title: San Jose Engineer Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Bombings Of PG&E Transformers, Causing Property Damage And Widespread Power Outages

body_text: SAN JOSE – Peter Karasev, 39, of San Jose, California, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility related to two separate bombings of PG&E electrical transformers in late 2022 and early 2023. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence. “Karasev’s attacks on critical infrastructure were direct threats to public safety and national security,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “He aimed to inflict widespread disruption and harm, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who threaten the safety and well-being of the residents of San Jose. We and our law enforcement partners will leverage every available resource to ensure that violent extremists like the defendant face the full force of justice.” “This defendant admitted to attacking critical infrastructure which could have harmed people in the San Jose, California community and he will now face the consequences of his actions,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “This individual conducted research and prepared homemade explosives which knocked out power to multiple homes and caused more than $200,000 in property damage to local businesses. The FBI will work with our partners to identify and hold accountable those who engage in such dangerous and illegal acts.” “Peter Karasev’s actions were deliberate, dangerous, and designed to disrupt critical infrastructure relied upon by our residents. This 10-year federal prison sentence reflects the seriousness of using explosive devices to attack our power grid and the real-world consequences of those choices,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI is grateful for the outstanding collaboration with the San Jose Police Department in this case. Together, we remain committed to protecting our communities and holding those who threaten public safety fully accountable.” Karasev pleaded guilty on April 29 to two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility. Karasev admitted that on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, he willfully damaged energy facilities involved in the production, storage, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The Jan. 5, 2023, explosion was captured on nearby surveillance footage: Explosion of transformer located near Plaza Del Ray shopping center on Snell Avenue captured by nearby surveillance footage. In both attacks, Karasev used homemade explosive devices to cause significant destruction and widespread power outages in the San Jose area. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the bombings caused over $200,000 in damages to affected businesses and disrupted service to over 1,500 households in the San Jose area. Of those affected included 15 households enrolled in PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program that required continued electrical service for life-sustaining medical needs. Karasev admitted that the attacks were premeditated and deliberate, and that he had conducted extensive internet searches regarding explosive materials, infrastructure attacks, and geopolitical conflicts. In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered $214,880.67 in restitution and $200 special assessment. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and San Jose Police Department.


title: Franklin County Woman Sentenced for Using Stolen Mail to Commit Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a woman who used stolen mail in a bid to steal nearly $80,000 from an elderly woman to 39 months in prison, fined her $6,500 and ordered her to repay her victim. Miranda Burgess, 30, was caught with stolen mail belonging to more than 70 individuals and entities in May of 2022. Investigators soon discovered that she’d used mail belonging to an 89-year-old woman to create counterfeit checks and establish multiple online financial accounts to steal $27,470 from her. Burgess tried to transfer another $50,000 to herself, but the money was later returned to the victim. Burgess was aware that her victim was nearly 90, Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf wrote in a sentencing memo. Her crimes not only affected that victim, but also 73 others who did not receive their mail or had to resend mail that they sent to others, reducing public confidence in the U.S. Mail. Burgess, of Franklin County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in August to 13 counts: one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of possession of stolen mail and nine counts of bank fraud. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Arnold Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.


title: Two Pennsylvania Men Charged With Stealing Firearms From Licensed Firearms Dealer

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: Williamsport - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tahir Dixon, age 18, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Shamier Gadson, age 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were indicted on December 11, 2025, by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing firearms from a licensed dealer and possessing stolen firearms. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on June 6, 2025, Dixon, Gadson and their coconspirators stole two firearms from a licensed firearm dealer located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by throwing bricks and cinderblocks to break a window for entry into the business. It is further alleged that Dixon, Gadson and their coconspirators used a stolen Kia SUV to transport the stolen firearms – a Radical Firearms RF-15 5.56 caliber rifle and a Wilson Combat Protector .300 caliber rifle. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 82 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Quervo Taylor, 26 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Taylor was sentenced to 82 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car that Taylor was driving. Taylor did not stop and led police on a high-speed chase through St. Joseph County. The chase lasted over 30 minutes, and Taylor reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Taylor crashed into an officer’s patrol car. He was arrested after driving to the South Bend International Airport, where a barrier arm blocked him from driving any further. Police recovered two loaded firearms that were thrown out of the window of the car that Taylor was driving. One of the firearms was affixed with a machinegun conversion device, and both firearms were equipped with extended magazines. Taylor was a felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. His criminal history includes prior felonies for carrying a handgun without a license within 500 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, and resisting law enforcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. 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: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison for  Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2025. Darwin Carlow, 39, was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Carlow was indicted for three counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty to one count on September 18, 2025. Carlow was charged following repeated failures to maintain his sex offender registration as required by state and federal law following his earlier federal conviction for a sexual offense in the Pine Ridge Reservation. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. Carlow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Byrd Gang Leader Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial to Rico Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Conspiracy to Possess Firearms

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that TIM JACKSON(“JACKSON”), a/k/a T-Maf,” “Maf,” of New Orleans, pled guilty last week to RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and firearms conspiracy. after three days of jury trial before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. JACKSON was a leader of the Byrd Gang, also known as M3RE, MagFischer, 315 and Piff Gang, which operated primarily out of the former Magnolia Housing Development in New Orleans. Its members distributed heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana daily, while possessing multiple firearms. JACKSON participated in numerous drug trafficking activities and violent crimes for the Byrd Gang. Members of the enterprise, including JACKSON , participated in acts of violence, to include, but not limited to the July 18, 2016, murder of Kent Franklin; the September 3, 2016, murder of Javon Johnigan; the October 29, 2016, shooting of a rival; the November 25, 2016, shooting of a Ghost Gang member; the December 20, 2016, shooting of a rival; the December 30, 2016, shooting of a Ghost Gang member; the January 31, 2017, double murder of Ghost Gang members Wynston Jackson and Lawrence Williams, IV; the May 3, 2017, shooting at a victim; and, the August 25, 2017, shooting of another Ghost Gang member. The government’s evidence regarding the existence and nature of this criminal enterprise came from the testimony of witnesses and cooperating informants, cooperating defendants, police searches and seizures, Title III wiretaps, historical arrests of members of the enterprise, including of JACKSON , among other things. Collectively, the evidence showed that JACKSON , was a leader of the Byrd Gang and the principal supplier of heroin for the enterprise. He also distributed controlled substances and acted as a gunman for the enterprise. JACKSON unlawfully and knowingly conspired with other members of the Byrd Gang to participate in the affairs of the enterprise through racketeering activities such as murders, in violation of Title 14, Louisiana Revised Statutes, Sections 24 (Principals), 26 (Criminal Conspiracy), 27 (Attempt) and 30.1 (Second Degree Murder); as well as heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana trafficking, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. As part of the conspiracy JACKSON and his co-defendants agreed that each would commit at least two acts of racketeering as Byrd gang members. JACKSON himself participated in numerous such acts. Specifically, between 2014 and January 2017, when JACKSON was arrested on federal charges for which he is still serving a sentence, JACKSON regularly purchased large quantities of heroin from a supplier. During this period, JACKSON was the leader of the Byrd Gang and its most prolific drug dealer. During the trial, the evidence showed a slew of back-and-forth retaliatory shootings between the Byrd Gang and the Ghost Gang, much of which was fueled by social media posts and rap music and videos. Additionally, dozens of firearms, most with large-capacity magazines, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were recovered from Byrd Gang members, including from JACKSON . JACKSON agreed to accept a 30-year sentence. Sentencing will be held before Judge Milazzo on January 14, 2026. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins are in charge of the prosecution. 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: Pearl River Man Sentenced in Reservation Murder

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced today to 380 months in prison for the use of a firearm during the murder of another tribal member, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert A. Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge, of the F.B.I. Mississippi Field Office. According to court documents, Brian Keith Bell, 56, of the Pearl River Community used a handgun to shoot the victim at a tribal home in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation which resulted in the death of the victim. In April of 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Bell on charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. On September 10, 2025, Bell was found guilty of second-degree murder, and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence at trial. During the trial, the jury heard testimony that, following a verbal altercation, Bell used a handgun to shoot the victim in the chest. U.S. Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns.


title: Houston woman sentenced for misappropriated mail scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for a stolen mail fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Britni Marie Johnson pleaded guilty July 29. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Johnson to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Johnson as intelligent and capable but cited her involvement in fraud and drug offenses. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the impact of the crimes, noting that mail and identity theft often leave those affected feeling violated. The court also stated her conduct made the lives of innocent victims more difficult. Johnson is also required to pay approximately $1,448.65 in restitution. At the time of her plea, Johnson admitted she stole checks from the mail to commit fraud and used counterfeit identification documents to cash those stolen checks. Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.


title: Farrell Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farrell, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for committing drug trafficking and firearm crimes, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Daniel George, age 37, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak for committing two crimes on July 7, 2022: (1) possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine; and (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Hornak ordered George to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that, in 2022, George engaged in armed fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in Farrell, Mercer County. He did so despite his prior convictions, and years of incarceration, for drug trafficking, firearm, and domestic violence crimes. He also did so from a location where his girlfriend and an infant child resided. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the convictions and sentence in this 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.


title: Mount Laurel Man Admits to Aggravated Identity Theft and Conspiring to Commit Bank Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Mount Laurel man admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud banks using checks stolen from the U.S. mail and fraudulent debit cards, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Kharon Parson-Wright, 28, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Parson-Wright conspired with Yasmene Johnson, Dante Ford, and others to commit bank fraud with checks stolen from the U.S. mail. Parson-Wright, Ford, and others stole U.S. mail from blue U.S. mail collection boxes. Ford and other members of the conspiracy then created counterfeit versions of the stolen checks or altered the stolen checks by increasing the value of the checks and changing the name of the payee either to a member of the conspiracy or somebody else recruited by the conspiracy. Parson-Wright admitted that he and others negotiated the counterfeit or altered checks and then attempted to the withdraw the funds before the bank learned that the checks were illegitimate. The conspiracy involved the negotiation of checks at banks across southern New Jersey and elsewhere, with checks written for tens of thousands dollars. As a separate part of their conspiracy, Parson-Wright connected Johnson with a bank employee who created fraudulent debit cards in the name of victims who held accounts at the bank. Parson-Wright and his co-conspirator used one of the fraudulently issued debit cards to make purchases and ATM withdrawals in New Jersey. Parson-Wright admitted that the bank fraud conspiracy resulted in actual losses exceeding $424,000 and intended losses exceeding $1,500,000. The count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The count of aggravated identity theft carries a statutory mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2026. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to the same two offenses for her role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2026. Ford and three other defendants were previously sentenced in 2025 after pleading guilty to participating in the same bank fraud conspiracy: Ford was sentenced to 27 months’ incarceration, Donovan Bunch was sentenced to 33 months, Tracy Felder-Carter was sentenced to 18 months, and Quamell Keyes-Griffin was sentenced to 18 months. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to this plea. He also thanked the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Hudnall, for its valuable assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. ### Defense counsel: Justin Capek, Esq., Mount Laurel, New Jersey parson_wright.information.pdf


title: Pittsburgh Resident Indicted for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Kyreik Vanstory, 26, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about December 9, 2025, Vanstory, who had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a 9mm Glock 19 pistol. Vanstory is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his felony conviction. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 15 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney R. Chase Stelzer is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Franklin CPA Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Stealing Clients’ Funds and Tax Fraud

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – A Tennessee man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for stealing money from his clients’ bank accounts, preparing false tax returns that fraudulently increased their refunds, and stealing some or all of those refunds, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. "Jerkins’ clients did not know that he was filing tax returns with the IRS that were different than the copy provided to them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McGuire. “Jerkins had an obligation to file accurate income tax returns for his clients, but instead, he betrayed them by not only stealing from his clients, but also the American taxpayers in order to line his own pockets and finance his opulent lifestyle.” Jason Alexander Jerkins of Franklin pleaded guilty on July 30, 2025. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jerkins, owner of Jerkins Business Solutions, provided bookkeeping, payroll, tax-return preparation, and similar accounting and tax services. To pay his clients’ expenses, Jerkins had online access to their bank accounts. Between March 2020 and April 2025, Jerkins stole over $4.6 million from 45 clients by wiring money from their bank accounts to accounts he controlled or could access. He hid these fraudulent wires by recording them with innocuous descriptions like “Jerkins Business Sol” or “Jerkins Business Sale” and timing them close to legitimate transfers. When clients became suspicious, Jerkins created false documents to deceive them into believing the stolen funds were used to pay valid expenses, or he repaid those clients by stealing from other clients. Jerkins also prepared at least 80 false tax returns to fraudulently inflate his clients’ tax refunds. He then directed the IRS to deposit some or all of each tax refund into an account Jerkins controlled. Jerkins hid this fraud from his clients by printing them a different return than the one he filed. In pursuit of this tax fraud, Jerkins attempted to steal about $380,010, and successfully stole about $280,970, from his clients and the U.S. Treasury. Jerkins used the nearly $5 million he stole from his clients and the taxpaying public to pay off personal credit cards, take vacations, lease vehicles, purchase real estate, and buy luxuries for himself and his family. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger for the Middle District of Tennessee ordered Jerkins to pay approximately $4.5 million in restitution to his victims and the United States. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matthew Hicks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Levine of the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. ###


title: Richmond man sentenced to nine years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 28, Richmond Police detained Brandale Trayvon Cooper, 36, on an active warrant for a felony probation violation. At that time, Cooper was carrying a satchel containing a firearm, which Cooper claimed to have stolen from a group of teenagers a month earlier while he was in the area to obtain narcotics. The firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers located methamphetamine in Cooper’s pocket. At the time of his arrest, Cooper previously had been convicted for, among other crimes, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute near a school, distribution of a schedule I or II controlled substance as an accommodation, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Cooper cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. “We will not allow recidivists such as Brandale Cooper to repeatedly return to a life of guns and drugs,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The law-abiding citizens of Richmond deserve safe neighborhoods and schools, and my office is committed to ensuring the city’s streets are free of gun violence and illegal narcotics.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Richmond Police Department. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-109.


title: Former jailer sentenced for sexually assaulting female inmates

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for sexually assaulting two women while working as a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2024. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Rodriguez’s predatory conduct, the danger he posed to the community and how he abused a system meant to protect victims by exploiting his position of authority to commit the offenses. Rodriguez will also be required to register as a sex offender. Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the commission of the offenses. On two separate occasions in Jan. 2022, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he used force to sexually assault the two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County jail. During each instance, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats and coercion to sexually assault them. Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 360 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: HAMMOND- Marco Sole, 52 years old, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Sole was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on June 2, 2022, Sole delivered over 40 grams of fentanyl to another person. He also sold fentanyl on other occasions in Illinois and Indiana. During a search of a stash house Sole operated in Chicago, Illinois, law enforcement recovered additional fentanyl and firearms. “From his home in Lynwood, Illinois, and a stash house in Chicago, Marco Sole mixed heroin with other even deadlier substances, including fentanyl, p-flourofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), and xylazine, before delivering those drugs to the Northern District of Indiana, often using an intermediary he directed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This hefty sentence should make one thing clear to any out-of-state drug dealer who might be planning to traffic his poisons in Indiana: the state line will not shield you, and you will be brought to justice. My thanks go out to the brave and talented public servants who brought and prosecuted this case.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI/GRIT Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, HIDTA, the Indiana State Police, and assistance from the Lynwood Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Kristian R. Mukoski. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.


title: Texas Woman Sentenced for Quarter Million Dollar COVID Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Texas woman was sentenced in federal court today for her leadership role in a case that resulted in more than $250,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Daisha Sanders, formerly from Kansas City, Mo., 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 18 months imprisonment based upon her conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Sanders conspired with others to prepare and file fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf. Sanders received kickbacks of $5,000 for each of the $20,832 PPP loans. Sanders filed false PPP loan applications for numerous persons resulting in a loss of approximately $270,820,33, which she was ordered to pay back in a restitution judgment. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.


title: Four Individuals Convicted of Insider Trading Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in Newark, New Jersey convicted four individuals today for their participation in a scheme to trade securities on the basis of material nonpublic information about the $3.2 billion merger of two companies, which resulted in illicit profits of over $600,000. “Haghighat abused his role as a senior corporate executive, breaching the trust and confidence placed in him by shareholders, to enrich himself and his friends and family,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “He schemed together with his co-defendants to illegally profit from non-public, insider trading information. Today’s verdict underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting those who use deception to earn illicit gains at the expense of investors and undermine fairness in the economy.” “This is a classic example of greed overcoming honest business practices,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group. “These defendants took advantage of insider information when they conspired to devise a scheme to provide protected information to co-conspirators for the purpose of enriching their lifestyles and padding their pockets. Their undoing came when they underestimated the resolve and tenacity of postal inspectors to bring to justice anyone who commits a crime against the public and the rule of law.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rouzbeh “Ross” Haghighat, 61, of West Newbury, Massachusetts; Kirstyn Pearl, 35, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Seyedfarbod “Fabio” Sabzevari, 31, of North Hollywood, California; and James Roberge, 70, of Westford, Massachusetts, unlawfully purchased the securities of a biopharmaceutical company in Seattle, Washington (Company-1), where Haghighat served on the board of directors. In his position as a director in May 2023, Haghighat obtained material nonpublic inside information about another pharmaceutical company’s (Company-2) proposed acquisition of Company-1, including sensitive deal terms. He then purchased securities, and tipped others — including Pearl, Sabzevari, and Roberge — for personal benefit with the expectation that they would purchase securities of Company-1, which the other defendants did. In May 2023, Company-2 made a confidential proposal to acquire Company-1 at a price per share above the then-current market value. The two companies then negotiated an agreement for the acquisition, which was announced in June 2023, causing the share price of Company-1 to spike. Collectively, the defendants profited more than $600,000 from their purchases of Company-1 securities based on material nonpublic information. Haghighat was convicted of one count of securities fraud, 16 counts of insider trading, and two counts of conspiracy. Pearl was convicted of one count of securities fraud, one count of insider trading, and one count of conspiracy. Sabzevari was convicted of one count of securities fraud and seven counts of insider trading. Roberge was convicted of one count of securities fraud and seven counts of insider trading. They are scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2026 . Haghighat faces a maximum penalty of 380 years in prison. Pearl faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison. Sabzavari faces a maximum penalty of 160 years in prison. Roberge faces a maximum penalty of 160 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys John J. Liolos and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Members Of A Local Drug Trafficking Organization  Sentenced In Federal Court

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Five members of an interstate drug distribution organization were sentenced in federal court during October and December of 2025. Richard Wells, III, 48; Ronald Darnell Phillips, 45; and Demetrius James Lutin, 45 were sentenced on October 9, 2025. John David Clarke, 49, was sentenced on December 4, 2025, and Desmon Demond James, 49, was sentenced on December 11, 2025. All five men are from Mobile. Court documents show that they were indicted as members of a cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy that operated from 2016 through April 2025. They entered guilty pleas to the conspiracy charge during the fall of 2024. Phillips, Clarke, and Lutin also pleaded guilty to substantive counts charging possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Clarke pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and wire fraud in a separately charged case. Clarke further pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of prison contraband. James also pled guilty to possession of prison contraband. Court documents show that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated the investigation into the drug distribution of John David Clarke and eventually obtained a court-authorized wiretap on Clarke’s phone. During the monitoring of Clarke’s calls, agents identified Clarke’s drug supplier, who was charged as a co-defendant. Court documents further show that substantial incriminating evidence was obtained from Clarke’s phone communications with his drug supplier. Evidence obtained from several phones belonging to Clarke’s drug supplier identified other drug distributors including Wells, Phillips, James, and Lutin. They discussed drug amounts, prices and locations where the drugs were delivered for further distribution. During the conspiracy, hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and at least three kilograms of heroin, sourced from Mexico, traveled through Texas and were distributed in Mobile and elsewhere. During the conspiracy, hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds were delivered from Mobile to drug suppliers in Texas. Eight guns were also seized from locations in Mobile and Katy, Texas, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Court documents show that Clarke and James were found in possession of prison contraband, identified as cell phones, while awaiting sentencing on their other cases in the custody of the U.S. marshal’s service at a local jail. That investigation established that Clarke had used his contraband cell phone to smuggle fentanyl and other substances into the facility. Court documents further detail Clarke’s involvement in a separate case charging him and other co-conspirators with fraud. During the monitoring of Clarke’s calls pursuant to the court-authorized wiretap, FBI and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigators discovered a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme carried out by Clarke and others. The scheme involved the submission of hundreds of fraudulent tax returns falsely claiming COVID-related sick family leave credits the 2021 tax year. These fraudulent tax returns were filed on behalf of individuals without full knowledge or consent as to how their means of identification were being utilized and what had been submitted on their behalf. The fraudulent tax returns generated illegitimate tax refunds, which were ultimately split amongst the conspirators, including Clarke. Investigators also determined that Clarke had fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans based on the misrepresentation that he had been engaged in legitimate business activities in the year preceding the COVID pandemic. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the sentences. Clarke was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment in both the drug trafficking and fraud cases, with the sentences to run concurrently. Clarke was ordered to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon release from prison. Wells was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Lutin was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Phillips was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. James was sentenced to 58 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. As conditions of their supervision, all five defendants will undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and each will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Phillips pay $100 in special assessments; Lutin, and Wells were ordered to pay $200 in special assessments; James was ordered to pay $125 in special assessments; and Clarke was ordered to pay $525 in special assessments and $83,931.70 in restitution to the IRS and Small Business Administration. Judge Moorer further ordered the forfeiture of the property that was seized during the investigation, including cash and numerous weapons. United States Attorney Sean P. Costello made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Kopf and Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials Results in 100-Month Prison Term for Southeast District Man

body_text: WASHINGTON – Stevenson Allen, 21, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 100 months in federal prison for distributing, soliciting, and receiving numerous images of young children being sexually abused, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Allen pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2025, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 100-month prison term, Judge Trevor N. McFadden also ordered Allen to serve 10 years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $31,500 to the victims. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Allen, aka “prettyboi,” came to the attention of the FBI on July 17, 2024, after he messaged another user on a messaging platform, who stated he was the father of a young child. Allen encouraged the other user to abuse their minor child. Between July 17, 2024, and Aug. 5, 2024, Allen repeatedly asked the other user to provide images of the purported daughter being sexually abused. Allen also sent the other user multiple images depicting the rape of infants and toddlers. On Sept. 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Allen’s residence in Southeast Washington D.C. During the search, officers recovered Allen’s iPhone. On the iPhone were 17 chat strings with different users that revealed that Allen exchanged more than 300 explicit images, including child sexual abuse materials, and depictions of child erotica, adult pornography, and bestiality between December 2023 and August 2024. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross prosecuted this case for the District of Columbia. The case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 25cr057


title: St. Tammany Parish Woman Indicted for Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On December 12, 2025, SHERIDA GRAHAM , age 57, a resident of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana was indicted for possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, on or about June 17, 2025, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, GRAHAM knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, GRAHAM faces a minimum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, up to a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit. * * *


title: Mexican national convicted of federal witness tampering

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old man illegally residing in McAllen has been convicted of attempting to threaten or intimidate a government witness from testifying in a pending trial, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for more than six hours before convicting Carlos Gerardo Perez-Munoz following a two-day trial. The investigation began in July when law enforcement learned that Perez-Munoz approached an individual and threatened them not to “snitch.” He told the individual he knew where they lived in Mexico and knew they had been speaking with authorities about an ongoing investigation. At trial, the jury heard Perez-Munoz illegally worked at a used clothing warehouse while in the United States on a tourist visa. They also viewed photographs of the warehouse and heard a recording of Perez-Munoz’s interview with authorities. The defense argued the government witness fabricated the threat and claimed the statements were intended to deter the witness from testifying against other workers who were in the country illegally, not the owner of the used clothing store. The jury rejected those claims and found Perez-Munoz guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Randy Crane presided over the trial and set sentencing for Feb. 24, 2026. At that time, Perez-Munoz faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Perez-Munoz remains in custody pending sentencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Lyles and Patricia Cook Profit are prosecuting the case.


title: Executive of North Carolina Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Bid-Rigging Conspiracy

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The president of a North Carolina construction company pleaded guilty to conspiring to rig bids for maintenance, repair, and operations procurements for military installations in the United States. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford, Illinois, Brett Sanborn, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, was the president of a construction company that provided goods and services to military bases through procurements administered by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Between at least 2017 and 2021, Sanborn conspired with other individuals and companies to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids for the procurements, which were awarded to subcontractors through a competitive bidding process. “For $6 million, the defendant defrauded his own government and deprived the U.S. Army of the benefits of open and honest competition.” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners will continue to relentlessly pursue bad actors — like the defendant and his co-conspirators — for their assault on taxpayer money dedicated to public projects.” “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that we will relentlessly pursue those who attempt to undermine the integrity of the Department of Defense procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “Collusion, bid-rigging, and other anti-competitive conduct schemes erode fair competition, waste taxpayer dollars, and jeopardize trust in acquisition systems. DCIS, alongside our prosecutorial partners, will continue to safeguard the Department’s contracting operations and hold accountable anyone who seeks to corrupt them.” Sanborn and his co-conspirators exchanged emails, calls, and text messages in which they coordinated their bids and agreed in advance on the pricing that they would submit, then submitted those bids to create the illusion of competition. Sanborn and his co-conspirators referred to these artificial, intentionally losing bids as “comp” bids. In the plea agreement filed today, Sanborn admitted that the volume of commerce attributable to him and related to the conspiracy was approximately $6 million. Sanborn pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to rig bids, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled in this case. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is investigating this case. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section is prosecuting the case. In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards .


title: Chicago Man Sentenced for Role in Schemes to Transport Contraband into FCI McDowell with Drone

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Arturo Joel Gallegos, 27, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, for conspiracy to introduce or attempt to introduce contraband into a federal prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 1, 2024, Gallegos traveled to Welch, West Virginia, with two other Chicago men, co-defendants Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno and Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez. Later that day, law enforcement officers caught Aleman-Piceno and Gonzalez with a drone and camouflaged packages containing tobacco, four cell phones, chargers, phone cards and marijuana next to the prison fence. Also that day, officers encountered Gallegos at a Welch motel where they seized packaging materials, tobacco, and marijuana. As part of his guilty plea, Gallegos admitted that he conspired with Aleman-Piceno and Gonzalez to fly the contraband onto the grounds of FCI McDowell, and that he expected to be paid for his participation in the conspiracy. Aleman-Piceno, 23, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025, and Gonzalez, 25, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025, each to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison. Each was sentenced to three years of federal probation. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-126.


title: Man Indicted and Ordered Detained for Possessing Ammunition Recovered in Connection with Fatal Shooting in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A man indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing ammunition that was recovered in connection with a fatal shooting in Chicago has been ordered detained pending trial. FABIAS SHIPMAN possessed the ammunition on the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2025, in an alley in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, according to an indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The ammunition had been discharged in a shooting in the alley that day where one victim was killed and another victim was wounded, the complaint states. As a previously convicted felon, Shipman was not legally allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition. The federal indictment charges Shipman, 37, of Cook County, Ill., with one count of illegal possession of ammunition. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled. Shipman was arrested on Oct. 16, 2025, and has been ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz to remain detained in federal custody pending trial. The indictment and detention order were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dunne. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every single gun case in Chicago is processed through ATF’s CGIC on a daily basis. As recently reported , federal firearm indictments under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) program are up 292% in the Northern District of Illinois compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025). The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. shipman_indictment.pdf


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced for Money Laundering

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – James E. Monroe Jr., 60, of Daniels, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2022, Monroe filed a petition for personal bankruptcy. Monroe knew he was required to submit true and correct schedules listing his assets and a statement detailing his financial affairs as part of the bankruptcy process. Monroe admitted that he sold his collection of over 10,000 sports trading cards after filing for bankruptcy and without disclosing its existence or its post-petition sale in the bankruptcy filings as required. Monroe further admitted that he sold the collection to a friend online to convert the collection into cash and disguise the nature of the resulting proceeds. Monroe admitted that his asset schedules and statement of financial affairs also did not disclose the December 2021 sale of his marital home in the Glade Springs residential development for $525,000, or the existence of a retirement account, two loans he obtained by using the equity associated with his whole-life insurance policy as collateral, and a storage unit he rented in the Shady Spring area that contained property belonging to the bankruptcy estate. Monroe further admitted that his schedules falsely stated that his then-minor daughter lived with him and was his dependent when neither was true. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-121.


title: Nash County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Over 22 Pounds of Methamphetamine

body_text: NCDOC RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Nash County man to 20 years in federal prison for selling more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On February 14, 2024, Kenneth Orlin Simmons, Jr., age 36, pleaded guilty to these crimes. “Drug dealers flood our communities with deadly methamphetamine and arm themselves with guns to violently carry out their trade. Criminals like this Big Shark Bad Boy pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence sends a clear message: if you poison our communities and endanger the lives of our children and families, you will sit in a federal prison for a long time. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to shut down these operations, clean these villains off our streets, and protect the citizens.” “Drugs destroy lives and tears apart communities, and when traffickers arm themselves, the danger only grows. I’m proud of the work our team put into holding this individual accountable and ensuring he can no longer victimize our citizens. A sincere thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, and the ATF for their hard work with this case,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, in July 2022, Simmons sold over a kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Nash County. The Nash County Sherriff’s Office along with the DEA later obtained a search warrant for Simmons residence. During that search, law enforcement seized 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 1,000 grams of marijuana, a stolen Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun, an AR-15 rifle, a 29-round magazine with 22 .40 caliber rounds, and a 96-round drum magazine. Simmons was previously convicted of felonies including two counts of felony abduction of children, and also of two counts of sexual battery. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, and the ATF investigated the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00015.


title: Mesa Woman Convicted of Embezzling Money from a Mesa Bank

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brooke McDonough, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was convicted by a jury on Thursday, December 11, 2025, after a two-week trial, of one count of embezzlement by bank employee, six counts of transactional money laundering, and five counts of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements. McDonough served as the branch manager for a bank in Mesa between 2020 and early 2022. The evidence at trial revealed that, starting in June 2021, McDonough stole cash from the ATM machines and vault inside the branch she managed. She then deposited most of the cash she stole into her personal bank accounts, using different ATMs at multiple bank branches. In total, between June 2021 and February 2022, McDonough embezzled $655,000 from the branch she managed and deposited or spent approximately $645,000 in cash during the same time period. McDonough broke down her ATM cash deposits into smaller amounts to avoid having the banks file Currency Transaction Reports for deposits of over $10,000 in cash. “Significant trust is placed in business leaders in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “When those individuals take advantage of their leadership position to embezzle large amounts of money from the business they were entrusted to lead, our Office will hold them accountable.” "FDIC OIG is laser focused on working with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the Nation’s financial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner. “The guilty verdict in this case should serve as a stern warning to others who are considering stealing from FDIC insured and/or regulated financial institutions to line their own pockets.” “We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all of those involved for their outstanding cooperation and dedication throughout this investigation. Their professionalism and commitment were instrumental in achieving this outcome,” said Spokesperson for Mesa Police Department, Detective J. Macias. This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and Mesa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-376-ROS RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-177_McDonough # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Dallas County man sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl

body_text: PLANO, Texas –A Mesquite man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Arob Kolnyang, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 17, 2025. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, Kolnyang was involved in a conspiracy with others to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service-Office of Inspector General, Mesquite Police Department, and Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Plano office.


title: Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Landon Joseph Cartwright, 22, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Cartwright’s residence in Bluefield and seized approximately 443 grams of methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Cartwright admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. Cartwright is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-115.


title: Stamford Man Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Narcotics

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on December 15, 2025, RODNEY CANADA, also known as “Supreme,” 48, of Stamford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 110 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics in southwestern Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. An investigation in 2024, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Canada and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy. Investigators intercepted more than 5000 text messages and calls in which Canada coordinated his drug trafficking activities. Canada and several associates were arrested on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien, and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles. Canada has been detained since his arrest. On February 28, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Canada’s criminal history spans more than 30 years and includes numerous convictions, including two prior federal narcotics trafficking convictions, in 2001 and 2013, for which he served a total of approximately 14 years in federal prison. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone.


title: South Carolina Man Indicted on Hate Crime and Firearm Charges

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina returned an indictment charging Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, with violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., and for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. According to court documents, on July 17, Felkel, while driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the gate to the community. If convicted, Felkel faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the housing charge, and an additional ten years in prison on the firearms charge. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong and Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Lafayette Assistant District Attorney Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Bribery Scheme

body_text: LAFAYETTE– On December 12, 2025, Gary Haynes, 67, of Lafayette, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after his September conviction for conspiracy to engage in bribery, bribery, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice. “Prosecutors bear among the most consequential public trusts in our society, determining matters of liberty, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. Gary Haynes betrayed that system of trust to satisfy his own greed,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This prosecution, which resulted from amazing work by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, shows the commitment our Office and the Department of Justice has to safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring that those who undermine it are held accountable.” “Mr. Haynes betrayed the trust of the people of Louisiana when he traded his sacred honor for bribes,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field office. “The FBI and the US Attorney’s Office are committed to protecting the public from bribery schemes like this one that undermine faith in our great Republic.” “As an Assistant District Attorney, Gary Haynes was entrusted to faithfully perform his duties on behalf of the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Instead of putting his public interest above personal gain, he misused his office to enrich himself through bribes and kickbacks from vendors. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution those who fail to uphold ethics in the public trust.” Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques to solicit bribes and kickbacks and to accept things of value while working as an Assistant District Attorney at the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Haynes oversaw the D.A.’s Office’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program which was a program set up to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain criminal offenders. Haynes approved defendants to participate in the program and then directed them to take classes from Franques’s companies. Those defendants paid money to take classes through Franques’s companies to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the criminal charges against them from Haynes. Haynes, Guidry, and Franques agreed that Haynes would receive kickbacks in exchange for accepting people into the PTI program, directing those people to Franques’s companies, and then dismissing the charges against the people who enrolled in and paid for the courses that Franques’s companies provided. Haynes and his co-conspirators discussed several ways to conceal the nature of the money that Haynes would receive from the kickback scheme, including having Haynes reactivate a defunct company during the conspiracy to hide the proceeds from the kickbacks or potentially providing him with a new truck rather than funnel the kickbacks directly to him. Haynes directed a coconspirator to alter, destroy, and conceal documents and records to prevent their availability in a future proceeding. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys John Luke Walker and John W. Nickel, and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 24-cr-00206. ###


title: Two Alaska State Troopers indicted on federal criminal civil rights violations

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment yesterday charging two Alaska State Troopers with federal criminal civil rights violations while serving in the line of duty during an incident in May 2024. According to court documents, on May 24, 2024, Joseph Miller, 50, and Jason Woodruff, 43, acting in their official capacity as law enforcement officials with the Alaska State Troopers under the color of the law, allegedly deprived a victim of his constitutional rights. The indictment alleges that Miller and Woodruff, while acting under the color of law as a Sergeant and a Trooper with the Alaska State Troopers, respectively, willfully deprived a victim of his right to be free from unreasonable seizures, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Miller tased, hit and kicked the victim without legal justification, and that the offense involved the use of a dangerous weapon, resulting in bodily injury to the victim. The indictment further alleges that Woodruff unreasonably caused and directed his police canine, Olex, to bite the victim while the victim did not pose a threat that warranted use of the police canine, resulting in bodily injury to the victim. Miller and Woodruff are each charged with one count of deprivation of rights under the color of law. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Possession of Over 100 Glock and AR-15 Machine Gun Conversion Devices, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Attempted Obstruction of Justice, and Receiving Explosives

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on December 11, 2025, KODY SEVERIN (“SEVERIN”) , age 28, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty to all charges of the eight-count third superseding indictment pending against him. Sentencing is set for March 26, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe. SEVERIN pled guilty to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, the Federal Controlled Substances Act, as well as to Attempted Obstruction of Justice. Specifically, SEVERIN pled guilty to the following offenses: Count 1-Possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D); Count 2-Possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1); Count 3-Felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); Count 4-Possession of machine guns, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2); Count 5-Possession of an unregistered firearms, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d) and 5871; Count 6-Felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); Count 7-Attempt to obstruct justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1); and Count 8-Receiving explosive materials, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(a)(3)(A) and 844(a). According to court documents, on December 12, 2022, law enforcement received a consent to search an apartment in the 1400 block of Milan Street. Inside, law enforcement located and seized the following items: (1) Glock model 17L, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, (2) Glock model 24, .40 caliber pistol, (3) Ruger model Security-6, .357 magnum caliber pistol, (4) Glock model 21, .45 caliber pistol, equipped with a device to convert this pistol to a fully automatic machinegun (more commonly referred to as a “Glock switch”); (5) Masterpiece Arms model Mac 11, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, (6) Privately Made Firearm (“PMF”) semi-automatic handgun, .40/.357 caliber (more commonly referred to as a “Ghost Gun”); (7) upper receiver with bolt carrier group of a rifle; (8) Several PMF parts; (9) Approximately one hundred (100) machinegun conversion devices in various stages of completion, to include drop-in auto sears to convert AR-Type firearms to fully automatic machineguns and “Glock switches;” (10) One clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana with a total package weight of approximately 81.2 grams; (11) One clear plastic bag with the word “Politics” containing suspected marijuana with a total package weight of approximately 339.8 grams; (12) Multiple completed silencers; (13) Several silencers in various stages of completion; (14) One industrial milling machine covered in metal shavings; (15) Two explosive devices; (16) Quantities of various caliber ammunition; (17) Several extended magazines; (18) SEVERIN’s mail, clothing; and several cellphones. On December 13, 2022, law enforcement encountered SEVERIN at the apartment. After establishing verbal and visual contact with SEVERIN , law enforcement observed SEVERIN throw a black Smith and Wesson model 36, .38 special caliber, revolver from the apartment’s second floor balcony. SEVERIN eventually opened the door to the apartment and was taken into custody without further incident. Law enforcement booked SEVERIN on active NOPD warrants and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement verified that SEVERIN had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Specifically, on February 25, 2019, SEVERIN pled guilty to the felony charge of possession of methamphetamine in case number 18-2993 in the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson. SEVERIN faces the following maximum penalties: Count 1: Five (5) years imprisonment, followed by at least two (2) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 2: Minimum consecutive sentence of five (5) years up to life imprisonment, followed by up to five (5) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 3: Fifteen (15) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 4: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 5: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $10,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 6: Fifteen (15) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Count 7: Twenty (20) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; and Count 8: Ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and/or a fine of $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee; Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit and Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit are responsible for the prosecution. 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: St. Louis County Man Sentenced After Shooting Girlfriend

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a man who shot and wounded his girlfriend in 2024 to 54 months in prison. Demetrius D. Vaughn, 31, pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of firearms. He admitted that on May 6, 2024, his then-girlfriend told Saint Louis County Police Department officers that she’d been shot after a dispute with Vaughn. Vaughn fired six to seven shots from the balcony of his apartment at his girlfriend and her friends, striking his girlfriend in both legs. Officers arrested Vaughn later that day and found two handguns. One had been stolen. As a prior felon, Vaughn is prohibited from possessing firearms. The Saint Louis County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag prosecuted the case.


title: Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

body_text: Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove, California, — leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group — was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 360 months in prison for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. “From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.” “Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.” “Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.” “With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.” According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks. Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey. The FBI Sacramento Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies. The Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Former TSA Security Officer Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Worcester man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) while employed as a TSA Security Officer full-time. Ismael Rosado Jr., 40, was charged with one count of wire fraud. The defendant will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, Rosado was employed full-time as a TSA Security Officer at Boston Logan International Airport from November 2018 through October 2021. It is alleged that, between May 2020 and September 2021, Rosado submitted an application seeking PUA and weekly certifications claiming he was unemployed and making no income. Based on the misrepresentations in the application and weekly certifications, Rosado received $47,526 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Mexican National Illegally Present in the United States Indicted for Assault Causing Bodily Injury After Biting Federal Agent

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAFAYETTE – A federal grand jury in Lafayette returned an indictment on December 17 charging Maximiliano Perez-Perez, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, with assaulting a federal officer and causing bodily injury. Perez-Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the charge. “If you injure a federal agent doing his or her job, then you’re going to jail—simple as that,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Law enforcement officers place themselves in harm’s way every day to make our community safe, and our Office stands ready to take swift action to punish and deter those who put them in danger.” According to court documents, Perez-Perez, 22, was encountered by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) officers on November 21, 2025, after the officers received a tip that a van would be transporting illegal immigrants in Louisiana. When the ICE/ERO officers attempted to detain Perez-Perez, he refused to exit the vehicle and grabbed onto the vehicle’s steering wheel. When the officers removed Perez-Perez, he then fled on foot. When the officers caught him, Perez-Perez resisted further by biting deeply into the hand of one of the ICE/ERO officers, drawing blood and leaving Perez-Perez with blood on his face from the officer’s injury. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon, II. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer . The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment. # # #


title: Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Jamaal Husband, 42 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Husband was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, police executed a search warrant at Husband’s house and found two firearms, about 146 grams of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.