title: Last week of April sees another 244 charged as part of Operation Take Back America efforts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 239 cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from April 24-30, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The Southern District of Texas filed a total of 163 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 53 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. The cases also include charges against 28 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. Most have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. As part of the new cases, Mexican national Jose Luis Anguiana-Ruiz was allegedly removed from the United States just a few weeks ago – April 6. However, authorities discovered him again in the country near Mercedes, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Law enforcement also allegedly discovered Honduran national Degny Oshmarlin Molina-Villatoro near Roma, despite having been previously removed June 2, 2025. According to the complaint, he has previous convictions for aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon and two illegal reentries. Four more felons were also allegedly found in the McAllen area despite having been removed previously - Maria Asucena Martinez-Hernandez, Guadalupe Gutierrez-Moreno, Homero Rodriguez-Martinez and Servando Morales-Diaz, all of Mexico. The charges allege all had been previously removed following their various convictions of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, importation of meth, illegal reentry, burglary of a habitation and/or assault on a public servant. All six did not have legal authorization to be in the country, according to the allegations, and face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted. In addition to the new cases, a federal jury in Houston found 36-year-old Mexican national Luis Alberto Banda Acosta guilty of unlawfully reentering the country without authorization. The defense attempted to convince the jury he was involuntarily present under duress and had been kidnapped and forced to swim across the border. However, the jury heard evidence he was freely residing in the United States, including traveling to multiple locations, receiving pay stubs and making purchases at a lingerie store. In another trial victory, a Laredo jury convicted a 21-year-old Laredo man of transporting an alien and conspiring to do so following a three-day trial. On Dec. 15, 2025, Erik Rafael Salas drove a white pickup truck, traveling in tandem with another suspected smuggling vehicle. He soon led authorities on a high-speed chase near Laredo while transporting several illegal aliens. Salas crashed into a private gate after spike strips punctured his tire. He then bailed out of the vehicle along with the aliens. One of them testified how she feared for her life as Salas drove recklessly to evade authorities and even asked him to stop. Salas now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. In Corpus Christi, Jesus Grimaldo aka Chuy received a 121-month sentence for leading a human smuggling organization that resulted in death. The court found a death occurred during the scheme and would not have happened but for his leadership role. The investigation began after authorities discovered a deceased man in Brooks County who died from heat exposure. Analysis of the victim’s phone revealed multiple payments to Grimaldo through CashApp and Zelle. Authorities determined he arranged transportation from the Rio Grande Valley and profited from smuggling individuals in extreme heat, including in vehicle trunks. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Pensacola Man Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl and Possession With Intent to Distribute Meth, Fentanyl and Marijuana

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Kamron Jasmane Fountain, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on three counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges. Fountain appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 8:30 am in Pensacola before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, Fountain faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each drug distribution count and at least 10 years and up to life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana count. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: MEDIA ADVISORY: Subject Arrested and Federally Charged for Deadly Berea Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky will be holding a press conference to provide an update and information regarding the arrest and federal charges of the suspect in the deadly Berea bank robbery. WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Kentucky, 260 W. Vine Street, Suite 300—Lexington, Ky. 40507 WHEN: FRIDAY, May 1, 2026 at 2 p.m. CONTACT: Gabrielle Dudgeon, Public Affairs Specialist (859) 229-7996 Gabrielle.dudgeon@usdoj.gov


title: Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Sixteen Years in Federal Prison After Fatal Overdose of Indianapolis Woman

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Arieon Lofton, 27, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 16 years and two months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, on July 26, 2025, the victim, identified as “J.A.,” began texting an unsaved phone number to arrange a trade involving suboxone strips and Xanax. The following day, J.A. agreed to exchange 150 suboxone strips for 15 Xanax bars, $50, and a gram of “slow.” On July 30, 2025, a friend discovered J.A. unresponsive inside her apartment. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered text messages arranging the drug transaction between J.A. and a phone number registered to Valencia Griffin. Griffin is currently incarcerated in the Indiana Department of Correction, serving an 11‑year sentence for dealing a narcotic drug, and did not physically possess the phone at the time the messages were sent. However, investigators uncovered multiple three‑way calls involving Griffin; her boyfriend, Martell Marshall, who is also incarcerated; and Arieon Lofton, who was not in custody. A subpoena revealed that the phone number used in the drug deal consistently pinged at an apartment belonging to Lofton’s girlfriend. On August 21, 2025, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant for the phone. When officers arrived, Lofton initially approached the door but retreated into a bedroom instead of answering. His girlfriend eventually allowed officers inside. While searching for the phone, officers observed marijuana, burnt joints, and two white pills in plain view. They subsequently obtained a State of Indiana search warrant to search the residence for narcotics. Inside the master bedroom, officers located four active cell phones plugged in, along with five additional phones in a bathroom drawer. They also recovered two 9mm Taurus firearms, $2,573 in cash stored in shoeboxes, approximately 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 1,000 counterfeit Xanax pills, one pound of marijuana, a pill press, and multiple bottles of lactose hidden inside the dishwasher. Suboxone strips prescribed to J.A. were also found in the dishwasher. Forensic analysis confirmed that substances recovered from the dishwasher contained 327.09 grams of acetyl fentanyl and 66.92 grams of fentanyl. The fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl supplied by Lofton led to J.A.’s fatal overdose. Investigators found no other drug‑related conversations on J.A.’s phone besides those with Lofton, and records showed she had been purchasing narcotics from him since at least March 10, 2025. The coroner determined that J.A. died from acute mixed drug intoxication, with bromazolam, acetyl fentanyl, and fentanyl present in her system. At the time of the offense, Lofton was on supervised release following a 22‑month federal sentence for attempted robbery. He also has previous convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, driving while suspended and false identity. “My thoughts are with J.A.’s loved ones as they continue to grieve an unimaginable loss. Lofton’s actions showed a clear disregard for human life, and the consequences were devastating. It is impossible to know how many others might have been harmed had investigators not acted when they did,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Lofton’s actions were not a mistake—they were a deliberate pattern of choices that cost a young woman her life, and he will now spend years in federal prison answering for every one of them.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Justin R. Olson. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. ###


title: Little Sioux Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Little Sioux man was sentenced on April 21, 2026, to 50 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of the Harrison County residence of Trevor John Collison, 34. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Collison used the devices to produce numerous hidden camera images and videos containing child sexual abuse material of five minor victims. After completing his term of imprisonment, Collison will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Collison was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Alaska State Patrol investigated the case. April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month and marked the two-year anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security’s national public awareness campaign “Know2Protect: Together We Can Stop Online Child Exploitation.” Resources are available at www.Know2Protect.gov . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Husband and Wife, and a Third Individual Charged with Firearms Trafficking

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging José M. Ayala-Rivera, his brother Erick Osorio-Rivera, and Erick’s wife Bianca Vidal Vázquez-Millán with the unlicensed business of dealing in firearms, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are in charge of the investigation. According to the indictment, beginning on a date unknown but no later than October 2024 and up to August 2025, the defendants, not being licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, and collectors of firearms, did knowingly conspire to transport into and receive in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico firearms purchased in the state of Massachusetts. The object of the conspiracy was to use the United States Postal Service to, covertly and without notice, transfer, trade, give, transport, and deliver firearms purchased or otherwise obtained outside of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to persons residing in Puerto Rico. Defendants Osorio-Rivera and Vázquez-Millán acquired firearms in Massachusetts, where they resided, and arranged for them to be sent to Puerto Rico via the Priority Mail service from the U.S. Postal Service. Defendant Ayala-Rivera received the firearms in Puerto Rico and stored them in a residence. All defendants are facing one count for: (1) conspiracy to receive firearms from out of state, (2) transfer firearms out of state, and (3) send firearms via a common carrier without written notice. Osorio-Rivera and Vázquez-Millán are facing one count for shipping a firearm without providing notice to the carrier. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to five years in prison. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; Jason Stankiewicz, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division; and Bladismir Rojo, Postal Inspector in Charge, Miami Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro Casablanca and Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz, Chief of the Violent Crimes Section, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: FCI Schuylkill Inmate Charged With Possession Of Prohibited Objects

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antwan Edward Johnson, Jr., age 27, of North Carolina, was indicted on April 28, 2026, by a federal grand jury on charges of possession of a prohibited object in prison. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Johnson, while an inmate at the Federal Correction Institution Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill), in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, possessed a cell phone and a six-inch sharpened plastic weapon with a cloth handle on January 10, 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is six years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Two Federal Inmates Charged With Possessing Weapons

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kajuan Woods, age 37, and Patrick Alexander, age 36, both federal inmates, were indicted separately by a federal grand jury on April 28, 2026, with possessing contraband in prison. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about March 15, 2026, while an inmate at the Federal Correction Institution Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill), in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Woods possessed an inmate manufactured weapon, specifically a four-inch piece of metal sharpened to a point with a cloth handle, commonly referred to as “shank.” Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case. Patrick Alexander, age 36, was indicted by a federal grand jury while an inmate at FCI Schuylkill, with possessing a weapon. The indictment alleges that Alexander possessed a weapon, specifically, a six-inch piece of metal sharpened to a point with a white cord handle on April 3, 2026, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service investigated both cases. The maximum penalty under federal law for both cases is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 30 Months for Drunk Driving Crash with Loaded Gun and Intent to Distribute Drugs

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

body_text: WASHINGTON - Curtis Nathaniel Suber, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison in connection with unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm while driving drunk and carrying drugs he intended to sell, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. On Nov. 26, 2025, Suber pleaded guilty before Judge Beryl A. Howell to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to the 30-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Suber to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 46-month prison term. According to court papers, about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2025, MPD officers observed a silver vehicle speeding through an intersection in the 1300 block of Florida Avenue NE. Officers followed and found the vehicle crashed into a residential apartment building. The vehicle’s airbags had deployed, and smoke was rising from the car. As officers approached, Suber stepped out holding a half-empty bottle of Hennessy. Officers recovered a loaded Glock .45 with 23 rounds in the magazine wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. Suber’s backpack contained marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, oxycodone, and ecstasy, along with a set of digital scales and $4,200 in cash. Suber tested positive at the time of arrest for cocaine, amphetamines, and fentanyl. Suber had been convicted in 2023 of carrying a pistol without a license and had completed a term of supervision for that offense just over a year before his arrest in this case. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 25cr365


title: Luzerne County Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Andrew John Murphy, age 42, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was indicted on April 28, 2026, by a federal grand jury on child exploitation charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Murphy produced child pornography from around December 2023 through April 2026. The indictment also alleges that Murphy distributed child pornography on or about April 21, 2026. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 50 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Peabody Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Extortion

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Gangster Disciple gang member from Peabody, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for making threats of physical violence to extort money from two victims. Damien Willette, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025 , Willette pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make interstate communications with the intent to extort and making interstate communications with intent to extort. Willette was indicted in March 2025 along with co-conspirators William Walley and Michael O’Shea. Willette, who was incarcerated with his alleged co-conspirators, threatened two individuals – a former Gangster Disciple who was recruited into the gang by Willette (Victim 2) and their romantic partner (Victim 1) – while serving state prison sentences. Willette expected Victim 2 to provide him with financial assistance during his incarceration from November 2020 to May 2024, as well as to his fellow incarcerated gang members. Gangster Disciple gang members refer to this practice as “aid and assistance.” Willette told Victim 2 that he would be “blessed out” of the gang if he continued to provide “aid and assistance.” However, Victim 2 attempted to disassociate from the Gangster Disciples gang soon after his recruitment. When Victim 2 stopped providing assistance, Victim 1 continued on his behalf. On or about March 2023, Willette and his alleged co-conspirators started threatening the victims with physical violence if they stopped providing money to them while they were incarcerated. For example, Willette warned the victims that if they failed to provide “aid and assistance,” Victim 2 would not be “blessed out” when Willette was released from state prison. Willette specified that he would have gang members pistol whip the victims that “it’s going to be bad for you and everyone you know” if they failed to provide “aid and assistance.” Michael O’Shea was sentenced in January 2026 to 51 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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 details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Chicago Tribune Op-Ed by Andrew S. Boutros and Christopher C. Amon: The New Dawn of Federal Anti-Violence Initiatives in Chicago

body_text: “It’s Halloween, and somebody is going to die tonight.” Those were the chilling words of a Chicago gang member who made good on his threat by firing a hail of bullets into a car on Halloween night in 2009 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. A passenger in the car was shot multiple times and died. It’s a tragedy we sadly see all too often in Chicago. It also was entirely preventable. I, Andrew S. Boutros, was then a new assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago when I received a call from an experienced federal agent about a large-scale case that had just been reassigned. Turns out the gang member who committed the drive-by murder had been under federal investigation for months. Prior to Halloween, federal agents coordinated undercover firearm purchases from him and referred the matter for federal prosecution. Federal agents had identified the defendant as highly dangerous and volatile, but the U.S. attorney’s office had opted not to charge him then while prosecutors looked for more evidence. The agent soon came to meet with me, and he did not mince words. I heard him; he was right. Working alongside another assistant federal prosecutor returned multiple indictments charging nearly two dozen members of that violent gang and others. All defendants were convicted and sent to prison. But should the case have sat for as long as it did in the quest for better evidence and case building? After all of our experience, the answer to that question is almost always: No. As I, Andrew, embark on my second year leading the Chicago U.S. attorney’s office and working closely with many law enforcement partners, including Christopher Amon, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, I can now do something about cases that trouble me, such as what happened in Humboldt Park in 2009. We, Andrew and Christopher, decided to chart a different course, which we will describe here. With dozens of newly minted federal criminal prosecutors coming on board in Chicago, many with deep experience handling violent crime cases in federal and state courts around the country, we are building the team to do it. Indeed, we will do it, all while we continue to prosecute corrupt public officials, narco-terrorists, drug traffickers, large-scale fraud, corporate crime, government benefit schemes, child predators, human traffickers and other worthy federal targets. Just scroll through our office’s news releases from last year and this year — including the first-ever annual report we issued in January: Under fresh office-wide leadership, we are doing significantly more with far fewer resources. On the violent crime front, there has long been a perception from some in Chicago that federal prosecutors must turn to large-scale conspiracy cases against street gangs as a centerpiece of urban violence reduction. The theory is intuitive: Dismantle the organization, incapacitate its leadership and send a deterrent message that reverberates across the streets. These noteworthy prosecutions, often built under racketeering or similar statutes, are resource-intensive, multiyear undertakings that culminate in sweeping indictments, dramatic news conferences and lengthy sentences. They are also, as a primary strategy for reducing today’s street violence, not the principal tool for the job. If the goal is reducing shootings this week, next month or even this year, the overwhelming evidence based on empirical research and law enforcement experience — including Christopher’s more than two decades of experience in multiple cities — as well as common sense, points toward rapid, targeted and responsive interventions that interrupt violence in real time. This is the strategy that gets results quicker. It’s the strategy that reduces violent crime and saves lives. It means measuring success not by the size of an indictment but by the absence of violence and, even more pointedly, the prevention of violence. And with the summer months ahead, it’s the strategy that will drive our violent crime initiatives at the federal level here in Chicagoland. Long-term federal gang and violence cases are built deliberately and painstakingly. Investigations often take years, involving wiretaps, informants, controlled drug and firearm transactions, financial tracing and coordination across agencies. Arrests and charges often occur long after the individuals contributed to cycles of violence and retaliation. That means by the time an indictment is returned, the factual narrative typically reflects a backward-looking account of conduct that may stretch over a decade. That retrospective orientation is inherent to the model. It is designed to tell a comprehensive story of enterprise criminality, not to disrupt the next retaliatory shooting. Violence, however, operates on a different clock. Most shootings are not the product of hierarchical gang directives or long-term conspiracies; they are reactive, situational and often impulsive. A slight, a social media post, a perceived encroachment on territory, a dispute involving a girlfriend can escalate into lethal violence in hours or even minutes. The individuals involved are frequently known to local law enforcement and community members. What is missing is not information. What is needed is clear deterrence and accountability through immediate arrest, detention and prosecution of worthy targets. Arresting and federally charging a dangerous felon in possession of a firearm before he shoots someone are far more effective — and decent — actions than prosecuting that defendant for murder after he has already killed somebody. There is also a mismatch in scale. Long-term federal gang and violence prosecutions are designed to take down organizations. But as the data shows, violence is largely concentrated among a small number of individuals and increasingly smaller, yet no less violent and lethal, groups of street gangs and crews. Strategies that focus on rapid, targeted intervention operate at the right level of analysis and on the right timeline. They are not about building perfect courtroom cases; they are about preventing the next act of violence. When it comes to dangerous offenders, simple and straightforward gun cases spearheaded through violent crime prevention centers like ATF’s Chicago Gun Intelligence Center and charged swiftly by federal prosecutors can do more with less to immediately curb violence in Chicago. As the head of ATF Chicago, I, Christopher, have seen firsthand that by leveraging technology such as ballistic evidence, law enforcement can identify the true drivers of violence to intervene early and disrupt the violence cycle. In doing so, we can focus on individuals with extensive criminal histories who illegally possess guns as well as those linked to prior shootings. Federal law can also serve as a backstop when state prosecutions face complicated legal or factual scenarios, such as self-defense. In those instances, perpetrators can be charged under federal firearms statutes that carry a maximum 15-year prison sentence. Critically, real-time prosecutions also are far less resource-intensive. A single long-term federal gang case can consume enormous prosecutorial, investigative and judicial resources. Agents are tied up for years. Prosecutors devote substantial time to managing multidefendant litigation, complex evidentiary records and massive volumes of discovery. Even successful prosecutions may not bring about the desired force-multiplier effects. Convictions have frequently resulted in retrials for one reason or another. Lengthy prison sentences imposed years after the crime may not influence other individuals making split-second decisions in volatile situations. Meanwhile, those same law enforcement resources, if redeployed toward proactive intervention such as gun prosecutions and rapid-response initiatives, can produce swift, predictable justice that is more immediate, measurable, exact and effective in reducing violence, even if they lack major headlines, courtroom drama, celebrated outcomes and obvious career advancement. Rapid-response strategies are not ad hoc; they depend on structured, robust collaboration among law enforcement partners and prosecutors. In Chicago, when it comes to anti-violence work, we are lucky to have first-rate federal agents and experienced federal, state and local leadership in place at all those levels, including FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug DePodesta, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Todd Smith, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino, U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds, Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and many others. This shift in mindset took hold in the federal law enforcement community many years ago, even if it has not made its way to some former prosecutors and others who practiced decades ago or never really practiced in this space at all. Those who reminisce about large-scale, multiyear violence prosecutions often speak of a bygone era when prosecutors and defendants operated with beepers, typewriters, fax machines, Dictaphones and cassette players — as opposed to the lightning speed of social media, encrypted messaging apps, drones and other forms of modern technology, such as computers, the internet and smartphones. The Chicago U.S. attorney’s office and the ATF’s Chicago Field Division play a key role in providing investigative and prosecutorial muscle for tough-on-crime enforcement that quickly disrupts the cycle of violence and leads to safer streets and fewer victims. The next shooting will not be prevented by a case that will be indicted three years from now. It will be prevented by what happens in the next 24 to 72 hours. The tragic murder of that young man in Humboldt Park years ago is a prime example of what we speak. But his senseless death has informed the thinking of today’s law enforcement leaders, who are working, strategizing and innovating to try to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Against that backdrop, at the U.S. attorney’s office and ATF, our collective focus squarely resides in acting now, all while upholding the most cherished traditions of our storied offices. ~~~~ Andrew S. Boutros is United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Christopher C. Amon is Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This Op-Ed was published in the Chicago Tribune on April 29, 2026.


title: Statement Regarding Recent Media Reports on Court Ruling

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: The following may be attributed to First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda: “Yesterday, a report appeared in both local and national media pertaining to U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose of the District of Rhode Island and her decision to release Bryan Rafael Gomez in connection with a habeas petition seeking his release. Those media accounts erroneously state that Judge DuBose made the decision to release him with knowledge that authorities in the Dominican Republic had issued an arrest warrant in connection with a homicide in that country. As our recent filing in this matter makes clear, Judge DuBose did not have knowledge at the time of her ruling that Gomez was wanted by authorities in the Dominican Republic.” The Court’s Order to Show Cause is attached. 2026_05_01_-_26cv245mrd_gomez_-_ecf_07_-_resp._to_order_to_show_cause.pdf


title: Maryland Man Indicted on Unauthorized Computer Access Related to a Maryland Medical System and Identity Theft Charges

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man is facing federal indictment stemming from an unauthorized computer access scheme involving a Maryland medical system. Matthew Bathula, 41, of Clarksville, is charged with two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer, and one count of aggravated identity theft while working as a pharmacy clinical specialist for Company A, a medical system located in the District of Maryland. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Bathula’s alleged actions are a reprehensible invasion of privacy. He betrayed the trust of his employer and co-workers, as he gained access into the private worlds of nearly 200 victims without their knowledge or consent,” Hayes said. “We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to holding individuals accountable who commit cybersecurity crimes, thereby harming unsuspecting people.” “Matthew Bathula is accused of weaponizing technology to spy on hundreds of unsuspecting victims for eight years,” Paul said. “I am proud of the swift and thorough response by FBI Baltimore’s team of investigators who handled this case with urgency, care, and sensitivity. They worked diligently to identify and notify each of the 195 victims, who are located around the country, in just four months. The FBI will always investigate, pursue, and hold accountable those who hide behind screens and keyboards to exploit and violate the privacy of others.” According to the indictment, between July 2016 and September 2024, Bathula intentionally accessed Company A computers without authorization and obtained information from protected computers. Through this unlawful access, Bathula obtained victims’ usernames, passwords, cookies, images, videos, and other data. Bathula also used various cyber intrusion techniques — such as keylogging, cookie managers, mailbox-rule creation, and file masquerading — to obtain access to personal and professional accounts of people who were current or former employees, in a relationship with a current or former employee, and others affiliated with Company A. This enabled Bathula to access victims’ online services such as Google Photos, iCloud Photos, Gmail, and Microsoft 365, and social media accounts. Additionally, the mailbox rule Bathula created automatically deleted incoming emails with the subject heading Critical Security Alert . This rule prevented Company A cybersecurity personnel from knowing their accounts were compromised. Bathula’s repeated exportation of browser cookies allowed him to import cookies into an internet browser and access victims’ accounts on other devices without their authorization. This enabled Bathula to maintain unauthorized access to victims’ accounts on his personal electronic devices from locations outside of Company A’s network. Additionally, between February 2023, and continuing through July 2024, Bathula installed a spyware software program on one or more of Company A’s computers. Through using the software, Bathula conducted video surveillance of people present at Company A, and recorded victims without their consent, including people engaged in breast pumping. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Bathula faces up to 10 years in federal prison for unauthorized access to a protected computer (Company A), five years for unauthorized access to a protected computer (victims) and a maximum of two years for aggravated identity theft. By statute, the aggravated identity theft must run consecutive to any sentence imposed on Count Two. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Two Individuals and a Corporation Charged with Conspiring to Violate the Clean Air Act and Illegally Emitting Pollutants in Puerto Rico

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment today charging Ramon Plaza-Gregory, Ileana Cortes-Gonzalez, and Mo-Na-Co Biomedical & Environmental Corp. (Monaco) with five violations of the Clean Air Act as well as conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. The charges relate to emissions from Monaco’s commercial incinerator in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, which is owned by Plaza-Gregory and operated by both Plaza-Gregory and Cortes-Gonzalez. According to the indictment, Monaco was permitted to incinerate pathological waste, subject to limitations on the type of materials that could be burned and the amount of emissions that could be released. Starting in August of 2021, Plaza-Gregory and Cortes-Gonzalez burned unpermitted materials, used malfunctioning equipment, and exceeded emissions limitations. After an inspector from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told the defendants of the violations, Plaza-Gregory began operating Monaco’s incinerator on weekends and holidays. The defendants continued to operate the incinerator illegally and emissions excesses were documented again in July 2024. In September 2024, Monaco’s emissions permit expired and was not renewed, yet the Defendants continued to operate the incinerator on weekends and cause emissions up until at least April of 2026. “The Clean Air Act is a foundational piece of American environmental law, and when its clear guidelines are disregarded, we are committed to enforcing it,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) “Commonsense enforcement actions will help keep our communities healthy.” “Ensuring that all residents of Puerto Rico enjoy a healthy environment free of hazardous waste and other pollutants is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our federal and local partners,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to protecting our communities from environmental and health hazards.” “Environmental crimes are not abstract or victimless crimes — they impact the health, safety, and quality of life of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris for the FBI's San Juan Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to investigate these violations and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.” “Monaco knowingly violated its Clean Air Act permit first by burning biomedical waste, and, once its permit lapsed completely, also continuing to burn pathological waste like animal carcasses. There is no telling what harmful pollution was emitted from improper and incomplete incineration,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey A. Hall. “The company president deliberately concealed these violations by failing to record basic information about what was being burned, by not even maintaining a functioning temperature gauge, and by operating on weekends and holidays. Environmental protection depends on companies attempting to comply with the law in good faith, and these knowing and repeated violations and intentional evasion of Clean Air Act requirements justify criminal penalties.” The Clean Air Act is the country’s primary tool to fight air pollution in an effort “to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources so as to promote the public health.” In order to do so, polluting facilities are required to operate pursuant to permits that set limits on what, and how much, pollution can be emitted. Both Plaza-Gregory and Cortes-Gonzalez are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hector Ramos-Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for their respective initial appearances. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each charge. Monaco faces a maximum penalty of $500,000 in fines per charge. The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI’s Aguadilla Resident Agency which participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico. Report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations at epa.gov/tips . You can provide tips anonymously if you do not want to identify yourself. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Virginia-Based Naval Serviceman Charged for Transporting Lafayette-Area Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On April 30, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Sadiq Rauf Perry, a 27-year-old Virginia-based naval serviceman, by criminal complaint with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Perry faces 10 years up to life in federal prison for the charge. “This case is every parent’s worst nightmare, and our Office deeply appreciates our law enforcement partners’ quick action that led to the recovery of this minor girl. The case is also a reminder to every parent that we must not only be vigilant in our children’s use of the Internet but must also act quickly to report situations where a child may be taken in by one of these predators,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The tragedy of these cases is that the criminal acts are not something we can take away or undo. That said, we look forward to prosecuting this matter to the fullest extent of the law to ensure accountability and deterrence for these heinous acts and remind our community of the importance of being vigilant as parents and neighbors.” "The FBI worked closely with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office to find this teen and bring her home safely," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "It is critical for parents and children to understand the dangers of communicating with strangers online. In this case, the family acted quickly and that helped us prevent what could have been a tragic outcome." As alleged in court documents, this case arose from a parent reporting her 14-year-old daughter to have run away from home after the mother found her engaging in inappropriate communications with someone online claiming to be 18 years old. Shortly after taking her phone and grounding her, the parent realized her daughter to be gone. Law enforcement found that a rideshare transported the 14-year-old to the airport, and she boarded a flight for Norfolk, VA. Both the rideshare and airline flight were purchased by Perry. Perry ensured the minor victim would be able to board the flight without suspicion by providing a fictitious date of birth for her that falsely represented her to be old enough to travel unaccompanied. Law enforcement secured video surveillance showing the minor to have flown from Lafayette to Virginia and to have been picked up by Perry, who was driving a vehicle registered to him. Law enforcement tracked Perry to a hotel where law enforcement found both Perry and the minor sharing a room with one bed. The minor later disclosed that Perry and she had sexual intercourse at the hotel. This case is being investigated by the New Orleans and Norfolk Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Virginia Beach Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer . The case number for this matter is 26-mj-00116-01. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Western District of Louisiana Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: WALKER MAN SENTENCED TO 282 MONTHS IN  FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION

body_text: Richard Lance Cline Jr., age 35, of Walker, Louisiana, was sentenced to 282 months in federal prison following his convictions for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge John W. deGravelles further sentenced Cline to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, on February 25, 2021, and March 3, 2021, Cline sold 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. On March 9, 2021, he was arrested in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine while attempting a third sale to an undercover law enforcement officer. Cline raised the defense of entrapment, but the jury unanimously rejected the entrapment argument and convicted Cline of distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “Punishing those who continue to sell drugs in our community is a major priority of this office,” stated U.S. Attorney Wall. “Twenty-three years in federal prison is the type of sentence that should begin to grab their attention.” “Methamphetamine destroys lives and tears at the fabric of our neighborhoods. Today’s sentencing ensures this offender is off the streets for nearly 24 years,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “This lengthy prison term is a victory for public safety and a testament to the seamless collaboration between federal and local law enforcement.” U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Ellison C. Travis oversaw the prosecution.


title: Convicted Felon from East Boston Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Machinegun and Ghost Guns

body_text: BOSTON – An East Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a machinegun. Three privately made firearms (ghost guns), four machine gun conversion devices, a 3D printer, five magazines and 31 privately made firearm receivers were allegedly found during a search on March 31, 2026. Angel Negron, 47, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a machinegun. Negron was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 2026 . He remains detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 6, 2026. According to the charging documents, between Jan. 14, 2026, and March 2, 2026, Negron ordered 29 firearm parts to his apartment via his eBay account. Additionally, on March 3, 2026, Negron allegedly submitted an online complaint to a firearm company, saying that a trigger he purchased from the company’s eBay store did not fire his firearm properly. In that communication, Negron allegedly included a photograph of a firearm with a 3D printed frame. During a search of Negron’s apartment on March 31, 2026, three privately made firearms (ghost guns), four machine gun conversion devices, a 3D printer, five magazines and 31 privately made firearm receivers were seized: In 2007, Negron was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of possession of a firearm without a license and carrying a loaded firearm, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in the house of correction. The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime and Supervised Release Violation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Kennedy, 45, of St. Albans, was sentenced on Thursday, April 30, 2026, to 15 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and for violating supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2025, Kennedy participated in a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine in St. Albans and elsewhere. As part of his guilty plea, Kennedy admitted that a co-conspirator in California shipped several pounds of methamphetamine to locations in Kanawha County during the time period. Kennedy further admitted that he took possession of the methamphetamine and re-distributed it after arranging for another co-conspirator to pick up the shipments at the delivery locations. Kennedy also admitted that he provided half-pound quantities of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator in St. Albans on May 30, 2025, and June 24, 2025, each time after the co-conspirator contacted him seeking methamphetamine for re-distribution to a customer. On June 25, 2025, Kennedy distributed approximately 690 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in St. Albans. On August 22, 2025, law enforcement officers intercepted a package en route to a Dunbar address and found it contained approximately 38 pounds of methamphetamine. Officers replaced most of the methamphetamine with a non-narcotic substance before the package was delivered to the Dunbar address. Kennedy admitted that he arranged for a co-conspirator to pick up the package and deliver it to a St. Albans address where Kennedy later took possession of it. Officers approached and arrested Kennedy shortly after he picked up the package. At the time of this offense, Kennedy was serving a term of supervised release as a result of his October 4, 2022, conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kennedy possessed a Dickinson model XXPA 12-gauge shotgun on June 30, 2022, the opening day of the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, during an incident at Jet Life Apparel on Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston in which shots were fired. Law enforcement officers recovered the shotgun and a second firearm in an alley near the business following the incident. Both firearms were loaded with high-capacity drum magazines. Today’s sentence includes eight months for violating supervised release. Kennedy has a long criminal history that includes eight felony convictions, six of them for federal offenses. “This isn’t just a drug case — this is a three-decade campaign of destruction. Nearly 40 pounds of meth, shipped in from California, funneled straight into our community like poison through a pipeline,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Even prison didn’t stop him. Even supervision didn’t slow him. That tells you exactly who we’re dealing with. We stayed on him because the stakes were too high to do anything less. Today, that pipeline is shut down, and this community is safer for it. And let this be understood — if you bring this kind of poison here, we will hunt you down and make sure you don’t get a second chance to do it again.” Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-166. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 109 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 109 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On April 24, Brandon Ramos Bonilla, a Mexican citizen and border crosser card holder, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 61 pounds of cocaine concealed in the roof and firewall of the defendant’s vehicle as he tried to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. On April 25, Francisco Ramon Garcia and Antonio Ramos, citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the defendants were captains of a smuggling boat that was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard off Point Loma with five undocumented Mexican nationals on board. Also arrested was Oscar Orozco Avilar, who was charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. On April 28, Fernando Vega-Sanchez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. According to a complaint, Vega-Sanchez was arrested by Customs and Border Protection officers at the pedestrian lanes of the San Ysidro Port of Entry after he claimed to be someone else but had no documents. Officers learned his true identity and he was taken into custody. The defendant was previously removed from the U.S. seven times. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: South Carolina Man Ordered to Pay $271,444.86 for 2022 West Virginia Turnpike Crash that Polluted Paint Creek

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dennis Eugene West, 58, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was ordered to pay $266,444,86 in restitution on April 29, 2026, for negligent discharge of pollutants into United States waters. West was previously sentenced to three years of federal probation and fined $5,000. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 24, 2022, West was driving a tractor trailer in the northbound lane of the West Virginia Turnpike/Interstate 64-77 when he crashed while crossing Skitter Creek Bridge in Fayette County. Numerous totes containing alkyl dimethylamine that West was hauling ruptured as a result of the crash, and the pollutants spilled onto the bridge and ultimately discharged into Paint Creek. The discharge of the pollutants into Paint Creek, a tributary of the Kanawha River, continued until August 25, 2025, and caused adverse impacts on the aquatic life of the creek including the killing of several species of fish. The crash also shut down that entire section of the West Virginia Turnpike for more than 12 hours. As part of his guilty plea, West admitted that he operated the tractor trailer while under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Law enforcement determined that West’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was more than 0.08 percent. West Virginia law prohibits any person from operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 percent or more. West further admitted that he did not have a permit issued pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act to discharge pollutants, including alkyl dimethylamine, into Paint Creek or any other water in West Virginia. West also pleaded guilty on behalf of his trucking business, Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC, to negligent discharge of pollutants into United States waters. The trucking firm’s insurance policy, which covered West, previously paid over $900,000 toward environmental containment, site cleanup, personal injury expenses, property damages, and other related costs. “The defendant chose to transport a hazardous chemical while intoxicated, and that reckless decision didn’t just break the law — it put lives at risk and scarred this community’s environment,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “What followed, however, was a remarkable show of professionalism and resolve. I want to recognize the investigators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia State Police, whose work ensured accountability in this case. Equally important are the first responders — men and women who ran toward danger, not away from it — who secured the scene, protected the public, and worked tirelessly, hour after hour, to contain the damage and begin restoring what was harmed. Their swift, coordinated response turned what could have been far worse into a situation this community can recover from. Their commitment deserves not just our thanks, but our respect.” United States District Judge Irene C. Berger ordered the restitution and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Lastra prosecuted the case with assistance from Financial Litigation Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Combs. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-175. ###


title: Over 250 New Federal Immigration Cases Added in Western District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 253 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 24 to April 30, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crime, sex crime, drug trafficking, and multiple prior removals. Among the new cases, Julian Hernandez , a U.S. citizen, was arrested in El Paso and charged with alien smuggling. A criminal complaint alleges U.S. Border Patrol agents observed four individuals run toward a vehicle parked in a parking lot, lay down in an effort to conceal themselves and, after the vehicle drove toward them, entered the vehicle. Agents responded and followed the vehicle to a residential area, where they allegedly observed the driver running away from the vehicle. The driver, allegedly determined to be Hernandez, was caught and the four illegal aliens were placed under arrest. The complaint alleges Hernandez attempted to transport four illegal aliens to a stash house and had been offered $200 for each individual he successfully transported. Guillermo Gonzalo Taperia-Ruiz , an illegal alien from Guatemala, was found approximately six miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. He had previously been removed from the U.S. for the fourth time on Oct. 31, 2025, and has been convicted multiple times for charges including statutory rape, assault causing bodily injury, domestic assault, and a DUI. Geronimo Reyes-Delgadillo , an illegal alien from Mexico, was found approximately 25 miles east of the Fort Hancock POE. He was last removed in 2015. In 2010, Reyes-Delgadillo was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 18 months of probation. Mexican national Francisco Antonio Marquez Sanprano was taken into ICE custody from the Bastrop County Jail, where he had been arrested for an alleged DWI. Marquez Sanprano has been convicted for DWI twice before and was also previously convicted for one count of failing to stop and give information and one count of giving false information. He’s been removed from the U.S. three times. Jose Alberto Castro-Gatica , also an illegal alien from Mexico, was taken into ICE custody from the Travis County Jail following his second DWI conviction. Castro-Garcia has also been removed from the U.S. three times and, in January 2020, was twice convicted for improper entry by an alien. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Two Massachusetts Men Plead Guilty To Their Roles  In Multi-Million Dollar Bank Fraud Ring

body_text: BOSTON – Two Massachusetts men pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to their roles in a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Victor Kolawole, 26, of Brockton and Keith Wainaina, 24, of Lowell, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Julie E. Kobick scheduled sentencings for July 23, 2026 and Sept. 9, 2026, respectively. In July 2025 , Wainaina and Kolawole were arrested along with four others. Beginning no later than December 2022, Kolawole and Wainaina conspired with Phalentz Vernot and others to defraud local banks. Specifically, Vernot obtained, without authorization, the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of customers of various local banks. Vernot and Wainaina then identified individuals to pose as these customers and procured fake identification documents with the victim customers’ names but the imposters’ photos. Vernot and Wainaina then drove the imposters to banks, where the imposters presented the fake identification documents and withdrew large sums from the victim customers’ accounts in the form of Cashier’s checks. Wainaina and Kolawole then deposited those checks into bank accounts they controlled and used the funds to purchase additional Cashier’s checks payable to Vernot. Vernot used some of the money to pay the individuals posing as bank customers as well as bank insiders who helped to facilitate their scheme, including by intentionally skipping customer verification protocols. Wainaina deposited, or attempted to deposit, more than $762,000 in Cashier’s checks drawn on victims’ accounts into bank accounts he controlled. Kolawole deposited approximately $373,000 in Cashier’s checks drawn on victims’ accounts into bank accounts he controlled. Vernot pleaded guilty in December 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2026. The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. 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 P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Connecticut State Police and the Gloucester (R.I.), Sutton, Concord (Mass.), Dracut, Westwood and Abington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment today charging Ramón Plaza-Gregory, Ileana Cortés-González, and Mo-Na-Co Biomedical & Environmental Corp. (Monaco) with five violations of the Clean Air Act as well as conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. The charges relate to emissions from Monaco’s commercial incinerator in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, which is owned by Plaza-Gregory and operated by both Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González. According to the indictment, Monaco was permitted to incinerate pathological waste, subject to limitations on the type of materials that could be burned and the amount of emissions that could be released. Starting in August of 2021, Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González burned unpermitted materials, used malfunctioning equipment, and exceeded emissions limitations. After an inspector from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told the defendants of the violations, Plaza-Gregory began operating Monaco’s incinerator on weekends and holidays. The defendants continued to operate the incinerator illegally and emissions excesses were documented again in July 2024. In September 2024, Monaco’s emissions permit expired and was not renewed, yet the Defendants continued to operate the incinerator on weekends and cause emissions up until at least April of 2026. “The Clean Air Act is a foundational piece of American environmental law, and when its clear guidelines are disregarded, we are committed to enforcing it,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) “Commonsense enforcement actions will help keep our communities healthy.” “Ensuring that all residents of Puerto Rico enjoy a healthy environment free of hazardous waste and other pollutants is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our federal and local partners,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to protecting our communities from environmental and health hazards.” “Environmental crimes are not abstract or victimless crimes — they impact the health, safety, and quality of life of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris for the FBI's San Juan Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to investigate these violations and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.” “Monaco knowingly violated its Clean Air Act permit first by burning biomedical waste, and, once its permit lapsed completely, also continuing to burn pathological waste like animal carcasses. There is no telling what harmful pollution was emitted from improper and incomplete incineration,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey A. Hall. “The company president deliberately concealed these violations by failing to record basic information about what was being burned, by not even maintaining a functioning temperature gauge, and by operating on weekends and holidays. Environmental protection depends on companies attempting to comply with the law in good faith, and these knowing and repeated violations and intentional evasion of Clean Air Act requirements justify criminal penalties.” The Clean Air Act is the country’s primary tool to fight air pollution in an effort “to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources so as to promote the public health.” In order to do so, polluting facilities are required to operate pursuant to permits that set limits on what, and how much, pollution can be emitted. Both Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González are scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for their respective initial appearances. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each charge. Monaco faces a maximum penalty of $500,000 in fines per charge. The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI’s Aguadilla Resident Agency which participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico. Report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations at epa.gov/tips . You can provide tips anonymously if you do not want to identify yourself. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: California Man Sentenced to 144 Months In Prison For Fraudulently Obtaining $59 Million In Public Benefits And Laundering Proceeds To China

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bruce Jin, age 61, a resident of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $59 million. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Jin previously pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, and admitted that he and his coconspirators Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, both of Los Angeles, California, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means. Jin, Cleland, Grijalva, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (“UC”) benefits. The indictment alleges that Economic Impact Payments, or “stimulus payments,” were also obtained through fraudulent means. Unnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be located in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (“PII”) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. These fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and other states. After UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims’ accounts to companies controlled by Cleland, Jin, and Grijalva. For instance, Jin, through companies that he controlled known as Ample International and Jin Commerce, received over $12 million in UC funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. In addition, the defendants used ACH processing—a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer—to obtain over $45 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, GC Accounting, and CLECO. After that, Cleland and Grijalva transferred over $30 million to Jin’s companies and over $6 million to a company controlled by an associate of Jin. After Jin received the fraudulent funds, either from identity theft victims’ accounts or from Cleland and Grijalva through ACH processing, he then made international wire transfers totaling over $35 million to a bank account associated with a company in China, which is known in the Indictment as “COMPANY 2.” Jin also transferred over $2 million directly to the individual in China who controlled that company, who is referred to as “COCONSPIRATOR 2” in the Indictment. Jin was ordered to forfeit over $59 million in US currency, along with other properties. Cleland and Grijalva have both pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in May 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Patrick B. Gushue prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Oklahoma City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – NATASHA ALLMON , 49, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison for health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, from January 2021 through December 2023, Allmon had an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to provide behavioral health counseling services. During that time, Allmon submitted, and caused to be submitted, thousands of false and fraudulent claims to BCBS for behavioral health counseling sessions purportedly provided to family members. Court records allege that Allmon routinely claimed to have provided 60-minute psychiatric treatment sessions to family members nearly every day of the year and, at times, claimed to have treated beneficiaries for more than 24 hours in a single day. In total, Allmon submitted approximately $1.4 million in claims for services, receiving close to $1.1 million in reimbursements from BCBS. On August 1, 2025, Allmon was charged by Information with health care fraud. Allmon pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025, and admitted she knowingly executed a scheme to defraud a healthcare benefit program. At a sentencing hearing on April 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Allmon to serve 20 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Allmon was also ordered to pay nearly $1.1 million in restitution to BCBS. In announcing his sentence, Judge DeGiusti noted the prolonged nature of Allmon’s fraud scheme, the significant loss to BCBS, and the seriousness of health care fraud against private and governmental insurers. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution and  Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced last week by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief/Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC) to 336 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride and a concurrent 240 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence will be followed by a total of five years of supervised release. Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, age 42, of Naco, Mexico, was charged along with 37 other individuals in November 2024 by a federal grand jury seated in the Middle District of North Carolina with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride. Leon-Soto is also known as Manny, Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro, Jesus Lopez Castro, Pedro Beltran Zazueta, Pedro Zazueta Beltran, Emmanuel Gomez, Emanuel Leon, Emanuel Leon-Soto, Manuel Leon Soto, Jose Manuel Lopez Castro, and Emanuel Pena Gomez. He was one of 10 defendants in the case also charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme. Prior to his indictment, Leon-Soto was designated as a Regional Priority Target (RPOT) by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. He is a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel (also known as Cartel de Sinaloa, Mexican Federation, and Guadalajara Cartel), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cártel de Sinaloa is one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels and one of the largest producers involved in the smuggling, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. “Mexican Cartel kingpins poisoning America will face justice in every judicial district in our country. Leon-Soto and his co-conspirators distributed staggering amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in our district and beyond,” said Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The sentencing represents the culmination of a broad collaboration of law enforcement partners determined to disrupt and dismantle Sinaloa Cartel operations in our homeland. Be assured we will continue to use all available resources to attack the criminal organizations that flood our streets with dangerous drugs.” “Today marks a significant victory for the many law enforcement agencies that worked together to dismantle this organization,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The Postal Inspection Service remains committed to protecting the integrity of the mail, disrupting illicit drug trafficking, and safeguarding the American public. This success is a direct result of the strong collaboration among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.” “This arrest strikes at the heart of a cartel network responsible for flooding our communities with deadly drugs,” said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. “HSI and our partners are relentless in pursuing those who profit from addiction and violence. We will continue to dismantle criminal organizations and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl and other narcotics.” “Today’s sentence underscores our unwavering commitment to bringing drug traffickers to justice,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.” “This sentencing sends a strong message to those criminals trafficking drugs. We are committed to identifying and dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering networks by targeting the individuals who facilitate or profit from these operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents utilize their financial expertise and legal authority to collaborate with partner agencies, tracing illicit financial activity to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl and other drugs within the United States.” “The Marshals are committed to reducing violent crime by taking criminals off the streets,” said Catrina A. Thompson, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of North Carolina. “We are proud to play our part in disrupting these networks and helping to reduce the availability of dangerous drugs and make all of our communities safer.” Investigating agencies include the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Candor Police Department, Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Mooresville Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, and Surry County Sheriff’s Office. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Pousson, Randall Galyon, and Nicole DuPré. ###


title: Illegal Alien from El Salvador Indicted: Two Counts of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Destruction of Government Property

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, charging him with two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destruction of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on the morning of April 7, 2026, four federal immigration officers conducted an operation in the city of Patterson to locate and arrest Mendoza Hernandez because he is illegally present in the United States. Officers stopped Mendoza Hernandez near an onramp to Interstate 5 by activating their emergency lights. Mendoza Hernandez pulled over on the right shoulder. During the stop, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself and an agent informed Mendoza Hernandez that he was being detained and instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Despite repeated requests, Mendoza Hernandez kept his car running and did not comply with agent requests. Mendoza Hernandez eventually drove forward and hit an agent with his vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez then quickly shifted the vehicle in reverse and abruptly accelerated in a rapid backward motion. While in reverse, Mendoza Hernandez violently collided with the front of a law enforcement vehicle parked behind Mendoza Hernandez. After striking the front of the agents’ vehicle, Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle then directly faced two of the agents assisting in the stop. After a brief pause, Mendoza Hernandez accelerated forward toward the agents. One of the agents was in the direct path of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Mendoza Hernandez jumped the center median and drove the wrong way against traffic toward the freeway. He then crossed the median, stopping his car on the side of the road. During this incident, and in response to the vehicle’s movements, agents discharged their firearms at the vehicle and hit Mendoza Hernandez several times. Agents rendered medical aid at the scene and Mendoza Hernandez was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Mendoza Hernandez was medically cleared and taken into FBI custody on Monday, April 13, 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helped secure the scene and provided substantial public safety assistance while Mendoza Hernandez recovered in the hospital. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support following the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case. On April 20, 2026, the District Court ordered Mendoza Hernandez to remain detained pending trial in this matter. If convicted of the assault charges, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. If convicted of the destruction charge, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.