. According to the complaint, Ponson was carrying a black handgun when he entered the Chipotle restaurant on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026. Ponson ordered a cashier to “open the register.” The cashier refused to comply. Ponson then walked away without any of the restaurant’s money. Minutes later, Ponson walked into the adjacent Jersey Mike’s hoagie shop on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. Ponson told the Jersey Mike’s cashier that he was picking up an order. The cashier went to look for the order. When the cashier returned, Ponson was pointing his handgun at her. The cashier ran to the back of the store. Ponson approached another employee and ordered “Give me all that sh---!” The employee handed over cash from the register and Ponson fled in the direction of the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police with the valuable assistance of theFederal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand. 26cr0115


title: Former Des Moines Superintendent & Guyanese Citizen Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and False Statement Charges

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent was sentenced to two years in federal prison today for false statement for employment and illegal alien in possession of firearms. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Ian Andre Roberts, 54, a Guyanese citizen, falsely stated that he was a United States citizen on employment paperwork related to his position at the Des Moines Public Schools in June 2023. Roberts was not and has never been a United States citizen. Roberts was not authorized to work in the United States except for an 18-month period between July 2018 and February 2020. On September 26, 2025, Roberts knowingly possessed a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle while knowing that he was unlawfully present in the United States. On the same day, Roberts also possessed three additional firearms at his residence, including a loaded pistol, a loaded rifle, and a shotgun. Underneath a floor mat in his personal vehicle, law enforcement also located a copy of the May 2025 order directing his removal from the United States to Guyana. After completing his prison sentence, Roberts will serve a three-year term of supervised release, which will be non-reporting if he is removed from the United States. There is no parole in the federal system. “Today’s sentence holds Ian Andre Roberts accountable for his criminal conduct and repeated violations of federal law,” said United States Attorney David C. Waterman. “By his own admission, Roberts falsely represented himself as a United States citizen in order to obtain positions of public trust and unlawfully possessed multiple firearms. That conduct undermined the integrity of our public institutions and the legal requirements designed to protect the public.” Waterman added, “The Court carefully considered the facts, the applicable law, and the circumstances of the case in imposing its sentence. This outcome reinforces the principle that federal law applies equally to all who violate it. I commend our law enforcement partners for their professionalism, diligence, and commitment throughout this investigation and prosecution. Our office remains committed to enforcing the law fairly, impartially, and without fear or favor.” United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Iowa State Patrol.


title: Rochester man sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to have sex with 11 and 13-year-old girls

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tony Rodriguez, 40, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of attempted enticement of a minor, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca. Between February 26 and March 12, 2025, Rodriguez engaged in graphic sexual conversations online with a person he believed to be an 11-year-old girl. Rodriguez was actually communicating with a member of the community group “Predator Poachers.” In addition to online conversations, Rodriguez also arranged a meeting with the 11-year-old girl in person, to engage in sexual activity. He arranged for the 11-year-old to meet him at the Fairport Public Library on March 12, 2025. However, when Rodriguez arrived at the library, he was confronted by the community group member. He left the location prior to the arrival of law enforcement. On April 15, 2025, law enforcement responded to a residence in the Town of Perinton and apprehended Rodriguez for attempting to meet a 13-year-old female to engage in sexual contact. In reality, the 13-year-old was a member of an unrelated community group called “Child Predator Hunter.” Rodriguez was then taken into custody for this incident and arrested for the March 12, 2025 incident at the Fairport Library. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Fairport Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Chief Matt Weber, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford. # # # #


title: Former Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Fleeing Arrestee

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Richard Russell was sentenced in federal court today to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting a 36-year-old unarmed man who was struck four times from behind as he tried to run away from authorities. Russell was convicted by a federal jury in March following a two-week trial and less than seven hours of deliberation. The jury found that the defendant violated the civil rights of the victim, Nicholas Bils, by fatally shooting him in the back as he ran away. At trial, Russell was found guilty of both counts filed against him. For Count 1 - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law – he was sentenced to 24 months; For Count 2, he received the mandatory minimum sentence of 120 months for Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence. The sentenced are to be served consecutively, for a total of 12 years. “The Constitution protects every person from the unjustified use of deadly force by law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today's sentence demonstrates the FBI's sworn duty to investigate any potential civil rights violation,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI will always stand behind our mission of upholding the Constitution and protecting the American people.” Russell, who has been free on bond, was ordered to report to prison by July 13 at noon. Before pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Todd Robinson said: “Law enforcement is rightfully held to a higher standard because of the power they’re imbued with to protect the community…It is difficult to imagine offense conduct more aggravated than intentionally taking the life of another person.” In a statement from the victim’s mother that was read by prosecutors at the hearing, Kathleen Bils said the loss of her son was “excruciating.” She described him as kind, thoughtful and gentle. “No mother should ever be awakened in the middle of the night to hear her child has been killed by law enforcement for running away. To hear that those trained and sworn to protect us have shot and killed one of us for fleeing is egregious.” The victim’s cousin recalled a happy childhood growing up with Bils, and her grief over his killing. “My faith has been shattered. My family has been shattered . . . I just want Nicky to come home, but he won’t.” According to evidence presented at trial, on May 1, 2020, the defendant—who at the time was a deputy with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department—fired five shots at the unarmed victim as he attempted to flee from custody while California State Parks Police officers were transporting him to the San Diego Central Jail in downtown San Diego. Four of the rounds fired by the defendant hit Bils, including one that struck Bils squarely in the back and fatally pierced his heart and lung. After being shot, Bils staggered to the northwest corner of Front and B Streets, where he collapsed, his body falling half on the sidewalk and half in a planter next to a tree. Other officers and paramedics tried to save his life, but he was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to the hospital. The shooting was captured on multiple surveillance cameras along Front Street, as well as on body-worn camera footage from officers who responded to the scene shortly afterward. No other officer on scene at the time of the shooting even pulled their firearm when Bils began running away. At trial, multiple officers testified that it was apparent that Bils was not a threat to anyone, that they never for a moment considered shooting Bils, and that it “wasn’t even a close call.” Other eyewitnesses, including a nurse and a firefighter, testified that they were “shocked” that the defendant shot Bils in the back. Highlighting the extreme danger he unnecessarily created that day, the fifth round fired by the defendant struck a civilian vehicle that was traveling southbound on Front Street at the time. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Michael Songer and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Lia Wright Tesconi. DEFENDANT Case Number 24-cr-1015 Aaron Richard Russell Age: 29 SUMMARY OF CHARGES Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law Using a Dangerous Weapon and Resulting in Death – 18 U.S.C. § 242 Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $500,000 fine Use and Discharge of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) Maximum penalty: Mandatory Minimum 10 years in prison and $500,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation


title: Member of the Fully Blooded Felons Gang Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for RICO, Drug, and Firearm Offenses

component: Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

body_text: Jeffrey Lee, a member of the Fully Blooded Felons gang, 25, of Cleveland, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, drug offenses, including fentanyl distribution, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. “This defendant, now a fully convicted and sentenced felon, will spend the next 12 years in prison because of his drug dealing and firearm crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The long sentence handed down by the court underscores the danger that drugs and guns bring to a community, and the seriousness of crimes like this. The Criminal Division will continue to seek lengthy sentences for gang members who commit drug and gun crimes.” “We will not tolerate violent drug traffickers like Mr. Lee who devastate our communities and hurt people with the drugs they peddle,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We want to acknowledge the investigators with the Cleveland FBI and the Cleveland Division of Police for their successful efforts which helped our prosecutors put this dangerous criminal behind bars.” “We are steadfast in our resolve to bring justice to the families whose loved ones have been impacted by the actions of Jeffrey Lee and the Fully Blooded Felons,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua DelManzo of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “For too long, these gang members have poisoned our communities through their illicit drug, gun, and criminal activities. This case and subsequent sentencing highlights the power of partnership, combining federal and local resources to identify gang members and drug traffickers leading to well-investigated cases. The FBI and its partners will continue to aggressively investigate individuals to dismantle their criminal network and eradicate violence and crime from our neighborhoods.” As the defendant admitted during his plea hearing and in other court documents, the Fully Blooded Felons have been in existence in Ohio since approximately 2012, operating primarily out of the eastside of Cleveland, as well as Akron, Youngstown, and elsewhere. They are also active in the Ohio prison system. The Fully Blooded Felons’ structure includes a “Commission,” which is a group of members tasked with maintaining the structure and organization of the enterprise through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means the organization would use to make money. The Fully Blooded Felons had rules that members were required to follow. The rules were sent to members online, by text message, and in face-to-face communications. Members were required to abide by “omerta,” or the code of silence, and were required to memorize and recite at meetings the “Fully Five,” a set of rules that included following all orders issued by the Commission. If a member did not know the “Fully Five,” they were punished. To further their drug trafficking, Fully Blooded Felons members used two separate stash-houses at a local apartment complex. During the execution of search warrants, law enforcement recovered close to three-quarters of a pound of fentanyl, as well as cocaine, methamphetamine, and seven firearms. In addition to the two stash houses, gang members also sold drugs in an open-air drug market that operated in the space adjacent to the apartment building where the two stash houses were located. Jeffrey Lee was an enforcer and regularly distributed fentanyl and other drugs on behalf of the gang. In one text message exchange, Lee asked another gang member where a .380 caliber handgun was hidden. Lee was also present at one of the trap houses when it was searched by police, who found over a half-pound of fentanyl, as well as methamphetamine, and cocaine, along with packing and other items used in drug trafficking. The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the Cleveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Brian W. Lynch from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Hanna, Robert F. Corts, and Margaret A. Sweeney for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine Appointed to Serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz.– Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently selected U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). The AGAC provides sound counsel and advice to the Attorney General on matters of national policy, management, and procedure and is comprised of 18 U.S. Attorneys and First Assistant U.S. Attorneys leading Districts across the nation. Courchaine brings an Arizona voice to the committee and proven experience leading an office that handles one of the nation’s highest volumes of cases, prosecuting a range of matters that are imperative to national security and public safety, including countering fraud, violent crime, illegal immigration, and foreign terror organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. “It is always an honor to serve the United States in any role. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve with an incredible group of leaders on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee as we help shape national level policy and priorities. This is also a pivotal moment when the Department of Justice seeks to recruit top-level talent to serve long into the future,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The District of Arizona is at the tip of the spear when it comes to guarding our national security and advancing Administration priorities. I look forward to bringing that experience to the Committee.” Courchaine has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona since February 2025, leading 180 federal prosecutors and 160 support staff spread across offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff. In addition to prosecuting cases arising along the 375-mile border with Mexico, the office also manages the nation’s most robust Indian Country docket and serves as the exclusive felony prosecutor for nearly all of the 22 federally-recognized tribes whose reservations fall in whole or in part in Arizona. Courchaine joined the Department of Justice in 2020 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Phoenix office. During his time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Courchaine prosecuted crimes across the Southern Border, including human trafficking, illegal immigration, and drug smuggling. He also prosecuted cases involving transnational drug organizations. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Courchaine was a law clerk for Arizona Supreme Court Justice William G. Montgomery. He also served as a Judge Advocate with the United States Marine Corps for four years, leaving as a Captain. As a Marine Officer, he served in a variety of roles, including trial counsel, civil and legal assistance officer in charge, and as a felony level defense counsel aboard MCAS Miramar. Courchaine received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach, and his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. He lives in the Phoenix area with his wife and four children. Others also appointed to the AGAC include, U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop (Middle District of North Carolina), U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros (Northern District of Illinois), U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford (District of Oregon); Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby (Northern District of Alabama), U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant (Western District of Tennessee), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison (District of New Mexico), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli (Central District of California), U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon (Southern District of California), U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon (Eastern District of Michigan), Acting U.S. Attorney John Marck (Southern District of Texas), U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly (District of Colorado), U.S. Attorney David Metcalf (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro (District of Columbia), U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones (Southern District of Florida), and U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods (District of Nebraska). RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-088_Attorney General Advisory Committee # # # 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: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation Into Drug Overdose While in Police Custody

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arising out of the death of a 39-year-old District resident from a drug overdose that occurred on Jan. 4, 2026. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, Body-Worn Camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department According to the evidence, on Jan. 4, 2024, Brent Garcia was arrested for simple assault. Mr. Garcia was taken to the Sixth District, and the police began to process the paperwork. In consuming alcohol prior to his arrest, Mr. Garcia consumed fentanyl while in the cell. Mr. Garcia passed out after 15 minutes. Other detainees helped him to a bench in the cell where he appeared to be sleeping. When the police attempted to contact him, Mr. Garcia was not responsive. The police immediately requested assistance, and an ambulance came to the scene. Unfortunately, Mr. Garcia could not be revived, and he was declared dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Garcia had died from a drug overdose from alcohol and fentanyl. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights. Investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.


title: Four Luzerne County Men Charged in Machinegun Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shaitq Crum, age 27, Nasir Shelton, age 24, Alphonse Bartiromo, age 18, and Brendan Shadle, age 23, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on machinegun trafficking and firearms charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Crum, Shelton, Bartiromo, and Shadle conspired to possess and transfer machineguns and machinegun conversion devices. A machinegun conversion device is gun part designed and intended to convert a firearm into a machinegun, allowing it to function as a fully automatic weapon. The indictment alleges the co-conspirators dealt in two types of machinegun conversion devices, that is, what are known as “Glock switches” and “auto-sears.” The indictment further alleges that the co-conspirators obtained machineguns from multiple sources before selling them for profit, as well as manufacturing machinegun conversion devices themselves using a 3D printer. The indictment also charges several firearms trafficking offenses involving various firearms including an AR-15 pistol with an obliterated serial number and multiple privately made firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” “According to the charges, these defendants were responsible for manufacturing and distributing weapons and conversion devices capable of fueling significant violence in our communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Those who manufacture and traffic in these weapons and devices are contributing directly to the cycle of violent crime, and they will be pursued aggressively. I want to thank the women and men of the Steamtown Safe Streets Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners whose dedication and professionalism made today’s announcement possible. Your efforts are making our communities safer.” “Firearms trafficking puts guns into the hands of the criminals who strike our communities,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “In this case those firearms included weapons designed to prevent their tracing, an illegal machinegun, and dangerous machinegun conversion devices that switch handguns into automatic fire weapons. Working with our law enforcement partners and using ATF’s unique capabilities, we helped expose this dangerous enterprise and will continue to work together to keep our Commonwealth’s communities safe from the dangers of firearms trafficking.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The indictment charges 21 counts of firearms offenses. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses ranges from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment per count, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former Mail Carrier Sentenced for Theft of Postal Customers' Prescription Drugs

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing packages containing prescription medications from postal customers on his postal route. Michael Vernon, 53, of Waltham, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to time served (one day) to be followed by one year of supervised release. Vernon was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,000. In December 2025 , Vernon pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal officer or employee. Vernon was arrested and charged in September 2025 . On Jan. 31, 2024, over 1,000 pieces of undelivered mail and 17 bottles of pills prescribed to 10 different postal customers on Vernon’s postal route were discovered in his personal vehicle. Most of the customers whose medications Vernon stole were elderly. The medications included Gabapentin, Chlorthalidone, Citalopram, Bupropion, Glipizide, Butalbital, Atomoxetine, Escitalopram and Tamsulosin Hydrochloride. These medications are used to treat nerve pain, seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, depression, anxiety and ADHD. The pill bottles were dated as far back as June 2022. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Missoula man sentenced to over four years in prison on drug trafficking charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS – A Missoula man who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl from Washington to Montana was sentenced today to 55 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Nathanial John Shoen, 33, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided. The government alleged in court documents that Shoen, along with Devon Bond and Joseph Cierley, was transporting methamphetamine and fentanyl from Washington state to Missoula with plans to distribute. Bond, 29, was sentenced on April 24, 2026, to 10 years and six months in prison and five years of supervised release. Cierley, 38, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Law enforcement officers began surveillance on Shoen, Bond and Cierley in summer 2025 after receiving a tip from an informant that the group was bringing back “pounds of methamphetamine and ounces of fentanyl” from Washington. Officers conducted a traffic stop in July 2025 of a vehicle in which the three men were traveling. In the vehicle, agents discovered 896.9 grams, or nearly 2 pounds, of meth, 66.4 grams of fentanyl pills and a loaded .357 revolver. A search of the men’s cell phones showed that all three were involved in distributing the drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missoula Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.


title: Inmate Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Scheme to Smuggle Contraband into Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Daryl Campbell was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to 37 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Metropolitan Detention Center (the MDC). Campbell pleaded guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to possess contraband. The sentence imposed today will run consecutive to the 35-year term he is serving for a manslaughter conviction in New York County. Campbell’s co‑defendants and fellow MDC inmates Ian Diez, Jonathan Guerrero, Abel Mora, and Mayovanex Rodriguez were previously sentenced to terms of incarceration ranging from six months to 30 months. A sixth co-conspirator, Carl Kelly, is awaiting sentencing. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence. “The message to inmates from today’s sentencing is clear: go fishing for contraband, and all you will catch is another prison term,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The smuggling of drugs and weapons by inmates compromises the safety and security of the MDC. Our Office will continue to ensure that any inmates who smuggle contraband will be prosecuted and face the consequences.” Mr. Nocella thanked the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for its assistance with the investigation. “Daryl Campbell jeopardized the safety of other inmates and employees by obtaining illegal drugs and weapons while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center. May today's sentencing emphasize the FBI's commitment to holding accountable individuals who smuggle contraband into our federal jails,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. Between April and June 2024, Campbell used a contraband cell phone to send detailed instructions to his co-conspirators on how to bring additional contraband into the MDC. As the organizer of the scheme, Campbell advised co-conspirators on how to package contraband, to deliver it to the MDC, and to get it into the jail, providing advice and guidance along the way as to how to accomplish each step in the process. In several voice recordings, Campbell explained his method of throwing a “line” out of a window of the MDC on to which a co-conspirator on the outside was to “hook” contraband, which could then be pulled back inside. On June 30, 2024, Kelly, Diez, Guerrero, Mora, and Rodriguez attempted to execute Campbell’s scheme. Kelly approached the front of the MDC and threw a rope made of duct tape up to the fourth floor, where Diez, Guerrero, Mora, and Rodriguez tried to pull it through the window of the recreation room in their housing area. Inside of the rope, correctional officers found papers laced with MDMB-4en-Pinaca (a synthetic cannabinoid), suboxone, marijuana, a scalpel, a phone charger, lighters, and cigarettes. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Noble and Michael Manzo are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Special Agent Danielle Williams. The Defendants : DARYL CAMPBELL Age: 40 Brooklyn, New York IAN DIEZ Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York JONATHAN GUERRERO Age: 38 Brooklyn, New York ABEL MORA Age: 24 Brooklyn, New York MAYOVANEX RODRIGUEZ Age: 31 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-108 (NGG) CARL KELLY Age: 35 Long Island City, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-250 (NGG)


title: Non-Citizen Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Voting in Numerous Elections

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Mexican man has pleaded guilty to voting in multiple elections despite being a non-citizen, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. Homero Ramos, 45, of Haleyville, pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Edmund G. LaCour, Jr., to two counts of fraudulent voting. According to the indictment, Ramos is a lawful permanent resident but never obtained U.S. citizenship. Despite this, Ramos registered to vote and voted—even though he knew that only U.S. citizens are permitted to do so under Alabama law. In fact, Ramos voted in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case.


title: Norwalk Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KIMBERLY DELACRUZ, also known as “K,” 31, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment and 18 months of supervised release for her role in a southwestern Connecticut narcotics trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Norwalk Police Department identified Delacruz’s paramour, Jose Orjuela, as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the Norwalk area. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Orjuela and others transported kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Texas and Ohio, and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin from New York City, and distributed the narcotics in and around Norwalk through a network of associates. Orjuela and Delacruz stored narcotics and drug proceeds at their Marlin Drive residence in Norwalk, and also used the Darien residence of a co-conspirator to store narcotics and drug proceeds, convert cocaine into crack cocaine, and package narcotics for street sale. Delacruz assisted Orjuela in the packaging and distribution of narcotics. Orjuela, Delacruz, and others were arrested on April 29, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple federal search warrants and seized approximately 15,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 350 grams of raw heroin, and quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine. Orjuela was apprehended while attempting to flush several hundred grams of fentanyl down a toilet in his residence. On July 22, 2025, Delacruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Delacruz, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 15. On May 14, 2026, Orjuela was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment . This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Norwalk Police Department, the Darien Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Kenneth L. Gresham.


title: Four Men Accused of $1.7 Million Water Heater Refund Scam

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Four men have been indicted in St. Louis and accused of a fraudulent scheme involving the return of used water heaters in exchange for $1.7 million in gift certificates. Aron Suarez-Ruiz, 22, Jose Antonio Alvarez-Raya, 38, Daniel Barreras-Magallanes, 41, and Francisco Aguilar-Ortiz, 27, were each indicted in U.S. District Court on Wednesday with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Alvarez-Raya, Barreras-Magallanes and Aguilar-Ortiz appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty. The indictment says that from at least March 2026 through May 18, 2026, the men obtained used water heaters in California and transported them on rented trucks to home improvement stores around the country. Using counterfeit labels with false serial numbers, the men returned the water heaters to the stores for a refund in the form of gift certificates, the indictment says. The men then used those gift certificates to purchase power tools, it says. The indictment alleges the scheme to defraud resulted in losses of more than $1.7 million. In one example provided in the indictment, on May 14, 2026, Alvarez-Raya and Suarez-Ruiz returned hot water heaters labelled with counterfeit serial numbers at stores in Wentzville, Cottleville, St. Charles, St. Louis County and Arnold. On May 18, 2026, Barreras-Magallanes and Aguillar-Ortiz returned two used hot water heaters at store in Wentzville, the indictment says. A motion seeking the detention of Alvarez-Raya says the men made multiple stops at other stores on the way to Missouri and that Alvarez-Raya recruited Suarez-Ruiz to participate. Aguilar-Ortiz recruited Barreras-Magallanes from Mexico, another motion says. Alvarez-Raya, Aguilar-Ortiz and Barreras-Magallanes are illegal immigrants, the motion says. Alvarez-Raya had been living in Washington state. Aguilar-Ortiz is from the Los Angeles area. Suarez-Ruiz was living in Louisville, Kentucky. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Arnold Police Department and the Wentzville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Francis Combs, 58, of Cool Ridge, was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2024, Combs sold a Bryco Arms model Jennings J-22 .22-caliber pistol to a confidential informant in Raleigh County. As part of his guilty plea, Combs admitted to conducting the transaction at his residence and after selling a quantity of fentanyl to the confidential informant at a gas station in Ghent. Combs also admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl and a Jimenez Arms model JA-Nine 9mm pistol to a confidential informant at his residence on August 1, 2024. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Combs knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 26, 2007, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Wyoming County Circuit Court on October 1, 2019. This is Combs’ fifth firearms-related conviction. At the time of his current offense, Combs was on parole for state burglary and robbery convictions. Combs has a criminal history that also includes prior convictions for delivery of methamphetamine and battery. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-188. ###


title: Justice Department Sues States for Denying Undercover License Plates to Federal Law Enforcement

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: On Wednesday, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maine , Washington , Oregon , and Massachusetts challenging their unconstitutional policies denying confidential license plates to federal agents. This comes after each state refused to rescind their unconstitutional policies in response to a prompt letter from the Department explaining the policies’ illegality. Not only are these policies unconstitutional, but, as alleged in the complaint, these policies threaten the operational effectiveness and safety of federal agents who have faced a wave of targeted harassment. If federal agents cannot use confidential plates, dangerous individuals can track and evade law enforcement. There is no justification for states to deny confidential license plates to federal agents. “This Department of Justice will exercise any and all lawful authorities to support the brave men and women of law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively. By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement. These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities.” “The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the operational effectiveness and safety of law enforcement from these unconstitutional state policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. This lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country.


title: Tucson Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – A man who exploited multiple children was sentenced last week in federal court. Nathan Dean Hinte, 36, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 40 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hinte previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography. “Every child deserves to be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This 40-year sentence sends a clear message that federal law enforcement in Arizona is committed to pursuing justice for children. I commend Homeland Security Investigations for their outstanding work in uncovering the abuse and for teaming up with federal prosectors to ensure Hinte was held accountable for his heinous crimes.” “Protecting and rescuing children remains one of Homeland Security Investigations highest priorities and this lengthy sentence demonstrates the seriousness of this reprehensible crime,” said Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Let this case serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to exploit or harm children. HSI will relentlessly pursue those who commit these heinous offenses, regardless of how long it takes to bring them to justice.” According to the plea agreement, Hinte admitted he used his cell phone in March of 2024 and August of 2024 to create videos and images of the victims, two of whom were under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hinte also admitted that he used a computer and the Internet to access and view files depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material. Finally, Hinte further admitted that he distributed at least one image of a victim to another individual using the Internet. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . HSI Arizona conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, prosecuted the case. CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-6718 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-085_Hinte # # # 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: Convicted Felon Who Illegally Possessed 15 Firearms, Over 1,600 Fentanyl Pills and Other Drugs Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A previously convicted felon who illegally possessed 15 firearms and more than 1,600 fentanyl pills, over 800 grams of methamphetamine, and cocaine was sentenced to 22 years in prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. John Anthony Barreiro, 44, of Murphy, North Carolina, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release. “Drug trafficking and illegal firearms and violence go hand-in-hand—and this case is proof,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “It is vitally important that we remove lethal drugs and illegal firearms from our community, and in this case we did both by securing a 22-year sentence.” According to court documents and court proceedings, on December 4, 2023, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle in Murphy. Rather than heed the officer’s blue lights, Barreiro fled, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Court documents show that while fleeing from officers, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger side window of the car. Later, Barreiro also threw a bag containing over 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, and cocaine out of the passenger side window. Both the firearm and drugs were later recovered by law enforcement. After tossing the firearm and the drugs out of the vehicle, Barreiro pulled over and was arrested. In the vehicle and on his person, Barreiro had additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Barreiro also had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine, and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle. Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home in Murphy where Barreiro was known to reside. Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine, and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine. Barreiro has prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms. On September 26, 2024, Barreiro pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annabelle Chambers prosecuted the case. Ms. Chambers is a state prosecutor with the 43rd Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Ashley Welch to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville. Ms. Chambers is sworn in to practice in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position reflects the partnership between the 43rd Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office. The SAUSA position helps ensure the effective and vigorous prosecution of federal court cases that impact the counties within the 43rd Prosecutorial District.


title: Mexican national illegally living in Dallas sentenced to 18 years in federal prison as part of  Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Angel Luis Lopez-Montero, 45, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on May 28, 2026. According to information presented in court, in 2024, an investigation into illegal trafficking of drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine, identified Lopez-Montero as a source of supply for methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Lopez-Montero admitted to being personally responsible for the distribution of at least 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Homeland Security Task Force investigation into firearms trafficking results in federal prison sentence in the Eastern District of Texas for Oklahoma man

body_text: PLANO, Texas – An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to federal prison following an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Steven Mark Moore, 27, of Yukon, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to straw purchase of firearms and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on May 28, 2026. According to information presented in court, in 2022, an investigation revealed firearms purchased at various pawn shops and gun shows were linked to various crimes in the United States as well as deadly cartel-related shootings in Mexico. The investigation identified Moore as a source of funding used to purchase the firearms from legitimate sources to illegally resale the guns at an inflated price to individuals involved in criminal activities. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Former Suffolk County Corrections Officer Sentenced for COVID Unemployment and Loan Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A former Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department corrections officer was sentenced in federal court in Boston for submitting fraudulent information in order to obtain loans through CARES Act programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Christnel Orisca, 26, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to one year of supervised release. Orisca was also ordered to pay $54,700 in restitution and forfeiture. In November 2025 , Orisca pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution, arising out of PUA, traditional Unemployment Insurance and PPP loan benefits obtained prior to his employment at the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department. Orisca was arrested and charged in December 2024 . Orisca was a corrections officer with the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department from late 2021 to December 2024. Orisca fraudulently applied for pandemic unemployment and small business loan benefits while working full-time, initially for a security company and later for a delivery company. While employed full-time, Orisca collected approximately $54,700 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds. In his PUA application, Orisca made fraudulent representations about his employment status and thereafter falsely claimed, on a weekly basis, that he did not work and did not receive any income during the prior week. In his PPP loan application, Orisca submitted false statements to SBA-approved lenders, including the income and/or payroll of his purported small businesses, in order to obtain his loan. He also made false representations on forms submitted to request that his PPP loans be forgiven. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Targeting a Federal Witness

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Massachusetts man who admitted to participating in a murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting a federal witness connected to a criminal matter before the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island. Kareem Pires, 27, of Wareham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 8 years imprisonment. Pires pleaded guilty on February 26, 2026, to conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill in a murder-for-hire plot. According to court documents, Pires participated in a conspiracy to arrange for the killing of a federal witness connected to a pending federal criminal case. The agreement between Pires and co-defendant Elijah Melton to kill a witness in an official proceeding in the District of Massachusetts, formed while Melton was awaiting trial at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island. “This sentence sends a clear message that threats and acts of violence against witnesses will be met with serious consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “Protecting the integrity of the justice system depends on the willingness of witnesses to come forward and testify without fear of intimidation or retaliation. Our office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to investigating and prosecuting anyone who seeks to obstruct justice through violence.” “Harvard Street gang member Kareem Pires’s recent confession to plotting to kill a witness in a federal trial has now landed him behind bars for the next eight years. The FBI was able to foil this cold and calculated plan aimed at subverting the course of justice, thanks to a cooperating witness who worked with us to expose it,” said Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “No one involved in the administration of justice should ever be the subject of threats or violence, and the FBI will continue to bring all its resources to bear to disrupt deadly plots like this one.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts, with the assistance of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island; Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Somerville, Dedham, Malden, Brockton, Quincy, and Wareham, Massachusetts Police Departments.


title: Southern Utah Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – A St. George drug dealer was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release after law enforcement located fentanyl and methamphetamine inside his vehicle during a traffic violation in 2024. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after John Andy Larson, 49, of St. George, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026, to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to court documents and statements made at Larson’s sentencing and change of plea hearings, on November 7, 2024, a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on the interstate. The driver was identified as Larson. A drug sniffing canine alerted positive to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle. Law enforcement searched and located a lockbox inside the vehicle which contained 63 grams of methamphetamine (three bags), 7.8 grams of fentanyl pills (52 pills/two bags), 1.5 grams of marijuana (one bag), and 2.5 grams of heroin (one bag). All the drugs field-tested positive. “Larson’s sentence should serve as a deterrent to other drug traffickers—if you try to make a career out of peddling poison in Utah, you are looking at a significant amount of incarceration time,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “The safety of our communities is a top priority for my office and Larson’s sentence underscores the collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners in realizing that priority.” The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Hood of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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: Federal Jury Convicts Armed Multi-Convicted Felon in Explosive Arson and Counterfeit Oxy Fentanyl Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted a multi-convicted felon who ignited a vehicle on fire, loaded with fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills, crack cocaine, cash, and a firearm while law enforcement officers stood nearby during a Palm Beach County drug trafficking investigation. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Willie James Skipper, Jr., 42, of Boynton Beach, was under law enforcement surveillance on Oct. 31, 2025, after officers observed him engaging in suspected hand-to-hand narcotics exchanges in an area of Palm Beach County known for violent crime and open-air drug trafficking. A narcotics-detection K-9 later alerted to Skipper’s vehicle. “This case shows the lethal mix we are confronting in South Florida: fentanyl disguised as prescription pills, crack cocaine, cash, firearms, and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence at trial showed that Willie James Skipper Jr., a multi-convicted felon, set fire to a vehicle loaded with drugs and a firearm while law enforcement officers stood just feet away. That explosion could have killed officers and innocent people nearby. Thanks to the courage of our federal, state, and local partners, this defendant was stopped, convicted, and now faces serious federal prison time.” While officers waited for a tow truck to impound the vehicle, Skipper walked to a nearby gas station, purchased gasoline, returned to the vehicle, poured gasoline onto it, and ignited the vehicle, causing a major explosion while officers were positioned within feet of the vehicle. Skipper then fled on foot before being taken into custody. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills, crack cocaine, large amounts of cash, and a loaded firearm concealed in hidden compartments. During trial, expert witnesses and law enforcement officers testified regarding the dangers posed by fentanyl disguised as legitimate prescription medication, the violent nature of the vehicle fire, and the risk of catastrophic injury posed by nearby propane tanks. Additional testimony established that DNA evidence linked Skipper to both the narcotics and the firearm recovered from the vehicle. The jury convicted Skipper of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and arson. Skipper faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Certain remaining counts were severed by the Court and are pending. The defendant is presumed innocent of the pending charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement. FBI Miami, ATF Miami Field Office, and PBSO are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon O’Shea Darsch and Brian Ralston are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-80049. ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 26 Months After Police Discover Guns and Cocaine in His Car

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

body_text: WASHINGTON -- Gerald Ezell, 36, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 26 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Ezell pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2026, before Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 26-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Ezell to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison term. According to court papers, on Sept. 21, 2025, Metropolitan Police officers approached Ezell's parked car for a missing front registration tag. As an officer approached, he observed Ezell, who was seated in the front passenger seat, make a furtive movement toward his waistband. Ezell then got out of the car. He locked it and walked away. Looking through the car window, the officer spotted a Glock 19 pistol in plain view on the front passenger floorboard where Ezell had been sitting. Officers recovered the 9mm pistol, which was loaded with a round in the chamber, along with a 31-round extended magazine loaded with 27 rounds. A second search by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and members of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Crime Scene Search Unit turned up another firearm, a Derringer .22 Magnum caliber pistol, on the floorboard between the front passenger seat and the center console. Law enforcement also recovered about 4.6 grams of cocaine, more than a hundred unused half-gram plastic containers typically used to distribute narcotics, and a digital scale with white powder residue. Ezell previously had been convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm on three separate occasions, in 2010, 2014, and 2019. Due to his previous felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing any firearm. This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English. 25cr341


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced Following His Second Conviction for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARREN FOLEY (“FOLEY”) , age 38, was sentenced on April 30, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon to 26 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, FOLEY has previous felony convictions for aggravated assault of a police officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 14, 2024, law enforcement officers spotted FOLEY , who had active warrants out for his arrest, in front of a residence on Magic Street in New Orleans. FOLEY fled into the residence and hid a Glock Model 26, nine-millimeter pistol, that was equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Culver City Restauranteur Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $4 Million in COVID Business Loans

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A Culver City restauranteur who owns a hospitality company that has developed restaurants and hotels in California, Tennessee, and Kentucky was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million COVID-19 economic-relief loans. Philip Frederick Camino, 46, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter, who also ordered him to pay $4,365,667 in restitution. At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Camino was remanded into federal custody. Camino pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. During the spring of 2020, Congress created two federal programs to provide financial assistance to Americans and businesses suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). From April 2020 to April 2021, Camino, who owned several companies based in Hollywood, Westwood, Studio City, and Beverly Hills as well as in Arizona, submitted and caused to be submitted false and fraudulent applications to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and banks for PPP and EIDL loans. In these applications, Camino made false statements, including inflating the number of employees, providing fictitious federal tax forms that were never filed with the IRS, and falsely certifying that the loan proceeds would be used for permissible business purposes. In total, Camino submitted more than 20 fraudulent loan applications from which he obtained more than $4 million. Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Chief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier prosecuted this case.


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison  for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Memphis man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. According to court documents, on October 29, 2023, a Loxley Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a white sedan for improper lane change. Marshall BRATCHER, 40, was identified as the driver. Other passengers included an adult female and three juveniles. Following the admission of possession of marijuana by Bratcher, LPD officers conducted a search of the vehicle. During the search, a stolen Ruger, Model P89 pistol was recovered under the driver’s seat. Further investigation uncovered that Bratcher used the firearm to kidnap the female passenger, force her to gather the juvenile passengers into the vehicle, and ultimately leave with him. Witness accounts revealed Bratcher drove erratically with the firearm in his lap until he was stopped by law enforcement. Bratcher is an Armed Career Criminal under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) because of his prior violent felony and serious drug offense convictions. Bratcher’s prior felony convictions include three separate convictions for Aggravated Assault, and convictions of Aggravated Burglary and Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, among other felony convictions. As a convicted felon, Bratcher is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Bratcher was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Bratcher to 180 months in prison to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Loxley Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 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.