title: MS-13 Gang Leader Sentenced to 68 Years in Prison for Eight Murders, Multiple Attempted Murders, Arson, Narcotics Trafficking, and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Alexi Saenz, also known as “Blasty” and “Plaky,” the leader of the Brentwood/Central Islip chapter of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 68 years’ imprisonment. On July 10, 2024, Saenz pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in eight murders, namely, the January 28, 2016 murder of Michael Johnson; the April 29, 2016 murder of Oscar Acosta; the September 5, 2016 murder of Marcus Bohannon; the September 13, 2016 murders of Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens; the October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo; the October 13, 2016 murder of Dewann Stacks; and the January 30, 2017 murder of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla, in addition to his participation in three attempted murders, and arson, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses. Joseph Nocella, Jr, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI New York); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. “Alexi Saenz led an unspeakable reign of terror, killing, and crime that damaged his community and cost several people their lives,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold the MS-13 and its members accountable for their horrific acts, including the pain they’ve caused victims and their loved ones. This sentencing is one of many in our relentless pursuit to dismantle the MS-13 and other violent criminal organizations.” “For years, Alexi Saenz wielded his role as a local MS-13 leader to facilitate and participate in eight brutal murders of perceived rivals. Saenz terrorized Long Island as he indiscriminately targeted and hunted a wide range of victims, with careless regard to innocent bystanders harmed by his actions. May today’s sentencing emphasize the FBI’s relentless determination to crush all gang violence plaguing our communities,” stated FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Alexi Saenz is a violent career criminal whose path of destruction ripped apart families and terrorized Suffolk County with his MS-13 cohorts,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “I commend the efforts of the SCPD officers and our law enforcement partners who are dedicated to bringing violent gang criminals to justice and offering closure to the victims’ families.” As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum, prior court filings, and statements during the sentencing, Alexi Saenz was the local leader of the Brentwood/Central Islip chapter of the Sailors clique of the MS-13 – one of the more powerful, violent, and well-established cliques on the East Coast of the United States. He committed the following crimes in order to maintain and increase his membership and status within the gang and to further the mission of the MS-13: January 28, 2016 Murder of Michael Johnson On January 28, 2016, Alexi Saenz and other MS-13 members and associates were at the Jocorena Deli in Brentwood, where they saw 29-year-old Michael Johnson, and claimed to recognize him as a member of the rival Bloods street gang. At that point, Johnson was marked as their “food” – a reference to their intention to kill him. After receiving the requisite approval from the New York leader of the Sailors clique to commit this murder, Alexi Saenz contacted several other MS-13 members, informed them of the plan to kill Johnson, and instructed them to bring weapons, including a machete and a baseball bat, to a wooded area in Brentwood. Alexi Saenz then lured Johnson to that secluded meeting location under the guise of smoking marijuana. The MS-13 members and associates ambushed Johnson from behind – striking Johnson with the baseball bat, stabbing him with a knife, and taking turns hacking him with the machete. They fled after hearing police sirens in the area. Johnson was reported missing by family members. Less than one week after his murder, on February 2, 2016, members of the SCPD responded to a 911 call about a body found in the woods by a passerby, and recovered Johnson’s body. An autopsy determined Johnson’s cause of death to be sharp and blunt force injuries. April 29, 2016 Murder of Oscar Acosta In early 2016, Alexi Saenz and his fellow Sailors clique members decided to “green light,” or approve, the murder of 19-year-old Oscar Acosta because they suspected that he was associating with the rival 18th Street gang after previously aligning himself with the MS-13. The New York Sailors clique leader assigned roles as to which members would take the lead in planning and carrying out the murder. On April 29, 2016, MS-13 members met Acosta in a wooded area near an elementary school in Brentwood where he had been lured under the guise of smoking marijuana. They brutally beat Acosta with tree limbs, knocking him unconscious. They bound Acosta’s hands and feet, wrapped an article of clothing around his mouth to prevent him from making noise, and summoned other MS-13 members, including Alexi Saenz. The MS-13 members loaded Acosta into the trunk of Alexi Saenz’s car, and drove to a more secluded area in Brentwood near the abandoned Pilgrim State Psychiatric Hospital. At the direction of Alexi Saenz, the MS-13 members removed Acosta, who was still alive, from the trunk and carried him deeper into the woods where they took turns hacking him to death with a machete. The murder was supervised by Alexi Saenz, as his role as the local clique leader. The MS-13 members then buried Acosta’s body in a shallow grave. Acosta’s body was discovered by law enforcement nearly five months later, on September 16, 2016, during a search for another MS-13 victim. His cause of death was homicidal violence, including sharp and blunt force injuries to his head and torso. July 18, 2016 Attempted Murders of John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 On July 18, 2016, during a Sailors clique meeting at Alexi Saenz’s house in Central Islip, the defendant instructed the group to hunt for rival gang members who had been disrespectful to the MS-13, in order to attack and kill them. Later that evening, other members of the MS-13, who were driving around Brentwood armed with firearms and a machete, spotted a group of men on Apple Street. Believing these men to be members of a rival gang, three MS-13 members got out of the car and attacked the group, firing rounds from two different guns, and then using a machete to hack at one of the men who had fallen to the ground. After the attack, the group drove back to Alexi Saenz’s house, where they hid the weapons. Two individuals were injured as a result of this attack. John Doe #1 was struck with a bullet, but survived. John Doe #2 was attacked with a machete, and was permanently disfigured. August 10, 2016 Attempted Murders of Suspected Rival Gang Members In 2016, members of the MS-13 were engaged in a series of disputes with members of the Goon Squad, a rival gang in Brentwood. On August 10, 2016, Alexi Saenz and another MS-13 member drove through the neighborhood around Lukens Avenue in Brentwood, and spotted several men who they believed were members of the Goon Squad. They then rallied other members of the Sailors clique to come kill the rivals. The MS-13 members divided into two vehicles, and drove towards the house where the suspected Goon Squad members had been spotted. Alexi Saenz’s car kept watch for the police, while two other MS-13 members, each bearing a gun, approached the group of suspected rivals and fired numerous shots in their direction. No one was hit, although a stray bullet entered a neighbor’s house and struck the headboard of a bed in which the neighbor was sleeping. September 5, 2016 Murder of Marcus Bohannon On September 4, 2016, during a Sailors clique meeting at Alexi Saenz’s house in Central Islip, the defendant and other MS-13 members went out hunting for rival gang members to kill. The MS-13 members separated into several cars and drove around Central Islip and Brentwood, until Alexi Saenz’s group spotted 27-year old Marcus Bohannon walking along Lowell Avenue in Central Islip in the early morning hours of September 5. Suspecting that Bohannon was a member of the rival Bloods gang, two MS-13 members, carrying firearms, got out of the vehicle, approached him, and started shooting. Alexi Saenz then drove them away. Bohannon was struck nine times, including in his head, neck, and chest, and died from his wounds. September 12, 2016 Arson During the summer of 2016, Sailors clique members of the MS-13 engaged in regular altercations with local gang members based in a neighborhood on Freeman Avenue in Brentwood. On September 12, 2016, MS-13 members retaliated by setting fire to a car parked in the driveway of one of the houses in that rival gang neighborhood. Alexi Saenz directed other gang members to purchase gasoline and carry out the arson, while he drove around watching for police presence. The other MS-13 gang members drove to that house, where they poured gasoline on a car parked in the driveway, and set it on fire. The car exploded, and set another parked car on fire. September 13, 2016 Murders of Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens On September 13, 2016, Sailors clique members brutally murdered 15-year-old Nisa Mickens and 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas, both students at Brentwood High School. In the months leading up to the murders, Cuevas was involved in a series of disputes with members and associates of the MS-13. Approximately one week before the murders, these disputes escalated when Cuevas and several friends were involved in an altercation with MS-13 members at Brentwood High School. After that incident, the MS-13 members vowed to seek revenge against Cuevas. On the evening of September 13, 2016, Alexi Saenz and other members of the Sailors clique of the MS-13 were driving in separate cars around Brentwood in search of rival gang members to attack and kill. One group of MS-13 members spotted Cuevas and Mickens walking down residential Stahley Street. Recognizing Cuevas, they called Alexi Saenz and were granted permission to kill the girls. Several MS-13 members then chased down and attacked both Cuevas and Mickens, wielding baseball bats and a machete, striking each of the girls numerous times in their heads and bodies, while Alexi Saenz’s car drove around watching for police. After the murders, the group retreated to Alexi Saenz’s home in Central Islip, where they changed clothes and hid the weapons. Mickens, whose body was discovered later that evening on Stahley Street, not far from Cuevas’s home, sustained significant sharp force trauma to her face and blunt force trauma to her head. Cuevas, whose body was discovered the following day behind a house adjacent to where Mickens’s body was found, sustained significant blunt force trauma to her head and body and multiple lacerations. October 10, 2016 Murder of Javier Castillo In October 2016, the MS-13 targeted 15-year-old Javier Castillo because he was believed to be a member of the 18th Street gang, one of MS-13’s principal rivals. On October 10, 2016, several members of the Sailors clique convinced Castillo, who lived in Central Islip, to drive with them to Freeport – approximately 30 miles away – to smoke marijuana. Once there, they met Alexi Saenz and other Sailors clique members. The group then lured Castillo to an isolated marsh area in Cow Meadow Park, where they attacked him, taking turns hacking him to death with a machete. Afterwards, the MS-13 members dug a hole and buried Castillo’s body, which was not recovered until one year later, in late October 2017. Castillo was determined to have suffered multiple sharp force injuries to his head, neck, torso, and extremities. October 13, 2016 Murder of Dewann Stacks On the evening of October 13, 2016, Alexi Saenz and other members of the Sailors clique of MS-13 were driving around Central Islip and Brentwood in search of rival gang members to attack and kill. That night, they spotted 34-year-old Dewann Stacks and, believing him to be a rival gang member, Alexi Saenz authorized his murder. While Alexi Saenz drove around watching for police presence, another group of MS-13 members, armed with two machetes and a baseball bat, drove over to attack Stacks. Three armed MS-13 members got out of the car, and beat and hacked Stacks to death on American Boulevard, a residential street in Brentwood. Stacks sustained severe sharp and blunt force trauma to his face and head, leaving his body nearly unrecognizable. January 30, 2017 Murder of Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla On the morning of January 30, 2017, Alexi Saenz and other members of the Sailors clique of MS-13 spotted 29-year-old Esteban Alvarado-Bonilla inside El Campesino Deli in Central Islip. Since Alvarado-Bonilla was wearing a football jersey bearing the number “18,” the MS-13 concluded that he was a member of a rival gang and plotted to kill him. Several other MS-13 members obtained a mask and another vehicle that would be used to commit the murder. Alexi Saenz provided the clique’s 9-millimeter handgun for use in the murder. At approximately 10:30 a.m., a masked MS-13 member entered the deli, approached Alvarado-Bonilla from behind, and shot him multiple times, killing him. One of the bullets pierced through Alvarado-Bonilla’s head and struck the chest of a female employee of the deli, who was standing directly in front of him. The deli employee survived the gunshot wound. Narcotics Trafficking Conspiracy For a year and a half, from approximately April 2016 through March 2017, in order to finance the illegal operations of the Sailors clique, Alexi Saenz obtained wholesale quantities of cocaine and marijuana, which he distributed to other Sailors clique members and associates for street-level sales in Brentwood and its surrounding areas. After the sales, the profits were turned over to Alexi Saenz, for use in, among other things, purchasing firearms for use by clique members, wiring money to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador, and buying additional narcotics for further distribution. * * * * Today’s sentencing is the latest achievement in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent, transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the Eastern District of New York, resulting in the convictions of dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law. This prosecution is also 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 government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kerryanne Ucci and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello. The Defendant : ALEXI SAENZ (also known as “Blasty” and “Plaky”) Age: 30 El Divisadero, Morazán, El Salvador; and Central Islip, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-403 (S-8) (GRB)


title: Leader of insurance fraud and arson scheme sentenced to 15 years

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

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced Evette “Betty” Osuegbu, 62, of Granite City, to 15 years in federal prison for her role in a string of arsons and insurance fraud stretching from 2014 to 2023. Following a five-day trial in December, a jury seated in East St. Louis found Osuegbu guilty of all 15 counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit arson, and use of fire to commit a federal felony. “Arson is an inherently dangerous crime,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Firefighters often don’t know if people are inside the buildings and potentially place their lives at risk on every call. Additionally, arsons cause unnecessary blight, raise insurance rates, lower property values and can harm neighbors. We will continue to seek heavy penalties for these destructive and dangerous crimes.” Osuegbu’s co-defendant, Rufis Jefferson, 48, of Venice, previously pleaded guilty to all counts of an indictment that included conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Testimony at trial included Osuegbu’s role in a romance scam against an intellectually disabled person and exploiting his illiteracy to obtain property and insurance in his name. After Osuegbu directed Jefferson to burn the East St. Louis home, she sued the insurance company for a larger payout, using the name of her intellectually disabled victim as a plaintiff, unbeknownst to him. The insurance company settled and Osuegbu retained her victim’s share of the payout. “Arson and insurance fraud are not victimless crimes, and the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed. This was a dangerous, deliberate, and brazen scheme orchestrated by Ms. Osuegbu, putting the public at risk for personal gain. I want to thank our law enforcement partners, including the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, for their collaborative work in this case. Justice has been served, and our community is safer as a result,” said ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. The jury also heard testimony from a father with a young child who lived next to Osuegbu in an apartment complex in St. Louis. On New Years Eve, 2022, this witness called in a fire in Osuegbu’s unit. Firefighting efforts stopped the spread of the fire but left the witness to live in a smokey and moldy apartment for months. The jury further heard that Osuegbu had directed Jefferson to burn the apartment while she established an alibi at a local casino. Osuegbu received insurance payouts for alleged losses in the fire and was put up in a local hotel. The occupant of a Florissant, Missouri, home testified to a scam against her to convince her to raise her renter’s insurance and to be away from the home when Jefferson set it on fire. This witness testified that Osuegbu threatened to “gut” her if she did not get her cut, prompting this witness to pay off Osuegbu in installments over the course of many months. Jurors also heard recordings of Osuegbu planning arsons at properties in Granite City and Venice. Osuegbu was heard to direct others how to avoid cameras and cell phone tracking and how to best set a fire that is difficult for experts to investigate. The ATF intervened before these properties were burned. ATF Chicago led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Burke and Peter Reed prosecuted the case.


title: Former FBI Procurement Official Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid-Rigging Scheme to Obtain Electronics Contracts

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former electronics technician at the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and his sister were charged today with conspiring to defraud the United States to obtain at least $350,000 in low-bid electronics equipment contracts from the FBI. Jeffrey Spencer, 51, of Canyon Country, and Christy Evereklian, 43, of Temecula, were charged via a single-count information filed today with conspiracy to defraud the United States. In plea agreements also filed today, Spencer and Evereklian both agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Spencer and Evereklian are expected to enter their guilty pleas in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to their plea agreements, from August 2015 through August 2020, Spencer and Evereklian conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the solicitation of competitive bids for electronic equipment by deceitful and dishonest means. Spencer, who was an FBI procurement official and solicited bids for electronic equipment, conspired with Evereklian to submit purportedly independent and competitive bids from Evereklian’s several companies for FBI contracts. In fact, Spencer and Evereklian already had decided which company would submit the lowest – and presumably winning – bid for a contract. Evereklian submitted bids from her own companies to the FBI using the names of her relatives to conceal her control over bidding companies, and she used a random number generator to create the fraudulent bids. Evereklian further admitted in her plea agreement that during the conspiracy, her companies won at least $350,000 in contracts from the FBI. The United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation in this matter as part of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). Assistant United States Attorney Jason Pang of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Taylorsville Man Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Distributing Methamphetamine in the District of Utah, and Money Laundering

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Caile Noble, 67, of Taylorsville, Utah, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from outside of Utah, bringing it to Utah, and providing it to several others in a conspiracy to distribute the drugs for profit. The sentence comes after Noble pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart sentenced Noble to 60 months’ supervised release and ordered him to forfeit over $25,000 and his residence, from which Noble distributed methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made at Noble’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning in July 2022, Noble and others in his drug trafficking organization were transporting approximately sixty pounds of methamphetamine to Utah to redistribute in the Salt Lake Valley. Noble was the head of the organization who acquired the large loads of methamphetamine and drove it to Utah. Once Noble arrived in Utah, he contacted his redistributors who sold the methamphetamine to others in amounts ranging from quarter pounds to full pounds. Additionally, the defendant has distribution convictions dating back to 1986. Noble is also charged by the state of Utah with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated arson. “The defendant’s conduct in this case and his nearly 40-year history of peddling poison for profit are egregious,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “Noble trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine into Utah and then distributed this poison into our communities for profit. Such criminal conduct will not be tolerated.” “There is no room for drug traffickers in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. “Motivated by greed and with no regard for the safety of his community, Noble distributed massive amounts of this notoriously deadly substance. As the experts in following the money, IRS Criminal Investigation will always be there to offer our financial expertise to bring these criminals to justice.” “The investigation of Noble confirmed the Sinaloa Cartel operates sophisticated drug distribution networks in Utah, and that drug trafficking and violent crime are often intertwined,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie with the Rocky Mountain Field Division. “Methamphetamine is a persistent scourge on our society, and today our communities in Utah are safer with Noble’s imprisonment.” The case was investigated by members of the DEA Salt Lake City Metro Narcotics Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Nielsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 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: Two Men Indicted on 22 Counts for Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Sale of Stolen Vehicles, and Trafficking Stolen Vehicles With Altered VINs

component: Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed a 22-count indictment, charging Jamaican national — Charles Edwards Madden, 39, of New Carrolton, Maryland — and Michael R. Bourne, 33, of New York, New York, with conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, operating a chop shop, sale or receipt of stolen vehicles, and trafficking in motor vehicles with altered vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Washington Field Office, and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to the indictment, between at least January 2020, and continuing into June 2024, Madden and Bourne engaged in a conspiracy to buy and sell vehicles that they knew were stolen from various locations across the United States. As part of the conspiracy, Madden and Bourne altered the VINs to conceal the stolen vehicle scheme and evade law enforcement. Madden and Bourne combined parts from salvaged vehicles and resold them to victim purchasers in Maryland and elsewhere, concealing the prior salvage or damage status and misrepresenting their conditions to buyers. During the conspiracy, Madden and Bourne obtained dozens of stolen vehicles collectively worth more than $1 million, many of which were transported to and altered in Prince George’s County, Maryland. If convicted, Madden and Bourne face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy, a maximum of 10 years for sale or receipt of stolen vehicles, and a maximum of 10 years for trafficking in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts. Additionally, Madden is charged with operating a chop shop located in Prince George’s County which carries a maximum of 15 years. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorneys Amy Schwartz and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein, Justice Department Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, who are prosecuting this case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Six Individuals Arrested in Two Separate Firearms Trafficking Cases

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Two indictments have been unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging a total of six defendants variously with firearms trafficking, unlicensed firearms dealing, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Yesterday and this morning, Karsem Allen, also known as “Short,” Carolyn Hicks-Torres, Henry McCummings, Rohnique Posey, also known as “Pioneer,” and Dominic Smith were arrested on an 11-count indictment. They will be arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Yesterday, James Strong was arrested on a separate indictment and was ordered detained this morning by Magistrate Judge Scanlon. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Division (ATF New York), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges. “As alleged, the defendants brought deadly weapons to communities in Queens, flagrantly selling them in broad daylight near an elementary school and inside apartment complexes,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The public should know that my Office and brave members of federal and local enforcement are working tirelessly to reduce gun violence by disrupting the flow of illegal guns to and within New York City and keeping them out of the hands of criminals.” “These indictments are the result proactive investigative efforts using crime gun intelligence and strong partnerships. The brazenness of these firearms trafficking operations — selling nearly 50 illegal firearms and machine gun conversion devices in broad daylight near apartment buildings and a school — shows a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of the community. Thanks to the outstanding work of the ATF New York Crime Gun Enforcement Team, ATF NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force, the NYPD's Intelligence Bureau, Detective Bureau, and Major Case Ghost Gun Team, ATF Newark, New Jersey, ATF Raleigh, North Carolina, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, these individuals have been held accountable. We will continue to bring all resources to bear to stem the flow of illegal firearms into our neighborhoods. Every illegal gun taken off the street is a potential life saved,” stated ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Miller. “James Strong and his co-defendants allegedly funneled untraceable ghost guns and other deadly firearms into a vibrant Queens community, putting countless lives—including children—at risk,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Strong is a convicted killer who was out on parole when he carried out these sales, often in broad daylight and just steps from a school. This case is a powerful reminder of the importance of the work we do with our federal partners to get guns off our streets. None of this would be possible without the dedicated work of the members of the NYPD, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” United States v. James Strong As set forth in court filings, Strong sold 21 firearms to two separate undercover law enforcement officers (the UCs) in heavily populated areas of Queens Village in broad daylight. In some cases, the firearms were sold just blocks away from an elementary school. The UCs told Strong that they were smuggling the guns to Trinidad in barrels. In connection with these firearms sales, Strong is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms due to his previous felony conviction for manslaughter stemming from a 2007 incident in which he shot an individual eight times, killing him, at a birthday party in Valley Stream on Long Island. Strong was sentenced to 18 years in prison and was released on parole in October 2023. Strong was on parole at the time he made the illegal sales. U.S. v. Karsem Allen, et al. As set forth in the indictment and other court filings, between December 2024 and June 2025, Allen, Hicks-Torres, McCummings, Posey, and Smith made multiple sales of at least 29 firearms, including semi-automatic and defaced weapons, inside apartment complexes in the Rockaways. Allen and Hicks-Torres illegally obtained firearms in North Carolina from straw purchasers and then transported the weapons to New York City to be sold through Posey. On one occasion, Allen and Hicks-Torres sold four machine gun conversion devices, which are designed for converting semi-automatic pistols into machine guns. McCummings and Smith primarily sold “ghost guns” which typically do not have serial numbers and therefore are untraceable. Posey is also charged with selling crack cocaine on four occasions. The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government’s cases are being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Petraeus is in charge of prosecuting Strong. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Marcus is in charge of prosecuting Allen, Hicks-Torres, McCummings, Posey, and Smith. The Defendants : JAMES STRONG Age: 35 Long Beach, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-214 (NGG) KARSEM ALLEN (also known as “Short”) Age: 49 Henderson, North Carolina CAROLYN HICKS-TORRES Age: 53 Henderson, North Carolina HENRY MCCUMMINGS Age: 43 Arverne, New York ROHNIQUE POSEY (also known as “Pioneer”) Age: 47 Arverne, New York DOMINIC SMITH Age: 31 Teaneck, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-216 (BMC)


title: Naval Reservist Pleads Guilty To Paying Bribe To Obtain Department Of Defense Identification Cards For Unauthorized Individuals

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Raymond Andres Zumba (27, Staten Island, NY) today pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official. Zumba faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Zumba previously was ordered detained and will remain in custody while awaiting a sentencing hearing, which has not yet been set. According to court documents, in January 2025, a confidential source reported to law enforcement that Zumba serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve and was aware that the source’s spouse worked at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of Defense identification cards. The source reported that Zumba asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized identification cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engaged in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash. After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on February 13, 2025, with three individuals, including a Chinese national. Zumba brought these individuals to NAS Jacksonville where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for two of them to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him two cards in exchange for $3,500. Zumba was promptly arrested, and the cards were recovered. This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican.


title: Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison and Administrator Sentenced to 72 Months for their Respective Roles in a Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – The co-owner and the administrator of a Union City, New Jersey pharmacy were sentenced for their respective roles in conspiracies to defraud pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) and health care benefit providers, including Medicare and Medicaid, out of more than $65 million and to pay kickbacks and bribes to health care professionals and their staffs in exchange for referrals of prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Husband and wife Samuel “Sam” Khaimov, 52, and Yana Shtindler, 48, both of Glen Head, New York, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp after previously pleading guilty. Khaimov, the co-owner of the pharmacy, was sentenced to a total of 87 months in prison – 60 months for conspiring to commit health care fraud and 27 months for conspiring to violate the federal anti-kickback statute, with the sentences to run consecutively. Khaimov was also sentenced to separate three-year terms of supervised release to run concurrently. Shtindler, the administrator of the pharmacy, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud, followed by three years of supervised release. Khaimov and Shtindler’s co-defendants, Ruben Sevumyants of Marlboro, New Jersey, and Alex Fleyshmakher of Morganville, New Jersey, have already pled guilty to counts in the Superseding Indictment and are pending sentencing. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The Prime Aid Pharmacies – now closed – operated as “specialty pharmacies” out of locations in Union City, New Jersey and the Bronx, New York. As specialty pharmacies, they processed expensive medications used to treat various conditions, including Hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Khaimov was a co-owner of Prime Aid Union City and the lead pharmacist of Prime Aid Bronx. Shtindler was Prime Aid Union City’s Administrator. Sevumyants was Prime Aid Union City’s operations manager. Alex Fleyshmakher worked at Prime Aid Union City and was an on-paper owner of Prime Aid Bronx. His father, Igor Fleyshmakher, a co-owner of Prime Aid Union City, pled guilty to separate federal charges. Initially, the Prime Aid Pharmacies obtained retail network agreements with several PBMs, which allowed them to receive reimbursement payments for prescription medications, including specialty medications. PBMs acted as intermediaries on behalf of Medicare, Medicaid, and other health benefit providers, so when one of the Prime Aid Pharmacies received a prescription, the pharmacy would typically submit a claim for reimbursement to the PBM that represented the beneficiary’s drug plan. Starting in 2009, in order to obtain a higher volume of prescriptions, Khaimov, Sevumyants, Alex Fleyshmakher, and other Prime Aid employees paid bribes to doctors and doctors’ employees to induce the doctors and their staffs to steer prescriptions to the Prime Aid Pharmacies. The bribes included payments by cash, check, and wire transfers, as well as expensive meals and other things of value. Another method of bribery involved paying an employee to work inside a doctor’s office. Prime Aid Union City – at the direction of Sevumyants, Shtindler, and Khaimov – also engaged in the pervasive and fraudulent practice of billing health benefit providers and PBMs for medications that were never provided to patients. While Prime Aid generally provided medications for initial prescriptions it received, it systematically billed for refills for those same medications without ever dispensing them to patients. Indeed, according to the Superseding Indictment, from 2013 through 2017, Prime Aid Union City received at least $65,000,000 in reimbursement payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and private health benefit providers for medications that Prime Aid Union City not only failed to give patients, but that Prime Aid Union City also never even ordered or had in stock at the pharmacy. Over time, PBMs conducted routine audits of Prime Aid Union City and discovered its practice of billing but not dispensing medications. In response to these audits, Shtindler instructed Prime Aid employees to falsify records submitted to the PMBs. In addition, Sevumyants, with Shtindler’s knowledge and approval, forged shipping records of a private commercial shipping company to make it appear as if medications were shipped to the patients when, in fact, they were not. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; special agents of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the N.J. Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, Medicaid Fraud Unit, under the direction of Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson, and the N.J. Office of the State Comptroller, under the direction of Acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark and Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton. ### Khaimov’s defense counsel: Jenny Kramer, Esq., New York, NY Shtindler’s defense counsel: Lawrence Lustberg, Esq., Newark, NJ


title: Sicklerville Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Commit Tax Fraud

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Sicklerville, New Jersey, man was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS by working with others to conceal cash wages paid to employees, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Chung “Alex” Lam, 46, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. Judge Kiel imposed the sentence in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In 2018, Lam pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes. He received an 18-month prison sentence, which he served during parts of 2019 and 2020. Prior to serving that sentence and upon his release from custody, Lam conspired with the owners of various temporary staffing companies to defraud the IRS. The temporary staffing companies provided temporary workers to businesses. As part of their agreements with their customer businesses, the temporary staffing companies were responsible for collecting and paying over to the IRS the payroll taxes due and owing on the wages paid to the temporary workers. Lam received checks that were payments to the staffing companies for labor provided by their employees. Between the first quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2023, Lam used a commercial check casher to negotiate more than $4,000,000 of such checks. Lam kept a portion of the cash for personal use and caused the rest of the cash to be provided to co-conspirators to pay the temporary workers in cash. As a result, payroll taxes were not collected or paid to the IRS. Lam also filed false individual income tax returns that omitted the income he earned from his role in the conspiracy. Lam admitted that the conspiracy caused a tax loss of approximately $628,351. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kiel sentenced Lam to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. ### Defense counsel: John B. Brennan, Esq.of Marlton, NJ


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 12 Years For Possession With Intent To Distribute Fentanyl And Cocaine And Possession Of A Firearm

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Yaphet Martin (38, New Port Richey) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Martin pleaded guilty in August 2024. According to court documents, on July 7, 2023, officers with the Clearwater Police Department pulled over a vehicle being driven by Martin. When the officers approached the vehicle, they smelled marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and located a small green camouflage bag behind the center console containing what laboratory testing would later confirm to be 3 grams of fentanyl, 7.66 grams of MDMA, and 3.48 grams of cocaine. The bag also contained a digital scale, glass pipe, and $3,182 in cash. Officers also recovered a firearm loaded with four rounds of ammunition from the vehicle. At the time, Martin had four prior felony convictions including forgery, robbery in the first degree, delivering an imitation controlled substance, and felonious possession of a firearm. He is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. In addition, his prior drug and crime of violence convictions subjected him to an enhanced penalty. This case was investigated by the Clearwater Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: West Virginia Resident Charged with Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Interstate Transmission of Extortionate Communication

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Fairmont, West Virginia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of distribution of child sexual abuse material and interstate transmission of extortionate communication, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment named Ronald John Kirkham Jr., 56, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, Kirkham met his victim online when the victim was 17. In or around 2017, Kirkham persuaded the victim to send naked pictures and videos of herself engaging in sexually explicit acts. Years later, Kirkham sent the victim’s photographs back to her, threatening to publish the material online if the victim did not either send him additional photos or videos, or pay him money. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and North Fayette Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Bonita Man Pleads Guilty in $5.8 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Jacobo Melcer, a Bonita resident and businessowner, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he conspired with others to defraud Medicare of millions of dollars and to pay unlawful kickbacks for patient referrals. According to his plea agreement, Melcer submitted more than $5.88 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare through his ownership and operation of two durable medical equipment (DME) companies, which sold orthotics – including back, wrist, and knee braces – to Medicare beneficiaries. Melcer admitted that in operating the DME companies, he paid unlawful kickback payments to multiple companies for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries and prescriptions for DME, knowing that the prescriptions were signed by physicians who had no legitimate doctor-patient relationship with the beneficiary and had not conducted a legitimate medical evaluation of the beneficiary. In total, Melcer admitted that he paid more than $227,000 in kickbacks, and fraudulently billed Medicare $5,885,382 and was paid $3,479,303. As part of his guilty plea, Melcer agreed to forfeit and pay restitution in the amount of $3,479,303. Melcer further admitted that he created and sold two DME companies to a co-conspirator for the sole purpose of putting the ownership under a nominee owner to conceal the true ownership from Medicare due to Medicare suspending the co-conspirator as a Medicare provider and the co-conspirator’s inability to continue to submit claims to Medicare. Melcer’s sentencing is scheduled for October 10, 2025. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero of the Southern District of California. DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr2568-DMS Jacobo Melcer Age: 85 Bonita, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Pay Illegal Remunerations – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $500,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Lower Brule Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison  for Assaulting Federal Officers

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2025. Eddie Bromwich, age 45, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bromwich was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in April 2025. On February 6, 2024, Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Bromwich for speeding in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. Bromwich argued with and resisted commands from the officers before ultimately engaging in a physical struggle with the officers. One of the officers suffered a broken finger as a result of the incident. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Zachrison and Troy Morley prosecuted the case. Bromwich was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Six Defendants Indicted in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine Sales in Chicago

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal investigation into fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine sales in Chicago has resulted in a grand jury returning multiple drug and/or firearm charges against six individuals. A superseding indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses the six defendants of conspiring to distribute the drugs in Chicago in 2024. Two of the defendants are charged with firearm offenses for illegally possessing semiautomatic handguns as previously convicted felons. Charged with drug conspiracy are ANDRE DEBRUCE, 40, of Schiller Park, Ill., TERRANCE PATTON, 40, of Chicago, CRAIG CALDWELL, 43, of Chicago, TIMOTHY BELIN, 48, of Chicago, JENNIFER WORD, 39, of Chicago, and DENOMOIUS WELLS, 41, of Chicago. Patton and Caldwell are the previously convicted felons charged with illegal firearm possession. Caldwell also faces an additional gun charge for allegedly possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges against Caldwell carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years. Patton and Debruce face maximum sentences of 40 years, with a mandatory minimum of five years. Belin, Word, and Wells each face up to 20 years, with no mandatory minimum. Wells pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman. The five other defendants have also been arraigned and also pleaded not guilty to the charges. The superseding indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, the Chicago Police Department, and the Evanston, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Adam Rosenbloom. The superseding indictment in this case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, among other areas of focus. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. debruce_et_al_superseding_indictment.pdf


title: Associates of Bounty Hunter Bloods Gang Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Five New Jersey men, including associates of a New Jersey gang associated with the Bounty Hunter Bloods criminal street gang were charged by a superseding indictment with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. The Indictment charges Carl Napier, a/k/a “Smash” (“Napier”), Hamir Wright, a/k/a “Lil Smash” (“Wright”), Alexis Tejada (“Tejada”), Jihad Bibbs, Sr. (“Bibbs”), and Jamie Archer-Monroe, a/k/a “Raziq” (“Archer-Monroe”), all of Somerset County and Middlesex County, New Jersey, with a racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders, fraud schemes, and narcotics distribution. Napier and Bibbs are in federal custody on previously filed related federal charges. Tejada and Archer-Monroe were arrested and appeared in federal court in Newark before the Hon. Stacy Adams, U.SM.J. for initial appearances. Wright is in state custody on previously filed unrelated charges and will appear in federal court at a later date. The charges are the result of a long-running investigation, coordinated between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Brunswick Police Department, and the Franklin Township Police Department. “There will be zero tolerance for violent crime and gang activity in the state of New Jersey. My office will continue to use all resources to find and prosecute those who instill fear in our citizens and undermine the safety of our communities. These criminals do not run our streets — the law does, and my office will enforce it without hesitation.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba “The apprehension of these individuals is a momentous step towards making New Jersey safer, one day at a time. By freeing these communities from those who allegedly distribute drugs, firearms, and use violence as a means of coercion, the FBI continues its mission to combat violent crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Napier and Wright, each were allegedly associates of the Bounty Hunter Bloods, who operated under the umbrella of the neighborhood street gangs known as “Parkside” in Somerset and “The Ville” in New Brunswick. Some of the charged defendants are alleged to have also engaged in numerous violent acts on behalf of and for the benefit of the gang, including assaults, shootings, and murders, some of which targeted rival gang members. For example, on or about March 12, 2024, Napier and Wright, while with other gang members in New Brunswick, got into a confrontation regarding narcotics distribution with purported rival gang members and shot at them, killing Victim 1 and resulting in injury to Victim 2. In addition to this violent act, the defendants, are alleged to have routinely distributed narcotics and trafficked firearms in and around the gang’s territory in both New Brunswick and Somerset. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Stefanie Roddy, investigators of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, investigators of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John McDonald, the New Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Vincent Sabo and the Franklin Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Quovella Mayweather, for the investigation leading to the charges. U.S. Attorney Habba and SAC Roddy would also like to thank the Central New Jersey Safe Streets Task Force, Woodbridge Police Department, Raritan Township Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph, Deputy Chief of the District of New Jersey’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Carl Napier- Steve Altman Jihad Bibb, Sr.- Michael Policastro Alexis Tejada- Joseph R. Rubino Jamie Archer-Monroe- Stephen Dratch napier.indictment.pdf


title: Lower Brule Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison  for Assault on Federal Officer

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025. Thaddeus James Grant, 32, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Grant was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025. On September 20, 2024, when two law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) attempted to arrest Grant pursuant to a federal warrant in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, he actively resisted arrest, pulling his hands away from the officers and taking one of the officers with him to the ground. Grant continued to resist until the officers were able to gain compliance through the use of pressure points. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. Grant was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jermaine Antoine Johnson, 35, of Beckley, was sentenced today to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Johnson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson participated in the DTO conspiracy in April and May 2024. Johnson admitted to supplying others with controlled substances that they distributed. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson also admitted that he and a co-conspirator traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, on May 20, 2024, where they purchased approximately $6,000 worth of fentanyl. Johnson and his co-conspirator returned to West Virginia the next day and discussed increasing the volume of the purchased fentanyl by adding such cutting agents as sugar and brown sugar. Johnson has a long criminal history that includes prior convictions for malicious assault, battery on a correctional officer, first degree robbery, possession with intent to deliver narcotics, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson is among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base within the Southern District of West Virginia from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. All 12 pleaded guilty, including two defendants who pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-90. ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Sioux Falls Man Guilty of Two Firearm Charges

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Boru Guye Wako, Jr., age 39, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on July 1, 2025. The Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wako was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. The charges stemmed from an incident on March 8, 2023, when Sioux Falls Police Department detectives attempted to stop a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Rather than comply, the driver of the stolen vehicle eluded law enforcement. Soon thereafter, detectives re-located the vehicle, just as the driver fled the scene on foot. Detectives pursued the fleeing driver, but the individual managed to get away by stealing a second vehicle. Based on prior encounters, detectives were able to identify the fleeing driver as Boru Guye Wako, Jr., and he was later apprehended. Upon searching the first stolen vehicle from which Wako had fled, detectives discovered a Ruger LCP .380 handgun in the driver-side door, which had been reported stolen just days earlier. Forensic analysis later revealed the presence of Wako’s DNA on the barrel of the firearm, thereby establishing Wako had possessed the firearm. As a prior convicted felon, Wako is prohibited from possessing firearms. At the time Wako possessed the firearm, he was also under indictment for two other separate felonies, further prohibiting his possession of firearms. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for September 22, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Federal Charges Filed for Destruction of Government Property, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Vehicle), and Reckless Driving on the National Mall

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced that Curtis Lear, 30, of the District of Columbia, appeared at a hearing today in U.S. District Court after being federally charged last week with allegedly driving an SUV recklessly at a high speed on the National Mall as hundreds of visitors were present. The joy ride caused over $9,000 in damage to the lawn, as hundreds of visitors were present. Lear was charged by complaint on June 25, 2025, with Destruction Of Government Property, Assault With A Dangerous Weapon (Vehicle), and Reckless Driving. Chief Jessica Taylor of the U.S. Park Police joined in the announcement. According to the charging documents, on June 21 at 8:45 p.m., a black Jeep Patriot with D.C. license plates drove onto the National Mall near 7th Street, SW, between Jefferson and Madison Drives. The Jeep raced at high speeds on the National Mall, making sharp turns on the grass and accelerating uncontrollably, according to witnesses. At the time, hundreds of pedestrians occupied the National Mall and surrounding areas. During the incident, a U.S. Capitol Police officer approached the vehicle on foot. The driver rolled down a window and stated, “It's just a joke.” Officers attempted a traffic stop but the suspect vehicle fled. Investigators ran the Jeep’s license plate number through a law enforcement database and learned the SUV was registered to Lear. At approximately 3 a.m. the following morning, officers located the Jeep and conducted a traffic stop. Lear was behind the wheel. This case is being investigated by U.S. Park Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Green and Michael Lee.


title: Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Former  Evangeline Parish Law Enforcement Officer with Production and Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a former Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy has been indicted on child pornography charges. A grand jury in the Western District of Louisiana has returned an indictment charging Joshua Uhlman , 36, of Pine Prairie, Louisiana, with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The indictment alleges that between on or about September 2024 and February 2, 2025, Uhlman did attempt to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct and attempted to do so for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of said conduct, knowing that the visual depiction would be transmitted using interstate commerce. It is further alleged in the indictment that between on or about September 2024 and February 2, 2025, Uhlman did knowingly receive child pornography, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, including by computer. If convicted, Uhlman faces a sentence of at least 15 years and no more than 30 years on each production of child pornography count; a minimum of 5 years and no more than 20 years on the receipt of child pornography count; 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig R. Bordelon, II. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . # # #


title: Texarkana inmate receives additional sentence for injuring corrections officer

body_text: TEXARKANA, Texas – A federal inmate has received an additional prison sentence for assaulting a correctional officer in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Andrew Hunter, 23, of Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and was sentenced to an additional 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on July 2, 2025. According to information presented in court, on November 29, 2022, Hunter, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, had an altercation with a correctional officer in a hallway at the Federal Prison Camp. During the altercation, Hunter shoved the officer causing him to strike the back of his head against a wall. The officer sustained serious injuries that required medical attention. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Noble. ###


title: Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jonathan Ray Stocker, age 44, of Sprague, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing image and video files depicting the sexual abuse of a young children. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Additionally, Judge Rice ordered Stocker to pay $45,000 in restitution to his victims. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on July 1, 2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department learned from a third party that they had seen images and videos of children being sexually abused stored on Stocker’s computer. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Stocker’s home on September 1, 2023, and seized several electronic devices, including two computers belonging to Stocker. Agents located more than 9,000 images and 184 videos of children under the age of 12 being sexually abused. Stocker has a prior federal conviction for Possession of Child Pornography. In 2012, he was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release. “The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding accountable those who sexually abuse and exploit children. Mr. Stocker’s prior conviction did not deter his conduct, and today’s sentence—along with lifetime supervision—is necessary to protect vulnerable members of our Eastern Washington communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Barker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick. 2:24-cr-00054-TOR


title: Tolland Man Charged with Tax and Fraud Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an eight-count indictment charging GEORGE DAVIS TELFORD, JR. , 36, of Tolland, with tax and fraud offenses. As alleged in the indictment, Telford created bogus trust entities in an effort to obtain fraudulent refunds from the IRS for purported tax overpayments to the trusts. In 2019 and 2020, Telford filed five false federal tax returns claiming approximately $6.2 million in refunds purportedly owed by the IRS. The IRS paid Telford one refund of $564,758 for a tax return he filed for the 2018 tax year on behalf of the “Telford Asset Family Trust.” The indictment further alleges that in 2022 and 2023, Telford also engaged in a scheme to defraud the Connecticut Department of Labor (“CT DOL”) of unemployment insurance benefits purportedly to compensate displaced workers of an entity called “High Class Grads LLC,” which he purported to own. Telford submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits, one in his name and two for other third parties, claiming that the individuals had earned wages from High Class Grads and had been laid off from the company. In fact, High Class Grads did not employ these individuals and had not paid them any wages. As a result of these claims, CT DOL paid out $48,792 in fraudulent benefits. The indictment charges Telford with five counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count, and with three counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Telford is currently incarcerated in state custody for unrelated alleged criminal conduct. This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Susan Wines.


title: Convicted felon sentenced to 51 months for illegal reentry to the United States

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 54-year-old man from Matamoros, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Luis Ernesto Hernandez-Doria pleaded guilty April 9. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered him to serve 51 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 about Hernandez-Doria’s lengthy criminal record, including four prior felony and six misdemeanor convictions. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Hernandez-Doria needed a substantial sentence to deter him from illegally reentering again. Hernandez-Doria had three previous felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as for taking a weapon from an officer. He was first removed in November 2016 and illegally returned three times. Authorities discovered him again Oct. 12, 2024, in Brownsville. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Salazar prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Mexican national receives 8 years for possession of nearly 1,500 images of child sexual abuse material

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 35-year-old resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Apolonio Sanchez-Martinez pleaded guilty Sept. 18, 2024. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera considered information from victim impact statements and ordered Sanchez-Martinez to serve a 97-month-term of imprisonment. He was further ordered to pay $160,000 in restitution to known victims and will serve 15 years on supervised release to be served following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. On Aug. 12, 2023, Sanchez-Martinez attempted to enter the United States through the Brownsville Gateway Port of Entry. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they located a cell phone. Forensic analysis of the device resulted in the discovery of 1,405 videos and 152 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). “There is zero tolerance for child sex abuse material in the United States, and those that attempt to bring CSAM into our country are going to face long prison stays,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will do everything we can to not only apprehend and punish producers of such images and videos, but also the consumers of such material—like the defendant here—who provide a market for the creation of CSAM.” Sanchez-Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, 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 tab on that page .


title: Steilacoom, Washington, couple sentenced to prison terms for leadership of drug trafficking ring tied to Aryan prison gangs

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – Key members of a drug trafficking organization connected to the Aryan Family prison gang were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to prison terms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jesse James Bailey, 40, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison. His wife, Candace Bailey, 43, was sentenced to 5 years in prison. At Jesse Bailey’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “It is unimaginable how many drugs were being distributed.” Noting that Bailey grew up with drug addicted parents, the Chief Judge said, “You know the damage it creates, and you are now the one creating that for so many people.” “Jesse Bailey and his wife Candace worked hand in hand to distribute devastating and dangerous drugs in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The Baileys were at the top of the drug conspiracy pyramid, selling multi-pound quantities of meth and fentanyl to heavily armed members of their drug ring. And they too increased the danger by stockpiling firearms, including a fully automatic M4 machine gun.” “The Baileys oversaw a multi-state conspiracy to traffic vast amounts of dangerous drugs into Washington state, as seen by the two dozen arrests we made in 2023, and seizure of hundreds of firearms,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "While even small quantities of drugs such as fentanyl can be lethal, this group was poisoning our communities by trafficking in kilogram quantities that could fill up suitcases. To all those who might consider following in the Baileys' footsteps, the consequences imposed today send a clear message: the only thing to be gained from these crimes is time behind bars. I am grateful to our investigators and local law enforcement partners for their steadfast efforts to make our home a safer place.” In November 2024, Jesse Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Candace Bailey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, illegally transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On Wednesday March 22, 2023, the FBI led a coordinated takedown of this criminal drug trafficking organization. They arrested two dozen people, including the Baileys, and seized 177 firearms, over ten kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills, more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. The Baileys are forfeiting $699,268 and dozens of expensive pieces of jewelry that agents seized as proceeds of their criminal activity as well as 42 firearms, multiple silencers, body armor, ammunition, scopes, and tripods seized from their residence and a storage unit they used to store and distribute controlled substances. Court records describe how the couple discussed various suppliers of illegal narcotics, the drug redistributors they sold to, and the pricing of their controlled substances. As part of the conspiracy, Candace Bailey bought firearms and firearm parts, which she provided to Jesse Bailey knowing that he was he was a previously convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms. Together, the Baileys attempted to launder their drug proceeds through various casinos and bank accounts. Describing Candace Bailey’s central role in the drug ring, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo, “Candace Bailey stayed fully informed on her and Jesse Bailey’s joint drug trafficking business, was knowledgeable of Jesse Bailey’s violent tendencies, and was engaged in their negotiations with their partner in drug trafficking…. Candace Bailey made it clear to co-conspirators that she was an equal partner in the venture as well… She initially met Jesse Bailey while serving as a guard at the prison where he was incarcerated on charges of Assault in the First Degree for shooting at police officers during a high-speed chase.” “The Baileys ran a drug enterprise that poisoned the community with both dangerous drugs and hate,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The amount of money and the sheer volume of weapons seized in this case shows how dangerous this group was to the whole Puget Sound region, and I am proud of the work of our team to stop this hate-fueled, violent drug ring.” “HSI stands with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who bring violence to our communities are brought to justice,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “The lengthy sentence handed down today reflects this criminal organization's propensity for violence and disregard for human life.” This case 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. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner and Jehiel Baer.


title: United States Seeks Recovery of $40,300 in Cryptoscheme that Impersonated Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee

body_text: WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced today that her office filed a complaint against 40,353 USDT.ETH cryptocurrency stolen in the commission of a Business Email Compromise Scheme. According to the complaint, one or more perpetrators impersonated the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, fraudulently stole $250,300 worth of crypocurrency from an intended donor, and then laundered the funds through other wallets. The FBI was able to trace and recover $40,300 from this transaction. The complaint seeks recovery of these funds to compensate the victim. “All donors should double and triple check that they are sending cryptocurrency to their intended recipient. It can be extremely difficult for law enforcmeent to recoup lost funds due to the extremely complex nature of the blockchain,” said U.S. Attoney Pirro. “Nevertheless, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.” “Impersonation scams take many forms and cost Americans billions in losses each year,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, of the FBI Washington Field Office, which is investigating the case. “To avoid becoming a victim, carefully review email addresses, website URLs, and spelling in any messages you receive. Scammers often use subtle differences to deceive you and gain your trust. Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know personally or have only interacted with online or over the phone. Report suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov .” According to the complaint, on Dec. 24, 2024, the victims received an email from someone purporting to be Steve Witkoff, Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Legitimate emails from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee are @t47inaugural.com; the email received by victim was from @t47lnaugural.com with the lowercase “I” was replaced by a lowercase “L.” Depending on the font, the lowercase “L” can look like the uppercase “I.” The imposter Steve Witkoff, a scammer located in Nigeria, instructed the victims to deposit funds into a cryptocurrency wallet ending in 58c52. On Dec. 26, 2024, the victim sent 250,300 USDT.ETH to the crypto wallet believing the funds were going to the Inaugural Committee. Within two hours after receiving the funds from the victim, the funds moved from the 58c52 cryptowallet to other cryptocurrency addresses. Through blockchain analysis, the FBI identified and recovered 40,300 USDT.ETH, which is the property subject to forfeiture in this civil action. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including business email compromise, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and “pig butchering” fraud scams – should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov . For more information on business email compromise schemes, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/business-email-compromise . The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets. FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office joined in the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office- Criminal and Cyber Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock, Jr. 25cv2116


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Returning to United States After  Removal and a Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Permanent Resident Card

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed. Andres G. Angel-Martinez, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States after removal. On April 15, 2025, he was taken into custody for an immigration law violation at the Cass County, Missouri Jail. Martinez-Jimenez faces up to two years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays will impose sentencing on a date to be determined. He has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing. In a second, unrelated case, a Guatemalan national has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a fraudulent Permanent Resident card. According to court documents, Victor Hugo Vasquez-Perez was found in Independence, Missouri on March 15, 2025, after an encounter at his residence. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement officers arrested Vasquez-Perez for possession of a United States of America Permanent Resident card and a Social Security card both featuring Vasquez-Perez’s photograph but bearing a false name. Vasquez-Perez faces up to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays will impose sentencing on a date to be determined. He has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. They were both was investigated by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Operation Take Back America These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Jamestown man pleads guilty to enticing travel to engage in sexual activity

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anthony Burris, 34, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to two counts of enticing travel to engage in sexual activity, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that between January and March 11, 2021, Burris coerced Victim 1, a woman suffering from drug addiction, to perform commercial sex acts. He did so by threatening the use of physical violence, and by supplying, and at times withholding, quantities of controlled substances. Burris, who knew Victim 1 was physically addicted to controlled substances, also provided transportation, housing, a cellular phone, and food to Victim 1, who was homeless during this time. In exchange, Victim 1 performed commercial sex acts and gave the proceeds to Burris, who posted online advertisements on Skipthegames.com, which contained sexually suggestive photographs of Victim 1. Burris then transported Victim 1 to various locations in the Western District of New York and elsewhere, including to Pennsylvania, to engage in these commercial sex acts. Between June 2020, and March 11, 2021, Burris coerced a second victim (Victim 2) to perform commercial sex acts, once again threatening physical violence, and providing money for the purchase of controlled substances, and by supplying, and at times withholding, quantities of controlled substances. Like Victim 1, Burris knew Victim 2 was physically addicted to controlled substances and homeless. Victim 2 performed commercial sex acts and gave the proceeds to the defendant. Burris also posted ads for Victim 2 on Skipthegames.com and transported Victim 2 to various locations in the Western District of New York and elsewhere, including Pennsylvania, to perform commercial sex acts. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James B. Quattrone, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin, and the Millcreek, PA, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Carter Mook. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2025, before Judge Skretny. # # # #