title: North Providence Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Larry W. Albino, 52, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 25 years of imprisonment to be followed by lifetime supervised release, sex offender registry and $3,000 restitution to victim. Albino previously pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025 to one count of production of child pornography. “The depravity of the defendant’s actions cannot be overstated, and the victimization of children represents some of the most disturbing conduct our office prosecutes,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “We will continue to use every available resource, alongside our law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate, and hold those responsible fully accountable.” “Albino earned each and every year of this significant sentence. He not only assaulted a child, but he also immortalized that abuse in the ultimate betrayal of an innocent life. This sentence cannot undo the harm he has done, but it does take him off the streets and away from children,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “This joint investigation was made possible through the close partnership with our colleagues at the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. We are working tirelessly, leveraging our combined expertise to hunt down predators like Albino and seek justice for their victims.” According to information presented to the court, on September 16, 2024, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an IP address, later determined to belong to Albino’s residence, was used to upload ten files depicting the abuse of a pre-pubescent child. Further investigation revealed that that the location where the videos were recorded matched images of rooms recently displayed in an online property rental listing where Albino resides. As detailed in court documents, on September 17, 2024, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Albino’s residence and immediately recognized that some of the furnishings of rooms inside Albino’s residence matched those depicted in the videos of child sexual abuse. Additionally, sandals worn by the defendant at the time officers arrived matched those worn by the abuser in some of the videos. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was jointly investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc


title: St. Louis Man Caught Twice with Guns and Drugs Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man caught twice with guns and drugs on the same block in St. Louis to 200 months in prison. At Irven L. White’s trial in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in October, evidence and testimony showed that on Nov. 1, 2023, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer saw White conducting what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the 4400 block of Farlin Avenue. When other officers approached, White fled, discarding a firearm, but he was immediately detained. Officers found fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base. On August 26, 2024, officers were notified that White, who had an outstanding warrant for the November 1 incident, was again conducting a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the same block. He fled officers again, leaving behind a bag containing two guns. He was arrested in a nearby home, where officers found fentanyl and cocaine base. White has multiple prior felony convictions and is thus barred from possessing firearms. Among his prior convictions is one for second degree murder involving a drug-linked shooting in the 4400 block of Farlin Avenue on Aug. 4, 1997. At the time of the Nov. 1, 2023, incident, he was on supervised release from a 2009 federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm – an offense that occurred in the same block of Farlin. White, 47, of St. Louis, was found guilty at trial of six felonies: two counts each of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Goeke prosecuted the case.


title: Anchorage man sentenced to over 13 years for role in Alaska drug trafficking conspiracy

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to over 13 years in prison for conspiring with others to traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin in Alaska on behalf of a drug trafficking organization allegedly run by a California inmate . According to court documents, on March 23, 2023, Richard Frye, 37, and co-conspirator Tiffani Couch, 32, drove their other co-conspirator Anna Petla, 26, to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and dropped her off. Law enforcement officials contacted Petla inside the airport and found her in possession of nearly 3,000 blue fentanyl pills and over 80 grams of methamphetamine that she was planning to transport to Sand Point for distribution. Law enforcement officials subsequently contacted Frye and Couch as they waited in their vehicle outside the departure area and detained both. Officers searched the vehicle and found over 500 blue fentanyl pills and over 40 grams of other controlled substances. On June 9, 2023, law enforcement officials contacted Frye and Couch during a traffic stop in Anchorage. Frye was a fugitive with an outstanding arrest warrant and attempted to flee the traffic stop. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered roughly 1,400 blue fentanyl pills, over 12 grams of other controlled substances and two loaded ammunition magazines. Frye, as part of the conspiracy involving the drug trafficking organization, intended to distribute to others both the controlled substances police seized from his vehicle in March 2023, and those seized from his vehicle in June 2023. After law enforcement officials arrested Frye and Couch following the traffic stop on June 9, Frye was booked into custody at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. During booking staff found a suspicious mass in Frye’s stomach during a body scan. It was later determined that before his arrest, Frye ingested fentanyl and suboxone wrapped in cellophane and condoms with the intent to distribute these substances inside the correctional facility. Frye posted state bail and was released. Frye spoke to the alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization on the phone after his releases and discussed a plan to smuggle suboxone strips into the Anchorage Correctional Complex again because the substance was going for “300 a piece right now” inside the complex. Frye was ordered detained again following a bail hearing in state court on June 23, 2023. On June 25, 2023, correctional officers discovered Frye attempted to secrete on his body roughly 70 suboxone strips into the detention facility with the intent to distribute them inside the facility. Court documents also explain that between December 2022 and March 2023, Frye used a digital money transferring service to send over $8,800 to a co-conspirator’s account. During the same time frame, Frye received nine transfers totaling over $1,000 from the same co-conspirator. “With today’s sentence, we are one step closer to dismantling Alaska’s largest drug trafficking enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “I am grateful for the collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold those involved in trafficking fentanyl accountable.” “This defendant’s actions show the lengths traffickers will go to peddle poison in correctional facilities and in our communities in Alaska,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Cases like this demonstrate DEA’s unwavering commitment to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain and holding accountable those who distribute these deadly drugs. Through enforcement, education, awareness, and strong partnerships with our law enforcement colleagues, we are working every day toward a Fentanyl Free America. Together, we can protect our communities and save American lives.” Co-defendants in this case are as follows: Couch, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Couch was sentenced to four years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Feb. 5, 2026. Petla, of Dillingham, pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Petla was sentenced to four years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Oct. 28, 2025. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case expect for certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal. The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division Office and Anchorage District Office, FBI Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile, Homeland Security Investigations Anchorage, Alaska Office, Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Jury Finds Prior Felon Guilty of Aggravated Assault and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Gladden was found guilty by a jury of one count each of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Superior Court Judge Brandt Rainey scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was standing on the first-floor patio of his friend’s apartment in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden, who lived in the apartment next door, saw the victim and confronted him about an ongoing dispute about money. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim in the chest one time. The victim suffered grievous injury and almost died. However, thanks to the Whole Blood Program, which had been launched that month, the victim received a blood transfusion on the ambulance and survived. Unfortunately, in April 2025, before having a chance to testify, Seward died of cancer. After learning the identity of the shooter from the victim, police obtained an emergency search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located ammunition that matched a casing found near the location of the shooting, along with firearms accessories and a holster. Additionally, a neighbor provided Ring cam footage showing the defendant fleeing from the front door of his apartment after the shooting. Gladden was arrested on July 4, 2024, and has been in custody since. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson. 2024 CF3 006550


title: Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – A former Mexico, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for using a 9-year-old victim to produce child pornography. Emrah Eymez, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 300 months and a lifetime of supervised release based upon his guilty plea to attempted production of child pornography where he used a child under the age of 12 to produce child pornography from March 11 through April 2, 2024. According to court documents, the mother of the 9-year-old victim contacted law enforcement to report the extensive cell phone communication between Eymez and her daughter. The communication involved the exchange of nude images and a sexually explicit video the child sent to Eymez. Eymez will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by The Boone County, Mo Sheriff’s Office. Project Safe Childhood 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 . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Importing Synthetic Cathinones from China

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Miami man pleaded guilty today to drug-trafficking offenses related to the importation of N-Isopropyl Butylone, a Schedule I drug and synthetic cathinone, from China into the U.S. for distribution in South Florida. According to court documents, Terrell Jermaine Williams, 40, conspired with a China-based drug distributor to import controlled substances into the U.S. for distribution in Miami. The conspiracy began in or around 2022 and continued through 2025. “This defendant worked with a supplier overseas to bring a dangerous synthetic drug into South Florida and profit from its distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Synthetic cathinones—often referred to on the street as ‘bath salts’ or ‘flakka’—are powerful and unpredictable stimulants that pose a serious threat to public safety. Our Office will continue working with the Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, local, and international partners to stop these trafficking pipelines and prevent dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities.” To facilitate the scheme, Williams communicated with the Chinese distributor through a mobile-based messaging platform. In a message dated Nov. 3, 2023, the distributor encouraged Williams to stock up on the substance before it was banned so he could charge higher prices when it became unavailable to others. In another conversation in April 2024, the distributor warned Williams, “its election year there , they check more frequently than before, you know firearms and drugs from china.” The distributor also sent Williams photographs of the controlled substances through the messaging platform. Information developed during the investigation was shared with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Guangzhou in China. HSI Guangzhou coordinated with Chinese law enforcement authorities, who initiated a parallel investigation. In September 2025, China’s Anti-Smuggling Bureau (ASB) and other regulatory agencies seized approximately 700 kilograms of N-Isopropyl Butylone believed to be destined for the U.S. At the time of the seizure, N-Isopropyl Butylone was not yet a regulated substance in China. Following the seizure, Chinese authorities determined that the substance had no legitimate use and subsequently placed it under regulatory control, restricting its manufacture. Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import N-Isopropyl Butylone into the U.S. and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute N-Isopropyl Butylone. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of HSI Miami, and Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement. HSI Miami, HSI Guangzhou, USPIS, and the Homestead Police Department are investigating the case. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and City of Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from HSI Miami, HSI Guangzhou, CBP, USPIS, the Homestead Police Department, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and City of Miami Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20471. ###


title: Tangipahoa Parish Man Sentenced for PPP Fraud, Drug Trafficking, and Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – DEQUARIUS HAMLER (“HAMLER”) , age 38, of Tangipahoa Parish, was sentenced on March 6, 2026 to 135 months imprisonment by U. S. District Judge Greg Guidry on March 5, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to: conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, over 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), § 841(b)(1)(B), § 841(b)(1)(C), and 846; distribution of 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, and a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), § 841(b)(1)(A), and § 841(b)(1)(C); making false statements to the Small Business Administration, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1001; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began a drug trafficking investigation into HAMLER . On three separate occasions in 2023, HAMLER sold a quantity of cocaine and over 50 grams of methamphetamine to an individual he thought was a legitimate buyer. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement officials began to suspect HAMLER was having his girlfriend, Latijeria Martin, deposit his illegal drug trafficking proceeds into a local bank to launder this drug money as legitimate funds. Bank records and financial documents showed that between January 1, 2021, through September 9, 2023, Martin and HAMLER made numerous cash deposits totaling $454,589.10 through seven different bank accounts. Martin’s deposits to and from bank accounts operating under her name totaled $328,159.10 while deposits to and from back accounts operating under HAMLER’S name totaled $126,430. Martin would make these bank deposits and withdrawals at the direction and instruction of HAMLER , whom Martin knew to be a drug dealer, and that these funds came from HAMLER’S drug dealing. Bank employees confirmed Martin visited the bank numerous times, sometimes multiple times a day, to make cash deposits and withdrawals. Frequently, the cash money Martin deposited smelled of marijuana. At some point, a bank employee informed Martin that the deposit and withdrawal actions amounted to criminal structuring and money laundering, and that the bank would no longer allow such deposits. Despite Martin’s warning and notice to HAMLER that their actions were considered criminal by the bank, HAMLER told Martin to keep laundering his drug proceeds through their bank accounts. Through investigation, it was determined that the amount of cash Martin and HAMLER deposited, and withdrew, greatly exceeded any legitimate income they reported on their tax returns. As part of this investigation, a search warrant was ultimately executed on HAMLER’S residence. Large amounts of illegal narcotics and financial documents were located in the residence. In a post-Miranda interview, HAMLER confessed to distributing kilogram amounts of cocaine and marijuana over the past decade. A review of HAMLER’S bank records uncovered that during the Covid-19 pandemic, HAMLER submitted fraudulent IRS records to the Small Business Administration in hopes of obtaining a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. Through these fraudulent documents, HAMLER ultimately obtained over $19,000 for a small business he claimed to operate, but in fact did not exist. HAMLER later shared this money with Martin. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 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).


title: Crown Point Woman Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: HAMMOND – Loraine Duchscher, 52 years old, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Duchscher was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $150,153.12 in restitution. According to documents in the case, between April 2021 and October 2023, Duchscher worked as an office manager for a small business in East Chicago. In that capacity, she was responsible for processing payroll for each bi-weekly pay period, and she had unsupervised access to the company’s bank account and payroll software. During the first few months of her employment, Duchscher built goodwill with the company and convinced the owner to switch to a different payroll system. After that, she began fraudulently increasing the amount of her paychecks and awarding herself vacation pay to which she was not entitled, all without the knowledge or permission of the company. Over the course of the scheme, she defrauded the company out of $150,153.12, which she spent on travel, entertainment, restaurants, cosmetic procedures, a vehicle, and large cash withdrawals. Duchscher committed this offense both while she was on pretrial release and after pleading guilty and awaiting sentencing in another federal case in which she defrauded a different employer out of $490,958.35. That case involved similar circumstances in which she, in her role as office manager, manipulated payroll data to steal from the company. For that offense, she was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Prior to that, Duchscher defrauded a third employer out of $53,616.94 through her unauthorized use of credit cards. For that offense, she was convicted of fraud in state court and sentenced to probation. “Duchscher is a serial con artist who has defrauded three employers—all small businesses in northwest Indiana—out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. She brazenly abused the trust these businesses placed in her, all to fund her own lavish lifestyle,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “I am grateful to federal law enforcement for their relentless pursuit of this case, ensuring that Duchscher was brought to justice yet again.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa.


title: Two MS-13 Members Sentenced to 55 and 48 Years in Prison for Committing Two Murders in Queens

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Yesterday and today in federal court in Brooklyn, defendants Ramiro Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga were sentenced to 55 years and 48 years in prison, respectively, for their participation in the murders of Abel Mosso in 2019 and Victor Alvarenga in 2018. Both Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga pleaded guilty to these crimes in January 2025. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences. “In committing these terrible murders, these defendants and MS-13 put entire communities at risk, including innocent commuters,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “They will spend decades in prison for their crimes, and our Office and our law enforcement partners will keep working to ensure that any gang member who does not learn from their example is similarly held accountable.” Mr. Nocella also thanked the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their valuable coordination with the investigation. "MS-13 members Ramiro Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga, murdered two victims to satisfy a kill order by their leadership and retaliate against a perceived rival. These brazen displays of cold-blooded ruthlessness demonstrate the gang's propensity to repeatedly endanger the lives of our communities' residents. May today's sentencing highlight the FBI's sustained collaboration with our law enforcement partners to eradicate senseless gang violence plaguing our neighborhoods," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “The defendants’ ruthless actions as MS-13 members — including orchestrating the shooting of Victor Alvarenga, and the cold-blooded killing of Abel Mosso on a busy subway platform — have not only led to the loss of innocent lives but also spread fear, trauma, and devastation throughout our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “These horrific crimes underscore the urgent need for continued coordinated law enforcement action to confront gang violence. HSI New York, together with our partners, will leave no stone unturned in protecting New Yorkers and holding those responsible fully accountable.” “As part of a vicious, ruthless international gang, these two defendants terrorized innocent people for years,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Now, they will pay for their crimes with lengthy prison sentences. The NYPD will continue to pursue justice against anyone who threatens our communities, and New York City is a safer place today with these two convicted murderers behind bars. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership, and all the NYPD investigators who worked to hold these violent criminals accountable.” Murder of Victor Alvarenga In the early morning hours of November 4, 2018, MS-13 members shot and killed Victor Alvarenga near his home in Flushing, Queens. As proven at the trial of four co-defendants, Edenilson Velasquez Larin, a national MS-13 leader, gave the order to kill Alvarenga, and the murder was overseen by Jose Espinoza Sanchez. On the night of the murder, Gutierrez, Tito Martinez Alvarenga, Espinoza Sanchez and two other MS-13 members waited for Alvarenga near his home. When Alvarenga arrived home, MS-13 members shot him multiple times. Tito Martinez Alvarenga had called Alvarenga multiple times prior to the murder, and to conceal his involvement, Tito Martinez Alvarenga took Alvarenga’s phone from Alvarenga as Alvarenga lay dying. Gutierrez served as the getaway driver and helped plan the murder. Murder of Abel Mosso As also proven at the trial of four co-defendants, in the early afternoon of February 3, 2019, Gutierrez, Tito Martinez Alvarenga and Victor Lopez followed Mosso, whom they believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang, onto the 7 train at the Main Street station in Flushing, Queens. Lopez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga assaulted Mosso inside a subway car and then dragged him out onto the platform at the 90th Street station in Jackson Heights, Queens. The defendants pulled out a gun, but Mosso wrestled it away. One of the defendants shouted in Spanish, “Nobody get involved, we’re MS-13, we’re going to kill him.” Gutierrez then grabbed the gun from Mosso and shot him multiple times in the head, killing him. These sentencings are the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. MS-13’s leadership was based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including HSI and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel, Anna L. Karamigios and Kamil Ammari are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Timothy Migliaro and Danielle Barber. The Defendants: RAMIRO GUTIERREZ (also known as “Cara de Malo”) Age: 31 Flushing, New York TITO MARTINEZ ALVARENGA (also known as “Imprudente”) Age: 24 Flushing, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-228 (S-3) (LDH)


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Violent Home Invasion Robbery

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyrek Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe to 15 years in prison for his role in a violent home invasion robbery targeting a local business owner and his family. In September 2025, a federal jury convicted Byrd of conspiring to commit armed home invasion robberies, Hobbs Act robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As proven at trial, in December 2019, Byrd and two co‑conspirators carried out a violent home invasion robbery targeting business owners whom they believed kept large amounts of cash at their homes. The conspirators researched their victims and businesses and used a GPS tracking device to determine where the victims lived before carrying out the robberies. On the night of December 31, 2019, Byrd and two accomplices confronted the owner of a Delaware County nail salon as the victim returned to the business. The robbers forced the victim inside, zip‑tied his wrists, covered his mouth with duct tape, and beat him while demanding money. The men then forced the victim to take them to his home, where they encountered the victim’s wife, children, and nanny. Inside the residence, the robbers zip‑tied the family members, ransacked the home, and continued assaulting the victim while demanding cash. During the ordeal, the assailants threatened the family and stated that they had been watching the victims for weeks. After terrorizing the family for approximately 40 minutes, the robbers fled with thousands of dollars in business proceeds, jewelry, and other valuables. Byrd’s coconspirator, Shaquan Brown, was previously sentenced to more than 22 years’ in prison for his role in this and other robberies. Another coconspirator, Willie Singletary, received a sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment for this role in the conspiracy. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the Haverford Police Department, Uwchlan Township Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Montgomery County Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Carissimi, Brian Doherty, and J. Jeanette Kang.


title: Former Nye County Commissioner Indicted For COVID-19 Relief Fraud Totaling More Than $500,000

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A former County Commissioner from Nye County, Nevada, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas for his alleged role in applying for fraudulent COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of his restaurant in Pahrump. In total, he received more than $500,000 through programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). “Fraud will not be tolerated in our community—regardless of the position or identity of those involved,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “Fraud erodes public trust and undermines the institutions our communities rely on every day. The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our public institutions and ensuring that no one is above the law.” According to allegations contained in court documents, Leonardo F. Blundo owned and operated a restaurant named Carmelo’s Bistro in Pahrump, Nevada. As alleged, from about March 31, 2020 to about September 6, 2021, Blundo submitted false PPP, EIDL, and RRF applications. As part of the scheme, he falsely inflated the restaurant’s gross revenue, its average monthly payroll, and its number of employees when completing applications for those loans and grant. Additionally, he provided false documentation to support some of the false and fraudulent claims in those applications. Blundo obtained two PPP loans, two EIDLs, and an RRF grant totaling more than $500,000. A federal grand jury charged Blundo with five counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. His initial appearance has been scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts for March 24, 2026. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 120 years of prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $1,750,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Summer Johnson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Delzotto made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez is prosecuting the case. This case is part of the District of Nevada’s Public Corruption Strike Force. The Strike Force is within the Office’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys with extensive public corruption experience will handle cases of allegations of criminal misconduct. This specialized unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials at all levels of government, election crimes, and other related offenses. This endeavor will be a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local agencies across the Silver State. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ###


title: Human smuggling ringleader sent to federal prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old Weslaco man has been ordered to prison for his role in conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Hugo Jimenez Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 13, 2025. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Jimenez to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Jimenez attempted to mislead law enforcement about a failed smuggling attempt that resulted in the seizure of his vehicle. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Jimenez’s leadership role and the significant number of illegal aliens he transported. From October 2024 to May 2025, Jimenez oversaw numerous alien smuggling events throughout South Texas and conspired with others to transport illegal aliens further into the United States. Jimenez recruited local drivers to drive the illegal aliens through Border Patrol checkpoints by concealing them in the cargo areas of their vehicles. He often scouted the checkpoints in advance and coordinated rendezvous points north of the inspection sites. At times, Jimenez personally transported the aliens to San Antonio or Houston. Previously released on bond, Jimenez was taken into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Border Patrol’s Intelligence Unit and the Kingsville Abatement Team conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Rio Grande Valley Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Criminal Alien Charged with Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Minors in the District of Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – An illegal alien, with three prior voluntary removals, will appear in court Monday, March 16, 2026, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a teenage girl. Gerardo Aurelio Iturbide, 24, of Mexico, residing illegally in Hurricane, Utah, was indicted on March 10, 2026. According to the allegations in court documents, on November 23, 2025, Iturbide met three underaged teenage girls at a gas station parking lot in Hurricane, Utah. He took the girls to a nearby hotel, where he booked a room. He then gave the girls alcohol and sexually abused two of them. He filmed himself sexually abusing one of the underaged victims and sent the video to his friend using a messaging app on his phone. He encouraged his friend to come to the hotel room. Police arrived at the scene after one of the victims called 911. Iturbide is charged with production of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. He is currently being held on state charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. His federal initial appearance on the indictment will be held March 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Hurricane Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brady Wilson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachments: iturbide.indictment.pdf iturbide_u.s._motion_for_detention_filed.pdf


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug-Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ROBERT POLK (“POLK”) , age 23, was indicted on February 6, 2026, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and (b)(1)(C); two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on May 20, 2024 and December 30, 2025, POLK possessed tapentadol with the intent to distribute same and possessed firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, including a firearm that POLK knew was stolen. POLK is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions in Arkansas for aggravated assault on a family or household member, and terroristic threatening in the first degree. As to each of the drug-trafficking counts, POLK faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to each of the counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, POLK faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to each of the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, POLK faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a stolen firearm, POLK faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each of the seven counts also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


body_text: An illegal alien, with three prior voluntary removals, will appear in court Monday, March 16, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a teenage girl. Gerardo Aurelio Iturbide, 24, of Mexico, residing illegally in Hurricane, Utah, was indicted yesterday. According to the allegations in court documents, on Nov. 23, 2025, Iturbide met three underaged teenage girls at a gas station parking lot in Hurricane. He took the girls to a nearby hotel, where he booked a room. He then gave the girls alcohol and sexually abused two of them. He filmed himself sexually abusing one of the underaged victims and sent the video to his friend using a messaging app on his phone. He encouraged his friend to come to the hotel room. Police arrived at the scene after one of the victims called 911. Iturbide is charged with production of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. He is currently being held on state charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Hurricane Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brady Wilson for the District of Utah 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. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Illegal Alien Men from Mexico Indicted for Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that a federal grand jury has returned Indictments charging Lidio Santiz Julian, 26, and Hugo Lopez Diaz, 21, both Mexican nationals, with multiple child exploitation offenses related to the attempted production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). As alleged, on February 6, 2026, following a months-long child exploitation investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, federal and state agents executed a search warrant on a residence in Stanley, North Dakota. That day, Santiz Julian was arrested in connection with CSAM. Multiple electronic devices were seized during the search of the residence. Forensic analysis of these devices by HSI revealed that another person living at the residence, Lopez Diaz, was also connected with CSAM. Lopez Diaz was arrested by federal agents on February 10, 2026. As a result of this investigation, Lidio Santiz Julian is charged with Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, and Hugo Lopez Diaz is charged with Attempted Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child Pornography. An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. The defendants are presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Rappenecker. # # # # # #


title: REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – On March 11, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Eric Prestwood, age 39, to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography. The Court also imposed $72,000 in restitution to go to the known victims portrayed in the images and ordered Prestwood to comply with sex offender registration requirements amongst several other stringent conditions upon release from prison. According to court documents, in April 2025, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office received multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding uploads of child sexual abuse material linked to an online messaging account associated with Prestwood. Investigators identified communications in which Prestwood sought and received explicit images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including prepubescent children and infants. Law enforcement officers later arrested Prestwood and seized Prestwood’s cellular phone. A forensic examination revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Many of the files involved extremely violent and sadistic conduct against young victims. Investigators also determined that hundreds of the images and videos had previously been identified by NCMEC and were linked to numerous known child victims. Prestwood was previously convicted in 2021 in Spokane County Superior Court for possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of the federal offense, he was a registered sex offender and was out of compliance with registration requirements. In imposing sentence, the Court found that a significant term of imprisonment was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, protect the public, and deter future criminal conduct. The Court sentenced Prestwood to 180 months (15 years) in federal custody, to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. “This sentence reflects the grave harm caused by the exploitation of children and the continued danger posed by repeat offenders,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “The Department of Justice remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who seek out and distribute child sexual abuse material.” “This case is extremely disturbing, made even more so by the fact that he did not learn his lesson from his last offense and continued his harmful behavior,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Mr. Prestwood not only possessed thousands of meticulously organized images and videos of child sexual abuse, but much of it was especially violent, even depicting the torture of children. I’m grateful for the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who investigate these horrifying cases to hold dangerous child predators accountable.” “Sexual predators forever alter the lives of the innocent children they victimize,” said Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. “Working together with NCMEC and our local, state, and federal partners, we will relentlessly work to identify and hold accountable those who exploit and harm the vulnerable children in our community.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alison L. Gregoire of the Eastern District of Washington. For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. 2:25-cr-00112-TOR


title: Jamestown man pleads guilty to multiple sex trafficking charges and drug conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 47, of Jamestown and Falconer, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more methamphetamine, and heroin, and three counts of sex trafficking by force. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between 2020, and December 2022, Mendoza was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization, utilizing drug runners, drivers, and associates to sell his drugs and collect his debts. During the conspiracy, Mendoza bought and sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin for profit. He used his West Main Street residence to manufacture, distribute, and use the drugs. On October 6, 2022, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Mendoza was a passenger in and recovered methamphetamine from the driver and approximately 25 grams of fentanyl on Mendoza. On December 7, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Mendoza’s residence, recovering cash, approximately 34 grams of fentanyl, approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately a gram of a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, a semi-automatic pistol, and a large capacity magazine. In 2000, Mendoza met Victim 1 and pursued her for sexual activity. Victim 1, who was addicted to drugs, believed that if she had sex with Mendoza, he would give her heroin/fentanyl. Consequently, Victim 1 had sex with Mendoza in exchange for drugs on three occasions. In the Spring of 2022, Mendoza met Victim 2 at a drug house in Jamestown. She was also a heavy drug user and knew that Mendoza was a drug dealer. In June 2022, Victim 2 met Mendoza at a motel in Jamestown. Victim 2’s understanding was that she would engage in sexual activity Mendoza and that he would give her drugs. This occurred on several other occasions in July 2022. Between October and December 2022, Mendoza conspired with co-defendants to force Victim 3 and Victim 4 to engage in a commercial sex act. Both victims struggled with drug addictions. Victim 3 and Victim 4 were provided shelter at Mendoza’s residence as well as food, clothing, and daily quantities of fentanyl in exchange for their performance of commercial sex acts for money. The proceeds went to Mendoza. The co-conspirators utilized the website “Skipthegames.com” to find customers. Charges are pending against co-defendant Kelvin Thomas. Cora Waddington was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Second defendant pleads guilty to carjacking resulting in death

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings woman accused of facilitating a carjacking which resulted in death admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. The defendant, Shyanna Jo Whitewolf, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking resulting in death. Whitewolf faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Whitewolf was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on May 16, 2025, Violet Littlelight arranged for Keith Breckenridge to pick her up at her residence in Billings. Prior to meeting Breckenridge, Littlelight, Whitewolf and another co-defendant planned to rob Breckenridge and take his truck. Once they took Breckenridge’s truck, they planned to give it to a drug dealer in Hardin in exchange for drugs or money. When Whitewolf, Littlelight, and the third co-defendant arrived at the rendezvous point, Breckenridge was suspicious. Littlelight vouched for Whitewolf and the other co-defendant and told Breckenridge they just needed a ride. Based on her assurances, Breckenridge let all three defendants into his truck. As they drove, Whitewolf engaged Breckenridge in conversation to keep him calm. When they arrived in an alley, Breckenridge was directed to stop when he was stabbed approximately 20 times in his neck, chest, and stomach with a knife. The defendants removed Breckenridge from the driver’s seat and left him in the alley, where he subsequently died from the stab wounds. The defendants then drove Breckenridge’s truck to Hardin. They changed their clothes and placed the bloody clothes in the truck. They then drove to a house on the Crow reservation. When they arrived, they decided they needed to clean the truck, so they used cleaning products they obtained from the owner of the house and threw their clothes and other incriminating evidence into a burn pit. As they were cleaning the truck, law enforcement officers arrived. Littlelight and the other co-defendant fled, leaving the truck behind. Whitewolf remained at the scene but falsely told law enforcement she was not involved with the truck. Consequently, Whitewolf was not arrested until several days later. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI, Billings Police Department, and BIA conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ming Xia, age 41, of Flushing, New York, pled guilty on March 3, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering involving the proceeds of a prostitution enterprise. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of Homeland Security Investigations, Buffalo Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, New York Field Division, and New York State Superintendent Steven James. As part of his guilty plea, Xia admitted to operating several spas in the Capital Region where employees provided commercial sex services to customers. The spas generated over $2 million in proceeds, which Xia admitted laundering through third parties and using to purchase assets, including several properties. As part of his plea, Xia agreed to forfeit $198,000 in cash that was seized by law enforcement, two commercial properties, and four residences. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “Mr. Xia did not merely run an illegal business, he built a multimillion-dollar enterprise on the commodification of women, treating them as instruments for financial gain while laundering the proceeds to enrich himself through cash and real estate. Let this guilty plea serve as a clear warning: those who exploit others for personal profit and attempt to hide their gains will be identified, prosecuted, and stripped of their ill-gotten assets. I thank the FBI, HSI, IRS, and NYSP for all their work in safeguarding our communities from those who exploit human beings for profit.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli stated, “Mr. Xia admitted to operating an extensive commercial sex enterprise and laundering the profits, and now he’s facing a substantial amount of time in federal prison. This case illustrates how committed the FBI remains to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and shut down these disturbing businesses and ensure anyone who operates them is swiftly brought to justice.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated, “By turning neighborhood spas into brothels and washing millions in criminal proceeds through our communities, Ming Xia treated the Capital Region as his personal cash register. His scheme exploited vulnerable workers, poisoned legitimate commerce, and robbed residents of the basic expectation that local businesses are safe and lawful. This guilty plea sends a clear message: HSI and our invaluable Homeland Security Task Force partners will strip criminals of their profits, seize their assets, and shut down any operation that tries to hide behind a respectable storefront.” “Ming Xia’s guilty plea is the result of law enforcement doing straightforward, old‑fashioned police work. When someone uses a business as a cover to move millions in dirty cash, we’re going to follow the money and shut it down. Working alongside our federal and state partners, IRS‑CI will continue to trace financial footprints, uncover hidden profits, and ensure that those who abuse the financial system for personal gain are held fully accountable,” said Harry T. Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York. NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Efforts to intercept illegal business practices are an integral part of protecting our communities in New York State. This guilty plea sends a clear message that we will continue to be relentless in the fight against money laundering and those who engage in inappropriate acts for money. The culmination of this investigation would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our members, partners at the United States Attorney’s Office and all other law enforcement agencies involved in this case.” Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Xia faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. The charge also carries a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, and NYSP are investigating the case with assistance from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Human Trafficking Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Kopita is prosecuting the case.


title: Delaware County Woman Sentenced for Carjacking, Shooting at Victim, and Fleeing with Infant in Stolen SUV

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Phillis Fugah, 25, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to ten years and one day in prison and five years of supervised release for carjacking and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. The defendant previously pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with an August 29, 2024 armed carjacking and shooting in Upper Darby. As detailed in court filings and admitted by the defendant, Fugah and a male accomplice approached a Honda Pilot parked on the 7100 block of West Chester Pike, where a man sat in the vehicle with his two young children while waiting for his wife. The accomplice opened the passenger-side door but fled the scene. Fugah then opened the driver’s side door, got behind the wheel, and pointed a gun at the victim while demanding money. The victim’s five-year-old son exited the vehicle through the front passenger door and ran to the sidewalk. The victim exited the rear driver’s side door and attempted to stop the defendant, telling her that his infant child remained inside the vehicle. During the struggle, Fugah raised the firearm and shot at the victim, with the bullet partially shattering the driver’s-side window and striking the victim’s baseball cap, narrowly missing his head. A fragment of the bullet also struck the window of an occupied SEPTA bus across the street, passing over the heads of several passengers. Fugah then fled in the Honda Pilot with the infant still inside the vehicle. The SUV was located a short distance away, and the child was recovered unharmed. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and the Upper Darby Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Doherty and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Urban.


title: Federal grand jury returns 39 count indictment charging Tonawanda man with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor victim

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 39 count indictment charging Trevor Knapp, 34, of Tonawanda, NY, with 15 counts of production of child pornography, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of distribution of child pornography, 19 counts receipt of child pornography, and two counts possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 930 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in April 2024, a 17-year-old minor female contacted the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department stating that she was being harassed by a 32-year-old male named Trevor Knapp online. The minor victim met Knapp in 2020, when she was 13 years old, on the friend finding website called “mylol.” As the two began communicating, the conversations became sexual in nature. Knapp sent sexually explicit videos of himself to the minor victim and he asked that she send naked images of herself, but she declined. However, the minor victim would get out of the shower naked while the two were video chatting and Knapp would screen capture an image of her. The two also messaged through Google Chat and Knapp utilized multiple Google email accounts. The minor victim, who was uncomfortable with how he was talking, would delete or block Knapp but he would utilize a new account to regain contact. Knapp also located the minor victim’s Instagram account and messaged her on that platform as well. The minor victim advised Knapp multiple times of her real age. The minor victim requested for months that Knapp leave her alone, stating that she had a boyfriend. Knapp then requested images of the minor victim and her boyfriend having sex. He also sent her a naked image of a second minor victim, a female living in Pennsylvania. The two minor victims began communicating, and the second minor victim described Knapp as “the pedophile.” Subsequent investigation traced Knapp back to the Western District of New York. On October 10, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Knapp’s residence, during which investigators seized two of his cell phones, both of which were found to contain child pornography. A preliminary search recovered a sexually explicit video that included Knapp and the first minor victim. The indictment includes charges relating to six minor victims, one of which Knapp is accused of traveling in interstate commerce to have sex with the victim on two occasions. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Connolly, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Jurors Convict Former Missouri Police Officer of Civil Rights Violation, Other Charges

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday convicted a former Northwoods, Missouri police officer of charges related to the assault of a handcuffed man in 2023. Jurors found Samuel Davis, 28, guilty of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of witness tampering by way of misleading conduct for making a misleading statement to a police dispatcher and one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation for turning off his body-worn camera. He was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy. Jurors acquitted another former officer, Michael Hill, 54, of all charges. Evidence and testimony at the trial, which began March 2, showed that Northwoods police were called to a Walgreens store on the evening of July 4, 2023, about a shoplifter, C.G. C.G. had shoplifted from the store before and was known to Davis. Davis handcuffed C.G., who was compliant and cooperative, and then placed him in Davis’ police vehicle. Instead of taking him to jail, Davis drove him to an empty field in a desolate area of Kinloch. C.G. testified during the trial that Davis pepper-sprayed him, beat him with a baton while he was still handcuffed, breaking his jaw, and then tased him. A passerby interrupted the attack, causing Davis to flee, evidence and testimony showed. She returned and found C.G., bloodied and crying out for help. C.G. told responding St. Louis County Police Department officers and medical personnel that he had been beaten by a Northwoods officer. Medical records documented the broken jaw. Davis’ TASER records indicated that it had been used around the time of the attack. Davis did not file a report about the arrest of C.G., the trip to Kinloch or any use of force. He also turned off his body-worn camera. Davis faces up to 10 years in prison for the deprivation of rights under color of law charge and 20 years in prison for the other charges. The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug of the Eastern District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Honolulu Man Convicted of Child Exploitation Offenses, Including Production of Child Pornography and Sex Trafficking of Children

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that a federal jury today convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, of 12 counts related to his trafficking and sexual exploitation of five minor boys in Oahu in 2019 and 2020. According to evidence presented at trial, Riley used the app, Grindr, to meet the minors who ranged from 14 to 16 years old. After beginning the conversation with the victims on Grindr, Riley then arranged sexual encounters with them, enticing them with money, electronics, or drugs. Riley then engaged in a pattern of systematic sexual abuse, which included filming and later distributing videos he took of their sexual acts. In one video, Riley directed one of his victims to announce that he was 14 years old, his age at the time. Riley abused his victims in multiple locations, including his apartment, car, at the beach, and hotel rooms that Riley paid for. On one day, Riley abused two victims during separate assaults in the same hotel room. Riley knowingly took advantage of his victims’ financial needs. For example, one victim was struggling to afford consistent meals, and another was saving money because he feared being expelled from his family home. During his abuse, Riley provided controlled substances to several of his victims. After Riley provided one victim MDMA and other pills, the victim described drifting in and out of consciousness while Riley abused him. Multiple victims tried to refuse Riley’s sexual advances, but Riley persisted. Riley’s crimes were finally uncovered when he was arrested by DEA at the Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii. A search of his phone revealed a collection of child sexual abuse material, which prompted his charges. “This verdict is the next step to holding Darren Riley fully accountable for his egregious pattern of preying upon and abusing children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We commend the victims who bravely testified at trial despite the trauma they endured from a serial predator. Their testimony, along with the good work of law enforcement and the prosecutors, exposed Riley’s horrific, repeated exploitation. The work of the jury now ensures that Riley will not be a threat to other children in the future. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting offenders like Riley, as one of the Department’s highest callings is protecting America’s children.” “Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The evidence at trial was overwhelming, and the courage the five young victims demonstrated in recounting for the jury their abuse at the hands of Riley was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars. We will continue to aggressively pursue, charge, and convict predators like Riley that victimize our children and threaten our families.” “This verdict holds Darren Riley accountable for his egregious pattern of abusing minors in numerous ways,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protecting children from predators such as Riley is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice. The victims who bravely testified in this trial described his outrageous pattern of exploitation, which included enticing vulnerable children with money and drugs, filming himself engaging in sex acts with them, and drugging them to incapacitation with or without their knowledge. We will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who preys on our children.” “The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This is the direct result of the relentless work of our agents and partners to protect the children in our communities. There is no corner of the internet or crevice on the globe where these predators can hide, as the FBI will use every resource at its disposal to bring them to justice.” The court has not set Riley’s sentencing yet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison on particular charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Waterloo Woman Sentenced to  Federal Prison for Role in Stealing Guns

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who helped her boyfriend steal fifteen guns from a house in Waterloo was sentenced on March 9, 2026, to more than three years in federal prison. Jena Lea Wells, age 30, from Silvis, Illinois, received the prison term after a September 19, 2025, guilty plea to possession of stolen firearms. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in June 2024, Wells was living in Waterloo, Iowa. She was in a relationship with Justin Barnes. That month, the two of them stole fifteen guns from an unoccupied house in Waterloo. Wells acted as a lookout while Barnes stole the guns. They took the stolen guns to Wells’s residence. Barnes then tried to sell the guns. During a traffic stop on June 10, 2024, Waterloo police officers located several of the stolen guns in Barnes’s backpack. Wells attempted to hide the bag from the officers during the stop by pulling it to where she was sitting in the car. Officers then searched Wells’s home twice. During the first search, Wells lied about any stolen firearms being in the home. When officers returned and found additional, stolen firearms at Wells’s home during the second search, she falsely denied knowing that the guns were there. Wells was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wells was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Barnes has pled guilty in federal court and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2026. 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. Wells is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-2022.


title: Jury Convicts Man from Coggon of Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: A man who received and possessed child pornography was convicted by a jury today, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Matthew Jason Manos, age 42, from Coggon, Iowa, was convicted of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, including a depiction of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. The verdict was returned this afternoon following about two and a half hours of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial showed that in February 2023, law enforcement officers searched Manos’s residence in Coggon and took his cell phone. Between December 2022 and February 2023, Manos had downloaded images of child pornography. He viewed the images on his cell phone multiple times. Manos then moved to Illinois, where he was arrested in August 2023. During his arrest, law enforcement officers took his new cell phone. Evidence showed that Manos had used that new phone to access child pornography. Manos was previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, lascivious acts with a child, lascivious conduct with a child, dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors, and indecent exposure. 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 . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Manos remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Manos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-14. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Romanian national sentenced to prison for defrauding farmers with phony equipment sales

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: An illegal alien who participated in a scheme to sell fictitious farm equipment in Georgia and across the country has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Viorel Cristea , 33, a Romanian citizen illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Cristea to pay restitution to victims of $679,100, and to be deported upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Farmers in Georgia and around our nation already face enormous challenges to provide our citizens with food and fiber. Getting ripped off by unscrupulous scam artists – especially those who are illegal aliens – shouldn’t be one of those hardships,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We applaud the exceptional work of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations in bringing Cristea to justice.” A co-conspirator in the case, Bogdan Alexandru Gherghevici , a/k/a “Victor Zema,” 27, also was illegally in the United States and fled when the investigation began. He is considered a fugitive and believed to be in Romania, where he is a citizen. Gherghevici is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation began in May 2025 when a victim contacted the Pierce County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office regarding suspicious activity from a farm equipment dealer purported to be located in Blackshear, in the Southern District of Georgia. Sheriff’s Office investigators and Homeland Security Investigations agents determined the company was fraudulent, and HSI agents identified Cristea and Gherghevici as conspirators. Both men were named in a 14-count federal indictment in August 2025, alleging that at least as early as March 2025, and up to and including May 2025, the two participated in an extensive scheme falsely claiming to sell used farm equipment. This fraudulent scheme victimized more than a dozen prospective purchasers across the country, many of them elderly, and resulted in a total loss of more than $600,000. As described in the plea agreement, Cristea and the conspirators “employed a host of false representations to induce victims to ‘purchase’ the fictitious farming equipment,” inducing the buyers to wire transfer large sums of money to bank accounts owned by Cristea and co-conspirators. The victims were told their equipment would be delivered in the coming days and weeks, and when the machinery didn’t arrive the “sellers” would no longer respond to inquiries. “When hardworking farmers are targeted by scams like this, it’s not just their livelihoods that are threatened – it’s the communities and families who depend on them,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to protecting honest people from fraudsters who prey on trust and vulnerability. This case shows that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue those who exploit others and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.” “We appreciate the help of our federal partners in this prosecution,” said Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett. “It’s refreshing to see a con artist prosecuted for stealing from hard-working Americans. Thank you to the investigators and prosecutors who made this happen for the victims.” The HSI Savannah Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura for the Southern District of Georgia is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Months and 1 Day in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Jose Fuentes-Garcia, 53 years old, a felon from Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in July of 1998, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty. The Defendant had pled guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, after a thorough investigation by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “The Defendant was previously convicted of two counts of attempted sexual abuse in Oregon and had been removed from our country thereafter. That is, the system worked. The Defendant did not think the rules applied to him, however, and he further violated our nation’s laws by illegally crossing our sovereign borders. He has been breaking our nation’s laws every single day since his illegal reentry. Thankfully, due to the solid investigation performed by Homeland Security, he was found, caught, and prosecuted. He will be returned home to Mexico after serving the balance of his time in prison. It should be clear that he is not welcome here as a result of his crimes,” Mildred said. This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.


title: D’Iberville Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison and 30 years of Supervised Release for Distribution of Images of Minors  Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A D’Iberville, Mississippi man was sentenced on March 10, 2026, to 11 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for distributing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office. In October 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) received information from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Joshua Budinich, a 26-year-old male, was uploading child sexual abuse material on the Discord and Kik platforms. Further investigation revealed that the defendant was chatting with other Discord users, sending child sexual abuse material to other users, and trading child sexual abuse material with them. The defendant pled guilty in November 2025. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Chief Judge Orders Another Lengthy Federal Sentence in Smuggling Case Involving Kidnapping and Rape of a Pregnant Woman

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio on Monday to 170 months in prison for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Rodolfo Daniel De Hoyos aka “Rufles,” 22, was arrested on Nov. 22, 2021, in Kinney County. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper observed three passengers in De Hoyos’s vehicle, each wearing dirty clothing, hiking boots, and camouflage backpacks. De Hoyos admitted that the three passengers were illegal aliens whom he was transporting to Del Rio. He said he would be paid $1,500 for smuggling the aliens, who were determined to be from Guatemala. De Hoyos was arrested again in August 2023 for transporting illegal aliens for co-conspirator Anthony Ballones Jr. Information corroborating the admission was found in De Hoyos’s cell phone. The August 2023 smuggling event involved transporting a family of illegal aliens from San Antonio to Austin. The family, consisting of a man, a pregnant woman, and their seven-year-old child, were taken hostage by the Alien Smuggling Organization. In addition to sexually assaulting the pregnant woman, the defendants threatened to kill the woman’s seven-year-old boy if payments were not made, and they also threatened to sell the woman’s unborn baby if they did not get the money they sought. On July 9, 2023, a relative paid at least $1,000 to the ASO due to the threats made toward the family. Still, the ASO continued to demand payment to different accounts as a condition for the release of the aliens. De Hoyos had been working with Ballones Jr. for approximately one year. He pleaded guilty to count one of a six-count indictment on Nov. 26, 2024. On Feb. 11, co-defendant Juan Antonio Flores was sentenced to 212 months for his role in the case. Co-defendants Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo and Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelaya were sentenced to 360 months and 180 months in federal prison, respectively. Tomas Estrada-Torres was sentenced to 151 months . Four other co-defendants, Ambar Obregon, Pedro Ruiz Gonzalez, Armando Garcia-Martinez, and Ballones Jr., have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case. ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Possessing Gun as a Convicted Felon

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Jerrell Demichael Dunson, 47, of Birmingham, to 30 months in prison. In October, Dunson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, on October 10, 2022, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department was dispatched to an apartment complex in Birmingham for a trespass call at a vacant apartment. When the officer arrived, he encountered Dunson at the vacant apartment. The officer asked Dunson for his identifying information so that the officer could write an incident report. Dunson had already left the scene when the officer discovered that he had 14 outstanding misdemeanor warrants. A short time later, the officer arrested Dunson in the Legion Field parking lot. Upon his arrest, Dunson was in possession of a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. Dunson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for burglary and robbery. 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 ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.


title: PENSACOLA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Alaisjah Dayshawn Perkins, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt, possession, transfer, and making of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record and not identified by a serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “ Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and this successful prosecution delivers on that mission. Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines of the fight against violent criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with aggressive prosecutions to keep our citizens safe.” Court documents reflect that on April 26, 2025, law enforcement officers observed posts on a Facebook profile advertising the sale of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). Subsequently, an undercover officer began communicating with the defendant. Between April and May 2025, law enforcement conducted multiple undercover purchases of several MCDs from the defendant. Pursuant to a search warrant for the defendant’s home, officers located tools and supplies for manufacturing MCDs. The defendant was arrested and a bag of 13 MCDs was located in his pocket. The MCDs were sent to the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for technical examination, and were determined to be designed to convert AR-style firearms from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Perkins faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. If Perkins is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, such term could be followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release. Thus, if Perkins were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. 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 .