title: Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill Federal Judge

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – An Illinois man has been sentenced to federal prison for sending a series of threatening communications to a U.S. District Judge in the Southern District of Florida, including threats directed at the judge and the judge’s family. U.S. District Judge William F. Jung for the Middle District of Florida sentenced Eric James Rennert, 56, of Champaign, Illinois, to 33 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of threatening to assault, kidnap, and murder a U.S. judge with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the judge’s ability to perform official duties and with the intent to retaliate against the judge. “Threatening a federal judge is not protest. It is a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “When someone sends violent threats to intimidate a judge or terrorize a judge’s family, they are attacking the rule of law itself. Let this sentence send a clear message: if you threaten a judge in the Southern District of Florida, we will find you, we will charge you, and we will move your case swiftly and aggressively. Our judges will continue to do their jobs without fear, and this Office will ensure they are protected.” “Threats to kill a federal judge are an attack on our justice system and will not be tolerated” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office. “Mr. Rennert engaged in egregious criminal conduct which resulted in a thorough investigation and aggressive prosecution. Our judicial system, and the officers of the court who work within it, must be free from intimidation to ensure the impartiality of their work. The FBI will vigorously investigate these types of threats to preserve the integrity of our courts.” According to court records, between May and July 2024, Rennert sent multiple emails from his personal account to the judge’s personal email address, each containing escalating threats of violence. On May 25, 2024, Rennert sent an email threatening that the judge and the judge’s family would be “hunted down” and executed. Three days later, on May 28, 2024, Rennert mistakenly sent a similar threatening email to an unrelated professor with the same name before quickly forwarding it to the intended judge. That message again included threats of violence and death directed at the judge and referencing the judge’s family. Rennert continued his conduct on June 25, 2024, sending another email containing profane and violent threats, including statements that the judge would be killed regardless of the outcome of future events. On July 24, 2024, Rennert sent a final email with the subject line “your going down,” again threatening to kill the judge. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Skiles made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler-Dominguez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wheeler III prosecuted 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 24-cr-20425. ###


title: Mexican national sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PLANO, Texas –A Mexican national been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for drug and gun violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Victor Manuel Navarette Roman, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to a total of 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 26, 2026. According to information presented in court, Roman was a high-level source of supply for illegal narcotics, specifically fentanyl and methamphetamine, imported from Mexico for distribution in the United States. A search of Roman’s residence resulted in the seizure of an AR-15 pistol as well as fentanyl and 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. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum. ###


title: Federal charges filed in Eddy County deputy shooting

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Carlsbad man is facing federal charges after allegedly firing a rifle at an Eddy County Sheriff’s Office deputy responding to a call. According to court records, on October 19, 2025, an Eddy County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to the area of McKittrick and Hidalgo Road in Carlsbad, New Mexico, after a witness reported that Dustin Alan Henley , 35, was standing outside a truck holding a firearm. As the deputy arrived in a clearly marked patrol vehicle, Henley fired a rifle at the deputy, striking the vehicle in the engine compartment. The deputy returned fire, striking Henley multiple times. Henley dropped the rifle and fled on foot before being taken into custody. At the time of the offense, Henley was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions. Henley is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and he will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Henley faces up to 15 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Roswell Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Henley).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Members Charged in Connection with ATM "Jackpotting Scheme"

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two Venezuelan nationals, alleged to be members of the violent transitional criminal organization Tren De Aragua, have been charged in connection with an ATM jackpotting conspiracy that included robberies and attempted robberies in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. ATM jackpotting schemes typically involve a crew of individuals who travel to targeted ATMs and install malware directly to the ATM’s software programming to force the ATM to dispense all its cash. Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrz and Lestter Guerrero, both 29, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank theft. They will make their appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. Both defendants are in the United States unlawfully. According to court documents there has been an ongoing federal investigation into a nationwide conspiracy, believed to be coordinated and committed by members of Tren de Aragua (“TdA”), to steal money from ATMs using malware -- a scheme referred to as ATM jackpotting. TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated in Venezuela in the mid-2000s which has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere with an established presence in the United States. According to court filings, TdA’s criminal activities include human smuggling, extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. TdA has developed revenue sources through a range of criminal activities, including ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions. Jackpotting proceeds are typically distributed amongst TdA members and associates to conceal its derivation. TdA members often are instructed to split the proceeds from a jackpot operation with 50% earmarked and sent to TdA leadership in Venezuela and 50% divided among subjects conducting ground operations. According to charging documents, on Feb. 5, 2026, Martinez Gutierrez and Guerrero were arrested in Augusta, Maine following an attempted ATM jackpotting robbery. Martinez Gutierrez is allegedly connected to at least five additional ATM jackpotting robberies across New England, including robberies on Dec. 31, 2025, in Norwich, Conn; Jan. 20, 2026, in Braintree, Mass; and Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H.; and attempted robberies on Jan. 14, 2026, in Coventry, R.I.; and on Jan. 19, 2026, in Stoneham, Mass. Guerrero is allegedly connected to at least one additional jackpotting robbery, with Martinez Gutierrez, on Jan. 30, 2026, in Rochester, N.H. The charge of conspiring to commit bank theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division; the Massachusetts State Police; the Braintree, Stoneham, Boston, Dedham, Malden, Somerville, Augusta (Maine), Rochester (N.H.), Coventry (R.I.) and Norwich (Conn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Peter K. Levitt, Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS – A Mexican man who was illegally in the United States after being removed was sentenced today to time served, 161 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. David Antonio Molina-Mendoza, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to illegal reentry of removed alien. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided. The government alleged in court documents that on September 19, 2025, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant on Interstate 90 near Forsyth. Officers requested a records check on Molina-Mendoza and learned he was in the United States illegally. Records revealed Molina-Mendoza was a citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the United States on four separate occasions and had no documentation to reside in the United States legally. Molina-Mendoza was taken into custody by Border Patrol Agents. In an interview with agents, Molina-Mendoza acknowledged he entered the United States illegally. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Border Patrol and Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Arvada Man Indicted On Charges Related To Manufacture Of ‘Bath Salts’

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Nicholas T. Benevento, also known as Derrick Jones, 44, of Arvada, was indicted on one count of knowingly manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute a substance containing alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) near a playground, and one count of maintaining a drug house to manufacture alpha-PVP. This illegal substance is more commonly known by the name ‘bath salts.’ According to the indictment, from approximately April 2025 to October 2025, Benevento purchased precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of alpha-PVP and had them shipped to himself at several addresses across Colorado and Utah. The indictment also alleges that on or about November 10, 2025, Benevento manufactured alpha-PVP at his apartment on Ralston Road in Arvada, which was located within 1,000 feet of the Ralston Central Park and Splash Pad. The manufacture of alpha-PVP resulted in and created a toxic fume smell and combustible gas emanating from the apartment. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Drug Enforcement Administration is handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Scott is handling the prosecution. Case Number: 26-CR-00041-SKC


title: Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Misty Dawn Baisden, 48, of St. Albans and a convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty today to failing to update her registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about September 17, 2025, through on or about October 30, 2025, Baisden failed to report that she had begun working at a St. Albans business. Baisden is required to register as a sex offender because of her conviction for conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 19, 2017. Baisden is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-2. ###


title: Ex-Law Firm Office Manager Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Todd M. Chapman, 58, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $602,362.97 in restitution for bank fraud. Chapman admitted that he embezzled funds from a now-defunct Huntington law firm while employed as the office manager, including money from client trust accounts and proceeds from a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, Chapman was employed as the firm’s office manager for approximately 30 years. Beginning in 2016, Chapman enriched himself by writing unauthorized checks from the firm’s operating accounts and client trust accounts to himself. As part of his guilty plea, Chapman admitted that he had complete and exclusive control of the firm’s day-to-day finances during this time period, allowing him to carry out his scheme. Chapman further admitted that he forged signatures on checks, created false documents, made false statements under oath, and made false statements to federal law enforcement agents investigating the loss of client funds at the firm. Chapman ceased employment at the now-defunct law firm in April 2022. Chapman embezzled at least $409,000 from the estates of three deceased firm clients, $100,000 that one minor client was supposed to receive upon turning 18, and $15,838.84 of an initial $20,000 settlement deposit for another minor client who suffered an injury as an infant. Chapman also embezzled $13,686.21 from a $20,375 PPP loan that the firm legitimately received to provide emergency financial aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapman admitted that he spent the embezzled funds for his personal enjoyment and lifestyle. Five of Chapman’s victims addressed the Court during the sentencing hearing. The Court found that Chapman abused his position of trust repeatedly over multiple years and sentenced him to the maximum prison term under Sentencing Commission guidelines. “Stealing is bad enough. Stealing from victims — some of them children — while entrusted to safeguard their funds is indefensible," said United States Attorney Moore Capito. "This defendant’s conduct inflicted financial harm on individuals and shook confidence in an institution people depend on in their most difficult moments. That betrayal demanded accountability.” Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, and since-retired Southern District of West Virginia Litigation Financial Analyst Steve Rowley. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Kathleen Robeson and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-121. ###


title: Potsdam Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard LaPage, age 52, of Potsdam, New York, was sentenced on February 25, 2026 to 19 years (228 months) in federal prison for one count of Distribution of Child Pornography; one count of Receipt of Child Pornography; and four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, LaPage admitted that between December 2023 and October 2024, he used smartphone social networking applications to send and receive child pornography files to and from other users. Investigators also identified more than 150 child pornography images and videos on four of LaPage’s electronic devices. Previously, on April 25, 2010, LaPage had been convicted of the New York State offense of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, which criminalizes an adult’s attempt to engage in sexual contact with a child less than 13 years old. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The defendant, already a registered sex offender, again engaged in disgusting criminal conduct that revictimized the children whose abuse was depicted in the images he distributed, received, and possessed. Repeat sex offenders should know that this Office will stop at nothing to ensure they are identified, prosecuted, and removed from our communities. I commend our law enforcement partners’ work to keep our communities safe from this dangerous predator.” Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Buffalo Field Office, said: "Richard LaPage’s sentencing today is another example of holding repeat child predators accountable for their reprehensible crimes against innocent children. HSI Massena, together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and our local partners, relentlessly pursued this case to ensure LaPage could no longer threaten our communities. We remain unwavering in our mission to protect children and will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to root out those who prey on the vulnerable." Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also sentenced LaPage to serve a 15-year term of supervised release to begin after LaPage is released from prison and ordered him to pay restitution to victims. LaPage will again be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. The case was investigated by HSI and the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), with assistance from the Potsdam Police Department and St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Oregon Business Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for Employment Tax Crimes

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An owner and president of a collection of healthcare staffing companies was sentenced to federal prison today for willfully failing to pay over employment taxes to the IRS on behalf of the companies he owned and operated. Jeffrey A. Kruse, 56, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution. According to court documents, Kruse was the founder, owner, and president of a collection of healthcare staffing companies that provided temporary staffing of medical and healthcare workers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Kruse was in charge of payroll for the businesses and responsible for collecting and accounting for and paying over to the IRS on a periodic basis employment taxes for the businesses’ employees. Kruse falsely underreported and underpaid his employment tax obligations by creating two sets of tax forms for his employees – a false set of tax forms that he sent to the government that underreported his employees’ compensation and the employment tax due, and an accurate set of tax forms that Kruse sent his employees for use in reporting their own tax obligations. Kruse’s conduct caused a total tax loss of over $3.6 million. On June 20, 2025, Kruse was charged by information with one count of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over trust fund taxes. On August 6, 2025, Kruse pleaded guilty to count one of the information. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Ho prosecuted the case.


title: Two Defendants Charged Following Shootout with DEA Agents and Seizure of Approximately 50,000 Suspected Fentanyl Pills

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, and Jael Gonzalez Banuelos, 22, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested on the morning of Feb. 24, 2026, by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos had their respective initial appearances on Feb. 25, 2026. From early February 2026 through February 24, 2026, Valenzuela Lopez allegedly negotiated and coordinated the sale and delivery of approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement officers became aware of the deal and tried to arrest Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos as they delivered the pills. When agents approached their vehicle, Valenzuela Lopez, who is illegally present in the United States, allegedly opened fire on law enforcement officers. In response, law enforcement officers returned fire. No injuries or fatalities resulted, and law enforcement officers subsequently arrested Valenzuela Lopez and Gonzalez Banuelos. Investigators discovered a firearm on the ground by the driver’s side of the fentanyl pill transport vehicle, as well as approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills in the passenger compartment. A conviction for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution carries a 10-year minimum-mandatory sentence, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five (5) years, up to life. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 2:26-mj-5079-DMF RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-038_Valenzuela Lopez, Gonzalez Banuelos # # # 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: Alabama Man Faces 20 Years for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – An Alabama resident is facing up to 20 years in prison after he was caught by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent distributing child sexual abuse material of young female children online while he was living in Southwest Georgia. Bradley Love, 37, of Dothan, Alabama, and formerly of Blakely, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography before Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Feb. 26. Love faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by at least five years up to a maximum of lifetime supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “This case demonstrates the strong collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend child predators lurking online,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “We are committed to pursuing online child predators and seeking the maximum penalties available under the law.” “Let this serve as a warning: Anyone who distributes child sexual abuse material will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “HSI’s undercover operations are designed to expose predators who target children online. We will not tolerate these crimes, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect children and ensure offenders are removed from our communities.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a HSI undercover agent joined a “teen chat” room on a website called “chat-avenue.com” on Dec. 7, 2023, and posted “Dad of 2 8yro and 10yro.” Soon after, the agent received a private message from an individual with a screenname of “Whiteranger,” who was Love. During the undercover investigation, Love asked the agent about his daughters and if he had sexually abused them. Love then asked the undercover agent to move their conversation to the messaging platform, Kik. On Kik, Love sent the undercover agent a photo of male genitals and requested explicit photos of his daughters. Love also relayed he had child sexual abuse material of children he wanted to share, but that he didn’t want to be kicked off Kik for sharing CSAM, and requested to move that conversation to another platform, Session. In Session, Love’s screenname was “Jackkfrost.” Love sent one photo of a naked prepubescent female child, one picture of two naked female children and a picture of a prepubescent female engaging in sexually explicit conduct to the undercover agent. HSI investigators located the defendant at his home address in Blakely, Georgia. On Sept. 5, 2024, HSI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the Early County Sheriff’s Office executed a federal search warrant at Love’s Blakely residence. Several electronic items belonging to Love were seized: one cell phone contained approximately 139 images depicting CSAM, and a second cell phone contained two images depicting CSAM. Love told investigators he was interested in minor children who were “toddler age” and confirmed that he sent and received CSAM on these platforms. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969. HSI investigated the case with assistance from the GBI and the Early County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: VALDOSTA, Ga. – A South Georgia man with prior drug convictions was sentenced to prison after police found him illegally in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop. Cedric Jerome Maxwell, 49, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 230 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Feb. 26. Maxwell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Nov. 4, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system. “It is illegal for felony offenders to possess a firearm. Our office will seek federal prosecution against armed repeat offenders who continue to commit crimes in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are thankful to our law enforcement partners for their collaboration to hold convicted felons accountable for breaking the law and working to make our communities safer for everyone.” "The illegal possession of firearms by repeat offenders poses a threat to our neighborhoods. The ATF stands firm in its mission to deny criminals access to firearms, partnering with local law enforcement to ensure justice is served,” said ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We are thankful for the relationships we maintain with federal, state and local law enforcement to help get repeat criminals with guns off the streets and hold them accountable,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. According to court documents and statements referenced in court, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Maxwell for failure to maintain laneon June 2, 2022. The investigator smelled marijuana and conducted a legal search of the vehicle. Inside the middle console, investigators found bundles of cash, a blue zip pouch containing cocaine, some red and blue pills that tested positive for methamphetamine and a .40 caliber firearm. Investigators also found marijuana in the back seat. Maxwell has three prior felony drug convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Repeat sex offender from Licking County pleads guilty to new child pornography crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A repeat sex offender pleaded guilty in federal court here today to receiving and possessing child pornography. Christopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, faces 15 to 40 years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material and 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing it. According to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography. In January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for “something new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr…” Investigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf’s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old. On a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case. McInturf was charged federally in February 2025. He will be sentenced at a future court hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . # # #


title: Alaska Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— A Cameroonian national residing in Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced to federal prison today for fraudulently obtaining more than $172,000 in taxpayer money from emergency programs intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Peter Igwacho, 65, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $182,225.15 in restitution. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between April 2020 and October 2021, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Igwacho filed at least five fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The information on those forms, in support of his request for stimulus funds, was fraudulent. The applications submitted by Igwacho were filed on behalf of a sole proprietorship that did not, in fact, have actual business operations, payrolled employees, or the reported gross revenues. Further, upon receipt of the stimulus funds, Igwacho did not spend those funds on approved pandemic-related expenses but instead spent the money on personal expenses. The PPP and EIDL programs were designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 23, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count superseding indictment charging Igwacho with wire fraud. On August 21, 2025, Igwacho was convicted of all three counts following a three-day jury trial. This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. It was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto and Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. 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, among other methods, 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 . 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 at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison For Trafficking Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – A Georgia man has been sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Cornelius Jermine Vincent, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 180 months in prison. In April 2024, Vincent pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On January 10, 2021, a Heflin Police Officer was monitoring traffic on Interstate 20 in Heflin, Alabama. The officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to maintain a single lane. Vincent was the car’s driver. During the traffic stop, the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He asked Vincent to exit the vehicle. The officer searched Vincent and found a bag of marijuana, a bag of powder cocaine,19 ecstasy tablets, and a Springfield Armory Model 1911 .40 caliber handgun. Upon searching the vehicle, the officer found approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine. The officer also recovered from the car another ecstasy pill, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Vincent was travelling from Sandy Springs, Georgia, to Gadsden, Alabama, to deliver drugs to an unknown individual. 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 DEA investigated the case along with the Heflin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.


title: Iowa Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Prison for His Role in Iowa Drug Ring

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Jason Michael Weiland, age 49, from Sherrill, Iowa, was sentenced on February 26, 2026, to over 21 years in federal prison. Weiland received the prison term after a June 18, 2025, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.” Evidence at the sentencing and plea hearings showed that in December 2024, law enforcement officers tried to stop the car Weiland was driving as Weiland returned to Dubuque, Iowa, from Missouri. Weiland led police on a high-speed chase and eventually crashed into a ditch. Officers took Weiland into custody and found over 280 grams of pure methamphetamine in his car. Weiland intended to sell the methamphetamine to people in the Dubuque area. Weiland had been travelling to Missouri to pick up large quantities of methamphetamine to sell in the Dubuque area. In total, the court found Weiland responsible for over 7 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Weiland has a prior 2000 federal conviction for unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and marijuana. Weiland was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Weiland was sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1009. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Student Recruiting Firm and Its Principal Agree to Pay $1.3 Million for Fraud on Federal Student Aid Programs

body_text: BOSTON – Study Across the Pond, LLC (SATP) and its principal, John Borhaug, have agreed to pay $1.3 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that they knowingly caused United Kingdom (UK) schools to submit false claims to the U.S. Department of Education. In April 2024, the United States filed a complaint against SATP and Borhaug, alleging that they convinced foreign schools to enter arrangements that violated the federal ban on incentive-based compensation for student recruitment. “Today’s settlement resolves the United States’ lawsuit against Study Across the Pond and Mr. Borhaug, who used improper incentives in an attempt to influence American students to attend foreign schools,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “My office is committed to ensuring American students are not taken advantage of for financial gain and protecting the integrity of federal student financial aid programs.” “American students deserve to make enrollment decisions free of the improper influence of third-party recruiters who pursue their own financial gain rather than the students’ best interests,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, Head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to holding accountable individuals and corporate entities who violate the Incentive Compensation Ban and to protect the integrity of the federal student aid programs like the Direct Loan Program.” “Today’s settlement is a result of the hard work and effort of the Office of Inspector General, the U.S Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Justice to protect and maintain the integrity of the Federal student aid programs by enforcing applicable laws, including the incentive compensation ban,” said Jason Williams, Assistant Inspector General for Investigation Services, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work together to ensure that Federal student aid funds are used as required by law.” Title IV of the Higher Education Act prohibits any institution of higher education that receives federal student aid from compensating student recruiters with a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on the recruiters’ success in securing student enrollments. This is referred to as the Incentive Compensation Ban. The Incentive Compensation Ban protects students against aggressive recruitment practices that serve the financial interest of the recruiter, rather than the educational needs of the student. According to facts admitted in the settlement agreement , SATP entered into contracts with UK schools that provided that SATP received a percentage share of the American student’s tuition to the UK school in exchange for SATP’s recruitment of that student. Meanwhile, federal student financial aid programs paid those American students’ tuition, of which SATP received a share under the illegal agreement. Sometimes, in response to questions from UK schools regarding whether such tuition-sharing agreements were permissible, SATP entered into purported “flat fee” contracts with the schools instead. The claims resolved in today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Hitrost LLC v. Study Across the Pond, LLC, et al., No. 21-CV-10274-ADB (D. Mass.). The government intervened in this case in April 2024. As part of today’s resolution, the relator will receive a share of the settlement amount. U.S. Attorney Foley, AAG Shumate and DOE-OIG Assistant IG Williams made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian LaMacchia and Alexandra Brazier of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit are handling the matter along with Trial Attorney Allison Carroll of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.


title: Government to Seek Death Penalty against Marion Man Accused of Murdering S.C. EMS Worker

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, South Carolina, for the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Marion County EMS worker. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Feb. 24. He is charged with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a crime of violence in a manner to constitute murder, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment charges that on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion where he kidnapped her and forced her to drive her vehicle to a remote location near Nichols. Once there, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house while she was bound and blindfolded. Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s car back to her residence where he stole several firearms that he later sold. Smith then drove the stolen car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024. In April 2025, Smith was sentenced to life in prison in the District of New Mexico for killing the NMSP Officer. United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized the District of South Carolina to pursue capital punishment in this case. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Florence. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett McMillian and Christopher Lietzow are prosecuting the case with support from DOJ’s Capital Case Section Trial Attorneys Barry Disney and Julie Adams. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Crownpoint man sentenced for fatal DUI crash

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Crownpoint man was sentenced to 40 months in prison for a fatal crash involving alcohol and prescription opioids. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on July 3, 2024, Joey Martin , 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving on State Highway 371 in Crownpoint, New Mexico, with a passenger when he swerved to avoid a semitruck and lost control. His passenger was killed in the resulting crash. After the crash, Martin admitted to taking opioid pain medication an hour or two prior. Martin pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pahl is prosecuting the case.


title: Parmelee Man Sentenced to Nearly 18 Years in Federal Prison  for Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota man convicted of Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on Feb. 24, 2026. Curtis New Holy, age 34, was sentenced to 17 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. New Holy was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on August 4, 2024 in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of that day, New Holy agreed to give the victim, a 12-year-old girl, a ride home from a residence near Parmelee. The victim had been consuming alcoholic beverages and was intoxicated. New Holy subsequently engaged in sexual activity with the victim in his vehicle even though she was intoxicated and semi-conscious. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. New Holy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026. Jared Paul Dorian, Jr., age 22, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Dorian was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in April 2024 in Eagle Butte in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation during which Dorian engaged in sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. Dorian was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Stacey A. Erickson Named Criminal Chief for U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE- Stacey A. Erickson has been named Criminal Chief for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Ms. Erickson has served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division since 2022. Ms. Erickson joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in August 2019, where she has prosecuted violent crime, human trafficking, complex fraud, and narcotics trafficking cases. She has also served as the offices Homeland Security Lead Task Force Attorney, the former Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Erickson served as a state prosecutor in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for 25 years, where she led more than 100 criminal jury trials involving serious violent crime, sexual assault, organized crime, and drug trafficking. In her distinguished tenure as a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Erickson served, at various times, as Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, Chief of the Narcotics & Organized Crime Division, and Chief of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. “Stacey Erickson is a proven leader whose experience and dedication to public service make her exceptionally well qualified to lead the Criminal Division,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “I am confident she will continue to serve the people of Rhode Island with skill and integrity as she enters into this new role.” Erickson is a graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School.


title: Lancaster Trio Sentenced for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Charles McKinley Griffin, 56, Tika Michelle Griffin, 48, and Kirk Nathan Evans, 55, all of Lancaster, have each been sentenced for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) previously excluded Charles Griffin from provider eligibility for receiving Medicaid payments for billing for services not rendered and for overlapping services, among other violations. To evade SCDHHS’ exclusion, Charles Griffin and his wife Tika Griffin established Transformation Services in Tika’s name, which the couple thereafter used to defraud the State of South Carolina and Medicaid out of nearly $250,000 in funds. Beginning in 2019, Tika applied to bill Medicaid through her company, Transformation Services, as a provider of behavioral health services. Tika and Charles then recruited Medicaid beneficiaries through after-school programs and summer camps in Lancaster and Kershaw counties to receive behavioral health services from therapists employed by Transformation Services. However, the therapists employed by Transformation Services, including Kirk Evans, were not authorized by the state of South Carolina to provide behavioral health services. Further, Transformation Services employees did not meet individually with the children to whom they claimed to provide services. Instead, Tika instructed Transformation employees to meet with children in groups but to bill as if they had met with each child individually over the course of several hours. By billing for overlapping and nonexistent services and rendering behavioral health services by unlicensed therapists, Transformation Services fraudulently billed Medicaid for nearly $250,000. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced both Charles Griffin and Tika Griffin to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Evans was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Tika and Charles Griffin were also ordered to pay $246,335.12 in restitution to the SCDHHS. The ordered amount is joint and several between Charles and Tika Griffin. Evans was ordered to pay $152,669.63 in restitution that was joint and several with Charles and Tika Griffin’s amount. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Daniels and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.


title: Gardner Woman Charged with Social Security Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Gardner woman has been charged in federal court in Worcester with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits for 10 years. Michelle M. DiSalvo, 53, was charged with one count of receipt of stolen government money or property; one count of Social Security fraud; and one count of false statements. She will appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester at a later date. According to the charging documents, from October 2013 through October 2023, DiSalvo allegedly received approximately $93,640 in Social Security disability benefits that she knew she was not entitled to. It is further alleged that DiSalvo concealed material information from the Social Security Administration with the intent to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits. Additionally, DiSalvo allegedly submitted a fraudulent lease agreement to the Social Security Administration in October 2023. The charging document further alleges that DiSalvo omitted her husband from the fraudulent lease because she knew that if she reported living with him, DiSalvo’s husband’s income and resources would have affected the amount of her benefits. The charge of receipt of stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Social Security fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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 Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg 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.


title: Parmelee Man Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Woman and Being a Habitual Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Parmelee, South Dakota, convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender. The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026. Hehaka Thunder Hawk, age 42, was sentenced to three years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Thunder Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 24, 2025. The convictions stem from two separate assaults by Thunder Hawk against an intimate partner, both of which occurred in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On November 12, 2021, Thunder Hawk unlawfully entered a residence in Parmelee, South Dakota, and assaulted a woman by pulling her hair and punching her face. Thunder Hawk then fled the residence. On February 10, 2025, Thunder Hawk entered the same woman’s residence through a broken window, got on top of her while she was sleeping, and assaulted her, causing nasal and orbital bone fractures. At the time of both incidents, Thunder Hawk had three prior convictions in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court for Domestic Abuse. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Thunder Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Convicted Felon from Northampton Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Firearm and Narcotics Charges

body_text: BOSTON – A Northampton, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for firearm and narcotics offenses while on federal supervised release. The defendant was previously convicted in federal court of possessing a loaded ghost gun and ammunition and various firearms and drug offenses in state court. Gabriel Lebron, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to seven years in prison on the firearm and narcotic charges and one year in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release to be served consecutively and three years of supervised release. In September 2025 , Lebron pleaded guilty to one count each of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin. On April 9, 2025, law enforcement in Hadley responded to a 911 call about a man in the Howard Johnson hotel lobby brandishing a firearm. Lebron was found in the lobby in possession of a Jimenez Arms, Model JA 25, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of .25 caliber ammunition, including one in the chamber, 10 “snap caps” of crack cocaine and two bundles of heroin. He was immediately taken into custody. At the time of his offense, Lebron was on federal supervised release for a Vermont firearms conviction of possessing a loaded ghost gun with a laser sight and multiple rounds of ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release in 2023. 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. Valuable assistance provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: GAINESVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG DISTRIBUTION AND ILLEGAL WEAPONS CHARGES

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

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another violent, drug-peddling criminal has been removed from our streets. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice to eliminating the threats to our communities posed by violent criminals like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those offenders until our streets are safe and drug-free.” Court documents reflect that Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call for service. When law enforcement arrived on scene, the defendant left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot. As the defendant was fleeing, he threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as he has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent. Barnett faces a total of up to life imprisonment on the combined possession with intent to distribute and firearm possession charges. The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt. Sentencing for is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 2:30 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Three illegal aliens face federal charges for operating a Brookhaven methamphetamine laboratory

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Three illegal aliens from Mexico, Sergio Cortes-Nieto, Christian Martinez Larumbe Dominguez, and Jose Angel Cortes Raquel, appeared in federal court today and yesterday on charges related to their alleged operation of an Atlanta-area methamphetamine conversation laboratory. In addition, Cortes Raquel was arraigned on a previously unsealed indictment that charged him with a separate 2024 incident where he allegedly trafficked over 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a load of celery. “These illegal aliens, including a fugitive from justice charged with trafficking more than a ton of methamphetamine that agents removed from the streets in a record-breaking seizure, were allegedly audaciously operating a drug lab in the backyard of a suburban home,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “To ensure that the cartels never secure a foothold in North Georgia, even as they try to imbed themselves in our neighborhoods, we will continue to aggressively prosecute the criminals responsible for manufacturing and distributing this poison.” “This lab was operating in a backyard, in close proximity to families and children,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “That level of disregard for human life is unacceptable. Our priority remains protecting the public from the devastating impact of illegal drug manufacturing.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On February 20, 2026, DEA agents executed a federal search warrant at a Brookhaven residence. In the backyard, agents found Cortes Raquel and Larumbe Dominguez allegedly operating a methamphetamine conversation laboratory concealed under a tent. Cortes Raquel attempted to run away but was quickly apprehended. Agents seized approximately 100 pounds ofliquid methamphetamine mixed and concealed in concrete and an additional 50 liters of liquid methamphetamine solution. Cortes-Nieto, who was also allegedly converting methamphetamine at the residence, was arrested earlier in the day at a nearby storage facility. The investigation further revealed that Cortes-Nieto, Larumbe Dominguez, and Cortes Raquel are citizens of Mexico and illegally present in the United States. Sergio Cortes-Nieto, 53, Christian Martinez Larumbe Dominguez, 31, and Jose Angel Cortes Raquel, 39, all of Mexico, appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge on a criminal complaint that charged them with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Cortes Raquel was also arraigned on an indictment that charged him with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The charges in the indictment related to the DEA’s August 8, 2024 record-breaking seizure of 2,370 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in boxes of celery at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, Georgia. Cortes Raquel allegedly coordinated the delivery of those drugs. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint and indictment only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schwarzl and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Herskowitz are prosecuting the cases. These cases are 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Mission, South Dakota, convicted of Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle. The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026. Calvin Hunger, age 35, was sentenced to five months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hunger was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025. On June 25, 2025, Hunger unlawfully entered the Todd County Maintenance yard in Mission and stole a piece of heavy equipment, specifically a road grader. Hunger drove through the maintenance yard fence and continued to drive the road grader on the highway south from Mission. He was apprehended by law enforcement in Valentine, Nebraska. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, Todd County Sheriff’s Office and Cherry County (NE) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Hunger was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Over 35 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Women as Sex Slaves All Across America

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Jacksonville, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Carrollton Levon Jenkins, 36, to 35 years in federal prison for charges associated with sex trafficking and operating a prostitution enterprise. Inmate Jenkins pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents and other information presented in court, the FBI found Inmate Jenkins, a known UBN gang member operated a “prostitution enterprise” out of the Jacksonville, NC area between at least January 2017 and April 2022. His criminal empire spanned at least 51 cities and 15 states. In April 2022, Officers executed search warrants at his residence and business, and seized several phones. The evidence revealed that Inmate Jenkins advertised his illegal sex slaves on various social media platforms where he promoted training aspiring pimps, referring to them as his protegees, to instruct them on how to target and exploit victims. He victimized vulnerable women, including girls, using manipulation, control, threats, and violence to coerce his victims to prostitute. He forced the victims to give him their earnings, mandating each get raped by upwards of 15 Johns a day, seven days a week. “This spider, just to make money, exploited these girls and women, exposing them to all manner of disease, depravity and bodily harm.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Monsters who prey upon our mothers, daughters, sisters, and granddaughters have no place in our country, certainly not in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Judge handed down the lengthy and appropriate sentence in this case based on the dedicated work of the FBI, our local partners, and federal prosecutors. The families in the Eastern District are safer because this pimp will spend decades in prison.” "Children are not a commodity to be traded and exploited. The FBI and our partners will do everything possible to hold offenders accountable who prey on vulnerable people for their own profit," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case. 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. 7:23-CR-82-M.


title: SALVADORAN ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR  ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Luis Miguel Hernandez-Flores, 37, of the country of El Salvador, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal illegal alien followed up his violation of our nation’s immigration laws with additional federal and state crimes while unlawfully present in our country, and will now spend time in federal prison before being swiftly deported. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward firmly enforcing our nation’s laws against criminal illegal aliens like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our communities safe.” Court documents reflect that on January 30, 2025, at approximately 3:00 A.M., Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) deputies initiated a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle because it was parked in the middle of the road with the defendant sleeping inside the car while the engine was running. The defendant was arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license. During an inventory search of the car, law enforcement located a .223 Ruger American Rifle which was seized by GCSO. An investigation into the immigration status of the defendant revealed that he was a citizen of El Salvador who was unlawfully present in the United States, and was federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. In addition to his incarceration, Hernandez-Flores was ordered to forfeit his interest in the rifle that he illegally possessed. The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Gadsen County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: South Texas doctors agree to pay nearly $5 million to settle False Claims Act liability

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Six South Texas doctors and their respective practices have agreed to pay $4,855,844 to resolve allegations they submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE that were not rendered or not medically necessary, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Drs. Javier Cabello, 47, San Benito, Ammar Halloum, 52, Brownsville, Jamil Madi, 54, Olmito, Jairo Rodriguez, 62, Rancho Viejo, Ricardo Schwarcz, 57, Weslaco, and Stanley Sy, 55, Pharr, owned and operated Benchmark Inpatient Services PLLC dba Beyond Inpatient Services in Harlingen. Rodriguez also owned and operated Brownsville Pulmonary Center, P.A. dba Benchmark Pulmonary Center, Brownsville. From Jan. 1, 2020, to May 31, 2023, BIS, BPC, and its owners allegedly submitted claims for critical care, while BPC and Rodriguez also allegedly submitted claims for pulmonary function testing. Patients’ medical records allegedly did not support this care and testing, or the care was not rendered at all. Critical care billing requires complex decision-making and at least 30 minutes of treatment for a critically ill or injured patient. BIS providers instead billed critical care for stable patients, unnecessary follow-up visits, or services they never performed, according to the allegations. PFT services include various tests that demonstrate how well the lungs function. When medically necessary, PFT services either diagnose and evaluate new respiratory symptoms or assess a patient’s current therapeutic respiratory interventions. Medicare does not reimburse for routine PFT services. For Medicare to reimburse for medically necessary PFT services, providers must describe the indications and presentments for the order for testing in the patient’s medical record. BPC and Rodriguez instead allegedly billed PFT services for unnecessary routine testing or services they never performed. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE either paid significantly more for critical care claims or for PFT claims that should never have even been made to the government programs. “This outcome emphasizes the Southern District of Texas’s commitment to vigorously investigate and disrupt civil health care fraud, wherever it may be,” said Ganjei. “Our country’s most vulnerable deserve care based on their medical need, not on a doctor’s unscrupulous desire to line their own pockets. Medical professionals have a solemn obligation to heal the sick and infirm, not to bilk the American taxpayer.” “We remain steadfast in our mission to protect patients and safeguard federal health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. “This settlement underscores our commitment to holding providers accountable when they submit claims for services that are not medically necessary or not actually provided. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that taxpayer-funded programs are protected from fraud and abuse.” “Fraud against the government will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “Submitting false claims to federal health care programs during a national emergency such as the COVID 19 pandemic steals from taxpayers and exploits vulnerable patients. The FBI, together with its federal and state partners, will hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit by defrauding the United States.” The settlement stems from a qui tam or whistleblower complaint filed under the False Claims Act which permits a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. DHHS-OIG and FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Texas Attorney General’s Office – Civil Medicaid Fraud Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Jury finds Minnesota man guilty of sexual abuse charges on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS – A Minnesota man who sexually abused two children on the Crow Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Robert Dean Dust, 35, was found guilty of two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Dust faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 25, 2026. Dust was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that in May 2024 Jane Does 1 and 2 disclosed to police Dust subjected them to years of sexual abuse in Lodge Grass. Jane Does 1 and 2 both disclosed Dust sexually abused them in their home regularly beginning when they were 4 and 5 years old and he was 20. Both victims described how Dust made them perform sexual acts on him and how he performed sexual acts on them. Jane Does 1 and 2 said Dust’s abuse continued until around 2015. On October 18, 2024, law enforcement interviewed Dust and the interview was recorded. During the interview, he initially denied the abuse, but eventually admitted he sexually abused Jane Doe 1. Dust admitted he had Jane Doe 1 perform oral sex on him and that he touched his penis to her vagina. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and BIA. XXX


title: Portsmouth fentanyl dealer sentenced to five years in prison

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in February and March of 2025, law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases during which Saah Kinte Mills, 43, sold approximately 11 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and 2.41 grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and xylazine. On April 11, 2025, narcotics detectives arrested Mills in Portsmouth, at which time Mills possessed nearly 11 grams of cocaine. Investigators then searched Mills residence in Portsmouth and recovered a box of ammunition, 31.21 grams of powder containing fentanyl, and 29 grams of powder containing para-fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl, as well as various indicia of drug trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and the Chesapeake Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-117.


title: Gearhart Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Child and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gearhart, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today for secretly filming a minor victim while nude and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Joseph Tyler Biamont, 35, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Gearhart Police discovered that Biamont was in possession of a thumb drive containing secretly recorded videos of the minor victim while nude. The videos were filmed from what appeared to be a dummy smoke detector above the victim’s bed, behind a teddy bear, and from Biamont’s cell phone, depicting the minor victim going to the bathroom, showering, and changing clothes. Biamont is visible in some of the videos. Investigators also found files of CSAM of other minor victims on Biamont’s thumb drive and videos of an adult victim nude in the bathroom. On May 6, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Biamont with sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. On count one, Biamont faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life of supervised release. On count six, Biamont faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 19, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge. As part of the plea agreement, Biamont has agreed to pay restitution to the victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and the Gearhart Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting the case. This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Bozeman man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA - A Bozeman man accused of trading and uploading child pornography admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Jaden Douglas Batson, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. Batson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 1, 2026. Batson remains released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in June 2023, law enforcement received a Cybertip from an electronic service provider indicating that an account registered to Batson had paid $20 for child pornography. Law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Batson’s PayPal account and received information indicating he made a payment of $20 on June 14, 2023, with a note stating, “For the cp gc.” Based on this and other information, law enforcement continued to receive other Cybertips connected to Batson. These tips, submitted by electronic service providers, reflected Batson trading and uploading child pornography. Multiple search warrants were obtained and executed on various electronic service accounts registered to Batson and results contained multiple images and videos of child pornography. On April 9, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Batson’s residence in Bozeman, Montana and electronic media was seized. During the execution of that warrant, Batson agreed to be interviewed following a waiver of Miranda . During that interview, Batson admitted he had traded child pornography on social media sites. His cellular phone was later reviewed and approximately 688 videos and 362 images of child pornography were discovered. Also found were messages consistent with Batson attempting to obtain child pornography. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and Bozeman Police Department conducted the investigation. 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 . XXX


title: USPS employee indicted for misappropriation of funds

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a United States postal worker with embezzling from his employer. According to court documents, Dalton R. Garcia, 33, of Brewster, Kansas, was indicted on one count of misappropriation of postal funds. From August 2025 to September 2025, Garcia is accused of using his position as an employee of the U.S Postal Service to embezzle money and property valued at more than $1,000. The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General is investigating the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Michael J. Madden, 41, of Wichita was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Damion Guy, 40, was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography. The Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are investigating the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


body_text: Jacksonville, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Carrollton Levon Jenkins, 36, to 35 years in federal prison for charges associated with sex trafficking and operating a prostitution enterprise. Inmate Jenkins pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents and other information presented in court, the FBI found Inmate Jenkins, a known UBN gang member, operated a “prostitution enterprise” out of the Jacksonville, NC area between at least January 2017 and April 2022. His criminal empire spanned at least 51 cities and 15 states. In April 2022, Officers executed search warrants at his residence and business, and seized several phones. The evidence revealed that Inmate Jenkins advertised his illegal sex slaves on various social media platforms where he promoted training aspiring pimps, referring to them as his protegees, to instruct them on how to target and exploit victims. He victimized vulnerable women, including girls, using manipulation, control, threats, and violence to coerce his victims into prostitution. He forced the victims to give him their earnings, mandating each get raped by upwards of 15 Johns a day, seven days a week. “This spider exploited these girls and women, just to make money, exposing them to all manner of disease, depravity, and bodily harm.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Monsters who prey upon our mothers, daughters, sisters, and granddaughters have no place in our country, certainly not in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Judge handed down the lengthy and appropriate sentence in this case based on the dedicated work of the FBI, our local partners, and federal prosecutors. The families in the Eastern District are safer because this pimp will spend decades in prison.” "Children are not a commodity to be traded and exploited. The FBI and our partners will do everything possible to hold offenders accountable who prey on vulnerable people for their own profit," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case. 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. 7:23-CR-82-M.


title: Center Junction Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Update Sex Offender Registration

body_text: A man who failed to update his sex offender registration was sentenced on February 23, 2026, to 18 months in federal prison. Colton Rickels, age 30, of Center Junction, Iowa, received the sentence after a September 26, 2025, guilty plea to one count of failure to update registration as a sex offender. At the plea hearing, Rickels admitted that, between July 2024 and April 2025, he knowingly failed to update his sex offender registration by failing to update the Internet identifiers he used. Rickels was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Rickels was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Anamosa Police Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 25-47. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.