title: St. Louis Man Found Guilty of Selling Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday found a St. Louis man guilty of selling the fentanyl that killed an 18-year-old woman in 2023. Jurors convicted Bobby Lee Jones, 27, of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Jones’ started Monday. The 18-year-old victim initially reached out to Jones on the morning of Jan. 15, 2023, asking in a text message for marijuana, evidence and testimony during the trial showed. After a series of messages, he offered to also sell her the pain pill Percocet, and they met shortly after 7 p.m. to exchange cash for the drugs, the messages show. But the pills were fake and contained a fatal dose of fentanyl, evidence showed. Around midnight, when her boyfriend tried to reach her, she was not answering calls or texts. He found her the next day. Jones’ sentencing has yet to be scheduled. The fentanyl charge carries a penalty of at least 20 years in prison. Jones’ trial on unrelated carjacking and firearm charges is scheduled for January 5, 2026. Charges set forth in that indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Szczucinski and Nicholas Lake are prosecuting the case.


title: Colombian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Nationwide Jewelry Theft Ring

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORGE GIOVANNI ESCOBAR GONZALEZ, 41, a citizen of Colombia last residing in Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment for his involvement in an organized jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 2023 through April 2024, Escobar Gonzalez and several other Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls and then transported the stolen property or the proceeds from it across state lines. Before the burglaries, Escobar Gonzalez and his associates surveilled the stores and kiosks to formulate game plans and, as part of that reconnaissance, Escobar Gonzalez more than once posed as a legitimate customer to examine the desired merchandise and assess the establishment’s security measures. During the burglaries, Escobar Gonzalez frequently served as one of the thieves who broke into stores and display cases while other co-conspirators served as lookouts. Escobar Gonzalez and his co-conspirators burglarized jewelry establishments in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 17, 2023; in Mentor, Ohio, on July 21, 2023; in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 13, 2023; in Greece, New York, on September 20, 2023; at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut, on October 5, 2023; in Lombard, Illinois on October 17, 2023; in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, on October 27, 2023; and in Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $4.4 million. Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware. To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement. On April 9, 2025, Escobar Gonzalez pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property. He has been detained since May 19, 2024, when he was arrested in Florida on state charges related to another jewelry burglary. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.


title: Texas Man Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Dealing Anti-Materiel Rifles

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Filiberto Walle, 24, of Edinburgh, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. According to the plea agreement, between approximately August 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, Walle made a business of obtaining .50 BMG caliber rifles from legitimate federal firearms licensees in Colorado, which Walle then dealt unlawfully in the State of Texas and elsewhere. These rifles are also known as anti-materiel rifles which are designed for use against military equipment, structures, and other hardware targets. Walle conspired with others to conceal the fact that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. For example, Walle arranged for third parties to complete what’s known as a straw transfer, where those parties completed the required background checks to gain physical possession of the firearms and then provide them to Walle. The ATF’s investigation also led to federal convictions against others who committed their own firearms crimes when facilitating Walle’s illegal firearms dealing: Mohamed Savane: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License); Malcolm Johnson: 23-cr-468-RMR (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm); Adrian Cervantes: 24-cr-270-CNS (convicted of Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm); Torien Pryor-Parson: 24-cr-353-REB (convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm and Retaliation Against a Witness or Informant). United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the hearing. Sentencing will be held on January 30, 2026. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution. Case Number: 24-cr-00270-CNS


title: Richmond felon sentenced to over four years in prison for possessing a firearm less than a month after being released from prison

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to four years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Aug. 10, 2024, law enforcement observed Desmond Mikal Hawkins, 31, walking in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood in Richmond and noticed what they believed to be a concealed firearm. The officers approached Hawkins and asked him if he had a concealed carry permit, and Hawkins falsely claimed that he did but that he did not have it with him. Officers detained Hawkins and recovered a loaded handgun from underneath his shirt in his waistband. Hawkins is a previously convicted felon, most recently in 2023 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hawkins had been released from prison less than a month before the current offense and was on federal supervised release at the time. As a previously convicted felon, Hawkins cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen H. Theisen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to 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-5.


title: Fallbrook Woman Admits Multi-Year Fraud Against Customers of Her Porsche Restoration and Resale Business

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Former Fallbrook business owner Andrea Nicole Doherty pleaded guilty in federal court today to defrauding customers of her former Porsche restoration and resale business, admitting to pocketing more than $827,000 and agreeing to pay over $8 million in restitution to 57 people. In her plea agreement, Doherty, 38, admitted that she took over CPR Classic from her father after his death in 2021. The defendant did business as CPR Classic, which was never registered as a corporation or a limited liability company, restoring classic Porsches and selling them on consignment from its storefront in Fallbrook. Doherty pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, relating to three specific vehicles sold on consignment by the defendant through CPR Classic. Doherty was released on bail pending her sentencing on February 23, 2026, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Andrew G. Schopler. During 2022 and 2023, Doherty sold a 1973 Porsche 911E Targa to two different buyers, accepting payment from both without informing or paying the seller. The seller eventually transferred the vehicle’s title after receiving a check from Doherty, which bounced when he attempted to cash it. In February 2023, Doherty admitted that she agreed to sell a 1972 Porsche 911S for its owner, and found a buyer the very next day who wired her $280,000 within a week. Although this buyer received the vehicle, Doherty did not transfer legal title and admitted that she had not used the wired funds to pay the seller. Instead, in October 2023, Doherty sold the vehicle again to another buyer, who wired her $275,000, part of which she used to pay the seller, who then transferred title to the October 2023 buyer, unaware of the February 2023 sale. Also in 2023, Doherty admitted that she sold a 1983 Porsche 930T Slantnose on consignment for $130,000, without telling (or paying) the owner. To complete the sale, Doherty forged the seller’s signature on the transfer of title document. More than a year later, this buyer contacted the vehicle’s owner, who then learned that his car had been sold and delivered to the buyer despite still being listed as available for sale on the CPR Classic website. CPR Classic’s vehicle dealer license was suspended by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in September 2024, and it ceased operations soon thereafter. If you believe that you are a victim in this case, please submit a report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov, or to the California Department of Motor Vehicles at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/customer-service/dmv-complaints-ffinv-1/. Victims can also file a claim through the Consumer Motor Vehicle Recovery Corporation at www.CMVRC.org. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill. DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr4683-AGS Andrea Nicole Doherty Age: 38 Fallbrook, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343 (three counts) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation California Department of Motor Vehicles – Criminal Investigations


title: Goochland man sentenced to five years in prison for providing cocaine and fentanyl that caused friend’s fatal overdose

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Goochland man was sentenced today to five years in prison for distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2021, in Richmond, Don Carnell Batchelor Jr.’s friend, identified in court records as “SN,” asked Batchelor to acquire cocaine and fentanyl for him. Batchelor obtained and provided the drugs to SN, who took the substances with him to visit family. SN used a portion of the cocaine and fentanyl Batchelor had provided, which caused SN’s fatal overdose. SN was found deceased in his parent’s home the following morning. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division and Lee S. Bailey, New Kent County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. The Virginia State Police assisted in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-134.


title: Billings doctor sentenced to two years of probation for arranging commercial sex

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who previously pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to arrange for commercial sex was sentenced today to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $100,000, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Usman Hanif Khan, 52, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of use of a facility of interstate commerce to aid in racketeering. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that prior to April 9, 2023, Khan met a woman on a social media website for those interested in a commercial sex relationship. Then, on or about April 9, 2023, Khan communicated with the woman for the purpose of arranging a commercial sex date with Jane Doe, who the woman represented was an adult but was actually a minor. Khan and the woman communicated via text messenger, utilized cell phones to make arrangements, and discussed, among other items, the particulars of the commercial sex date. On the evening of April 9, 2023, the woman transported Jane Doe to Khan’s residence for the purpose of a commercial sex date. Khan and Jane Doe engaged in a sex act, after which Khan contacted the woman to arrange transportation of Jane Doe and provided Jane Doe with money for the encounter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Serial Kidnapper and Rapist Charged Federally

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, 28, was charged by complaint with Kidnapping a Minor and Kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. As detailed in the complaint, Mohamed kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl in 2017 and an adult woman in 2025. In between, he raped at least three other women. “This Somali national in Minnesota is charged with raping a minor and multiple adult women before being detained — only to be quickly released by a local court, after which he committed yet another rape. This horrific case illustrates how left-wing soft-on-crime policies and vetting failures put innocent people at dire risk. If Minnesota will not protect its own people, the Department of Justice will do it for them,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The allegations are sickening — multiple kidnappings and rapes, including against minors — and they happened in a state that has chosen ideology over public safety. Minnesota’s radical soft-on-crime policies created an environment where predators believe they can act without consequence. President Trump was elected to restore law and order, and under Attorney General Bondi, this Department is making sure violent criminals like this will face real justice and spend the rest of their natural lives in federal prison,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Given the history of the state prosecution of Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, my office will aggressively prosecute this serial rapist,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. On December 3, 2025, federal law enforcement received information concerning violent kidnappings and rapes committed by Mohamed in Minnesota. Law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office immediately investigated and found that, as set forth in the Complaint, there is probable cause to believe that Mohamed committed a string of disturbing sexual assaults—several of them gang rapes—of at least five victims between 2017 and 2025, many following the same pattern. Mohamed faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment and up to a sentence of life for his crimes. On December 12, 2017, Mohamed and two others kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl (Minor Victim 1). Minor Victim 1 met Mohamed online, on the social media platform Snapchat. Mohamed agreed to give Minor Victim 1 a ride and picked her up in St. Paul. Instead of driving her to her requested location, Mohamed drove Minor Victim 1 to Minneapolis against her will. Mohamed parked his car in Minneapolis. Suddenly, two more men got in the car. One of them was holding a short-barreled silver revolver. The man pointed the gun at Minor Victim 1’s head and said, “give my brother some head or I’ll blow your head off.” Minor Victim 1 was forced to perform oral sex on one of the two men. Minor Victim 1 was then sexually assaulted by Mohamed. Minor Victim 1 was forced—at gunpoint and in fear for her life—to perform oral sex on Mohamed. He then raped her vaginally. After the group sexually assaulted the girl, they let her out of the car. Minor Victim 1 ran, hid, and called the police. The police took Minor Victim 1 to the hospital, and she consented to a sexual assault exam. On September 17, 2024, after Mohamed’s DNA was taken in connection with another sexual assault, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) laboratory matched Mohamed’s DNA to the swabs taken from Minor Victim 1’s body, excluding more than 99.99% of the general population. On February 7, 2018, Mohamed and two others raped an adult woman (Victim 2). In the early morning hours of that day, Roseville police received a call from a Lyft driver, reporting that he had a woman in his car who had been sexually assaulted by three men. Police responded to the scene and interviewed Victim 2. She explained that a man she knew from Instagram picked her up in his car. He and two other men held her against her will in the car. The men raped Victim 2. After they were done sexually assaulting her, the men released Victim 2, telling her the cops were coming. Victim 2 ran to a Motel 6 to charge her phone and called a Lyft to pick her up. When Victim 2 told her Lyft driver what happened, he called 911. Police took Victim 2 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. Police located condoms in a car that had been on the scene. The BCA connected Mohamed’s known DNA sample to the DNA from a recovered condom. On May 8, 2018, Mohamed and another man kidnapped and raped an adult woman (Victim 3). Victim 3 knew Mohamed from Snapchat but had never met him in person before. Mohamed drove to Victim 3’s house in St. Paul and Victim 3 sat with him in his car. Victim 3 asked Mohamed for a pack of cigarettes. Instead, Mohamed began to drive away. Victim 3 protested, explaining she couldn’t leave her apartment, as her son was inside. But Mohamed continued to drive and locked the car doors so that Victim 3 could not escape. Mohamed drove Victim 3 to Minneapolis. He pulled the car into an alley, where Mohamed raped Victim 3. After the rape, a second man got into the backseat. He was holding a black semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the handgun at Victim 3’s head and said, “If you don’t give me head you’re not going to live.” Victim 3 then performed oral sex on the second man, under threat of her life. After they were done, Mohamed and the other man pushed Victim 3 out of the car. Victim 3 ran until she arrived at a gas station. She asked for directions to the light rail, which she took back to St. Paul. She then contacted the St. Paul Police, who took Victim 3 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. In September 2024 the BCA laboratory matched Mohamed’s DNA to the swabs taken from Victim 3, excluding more than 99.99% of the general population. On May 30, 2024, Mohamed raped an adult woman (Victim 4). Victim 4 knew Mohamed from Snapchat. Mohamed picked up Victim 4 and her sister in his car and, instead of taking them for something to eat, drove the two women to his apartment in Minneapolis. Mohamed carried Victim 4 to his bedroom and threw her on the bed and closed the door. Mohamed tried to force Victim 4 to give him oral sex. When she refused, Mohamed raped her. Mohamed told Victim 4 that if she didn’t have sex with him, he would get a gun from his car and shoot her or her sister. Victim 4’s sister heard screaming and her sister saying stop. Victim 4’s sister opened the door and saw Mohamed on top of her sister. Mohamed threatened to kill Victim 4’s sister and told her to leave. Victim 4’s sister fled the building and called the police. When the police arrived, they found Victim 4 and Mohamed in his apartment. Victim 4 was crying and stumbling. When Victim 4 was away from Mohamed, she explained he raped her. Police took Victim 4 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. Police arrested Mohamed and took him to the hospital for a sexual assault exam. Mohamad became hostile—he kicked squad doors and windows, spat on officers, and eventually became assaultive with hospital security guards and nurses. He was kicked out of the medical center before the sexual assault exam could be completed. In September 2024, pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement collected a DNA swab from Mohamed. In September 2025, Mohamed committed another kidnapping and rape. On September 15, 2025, Mohamed picked up an adult woman (Victim 5) in Mankato, Minnesota. Victim 5 met Mohamed that night and Mohamed was supposed to take Victim 5 to get food and then bring her back home. Instead, after Victim 5 was in Mohamed’s car, he kidnapped her. After Victim 5 asked Mohamed to bring her home, Mohamed kept driving and said, “you are not going home.” Mohamed drove Victim 5 approximately 70 miles to a hotel in Bloomington, where he kept her for nearly a week. When Victim 5 tried to leave on the first day, Mohamed grabbed her by the hair, slapped her face, and told her she could not leave. Mohamed raped Victim 5 twice. Mohamed choked Victim 5 while he raped her. Victim 5 was able to text her sister, that “I think I’m getting kidnapped” and needed help, but Mohamed took her phone away. Victim 5’s sister contacted the police, who worked to find Victim 5. On September 21, 2025, Victim 5 jumped out of Mohamed’s car and told a nearby man, “Can you help me? I am being kidnapped.” The man called 911 and police responded to the scene. Police took Victim 5 to the hospital, where she consented to a sexual assault exam. The DNA profile obtained from Victim 5 matched to Mohamed’s known sample. This case results from an investigation conducted by the FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, the St. Louis Park Police Department, the Anoka County Sherrif’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department. The FBI is investigating Mohamed for the offenses detailed in the complaint and for additional sexual offenses. If you believe you, your child, or someone you know may be a victim of Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, please call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams is prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Laguna Niguel Resident Found Guilty of Threatening to Kill Judge Who Presided Over His Family Law Case

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A former Orange County resident was found guilty by a jury today of threatening to kill a superior court judge who presided over his family law case. Byrom Zuniga Sanchez, 34, formerly of Laguna Niguel, but whose most recent residence was in Mexico, was found guilty of two counts of threats by interstate and foreign communication. Sanchez has been in federal custody since February 2024. According to evidence presented at a three-day trial, from May 2023 to July 2023, Sanchez sent multiple death threats via email to the victim judge. Sanchez also threatened to kill or harm others, including other judges, lawyers, and law enforcement officials. For example, in July 2023, Sanchez emailed the victim judge’s former courtroom, “I am more committed to murdering you than I am to being present as a father.” In the same email, Sanchez also wrote, “You’re already dead. The remainder of my life will be dedicated to assassinating judges, attorneys, and a police station’s entire shift staff.” These communications were sent via interstate commerce, and law enforcement believes Sanchez was in Mexico when he sent the threatening messages. Sanchez was arrested in San Diego in February 2024 after attempting to enter the United States. United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled a March 5, 2026, sentencing hearing, at which time Sanchez will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count. The FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra J. Kelly of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Diane B. Roldán of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Honduran Official Sentenced To 262 Months In Prison For Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States And Related Acts Of Violence

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced that MIDENCE OQUELI MARTINEZ TURCIOS, a former Honduran military official and congressman, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and for his participation in multiple related acts of violence. MARTINEZ TURCIOS previously pled guilty to one count of cocaine importation conspiracy and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who presided over MARTINEZ TURCIOS’s December 2024 Fatico hearing. “For years, Midence Oqueli Martinez Turcios partnered with violent drug traffickers and other corrupt officials to send tons of cocaine to the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He will now rightfully spend decades in prison. I thank the career prosecutors of this Office and our steadfast partners at the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, for their commitment to holding accountable those who abuse their positions to flood this country with cocaine.” “Martinez Turcios abused the trust of the Honduran people and the responsibilities of elected office,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. “Instead of serving his country, he turned a seat in the Honduran Congress into a channel for cartel influence, allowing violence and cocaine to flow into communities in Honduras and across the United States. When public officials, regardless of where they are, choose to stand with the cartels, they become part of the threat we are sworn to confront. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: those who betray their oath and enable cartel violence will be brought to justice.” As reflected in the charging instruments and other public filings, statements in public court proceedings in this and related prosecutions, and evidence presented at the December 2024 Fatico hearing: MARTINEZ TURCIOS was a key member of the Cachiros , which was one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations in Honduras, responsible for trafficking more than 100 tons of cocaine to the United States between approximately 2003 and 2013 and dozens of drug-related murders. The Cachiros trafficked ton-quantities of cocaine by relying upon, among others, corrupt Honduran government, military, and police officials at the highest levels in Honduras, who were paid bribes in exchange for protecting the Cachiros ’s drug shipments and providing them with sensitive military and law enforcement information. To facilitate their drug trafficking operation, the Cachiros also relied upon hitmen from the notorious street gang La Mara Salvatrucha , or “MS-13,” to protect drug shipments and carry out murders. MARTINEZ TURCIOS began partnering with the Cachiros in approximately 2003. Over the next decade, MARTINEZ TURCIOS, who previously served in the Honduran military and was related to the leaders of the Cachiros , carried out acts of violence alongside the Cachiros . For example, in 2006, when MARTINEZ TURCIOS was not appointed to be Minister of Security—a position that would have allowed him to further support the Cachiros ’s drug operation—he ordered the murder of the Honduran politician who failed to deliver on his promise to appoint MARTINEZ TURCIOS to that position. Shortly thereafter, MARTINEZ TURCIOS also ordered the murder of a Honduran journalist who had spoken publicly about MARTINEZ TURCIOS’s association with the Cachiros —a request that resulted in not only the murder of the journalist, but also the journalist’s significant other. On other occasions, in 2008 and 2011, MARTINEZ TURCIOS himself pulled the trigger in shootings that killed multiple victims who had taken actions adverse to the Cachiros ’s interests. Prior to killing one of those victims, MARTINEZ TURCIOS tortured the victim by putting a rope around the victim’s neck and choking him, as well as putting pins in his fingertips. MARTINEZ TURCIOS also participated in the 2012 kidnapping of a drug rival who was later tortured and murdered. Between approximately 2009 and 2014, while MARTINEZ TURCIOS served as a congressman in Honduras, he also worked directly with the Cachiros to receive ton-quantity cocaine shipments at clandestine airstrips located throughout Honduras. Once the Cachiros ’s cocaine shipments arrived by aircraft at clandestine airstrips, MARTINEZ TURCIOS led teams of armed men as they transported cocaine shipments across Honduras on its way to the United States. MARTINEZ TURCIOS also used his military experience to train MS-13 hitmen on how to transport and protect the Cachiros ’s cocaine shipments. And, finally, MARTINEZ TURCIOS abused his elected position to facilitate the Cachiros ’s laundering of drug proceeds by serving as a nominal owner for one of the Cachiros ’s front companies, Ganaderos , thus providing the company with an appearance of legitimacy. MARTINEZ TURCIOS’s involvement in narco-corruption and support for the Cachiros continued even after U.S. authorities had publicly identified the Cachiros as a major drug cartel. Indeed, in January 2014, after the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Cachiros and several of their front companies, including Ganaderos , MARTINEZ TURCIOS participated in a meeting with a group of violent drug traffickers and corrupt Honduran politicians. The purpose of the meeting was to align their efforts and support a particular political candidate for President of the Honduran National Congress who could continue protecting their drug trafficking interests. The meeting, which was video recorded, was yet another example of the systemic narco-corruption that MARTINEZ TURCIOS and his co-conspirators helped perpetuate in Honduras during that time. * * * In addition to the prison term, MARTINEZ TURCIOS, 65, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, and Tegucigalpa Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for securing the arrest and March 2023 extradition from Honduras of MARTINEZ TURCIOS. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Lionel Cawthon, 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cawthon to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cawthon is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. During 2023 and 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department investigated Cawthon for distributing fentanyl in the Omaha area. FBI utilized a confidential informant to purchase 600 M30 fentanyl pills from Cawthon. On February 16, 2024, FBI and Bellevue Police Department executed search warrants at two residences in Omaha. Law enforcement seized approximately 7,000 M30 fentanyl pills. Cawthon has two prior felony drug convictions, making him a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Co-defendants Gregory Stevenson and Shawn Reese are both pending trial in February 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bellevue Police Department.


title: Hastings Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Seth Fontaine, 30, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Fontaine to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Fontaine is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On May 17, 2023, Fontaine sent a Facebook message to Victim 1 stating “do u got Narcan?” The victim replied, “yea.” Fontain then replied, “Cool, thank you, I got some real fentanyl, wanna smoke some.” The parties met at Victim 1’s residence in Hastings, and smoked fentanyl. Victim 1 became unconscious and was not breathing. First responders were called to the scene and administered Narcan. Victim 1 went to the local hospital and received further medical attention. At the scene, law enforcement located pipes with fentanyl residue on them, burnt tin foil, and a torch still lit. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to More than 58 Years for Fentanyl and Firearms Crimes

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Jeron Morris, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Morris to concurrent sentences of 360 months’ imprisonment for the conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute, and 180 months’ imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm. Morris received additional consecutive sentences of 300 months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and 46 months for violating his supervised release related to a previous federal conviction. The combined sentences total 706 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Morris’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release. In August, Morris pleaded guilty to the fentanyl and felon in possession charges and proceeded to trial for the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. After a two-day trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict. The evidence at trial established that a Federal Bureau of Investigation task force identified a house in Omaha that was suspected of being a stash location for drugs, including fentanyl pills. During the investigation, Morris was identified as living in the house. On May 17, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence. In an upstairs bedroom, they found two loaded Canik 9mm handguns and more than $1,000 in cash on a bed. The items had been dumped out of a drawer of a bedside chest of drawers. In a closet of that bedroom, detectives recovered a heat-sealed package of approximately 993 fentanyl pills. Morris was arrested during a traffic stop nearby and found to have a baggie containing another 87 fentanyl pills. During a post-Miranda interview, Morris admitted the drugs and guns were his, describing the guns by caliber, color, and attachments. Morris faced enhanced statutory penalties because of prior federal convictions for Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Morris was released from federal prison within months of the search warrant. Morris began visiting the stash house while finishing serving his prison sentence at an area halfway house. Morris also had a prior conviction for Assault Using a Dangerous Weapon in Iowa state court, which enhanced his sentencing guidelines when coupled with the prior federal convictions. Co-defendant Kadonta Muldrew, 31, of Omaha was sentenced on November 19, 2025, to 235 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release. As part of the investigation, more than $135,000 in cash was seized. That money will be forfeited to the United States as proceeds of drug dealing. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department with assistance from the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, Papillion Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Iowa State Patrol. A sergeant from the Lincoln Police Department testified at trial as an expert in drug trafficking. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm Charges

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Clayton Reynolds, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 25, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Reynolds to 214 months’ imprisonment on the drug trafficking charge and 60 months on the firearm charge, to run consecutive to each other. There is no parole in the federal system. After Reynolds’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Reynolds also admitted to the forfeiture of firearms and United States Currency that had been seized. In April 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Reynolds for his involvement in distributing fentanyl in the Omaha area. Over the course of three months, Reynolds sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on six separate occasions. On one occasion, Reynolds also sold a firearm. On July 22, 2024, a search warrant was executed on Reynolds’s residence and a storage unit he used. In his residence, law enforcement found two pounds of pure methamphetamine, 296 grams of fentanyl, amphetamine, oxycodone, marijuana, crack, ecstasy, cocaine, and Xanax. They also found $18,062 in drug proceeds and a shotgun. At the storage unit, an additional $14,000 in drug proceeds and a handgun were seized. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Omaha Police Department.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that WILSON VLADMIR MENJIVAR SIBRIAN, a/k/a Wilson Sibrianmenjivar, a/k/a Sibrianmenjivar Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Sibrian, a/k/a Sibrian Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Menjivar, a/k/a Menjivar Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Menjivar-Sibrian, a/k/a Wilson Menjivarsibrian, a/k/a Menjivarsibrian Wilson, age 28, a Salvadoran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Indictment alleged that on November 17, 2025, Sibrian, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 20, 2018. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sibrian will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Goochland man was sentenced today to five years in prison for distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2021, in Richmond, Don Carnell Batchelor Jr.’s friend, identified in court records as “SN,” asked Batchelor to acquire cocaine and fentanyl for him. Batchelor obtained and provided the drugs to SN, who took the substances with him to visit family. SN used a portion of the cocaine and fentanyl Batchelor had provided, which caused SN’s fatal overdose. SN was found deceased in his parent’s home the following morning. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division and Lee S. Bailey, New Kent County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. The Virginia State Police assisted in the investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-134.


title: Nigerian Men And Sudanese Woman Sentenced To Over 20 Years In Romance Scam Resulting In Elderly Victim's Death

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: GREENEVILLE Tenn. – On December 2, 2025, Salma Abdalkareem, 29 of Piscataway, New Jersey, Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Stephen O. Anagor, 37, of Lakewood, Washington, were sentenced by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville for their roles in a romance scam that targeted victims around the country and resulted in the death of an elderly victim. Judge Corker sentenced Abdalkareem to 51 months, Onwumere to 84 months, and Anagor to 108 months. Following their imprisonment, Onwumere and Anagor will be on supervised release for five years, Abdalkareem will be on supervised release for three years, and all will be required to repay the victims $388,500 in restitution. As part of written plea agreements filed with the court, Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Onwumere pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a). Anagor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. According to filed court documents, Anagor and Onwumere (both from Nigeria) met during military training in South Carolina in June 2023. Anagor recruited Onwumere and Onwumere’s wife, Abdalkareem (a citizen of Sudan), to assist a relative in Nigeria in carrying out romance scams perpetrated on victims around the United States. Under the scam, the relative in Nigeria would impersonate famous celebrities and con victims, usually elderly adults targeted online, into believing they were in a romantic relationship with famous celebrities. Members of the conspiracy would then engage in various devices to obtain money from the victims, such as the need for help with taxes on luxury vehicles, background investigation fees needed for employment, membership fees that would permit unique access to the celebrities, etc. On multiple occasions, victims were told that the scammers were with federal law enforcement and had to pay fees and fines to halt investigations initiated by the celebrities or their management. As part of this law enforcement scam, the conspirators would impersonate high ranking officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice, including the former Director of the FBI and the former Attorney General of the United States. Once a victim agreed to provide funds, members of the conspiracy in Nigeria would then direct them to provide money to other members of the conspiracy in the United States, such as Anagor, Abdalkareem, and Onwumere. They would deposit checks, keep a share of the proceeds, and then transfer funds to others in Nigeria or the United States. One of the victims was a retired teacher from Jonesborough, Tennessee. He believed he was speaking with a well-known celebrity, and they had begun a romantic relationship. Eventually, members of the conspiracy posed as the former Director of the FBI and former Attorney General of the United States and advised the victim that the celebrity’s management had filed a complaint, and he was under investigation. Through a series of harassing emails, the scammers advised that he had to pay exorbitant fees and fines to make the investigation go away and seal it from the public. Following these instructions, the victim then sent five checks totaling $86,900 to Onwumere and Abdalkareem. These funds represented the victim’s entire life savings (and included the proceeds of a loan the victim took out on his truck to have enough for the final payment). After sending his life savings, the scammers then advised the victim that he was responsible for medical bills because the stress he had caused the actress had resulted in her hospitalization. In his last know text messages, the victim—believing he was speaking with the celebrity—advised that he had no more money and was going to end his life. On October 23, 2023, the victim committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. The same scheme targeted multiple victims around the United States and used the identities of at least four celebrities, the former Director of the FBI, and the former Attorney General of the United States. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee , Colin Jackson, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), and, Special Agent in Charge Paul DelleDonne, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Cyber Field Office made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by HSI, Army CID, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener III represented the United States. ###


title: ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A MINOR

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Mauricio Morales-Gonzalez, 24, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after previously pleading guilty in federal court. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this criminal alien was stopped as he attempted to sexually exploit and victimize a minor child. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these disgusting sex offenders to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are kept safe.” Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to exploit children in a sexual manner. During the operation, investigators identified Morales-Gonzalez, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through an online website. Morales-Gonzalez, who is in the country illegally, believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove to a meeting location where he was met by law enforcement and immediately arrested. “This sentence sends a clear message that anyone who attempts to entice a minor into sexual activity will face serious consequences,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “This criminal alien sought to exploit a child, and thanks to the swift, coordinated work of law enforcement, that danger was stopped. Protecting minors from predatory conduct remains one of our highest priorities, and this outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our children.” Morales-Gonzalez’s imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Convicted Kidnapper Sentenced to 75 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Wilmington, Delaware – Julianne E. Murray, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that, on November 25, 2025, Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 26, was sentenced to a total of 900 months—or 75 years—in federal prison for six offenses, including kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, and related firearms offenses. McNair-Matthews was convicted on all counts after a trial in July 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence. According to court records and evidence presented at the four-day trial, McNair-Matthews conspired with David Hinson, 23, Michael Caldwell, 21, and Mahkiya Powell, 20, to rear-end unsuspecting drivers with a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee and then rob the drivers when they got out to inspect their vehicles for damage. After three unsuccessful attempts, McNair-Matthews rear-ended the victim’s vehicle. When the victim got out, McNair-Matthews abducted her at gunpoint, forcing her back into the passenger seat of her own vehicle. McNair-Matthews then drove the victim, against her will, from Delaware into Pennsylvania. During the ride, McNair-Matthews demanded the PIN code for the victim’s bank cards, forced her to disrobe, and digitally penetrated her against her will. McNair-Matthews then stopped the vehicle and forcibly raped the victim at gunpoint. Ultimately, McNair-Matthews abandoned the victim in Pennsylvania. He drove her vehicle back to Delaware, where he visited various convenience stores and used her stolen bank cards and PIN code to withdraw money from ATMs. McNair-Matthews then reunited with Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell in Wilmington. Once there, he provided his co-conspirators with the victim’s bank cards and PIN, as well as the firearm he had used in the carjacking and rape. Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell then cleaned the victim’s car and stole her purse. After McNair-Matthews changed clothes in an attempt to evade detection, the four men met up at a Wilmington gas station, where law enforcement located them. As soon as law enforcement arrived, McNair-Matthews and Powell fled, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in the stolen Jeep. McNair-Matthews and Powell temporarily evaded capture, but McNair-Matthews was found in Maryland just three days later. “This was a calculated, predatory attack that shattered an innocent woman’s sense of safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Murray. “The Court’s sentence delivers justice for a survivor who showed extraordinary courage. Moreover, it sends a clear message that those who terrorize our communities with violence, intimidation, and exploitation will be pursued, prosecuted, and held fully accountable. Finally, I commend the vigilant work of the FBI, the Delaware State Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police for swiftly bringing the defendant to justice.” “This lengthy sentence of 75 years reflects the gravity of the atrocious crimes Tonnaire McNair-Matthews committed,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “He created a living nightmare for an innocent woman who was simply driving to work one morning. McNair-Matthews ruthlessly attacked, kidnapped, and raped her. He and his co-conspirators then continued their crime spree, putting even more people in harm’s way by fleeing from the quick-responding law enforcement officers who caught up with them. McNair-Matthews repeatedly showed he has no consideration or regard for others’ safety. No doubt, our Delaware citizens are safer today with him behind bars where he can no longer inflict violence and pain on others.” “The Delaware State Police appreciates the collaborative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the dedicated work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Delaware Department of Justice in securing a meaningful sentence for this violent crime,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “This case demonstrates our shared commitment to thoroughly investigate violent crimes, support victims, and safeguard the people of Delaware.” “The Pennsylvania State Police Troop K, Media Station is pleased with the result of the sentencing hearing and that justice was served on behalf of the victim,” said Captain Jon Sunderlin of the Pennsylvania State Police. “This investigation was an excellent example of local, state, and federal agencies working together.” This case was investigated by the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, the Delaware State Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wilmington Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Delaware Department of Justice. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Samuel S. Frey, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Dunn. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER .


title: York Man Who Impersonated A Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced To Over Three Years In Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jaimie Lynn Cummings, age 52, of York County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to 40 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Kelli N. Neary for impersonating an officer of the United States and a firearms offense. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Cummings was sentenced for falsely impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal and illegal possession of a short-barreled firearm. Cummings previously pleaded guilty those charges. The charges arose from a September 20, 2023, incident where Cummings appeared at the Northern York Regional Police Department wearing what purported to be a U.S. Marshal badge, tactical gear, tactical clothing, and a firearm. After representing himself to police as a deputy U.S. Marshal, local law enforcement recognized that he was not a law enforcement officer. Cummings left the police station but was later stopped by police. Police found in his car and in his home an assortment of firearms, ammunition, and rifles less than sixteen inches in length. Cummings possessed the short-barreled rifles illegally. When imposing sentence, Judge Neary noted Cummings’s criminal history, his personal circumstances, and the seriousness of the conduct. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Northern York Regional Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Consiglio 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: Nicaraguan National Pleads Guilty To Forcibly Resisting Federal Agents In Extended Struggle During Immigration Arrest

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Denis Napoleon Corea-Miranda (22, Nicaragua) has pleaded guilty to forcibly resisting, opposing, or impeding federal officers. Corea-Miranda faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court records, on August 26, 2025, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attempted to arrest Corea-Miranda in connection with a final order of removal from the United States. While being questioned by agents, Corea-Miranda attempted to flee which led to an extended struggle between agents and Corea-Miranda. During the struggle, Corea-Miranda ended up on top of the agents and held them to the ground. An ICE agent suffered a dislocated shoulder during the attempt to arrest Corea-Miranda. Corea-Miranda ultimately fled on foot before later being arrested by deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. 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: Mexican national sentenced to over twelve years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in Garland has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Salud Alejandro Ruiz Mendoza, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, Mendoza, along with his co-defendants, was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 37 kilograms of methamphetamine in the North Texas area that had been imported from Mexico. As a result of this investigation, several firearms and approximately 91 pounds of marijuana were also seized. 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. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Brooks. ###


title: Pittsburgh Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Ladayja Floyd, 22, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about October 9, 2025, Floyd had a firearm and ammunition in her possession after having been convicted of two prior felonies, including on state firearm and drug charges. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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: Gainesville woman sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Gainesville woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jennifer Dawn York, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, from January to September 2023, York conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. This case centered on a scheme that exploited the nation’s mail system by the defendants’ use of the US Postal Service to transport large amounts of methamphetamine. 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. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, and Gainesville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Erlandson. ###


title: GAINESVILLE FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO GUN AND DRUG CRIMES

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – William Blas Hernandez, 28, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty to three federal offenses: (1) possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; (2) carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime; and (3) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I commend the excellent work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to stop this serial felon from continuing to peddle deadly drugs in our community. My office has zero tolerance for these types of repeat offenders who endanger our communities with their brazen disregard for the law, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to ensure criminals like this defendant are kept off our streets.” Court documents reflect that law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle because he was speeding, and his vehicle matched the description from a 911 caller who reported other criminal conduct. During the traffic stop, officers established probable cause to search the vehicle. There, they found the defendant’s backpack with a loaded pistol, over 50 grams of methamphetamine in a variety of forms, and other drug-distribution paraphernalia. The defendant was recently released from a prison sentence for eight prior felony convictions. Hernandez now faces a minimum of ten years and up to life in federal prison. Following his release, he will be on supervised release for at least four years. The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 10:00 am in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief United States District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Oklahoma City woman sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –An Oklahoma City woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Maria Garcia, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, from April 2021 to November 2022, Garcia was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. These drugs were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border where they were then stored at various locations in Texas before being distributed elsewhere throughout the United States. Garcia would coordinate with others in Mexico to receive kilograms of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization in Oklahoma. 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. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne. ###


title: December Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Roy C Adams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Adams, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-455 Andres Avila Pineda; Anthony Avila. Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms. Andres, 48, a Mexican national, and Anthony, 22, of Houston, Texas, are charged with conspiring with others to transport firearms knowing that possession would constitute a felony. Andres is further charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-460 Jose Cruz-Cordova. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz-Cordova, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2019. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-461 Adrian Parker Gaines. Production of Child Pornography. Gaines, 38, of Grove, is charged with using a minor child to produce a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-454 Nieves Norberto Garcia-Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Rodriguez, 44, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2010 and Dec. 2015. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-462 Leonel Longoria-Quirino. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Longoria-Quirino, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2017. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-459 Waymer Emeterio Orozco-Orozco. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Orozco-Orozco, 27, a Guatemalan national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in Jan. 2019. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-453 Sequoyah Blake Tanner. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Tanner, 23, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with driving a motor vehicle after consuming marijuana and alcohol, and killing Zion Joseph Sier. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-452 Rovin Alexail Vasquez-Cinto. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Vasquez-Cinto, 27, a Guatemalan national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-451


title: Jefferson County Woman Charged with Arson

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Jefferson County woman for setting fire to an apartment unit, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Shun’derrika Kimberly Peoples, 20, of Birmingham, Alabama, with arson. The incident occurred at The Union at Cooper Hill apartment complex on August 25, 2025. The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty


title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl with a Firearm

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A previously convicted felon was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 25 years in prison for possessing nearly 10,000 fentanyl pills intended for distribution along with a firearm. According to court documents, Tyrell Ezekiel Darden, 25, of San Antonio, had two active felony arrest warrants from other matters. When law enforcement executed those warrants in July 2023, Darden was found attempting to flush dozens of blue pills down a toilet. In addition to the flushed pills, law enforcement officers found Darden in possession of more than 9,800 fentanyl pills that were shaped to look like Oxycodone pills and containing the “M30” stamp commonly associated with Oxycodone pills. Officers also discovered multiple firearms in the residence, including several that had been stolen, as well as $4,703 in U.S. currency and other high value items such as jewelry. Darden was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, for one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He was arrested on Nov. 9, 2023, and pleaded guilty to both charges on June 18, 2025. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Alamo Heights Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case. ###


title: Belgrade woman pleads guilty to harboring illegal individuals

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA - A Belgrade woman accused of harboring illegal individuals admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Eustolia Casarreal-Morales, 56, pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens. Casarreal-Morales faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release for each illegal alien involved in the offense. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 8, 2026, in Missoula, Montana. Casarreal-Morales was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in 2023, law enforcement debriefed two sources who described how they were smuggled into the United States from Mexico. Once here, these individuals explained they were eventually smuggled to Montana and provided jobs. They identified individuals in the Bozeman area who were involved in their smuggling. The investigation revealed Casarreal-Morales was in contact with at least one of the key smugglers identified by the sources of information listed above. Beginning in May 2025 law enforcement identified a residence in Belgrade suspected of housing illegal aliens. Through investigative steps, law enforcement secured a search warrant for the residence and executed it on August 12, 2025. Twelve individuals who were in the United States illegally were discovered inside the residence, as was Casarreal-Morales. Also discovered were payments ledgers, false identification documents, and documents relating to Casarreal-Morales, and other materials. Casarreal-Morales provided a brief statement at the scene, indicating she was aware the individuals in the house were not legally in the United States and that was wrong. Some of the 12 individuals were interviewed. They explained how, depending on the individual, they initially entered the United States through a proper visa that since expired or were smuggled into the United States. They outlined how they were then smuggled or made their way to the residence in Belgrade for the purpose of securing work. They indicated they paid monthly rent to Casarreal-Morales to live at that house. Additional interviews outlined how the individuals came to the United States and ended up working in the Belgrade area while paying Casarreal-Morales rent. At least two of those witnesses indicated Casarreal-Morales knew the smuggler referenced above. Critically, three of those witnesses also outlined how she sold them fake identification documents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. XXX


title: Johnstown Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Distributing Fentanyl and Crack

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Che Rose, 39, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on December 2, 2025. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2024 through in and around June 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Rose conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl and cocaine base in the form commonly known as “crack.” Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2026. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laurel Highlands Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Cambria County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rose.


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced for Selling Dangerous Counterfeit Car Airbags

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – On September 30, a federal judge sentenced a Raleigh man to one year and a day for importing and selling thousands of counterfeit car airbags into the Raleigh area over the past two years. The defendant, Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian, 31, sold the counterfeit airbags locally and to online buyers through Facebook Marketplace. The court also ordered Alinaghian to pay restitution in the amount of $83,405.95 to the victims who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit airbag, and to the car manufacturers, and forfeit $154,693.16. “Selling fake airbags recklessly puts our citizens in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence makes clear that we do not tolerate criminals who endanger drivers on our roads. We will keep working with our partners to take these threats off the streets and out of our cars.” “Unregulated and untested counterfeit airbags threaten the safety of the traveling public and place unsuspecting consumers at significant risk,” said Greg Thompson, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region. “This sentencing underscores DOT-OIG’s commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to keep these dangerous products out of the nation’s vehicles and off our roads” “This case spotlights the serious consumer health and safety dangers posed by many counterfeit products like fake vehicle airbags and exemplifies the importance of interagency cooperation in protecting public safety and bringing counterfeiters to justice,” said Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Alinaghian, imported approximately 2,500 counterfeit air bags into Raleigh between May 2022 and April 2024. Alinaghian imported airbags with counterfeit markings of Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Toyota, from a supplier in the United Kingdom. Alinaghian then sold the counterfeit airbags to unsuspecting customers using the Facebook Marketplace seller profile of “Matt AutoParts” or “Medo Smith” to advertise and sell the counterfeit airbags. According to testing done by Honda, General Motors, and Toyota, the steering wheel airbags obtained and sold by Alinaghian were not manufactured by the car companies and often included materials of lesser quality. In testing, the counterfeit airbags often malfunctioned, either not fully inflating or worse, inflating late – posing a potentially serious risk of injury to the vehicle driver. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. The investigation included a search of Alinaghian’s house, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 counterfeit airbags, and multiple seizures by Customs and Border Control of in-bound packages from the United Kingdom containing counterfeit airbags en route to Alinaghian. After identifying that Alinaghian was importing the counterfeit airbags from a source in the United Kingdom, HSI contacted law enforcement abroad. As a result, the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PICU) executed a search warrant on September 19, 2024, PICU officers searched two residential and one business address and seized a total of 500 counterfeit airbags and an estimated £140,000 in cash. Three men were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit goods. The UK investigation is still ongoing . Although not specifically linked to this case, according to a consumer alert published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three people in the U.S. were killed and two people suffered injuries from September 2023 to July 2024 as a result of their vehicles being fitted with substandard replacement airbags. Individuals who suspect they purchased a counterfeit airbag should consult their brand’s dealership or a reputable mechanic to determine if the parts need to be replaced, and report it to their local Homeland Security Investigations office or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton prosecuted the case. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the N.C. Secretary of State Trademark Enforcement Division or Anti-Counterfeit Task Force. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-00013-FL.


title: Indiana Man Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana following a High-Speed Pursuit

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Hammond, In., man has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in Daviess County, Missouri. Nickolas J Burch, 36, was charged and had his initial appearance yesterday in a two-count criminal complaint. Burch was charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2025, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was conducting routine patrol on I-35 northbound in Daviess County. He observed a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) overtaking his vehicle from the rear at 103 miles per hour. After the MSHP Trooper attempted to stop the SUV, it attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, ultimately reaching 128 miles per hour before crashing into a field. Immediately after the crash the driver, later identified as Burch, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, carrying a red duffle bag over his shoulder. After a foot pursuit and resistance by Burch, law enforcement was ultimately able to take Burch into custody. A red duffle bag was recovered from the field, which was dropped by Burch during the pursuit. and searched. Law enforcement located $205,950 in United States Currency. A second duffel bag was in the second row of the SUV which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine and 18 pounds of marijuana. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smith. was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Daviess County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Former Loveland, Colorado, Police Department Officer Found Guilty of a Civil Rights Violation for Sexual Assault of a Minor

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Following a trial that lasted more than two weeks, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Dylan Miller, 30, who faced a civil rights charge for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty as a police officer with the Loveland Police Department in Colorado. The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer the evening of Aug. 3, 2023, through the early morning of Aug. 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Marv Massey of the FBI’s Denver Field Office made the announcement. The U.S. Marshals Service took Miller into custody following the jury’s verdict. Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the civil rights offense. Sentencing will be set for early 2026. The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Chicago Man Charged With Sexually Exploiting Minor

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Chicago man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting a 14-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts. Joshua Rogers, 30, of Chicago, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of children. Roger was arrested this morning in Chicago and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, in July 2025, local law enforcement in Brookline were notified of an individual purporting to be a 17-year-old boy named ‘John’ – allegedly later identified as Rogers – engaging in sexually explicit communications with a 14-year-old female minor victim via Snapchat. A review of cell phone data allegedly revealed numerous explicit communications from Rogers in which he allegedly coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit acts – many of which he demanded be documented by photo or video. It is further alleged that, in his communications, Rogers discussed kidnapping the minor or the minor running away. The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Jennifer Paster of the Brookline Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 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.