title: Tajik National Arrested in Brooklyn for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS

body_text: Mansuri Manuchekhri, 33, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, was arrested today for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and to the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), possessing firearms while unlawfully in the United States, and immigration fraud. Manuchekhri was arrested today and made his initial appearance this afternoon in the Eastern District of New York. “Under no circumstances will my Department of Justice tolerate terrorism,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We stand ready to find, arrest, and prosecute those who seek to harm American citizens with the full force of the law. I stand with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who work to keep Americans safe and evil off our streets.” “The defendant allegedly supported ISIS and sent thousands of dollars overseas to individuals connected to ISIS,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI is focused on preventing acts of terrorism and ISIS has a long and violent record of harming U.S. citizens. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to find and hold accountable those who assist terrorists and endanger the safety of Americans at home or abroad.” “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue those who fund and support terrorists,” said Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will not allow our immigration or financial systems to be exploited. Our country will not be a safe haven for those who try to harm Americans.” “As alleged, the defendant, who was in the United States illegally, not only facilitated tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to ISIS extremists overseas, but trained with assault rifles at shooting ranges in the United States and declared his readiness to ISIS,” said U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York. “Protecting the homeland and prosecuting evildoers who assist terrorist organizations by funding their violent and hateful agenda, here and abroad, will always be a priority of this office.” As alleged in the complaint, Manuchekhri traveled to the United States from Tajikistan in June 2016 on a non-immigrant tourist visa and remained in the country after his visa expired in December 2016. In March 2017, Manuchekhri paid an American citizen to enter into a sham marriage with him so that he could obtain legal status in the United States. However, he failed to provide supporting documentation that was requested of him and his petition was never granted. As alleged in the complaint, Manuchekhri traveled to the United States from Tajikistan in June 2016 on a non-immigrant tourist visa and remained in the country after his visa expired in December 2016. In March 2017, Manuchekhri paid an American citizen to enter into a sham marriage with him so that he could obtain legal status in the United States. However, he failed to provide supporting documentation that was requested of him and his petition was never granted. From approximately December 2021 through April 2023, while residing in Brooklyn, Manuchekhri facilitated more than $50,000 in payments to ISIS-affiliated individuals in Turkey and Syria, including to an individual who was later arrested by Turkish authorities for his alleged involvement in a January 2024 terrorist attack on a church in Istanbul for which ISIS-K publicly claimed responsibility. Manuchekhri expressed his support for ISIS to others by praising past ISIS attacks in the United States and by collecting jihadi propaganda videos promoting violence and martyrdom. The complaint further alleges that Manuchekhri possessed and used firearms and made frequent visits to shooting ranges even though he was prohibited from doing so as an alien unlawfully in the United States. In February 2022, Manuchekhri recorded himself firing an assault rifle at a shooting range in New Jersey and sent the video to one of the ISIS-affiliated individuals in Turkey with the message, “Praise God, I am ready, brother.” U.S. v. Manuchekhri, Eastern District of New York, Case #: 1:25-mj-00064-RML-1 If convicted, Manuchekhri faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Pollack and Andrew D. Reich for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorneys John Cella, Andrea Broach, George Kraehe, and Ryan White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Paralegal Specialist Wayne Colón. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25-mj-64_justice.gov_.pdf


title: Honduran National Indicted For Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – AMANDO ANTONIO VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA (“ VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA ”), age 29, was indicted on February 14, 2025 for reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to the indictment, VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA , reentered the United States after being previously deported on October 28, 2019. If convicted, VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collected More Than $100 Million in Civil, Criminal, and Asset Forfeiture Actions in Fiscal Year 2024

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois collected more than $100 million in criminal, civil, and asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2024, Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today. The 2024 collections included approximately $23.9 million in criminal actions, $6.4 million in civil actions, and $70.4 million in asset forfeiture actions. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice components across the country to collect another $62.2 million in cases pursued jointly with those offices. “Our attorneys and staff place a high priority on recovering funds for the federal treasury and victims of federal crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Our office will continue to responsibly safeguard taxpayer resources while delivering a valuable return to the citizens of our district.” U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Justice Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. Federal law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, which then distributes the money to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.


title: Sex Predator Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexually  Abusing a Minor Child

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Damon Michael Dozier, 41, for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Dozier imprisoned for 180 months, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender. In June 2023, Dozier took a minor child behind a shopping mall to engage in sexually explicit activity. Dozier admitted that he knew the child was only 13 years old. Dozier is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Scaife and Steve Briden prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Farrell Resident Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Armed Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farrell, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for committing firearm and drug trafficking crimes, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Tylon Cousin, 39, who previously pleaded guilty in this case to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Stickman also ordered Cousin to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to information presented to the Court, in January and February 2023, Cousin engaged in armed cocaine dealing from his Farrell residence. Cousin previously served a 60-month federal prison sentence on a 2012 conviction for similar cocaine dealing that took place between 2009 and 2011. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cousin.


title: Guatemalan Citizen Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry into U.S.

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Anastacio Hernandez-Us, 46, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on February 7, 2025, Hernandez-Us was found in western Pennsylvania after having been removed from the United States in September 2010. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Missoula credit union employee sentenced to prison for embezzling $389,000 by swapping real money for fake currency

body_text: MISSOULA — A former Missoula credit union employee who admitted to embezzling approximately $389,000 from the vault by swapping real money with fake funds was sentenced yesterday to six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $389,000 restitution, Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot said. The defendant, Edward Arthur Nurse, 35, of Missoula, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to an indictment charging him with theft from a credit union. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also sentenced Nurse to six months of home confinement and to perform 600 hours of community service. The court allowed Nurse to self-report to prison. In court documents, the government alleged that from about July 2023 to June 2024, Nurse embezzled from his employer, Park Side Credit Union in Missoula. In June 2024, an employee discovered $340,000 in cash in the credit union’s vault had been replaced with fake funds from a company that provides fake currency as props for movies and entertainment productions. Nurse used his position as “team lead” for the vault to swap the credit union’s cash with fake money he purchased specifically for this purpose. Nurse hid his conduct from security cameras, auditors and his colleagues by putting real money at the front and back of bundles of fake money. Nurse made multiple purchases of fake money and stole the real cash from his work at different times over a seven-month period. After the credit union discovered the thefts, Nurse claimed to an FBI special agent that he did not usually carry much cash and, aside from a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada, he had not made any recent large purchases or cash deposits. However, records show that Nurse made at least nine cash deposits of over $10,000 each in 2024 into his personal account. The investigation also determined that during the first six months of 2024, Nurse had purchased $410,000 in fake currency from a prop money company. The credit union was later informed that approximately $50,000 in fake money had been received by the Federal Reserve in July 2024. Those funds were returned and determined to be fake bills from the prop money company . The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, with assistance from the Missoula Police Department, conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Ohio Company Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Delaware corporation with a manufacturing facility in Ohio pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule. The criminal charge is related to an incident where an employee was killed when a pneumatic door closed on his head. Fabcon Precast LLC (Fabcon) operates several facilities in the United States, including one in Grove City, Ohio, that manufactures precast concrete panels. At Fabcon, employees known as batch operators were responsible for the operation and cleaning of the facility’s only concrete mixer. Concrete was discharged from the bottom of the mixer through a pneumatic door. By design, the mixer had an exhaust valve that released the pneumatic energy powering the discharge door, rendering it inoperable. Some months prior to June 6, 2020, the handle that operated the valve broke off and was not replaced. On June 6, 2020, Zachary Ledbetter, 20, a batch operator since January 2020, was on duty when the discharge door failed to close after releasing a batch of concrete. Because the valve was broken, Ledbetter could not perform the proper procedure to make the door safe to work around. When he attempted to free the door it closed on his head, trapping him. Eventually, Ledbetter was freed and transported to a hospital where he died five days later. Federal law makes it a class B misdemeanor to willfully fail to follow an OSHA safety standard, where the failure causes the death of an employee. The class B misdemeanor is the only federal criminal charge covering such workplace safety violations. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, and Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Megan Howell of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Great Lakes Region, made the announcement. The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman, of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and for the Southern District of Ohio respectively, prosecuted the case.


title: Honduran Man Indicted for Violations of Federal Controlled Substances Act, Federal Gun Control Act, and Reentry of Removed Alien

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on February 14, 2025, MIGUEL ANGEL SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ (“SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ”) , age 37, was indicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in Count One of the indictment, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count Two, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon in Count Three and, reentry of a removed alien in Count Four, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c),924(a)(2), 922(g), and Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a), and 1326(b)(2), respectively. According to the indictment, on or about January 29, 2025 SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ possessed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; possessed a firearm, a Taurus Model G2C, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; knowingly, unlawfully possessed a firearm, having been previously convicted of a felony in the State of Mississippi, and was officially deported and removed from the United States on or about July 9, 2010. If convicted of Count One, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to twenty years imprisonment , a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Two, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces a minimum term of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. If convicted of Count Three, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to fifteen years imprisonment , a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of Count Four, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to twenty years imprisonment , a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. As to each count, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Border Patrol, Kenner Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Gretna Major Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Ten Time Convicted Felon and Sureno “Mexican Pride” Gang Member Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition After High-Speed Chase

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that on February 19, 2025, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment for Victor Amezcua-Garcia with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Amezcua-Garcia was arraigned on February 25, 2025, at the U.S. District Court in Richland, Washington. According to Pasco Police, Amezcua-Garcia was on Washington State Department of Corrections supervision with an active felony warrant for escape and the Pasco Police Department had probable cause to arrest Amezcua-Garcia for a series of armed robberies and shootings in Pasco. Knowing Amezcua-Garcia to be an active Sureno gang member with the set “Mexican Pride”, on January 24, 2025, Detectives with the Pasco Police Department contacted Amezcua-Garcia by phone pretending to be a rival gang member and arranged a time and location to meet up that day to “fight”. Amezcua-Garcia and another Sureno gang member arrived at the agreed location in a stolen vehicle. They were both seated low in the vehicle and their faces covered by bandanas. After Amezcua-Garcia was positively identified, a traffic stop was attempted; however, Amezcua-Garcia fled, attempting to elude law enforcement, and traveling at very high rates of speed through several Pasco residential neighborhoods before Pasco Police were able to safely perform a “pit” maneuver, bringing Amezcua-Garcia’s vehicle to a stop. Amezcua-Garcia and his passenger attempted to flee on foot; however, Pasco Police were able to block in the vehicle to prevent the escape. In plain view in the vehicle, Pasco Police observed a loaded, and chambered, firearm which had Sureno gang indica carved into it. A search of Amezcua-Garcia’s person revealed the same caliber ammunition in his pocket. “I am honored to work with such brave federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement officers, who frequently are called upon to put themselves in harm’s way to protect Eastern Washington communities,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “I also am honored to lead an office with such talented attorneys and support staff. I stand in awe of their professionalism and dedication to ensuring justice in Eastern Washington.” This case is being investigated by the ATF, Washington Department of Corrections, and Pasco Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard is prosecuting the case. 4:25-cr-06006-MKD An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI and SSA OIG Charge Decades-Long Fugitive with Fraud Charges

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A fugitive wanted for over four decades on attempted first-degree murder charges was apprehended in Weed, New Mexico, on February 19, 2025, following an investigation that uncovered his decades-long use of a deceased man's identity to evade authorities and fraudulently obtain government benefits. According to court documents, Stephen Craig Campbell , 76, allegedly assumed the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22. Coffman had graduated from the University of Arkansas just two months before his death. University records showed Campbell attended the same institution during that period, where both he and Coffman pursued engineering degrees, suggesting a likely connection between the two. It is alleged that Campbell first applied for a passport under Coffman's name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times, always providing a photograph of himself and his current address. Campbell also obtained a replacement Social Security card in Coffman's name in 1995, using an Oklahoma driver’s license in Coffman’s name. In approximately 2003, Campbell relocated to Weed, New Mexico where he allegedly purchased property in Coffman’s name. Campbell continued renewing the fraudulent passport under Coffman’s name in 2005 and 2015. Each time, he submitted an updated photograph and listed his current address in Weed, New Mexico. The scheme began to unravel when, in September 2019, Campbell visited the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft, presenting fraudulent documents to renew his driver's license. He submitted a previously issued New Mexico driver's license with his photograph bearing the name "Walter L Coffman," Coffman's birthdate, and a Weed, New Mexico address. Campbell also provided a Social Security card and a U.S. passport, both in Coffman's name. After a renewed New Mexico license was issued to Campbell under Coffman's name, agents from the National Passport Center's Fraud Prevention Unit discovered Coffman's death and the suspected decades-long fraudulent use of his identity. The resulting investigation revealed that Campbell allegedly applied for and was awarded Social Security Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits under Coffman's identity. As a result of the alleged scheme, Campbell is suspected of receiving approximately $140,000 in U.S. government funds administered by the Social Security Administration in Coffman's name. Investigators uncovered that Campbell was arrested in Wyoming in 1982 for attempted first degree murder. He allegedly planted an explosive device at the doorstep of his estranged wife's boyfriend. When his wife opened the toolbox containing the bomb, it exploded, causing her to lose a finger and suffer other injuries. The blast also set fire to the residence and a neighboring unit. Campbell was reportedly released on bond in 1983 but failed to appear in court, resulting in an active warrant for Attempted First Degree Murder. On February 14, 2025, authorities obtained warrants to arrest Campbell for and search the 44-acre property in Weed, New Mexico registered under Coffman's name. The arrest operation involved a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies. During the arrest, Campbell allegedly greeted law enforcement armed with a scoped rifle, positioning himself in an elevated, partially concealed spot. After repeated orders and the deployment of flashbangs, Campbell emerged from the wood line and was detained. When recovered, the rifle was loaded with high-powered ammunition capable of piercing standard body armor and ready to fire, with the scope caps flipped open, the selector lever set to fire, and a round chambered. After Campbell 's arrest, agents fingerprinted him, confirming his true identity and fugitive status, including the active attempted first-degree murder warrant from Wyoming. Prior to his arrest, Campbell had remained on the United States Marshals Most Wanted List for over four decades. A subsequent search of the property yielded 57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition. As a fugitive, Campbell is prohibited from possessing firearms. Campbell was charged by criminal complaint with misuse of a passport and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charge, Campbell faces up to 10 years in prison. Law enforcement officials are conducting a thorough review of evidence collected during the execution of a search warrant at the subject's residence. Based on these findings, investigators are evaluating the possibility of additional charges. Following Campbell ’s arrest, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in Green River, Wyoming, notified the U.S. Marshals and requested a detainer be placed on him in connection with the pending attempted first-degree murder charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA OIG Jason Albers and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. This case was co-investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. It was originally initiated by the Diplomatic Security’s El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center’s Fraud Prevention Unit. Enforcement assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, as well as the Otero County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos. 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: Founder of Cryptocurrency Financial Services Firm “Gotbit” Extradited to the United States to Face Charges of Market Manipulation and Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Russian national residing in Portugal has been extradited to the United States for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to allegedly manipulate cryptocurrency markets on behalf of client cryptocurrency companies. Aleksei Andriunin, 26, was arrested in Portugal on Oct. 8, 2024 and extradited to the United States on Feb. 25, 2025. He appeared in federal court in Boston today and was ordered detained pending a hearing to be scheduled at a later date. On Oct. 31, 2024 , Andriunin was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. The indictment also charges Gotbit and two of its directors, Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili. According to court documents, Gotbit was a well-known “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry. It is alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit provided market manipulation services to create artificial trading volume for multiple cryptocurrency companies, including companies located in the United States. Aleksei Andriunin was Gotbit’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. In a 2019 interview, Andriunin allegedly described how he developed a code to “wash trade” cryptocurrencies to artificially inflate trading volume for the purpose of getting cryptocurrencies listed on CoinMarketCap (a website that published information about “trending” cryptocurrencies) and trading on larger cryptocurrency exchanges. Andriunin and Gotbit’s employees, including Jalili (Gotbit’s Director of Sales) and Kedrov (Gotbit’s Director of Market Making), allegedly marketed these wash trading tactics to prospective clients and explained how Gotbit used multiple accounts to avoid detection of the wash trades on the public blockchain. Gotbit allegedly made wash trades worth millions of dollars on behalf of clients and received tens of millions of dollars in proceeds in connection with these fraudulent services. It is alleged that Andriunin transferred millions of dollars of Gotbit’s proceeds into his personal Binance account. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 to twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. 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 Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Legal Attaché (Madrid) and Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria European Network of Fugitive Active Search Team (ENFAST). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with Portuguese authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Andriunin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Former Middle School Teacher Admits Child Pornography Charge

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former St. Louis County, Missouri middle school teacher on Wednesday admitted possessing hundreds of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Scott R. Ellis, 38, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of child pornography. Ellis admitted possessing 72 images containing child abuse material on his cell phone and about 700 videos and more than 900 images in his Mega cloud storage account. The investigation began with two cyber tipline reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography in Ellis’ Google account. Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Special Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case. 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 the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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: Former NYCHA Superintendent Sentenced To 41 Months In Prison For Bribery And Extortion

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOY HARRIS, a former superintendent for the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for soliciting and accepting over $50,000 in bribes from contractors in exchange for awarding those contractors at least approximately $500,000 in contract work. HARRIS’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who also presided over a one-week trial after which HARRIS was convicted of bribery and extortion under color of official right. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Joy Harris was given a position of public trust in New York City. She used that position to demand bribes in exchange for approving important repair work at NYCHA buildings. As today’s sentence shows, those who abuse positions of public trust—at any level of government—to seek personal gain will face a harsh penalty.” According to the Indictment, public court filings, statements made in court, and evidence presented during trial: NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to New Yorkers across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) every year. When repairs or construction work at NYCHA housing require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold, designated staff at NYCHA developments, including superintendents, could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. With either type of contract, a NYCHA employee needed to certify that the work was satisfactorily completed in order for the contractor to receive payment from NYCHA. HARRIS, an assistant superintendent and superintendent at four different NYCHA developments in Manhattan from 2015 through 2021, demanded and accepted cash bribes in exchange for NYCHA contracts. She demanded contractors to pay bribes up front in order to be awarded the contracts and accepted bribe payments after the contractor finished the work and needed a NYCHA employee to sign off on the completed job so that the contractor could be paid by NYCHA. HARRIS typically demanded 10% of the contract value—between $500 and $1,000 depending on the size of the contract. In total, HARRIS demanded and accepted more than $54,150 of dollars in bribes in exchange for awarding no-bid contracts or approving payment on previously awarded contracts worth more than $500,000. Of the 70 individual NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion offenses who were arrested in February 2024, 61 have pled guilty, and three have been convicted after trial. HARRIS is the first of the three NYCHA employees convicted after trial to be sentenced. The cases of the six remaining defendants, who are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, remain pending. If you believe you have information related to bribery, extortion, or any other illegal conduct by NYCHA employees, please contact OIGNYCHA@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 306-3356. If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov. * * * In addition to the prison term, HARRIS, 49, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $54,150 and forfeit $54,150. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the HUD Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Catherine Ghosh, and Meredith C. Foster are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Jayda Foote and Nandita Vasantha.


title: Fayetteville Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the U.S. Department of Education in $5 Million Student Loan Scam

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Cynthia Denise Melvin, age 59, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the theft of millions from the federal student aid program. At sentencing later this year, Melvin faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Melvin will also be required to pay restitution. According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2016 and 2023, the Defendant organized, led, and conspired with a ring of over 70 “straw students” to fraudulently apply for financial aid at multiple community colleges in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina. Investigators estimate that the scheme resulted in more than $5 million in fraudulent financial aid disbursements. Federal Student Aid (FSA), an office within the U.S. Department of Education, is responsible for administering financial aid programs to assist qualified students in their pursuit of post-secondary education, including grants, loans, work study funds, and other disbursements. FSA also develops, distributes, and processes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or “FAFSA”. After a school applies a financial award to a student’s tuition and fees, any remaining balance is refunded to the student for education-related expenses. According to the investigation, Melvin collected personal identifying information (PII) of straw students in North Carolina and used that information to submit applications for admission at the targeted schools. Thereafter, Melvin attempted to make it appear that the straw students were attending classes, completing coursework, and communicating with the targeted schools when, in fact, Melvin impersonated the straw students for these and other purposes. To obtain financial aid, the Melvin submitted FAFSA forms for the straw students through FSA’s website and in so doing concealed her identity as the preparer of the documents. As a result of the scheme, the straw students were awarded tuition, which was wired from the United States Treasury to the targeted schools in North Carolina. The straw students also received student loan refunds, which the schools disbursed after collecting the tuition cost. As the ringleader of the scheme, Melvin received a substantial portion of the refunds. During the execution of a federal search warrant at Melvin’s residence, Office of Inspector General investigators recovered documents and other evidence establishing the operation and mechanics of the scheme, including PII and coursework for the straw students, FSA account usernames and passwords, and bank account and routing numbers. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief Judge Richard E. Myers, II accepted the plea. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-14-M. ###


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Assault with Significant Bodily Injury & Obstruction of Justice

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – John Brown III, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of assault with significant bodily injury related to an incident that took place in Southeast Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict was returned on February 25, 2025, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, where the defendant was also found guilty of three counts of obstructing justice and seven counts of contempt for coordinating subsequent coercive outreach in an attempt to discourage the victim’s participation in the court process, The Honorable Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2025. According to the government’s evidence, on July 4, 2023, the victim hosted a small game night attended by Brown, the father of her five-year-old son. When the party ended, all of the victim’s friends, but one, went home. While the remaining friend prepared to sleep on the couch, the victim went into her room and found Brown waiting for her. When she came in, the defendant started to berate her—even though Brown and the victim were no longer a couple, he was furious she had had a relationship with one of his friends. He repeatedly punched the victim in the face, then started to strangle her. The victim’s friend heard the noise and came running, tackling Brown and urging the victim to run. The victim tried but the defendant grabbed her ankle. Brown chased after the victim and struck her, causing her to fall onto the floor of her bathroom where she hit her head and passed out. Even after she woke up, the defendant continued to assault her until she and her friend were able to escape and call police. The complainant was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her face, neck, and the blood vessels in her eye. Although a Court ordered Brown to have no contact with the victim, directly or through third parties, he quickly started urging friends and family members to contact the victim and pressure her to drop the charges. He told one friend to tell the victim he would CashApp her that day if the charges were dropped; asked a family member to reach out to the victim daily to tell her to get the case thrown out; and even spent months urging his five-year-old son to “tell mommy to drop the case so dada can come home.” This pressure campaign against the complainant resulted in multiple convictions for obstructing justice and for violating the Court’s Stay Away Order. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Roessler and Amanda Swanson, from the Domestic Violence Felonies Unit, who prosecuted the case.


title: Nine buckets of narcotics: trafficker heads to prison for importing $340,000 of liquid meth in fuel tank

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old resident of Monterrey, Mexico, has been sentenced for his role in conspiring to import 300 pounds of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Allan Alberto Moreno Trevino pleaded guilty March 5, 2024. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Trevino to serve 87 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Trevino had worked with drug traffickers in the past including removing a fuel tank containing drugs from another vehicle for which he was paid $1,000. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that although this was Trevino’s first offense, a significant sentence would be appropriate under the circumstances and the degree of his involvement. On Nov. 22, 2o23, Trevino drove an older model Ford F-250 from Mexico across the Laredo Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. Law enforcement subsequently referred him to secondary inspection where an x-ray revealed anomalies within the vehicle’s fuel tank. While inspecting the vehicle, authorities noticed Trevino pacing and appearing nervous, eventually asking them if they had found something. They discovered the fuel tank was filled with liquid meth mixed with gasoline. Law enforcement extracted nine buckets of the mixture with an approximate gross weight of 137.2 kilograms and an estimated street value of $340,000. As part of his plea, Trevino stated he expected to be paid between $1,500 and $2,000 for transporting the drugs from Mexico. He also admitted knowing the fuel tank contained a controlled substance which he was to deliver to others in San Antonio where the liquid meth would then be extracted. Trevino will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.


title: Charlotte Man Convicted At Trial Of Illegal Firearm Possession Is Sentenced To Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daniel Wood, 48, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement. According to evidence presented at Wood’s trial, witness testimony, and filed court documents, on May 1, 2022, Wood attempted to enter a Charlotte nightclub with a loaded firearm in his pants pocket. The security of the nightclub found the firearm when they patted down Wood prior to entering the club. Security removed the firearm and turned it over to an off-duty CMPD officer. While the CMPD officer was in his patrol vehicle examining the firearm, Wood spoke to the officer and explained that he received the gun from someone else and that he had forgotten it was in the pocket of his pants. Court records show that Wood has prior felony convictions, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Wood will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prison. The ATF and CMPD investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website .


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN TYLER, II a/k/a “City,” (“TYLER”) age 48, a New Orleans resident, pled guilty on February 12, 2025, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to two counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine (Count 1) and possession with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine (Count 2), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, TYLER, and other co-conspirators, distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine within the Eastern District of Louisiana. For Counts 1 and 2, TYLER faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Allen Rhule, 44, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2024, Rhule was on parole for prior felony convictions when parole officers conducted a search of his residence as a condition of his supervision and found a Taurus model PT-140 Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 multi-caliber rifle in his bedroom. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rhule knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior felony convictions for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 3, 2022, and attempted grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 31, 2023. Rhule is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of West Virginia Parole Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-157. ###


title: Former Executive Director Is Sentenced For Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Gastonia Non-Profit

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stephanie L. Roberts, 55, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit corporation for cancer patients, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Roberts was ordered to serve two years under court supervision, and to pay $157,722.69 in restitution to the non-profit victim and $62,612 to the Internal Revenue Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron is joined by Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Trent Conard of the Gastonia Police Department in making today’s announcement. “Roberts treated a nonprofit organization meant to support cancer patients as her personal piggy bank, stealing funds intended to help those in need of resources and services during a health crisis. Roberts will now be held accountable for her reprehensible actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. According to court documents and court proceedings, Roberts was the executive director of Cancer Services of Gaston County, a non-profit corporation that provides support and resources for cancer patients. Beginning no later than January 8, 2016, through January 21, 2022, Roberts embezzled more than $136,000 from the non-profit corporation. Roberts also admitted that she failed to pay more than $200,000 withheld from the paychecks of the non-profit corporation’s employees for federal income, Medicare, and Social Security taxes to the IRS. In addition to the embezzlement scheme, Roberts made and subscribed, under penalty of perjury, U.S. Income Tax Returns that falsely stated the amount of tax withheld from her wages, and falsely claimed that amount was paid to the IRS. On March 22, 2024, Roberts pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care; failure to truthfully account for and pay over trust fund taxes; and making and subscribing a false tax return. Roberts will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron commended IRS-CI, USPIS, and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Laredoan and two illegals charged in firearms and related conspiracy

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned a 14-count indictment against three people on various federal firearms, drug trafficking and immigration offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Fernando Patinio, 31, Laredo, and Albert Garcia-Guajardo, 32, and Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, both illegal aliens unlawfully residing in the country, were previously in custody on charges originally filed in a criminal complaint. They are expected to make an appearance on the allegations in the indictment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future. The charges allege Patinio and Garcia-Guarjardo had allegedly sold cocaine and a large number of weapons, to include several machine guns, over the course of an approximately month-long undercover investigation. During the initial transaction involving a pistol, Garcia-Guajardo had also indicated he and Patinio could also offer drugs for sale, according to the charges. On Jan. 2, Patinio and Garcia Guajardo allegedly sold the first of two machine guns - a model 22 Glock equipped with a machine gun conversion device. The charges further allege that in the following weeks, Patinio and Garcia-Guajardo arranged to sell cocaine and another machine guns. On Jan. 31, authorities executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo where they found Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza, according to the charges. Law enforcement also allegedly discovered several more firearms, various narcotics, a scale and many more rounds of ammunition. The charges allege Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza were both determined to be illegally present in the United States. Garcia-Guajardo was allegedly ordered removed from the country two times, most recently in July 2024. According to the allegations, Hernandez-Garza originally had a B1/B2 visa issued to him, but it had expired. Both not lawfully in the United States, they are not permitted to possess any firearms per the charges. Over the course of the undercover investigation, law enforcement has allegedly seized two machine guns, eight pistols - one of which had a filed-off serial number – drum-style magazines, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and several rounds of .40 S&W caliber and 9 mm caliber rounds. If convicted, Garcia-Guajardo and Patino face a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic machines guns in the course of drug trafficking offenses and use of a machine gun in drug trafficking, while Hernandez-Garza faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. All could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Local felon sentenced for sexual exploitation of pregnant minor and conspiracies for drug trafficking and alien smuggling

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for sexual exploitation of a pregnant 16-year-old while in custody for other crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Luis Andres Serna pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor Sept. 23, 2024, and to the human transportation and drug conspiracies June 23, 2023. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Serna to serve a total of 15 years in federal prison. Serna must also register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that the minor victim had had given birth to a child which she claimed Serna fathered. Serna disputed that claim. “The defendant’s conduct in this case was absolutely reprehensible, and that the fact that it continued even while he was in custody underscores just how dangerous he is,” said Ganjei. “From alien smuggling, to drug trafficking, to sexual exploitation of a minor, the defendant took every opportunity to harm his community. Fortunately for the people of Laredo, he is now behind bars for a long while.” “Today’s sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those involved in sexual exploitation, alien smuggling and drug trafficking,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “ICE-HSI remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice criminals which harm individuals and communities. Through our dedicated efforts and strong partnerships with law enforcement, we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable victims from exploitation and abuse.” On April 5, 2022, law enforcement encountered Serna after he picked up an illegal alien from downtown Laredo and transported him to an apartment building. At that time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was his passenger. Later that day, authorities discovered 37 illegal aliens and approximately 1,032 kilograms of marijuana within several apartments linked to Serna and others and eventually arrested him for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens. While in federal custody for the pending charges, he gained access to a tablet video system and contacted the same pregnant girl. The investigation revealed Serna provided the minor’s name and a phone number to initiate video calls but did not disclose she was a minor. The facility’s communication system automatically records the displays of both parties during every video call. Law enforcement reviewed several hundred telephone calls and tablet video visits Serna initiated while detained. The investigation revealed he was in regular video communication with the minor victim. On June 24, 2022, he had her perform sexual acts while he watched. The minor victim used her personal cellphone to record herself performing the acts and played the video for Serna over the course of several days. Serna will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and other private companies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case along with the assistance of former Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr. and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug and Firearms Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A repeat convicted felon was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm, multiple rounds of ammunition and fentanyl intended for distribution while on federal supervised release. Francisco Gabriel Diaz, 33, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In July 2024, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Diaz was charged by criminal complaint in December 2021. On June 24, 2021, a search of the residence where Diaz was staying resulted in the recovery of a black Taurus G2S 9mm firearm, a 9mm magazine containing seven live 9mm rounds, a 9mm magazine containing one live 9mm round, over 40 grams of fentanyl, several plastic bags containing crack cocaine, a box of sandwich bags and a digital scale. Diaz was on federal supervised release at the time of the search. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Social Security employee heads to prison for creating fake children’s profiles to steal public funds

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 40-year-old Harlingen resident and former claims specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been ordered to federal prison for theft of government property and for failure to appear for sentencing, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Lee Marvin Nichols pleaded guilty to the theft charge Oct. 3, 2023. He was originally set for sentencing Feb. 14, 2024, but failed to appear and fled to Mexico. He returned to the United States in September 2024 and later pleaded guilty to the subsequent charge Dec. 2, 2024. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Nichols to serve 18 months in federal prison for the underlying theft charge as well as another six months for his failure to appear. The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 24 months in prison. He must also serve three years of supervised release following completion of his sentence. At the hearing, the court heard evidence describing how Nichols intentionally misused the identities of vulnerable individuals—including a man who originally applied for benefits after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Nichols waited until this man died before creating the fraudulent application and then withdrew the benefits using a debit card at drive-thru ATMs where he concealed his identity using masks and other coverings. The court also heard how Nichols’ flight from justice wasted government and court resources and how, by taking his luxury pickup truck to Mexico, Nichols prevented the truck from being sold for restitution. “The defendant not only stole from the American taxpayer, but he also abused the trust given him as a public servant,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will continue to safeguard the public fisc by rooting out fraudsters like Mr. Nichols.” Nichols originally admitted to creating fictitious profiles for two children that did not exist. He linked the profiles to a recently deceased man and disabled woman living in Mexico in an attempt to create a survivor benefits application. Nichols also ensured that the debit cards for the children’s benefits were sent to the address of someone with whom he was associated. He would then use the debit cards to make regular withdrawals at ATMs. When making those withdrawals, he attempted to disguise himself by using hats pulled down over his face, sunglasses, balaclavas and other clothing to conceal his appearance. In addition, the IRS issued economic stimulus payments of $1,400 to each fictitious child pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. As part of his plea, Nichols took responsibility for over $75,000 in loss to the federal government. He also agreed to pay $82,516 in restitution to the SSA and $2,800 in restitution to the IRS. Nichols will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The SSA-Office of Inspection General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray, Andrew Swartz and Jose Esquivel prosecuted the case.


title: New York Man Indicted In Connection With 2023 Shooting Using “Ghost Gun”

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Michael Alfonso, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging TERRY BROOKS with three counts of possessing firearms and ammunition after a felony conviction. The charges relate to a November 12, 2023, shooting and the subsequent seizures of the defendant’s firearms and ammunition on August 14 and August 21, 2024. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, on November 12, 2023, while on a public sidewalk in the Bronx, Terry Brooks reached into his waistband, pulled out a gun, and began shooting. Brooks missed his target but struck a nearby bystander, causing serious injury. Brooks had purchased more than 50 firearm components online and possessed privately manufactured and unregistered ‘ghost guns,’ but this did not stop law enforcement from catching him. Thanks to the work of the career prosecutors in this Office and our partners at HSI and the NYPD, Brooks has been arrested and will face trial.” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said: “The defendant’s indictment today underscores the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force’s ability to aggressively pursue investigative leads in whatever forms they take. Violent crime precursors no longer fit one specific mold, and HSI, alongside the NYPD, continues to adapt to target alleged bad actors and predicate felons determined to commit crimes. New York City is a safer place with Terry Brooks off the streets.” NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “This indictment makes one thing clear: Untraceable ghost guns will not be tolerated in our city. Thanks to the meticulous work of the NYPD investigators, along with our law enforcement partners at HSI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, this armed perpetrator—who terrorized our streets and injured an innocent bystander—will be held fully accountable. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe, and removing every illegal firearm, whether trackable or disguised, brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.” As alleged in the Indictment returned today and the Complaint unsealed on January 30, 2025: [1] On November 12, 2023, a man—subsequently identified as BROOKS—fired a gun in the Bronx, New York, near the corner of E. 180th St. and Bathgate Ave. The bullet struck a bystander, who was rushed to a hospital, received medical treatment, and survived. Approximately three minutes after the shooting, officers responded. Officers immediately found a shell casing at the scene of the crime. After obtaining surveillance video footage from several sources, officers were able to track the shooter, together with a female companion, from a particular hotel room to the scene of the shooting and back to the same hotel room. Hotel records identify BROOKS as someone who was staying in the hotel room at that time. BROOKS drove a red Toyota Corolla to and from the scene of the shooting, and the license plate is visible in some of the surveillance footage. BROOKS has received moving violations while driving that Corolla, which is registered to a woman with whom BROOKS sometimes resides. Officers obtained search warrants for two premises where BROOKS sometimes resides. On August 14, 2024, while executing the warrants, officers encountered guns, firearm parts, and ammunition in close proximity to objects and documents bearing BROOKS’s name and likeness. Ballistics testing established that the shell casing found immediately after the shooting in November 2023 had been fired by one of the ghost guns recovered pursuant to these warrants. Finally, on August 21, 2024, officers arrested BROOKS in the same hotel where he had been staying on the night of the shooting. The officers recovered yet another firearm, which was in plain view on a nightstand. * * * BROOKS, 58, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of possessing ammunition on or about November 12, 2023; one count of possessing firearms and ammunition on or about August 14, 2024; and one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition on or about August 21, 2024. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Grossinger and James Mandilk are in charge of the prosecution. u.s._v._brooks_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Pitt County Man Pleads Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme that Defrauded Eastern North Carolina Investors

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Willard Timothy Sutton, age 64, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud today for running a Ponzi scheme that resulted in more than 60 investors suffering net losses in excess of $8 million. At sentencing later this year, Sutton faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sutton will also be required to pay restitution to victims. According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2019 and 2023, Sutton operated a largescale Ponzi scheme in connection with an investment program offered through Greenville Auto World, LLC (GAW), a car dealership located in Greenville. GAW was a “buy here pay here” (BHPH) dealership. BHPH dealerships enable customers with poor or no credit history to finance the purchase of a vehicle directly through the dealership, rather than through a bank or credit union. Such loans typically carry significantly higher interest rates than traditional car loans. Between approximately 2012 and 2023, as part of an investment program sponsored, promoted, and administered by GAW, Sutton sold BHPH finance contracts to outside investors through direct solicitation, referrals, and word-of-mouth advertisement. Beginning in approximately 2019, Sutton falsely and fraudulently led BHPH investors to believe that their investments were safe and secure, and that GAW was collecting sufficient repayments from loan customers to be able to fully pay the principal and interest owed to them. In truth, GAW was collecting millions from investors, but it did not have the means to service the debt through BHPH revenue or any legitimate business income. Between approximately October 2018 and August 2023, the FBI estimates that GAW collected investor funds in excess of $60 million. However, GAW’s gross receipts were a small fraction of the total. In order to conceal GAW’s financial condition, and avoid the collapse of the business, Sutton operated the BHPH program as a Ponzi scheme in which he would (in a typical transaction) sell a legitimate loan contract to one investor and then sell one or more false and fabricated versions of that same contract to other investors without their knowledge. Sutton then used the proceeds of the fraudulent sales to pay off earlier investors. Among other things, Sutton forged loan customer signatures to the fake contracts and, in some instances, provided fake title documents to investors to convince them that their investments were appropriately secured. In approximately 2022, in order to generate additional funds to meet GAW’s mounting debts to investors, Sutton solicited some BHPH investors to help finance GAW’s vehicle inventory. Sutton falsely and fraudulently represented to these investors that he was using their funds to purchase vehicles when, in fact, Sutton was using their funds to conceal and perpetuate the Ponzi scheme. “Over the course of years, instead of helping so-called investors, this defendant bilked his victims out of millions of dollars of their hard earned money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “Fraudsters should know that they will be held accountable for their crimes in the Eastern District of North Carolina.” "Mr. Sutton ran a local business for many years, purporting to help those with poor or no credit get much needed vehicle loans. When he ran into financial trouble, rather than admitting his business was failing, he resold those loans over and over again to outside investors to protect his own reputation at the expense those who trusted he was legitimately investing their hard earned money," said Robert M. DeWitt the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief Judge Richard E. Myers, II accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case. 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. 4:24-CR-83-M. ###


title: Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Student Loan Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shelbra Long, age 58, of Edinburg, Texas, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isabel Douroupis, of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED OIG) – Eastern Regional Office, made the announcement. Long admitted to engaging in a decade-long scheme to apply for admission and financial aid to online colleges in the names of purported students who had their identities stolen. After the Department of Education disbursed the financial aid to a school, Long and her coconspirators withdrew the purported student from enrollment. The schools refunded the balance of the financial aid that had not been used to bank accounts controlled by the conspirators. The Department of Education awarded $466,430 in aid based on the scheme, of which it disbursed $211,820. Long faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, when she is sentenced on June 26, 2025. Long has agreed to pay $211,820 in restitution to the Department of Education and to forfeit an additional $52,304. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. ED OIG investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.


title: Seventeen OMB Gang Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 2,538 Months in Federal Prison

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

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the final defendant in a multi-Indictment, 17-defendant gang investigation involving the Only My Brothers (OMB) street gang was sentenced to federal prison. All 17 defendants had previously pled guilty or been found guilty following a jury trial. The defendants were charged with various crimes in federal court, including RICO conspiracy , fentanyl distribution, possessing machineguns, straw purchasing firearms, firearms trafficking, and illegally possessing firearms . According to public court documents and evidence presented in court, the charged defendants were members and associates of a criminal organization or Enterprise known as “Only My Brothers” or “OMB.” OMB originated in early- to mid-2021. Prior to that, some members and associates of OMB referred to themselves as various other names, including C-Block, 600, East Side Crips, Crips, and Gangster Disciples. From at least 2021, and continuing until their arrests, OMB’s members and associates engaged in a plethora of criminal activity in an attempt to earn and maintain respect in the neighborhood. This included attempted murders, including at least 30 gang-related shootings, the distribution of over 22 kilograms of fentanyl, as well as a number of convenience store armed robberies in the Des Moines metro. Some of the shootings OMB has been held responsible for include a November 2021 shooting at a celebration of life party being held at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa; a second November 2021 shooting at a residence on Southeast 9th Street in Des Moines, during which over 20 shots were fired; a February 2022 shooting in and around Good Park in Des Moines; an April 2022 shooting at a rival gang member’s home in Des Moines, during which over 70 shots were fired; a July 2022 shooting at an apartment complex in Sixth Avenue in Des Moines, during which at least 40 shots were fired; an August 2022 shooting at a residence on 23rd Street in Des Moines; and an August 2022 shooting at an apartment complex on Southeast 22nd Street in Des Moines, during which over 36 shots were fired. In order to obtain the firearms used to commit their criminal activity, OMB utilized a network of firearms straw purchasers, most of whom were drug customers or family members of the OMB members. This included Dawn Ellease Robinson, who purchased guns for her son, OMB member Santiz Langford. Langford then either personally used the guns himself to conduct OMB activity, or he trafficked the guns to other OMB members. One of those guns was later found in the possession of a victim in the January 2023 Starts Right Here double homicide in Des Moines. Deon Cooper, Langford’s sister, also straw purchased firearms for Langford, and Johnetta Strode, OMB member Deadrian Nelson’s mother, straw purchased firearms for Nelson. The straw purchasers purchased guns for the OMB members, who then used those guns to commit violent acts against rival gang members and other victims. OMB members and associates were also prolific possessors of machinegun conversion devices (also known as automatic selector switches). These devices convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic firearms and are considered machineguns under federal law. During the investigation, law enforcement was able to identify over 90 guns involved in the OMB-involved shootings, with over 70 of the involved guns seized. The defendants involved in this investigation include: Awot Tsegaye Baliho, 23, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Armani Eugene Gates, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 276 months’ imprisonment . Bakier Mohamd Esmaeil, 20, pled guilty to one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment. Dontavius Rashaun Sharkey, 28, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of straw purchasing conspiracy, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and supervised release violations, and was sentenced to 384 months’ imprisonment . Deadrian Maurice Nelson, 20, pled guilty to two counts of being a felon and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment. Johnetta Marie Strode, 37, pled guilty to straw purchasing conspiracy, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment. Christopher Scott Eason, 43, pled guilty to false statement during purchase of a firearm, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. Raleigh John Potter, 30, pled guilty to false statement during purchase of a firearm and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Deon Ellease Cooper, 28, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, false statement during purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing conspiracy, and straw purchasing of a firearm, and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Dawn Ellease Robinson, 45, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, straw purchasing conspiracy, straw purchasing of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. Avontae Lamar Tucker, 21, pled guilty in two federal cases to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition, two counts of interference with commerce through robbery, and two counts of brandishing and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment. Santiz Cortez Langford, 21, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, two counts of straw purchasing conspiracy, two counts of firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a machinegun, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 295 months’ imprisonment. Semaj Johnson, 20, pled guilty under two separate cases to illegal possession of a machinegun, racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 211 months’ imprisonment. Majok Majok, 20, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, firearms trafficking conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal possession of a machinegun, and was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment. Trent Douglas Brown Jr., 20, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment. Dahaba Bahari Lula, 20, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment. Derrick Dwayne Smith, 41, pled guilty to four counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, and was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Herrera and Mallory Weiser prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Des Moines Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Alien Smuggling

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kenneth Moore, age 42, of New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday to serve 3 years in prison after being convicted at trial of two counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement. At trial in October 2024 , the government established that on June 20, 2023, Moore traveled from New Jersey to an area just south of the border in Clinton County, New York, to pick up several aliens who had illegally crossed into the United States at a place other than a Port of Entry. Moore anticipated being paid $3,000 for his services but was quickly apprehended by agents from the United States Border Patrol. Jurors could not reach a verdict on one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, and that count was dismissed at sentencing. In addition to the 36-month prison term, Moore was sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release. United States Border Patrol investigated this case with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen J. Vickey and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted this case.


title: Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Honduran citizen was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported. According to public court documents, Francisco Antonio Santos Martinez, 35, had previously been deported three times from the United States. In February 2024, Minnesota law enforcement encountered Santos Martinez when he was arrested for disorderly conduct. He was released from Minnesota state custody. In August 2024, Santos Martinez was encountered by Iowa law enforcement and later convicted for public intoxication in the Iowa District Court for Polk County. After completing his term of imprisonment, Santos Martinez will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings and will also be required to serve a one-year term of supervised release. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.