title: Statement of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division on the Closing of Its Investigation of the Merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros.

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“Division”) issued the following statement today in connection with the closing of the Division’s investigation into the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (“WBD” or “Warner Bros.”) by Paramount Skydance (“Paramount”), together (the “Parties”): The Division has completed its analysis of the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. and determined based on the evidence received in its investigation that the transaction is not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers, including with respect to: (1) streaming video on demand (“SVOD”); (2) linear television; and (3) studio development, production, or distribution of films for theatrical release. Over the course of a rigorous eight-month investigation led by the Division’s career staff, the Division received from the Parties over two million documents from over 80 custodians, substantial productions of data, as well as extensive documents, data, and advocacy from third parties across the media and entertainment ecosystem. State Attorney General offices (“States”) participated in the Division’s investigation by virtue of the Parties’ voluntary waivers of confidentiality, which allowed the Division and States to share information with each other and for the States to attend and participate in the Division’s depositions. In December 2025, Netflix entered into an agreement to acquire WBD. Subsequently, Paramount submitted an all-cash tender offer. The Division reviewed both the Netflix proposed acquisition and Paramount’s competing offer. As a consequence of the competitive bidding process between Netflix and Paramount to acquire Warner Bros., the Division’s review of the competitive impacts of an acquisition of WBD began prior to Paramount reaching a definitive agreement with WBD. Throughout the investigation, the Division benefited from the comparative perspectives and contrasting visions presented in these competing proposals on the evolving media and entertainment landscape and the strategic value of WBD. Warner Bros. has been a repeated acquisition target in the media and entertainment industry. It is thus familiar to the Division from prior investigations and enforcement actions, including AOL/TimeWarner (2001) , AT&T/TimeWarner (2018) , and WarnerBros./Discovery (2022). The legacy of these transactions illustrates the challenges that arise when the commercial rationale for a deal lacks clear alignment with competitive incentives of the acquiring firm or the competitive evolution of the marketplace. In technology-driven industries, the disruptors of the recent past may quickly become the entrenched monopolists of the present day. It is with this historical experience and present enforcement sensitivity to the contestability of dynamic markets that the Division conducted a thorough investigation of the proposed transaction to assess whether the proposed transaction presented any harm to competition. The extensive investigatory record reviewed by the Division suggests that the impact of the transaction will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers. I. Streaming Video On Demand (“SVOD”) First, the Division analyzed whether the proposed transaction was likely to harm competition in streaming video on demand (“SVOD”). Streaming has become one of the most prevalent forms of distribution of media content in the digital age. SVOD was pioneered by Netflix in its successful displacement of legacy home video distribution and successful disruption of traditional linear and broadcast offerings. The decline of Blockbuster Video reflects the healthy disruptive potential that drives the American economy as new and innovative solutions displace legacy offerings to meet evolving consumer preferences. Following Netflix’s pioneering role in the emergence of SVOD almost twenty years ago, large tech firms like Amazon, and later legacy media firms like Disney, entered and built SVOD platforms to compete for and meet shifting consumer preferences for scripted content and digital distribution. By comparison, the Parties are historically late entrants into SVOD with less customers subscribing to Paramount+ and Warner Bros.’ HBO Max and discovery+ offerings, compared to those of the three largest streamers today. The evidence reviewed and carefully analyzed by the Division indicates that, post-merger, competition in SVOD is not likely to be harmed. To the contrary, the combined firm is likely to increase competition by offering consumers a more robust competitive alternative to the larger SVOD offerings. Based on extensive interviews with market participants and review of the parties’ own documents that were made in the ordinary course of business, the parties have a clear path to injecting additional competitive pressures across the media ecosystem to innovate and provide value to creators and consumers. Non-SVOD video alternatives such as YouTube, Tik-Tok, or other social media products do not appear to be competitive substitutes here under well-established antitrust legal precedents, although they compete broadly for consumer attention. The Division also investigated whether alternative streaming video platforms and consumers might suffer if the combined company were to keep its new content and existing IP captive on its own streaming platforms, as opposed to licensing such content across the media distribution ecosystem, including to competing platforms. Such an outcome appears unlikely given the Parties’ historical practices of broadly licensing content. Even when studios such as Paramount license content on exclusive terms to another streamer, they typically maximize the value of that content by moving it from one streamer to another at the end of a license term to broaden the audience exposure across differentiated distribution channels. The Division identified no evidence to suggest that Paramount’s historical practice or incentive to do so would end following the transaction. II. Linear Television Second, the Division analyzed whether the proposed transaction would harm competition related to linear television. Consistent with the above-referenced consumer switching toward streaming, linear television has faced a steady decline as consumers move away from standard cable and satellite packages. The “cord cutting” phenomenon has substantially reduced revenue to both linear network owners and traditional linear distributors. This trend has accelerated in recent years as streaming services have become the primary means by which many people watch movies and television. Like broadcast television, a segment in which the transaction presents no competitive overlap, linear television has historically managed the competitive pressures from streaming alternatives by securing exclusive rights to live programming such as sports and news – segments in which streaming alternatives historically posed limited competitive significance. Today, however, streaming solutions (including non-SVOD offerings) compete aggressively for live programming such as premier sports rights, news, and political commentary (e.g., video podcasts), putting increasing competitive pressure on legacy linear and broadcast networks to secure live programming at higher costs. The evidence reviewed and carefully analyzed by the Division shows that the proposed acquisition is not likely to harm competition for linear television given the robust competitive landscape for live programming. III. Studio Development, Production, and Distribution of Films for Theatrical Release Third, the Division analyzed whether the transaction would harm competition for studio development, production, or distribution of films for theatrical release. Similar to the Division’s analysis of SVOD competition, the Division benefited in its assessment of competition for theatrical release on the comparative perspectives and strategic visions outlined in the competing proposals for Warner Bros. studio. Today, the Parties compete against traditional studios such as Disney, Sony, Universal, Lionsgate, and MGM (now owned by Amazon), as well as smaller independents such as A24, NEON, and Blumhouse. In recent years, Netflix and Apple have also entered and signaled a continued interest in theatrical release as a complementary business to SVOD. The substantial body of evidence available to the Division indicates that the transaction is not likely to harm competition in studio development, production, or distribution of films for theatrical release. Instead, the evidence shows extensive competition within the industry, which has generated greater output and diversity of film offerings, and is likely to continue unabated. In fact, even since the transaction was announced, the evidence shows competition for theatrical production and distribution has increased. Smaller studios have turned to innovative content development and distribution strategies to challenge traditional assumptions regarding the conditions necessary for successful theatrical release. Indeed, this remains true looking even at narrow categories like “tentpole” or “blockbuster” theatrical production and distribution. For example, non-legacy studios have been successful in developing, producing, and distributing films with significant budgets above $100 million, with additional large budget films soon to be offered in theaters by studios including Lionsgate ( Hunger Games ), Netflix ( Narnia ), A24 ( Elden Ring ), and others. Moreover, recent box office successes since the announcement of the transaction show that a studio’s legacy does not determine whether it can succeed at developing, producing, or distributing in the domestic box office today: including, for example , Amazon MGM ( Project Hail Mary ), A24 ( Backrooms ), Lionsgate ( Michael ), Blumhouse ( Obsession ). These disruptive industry developments suggest a potential inflection point in the evolving competitive landscape for theatrical production and distribution, supporting the Parties’ incentive to continue to generate and distribute content . 1 The Division also analyzed multiple potential theories of harm articulated by complainants and evaluated each substantively on the merits to identify whether any would result in harm to consumers as opposed to harm to a competitor. 2 One theory pointed to the purported effects of the Disney/Fox transaction as a comparable event study from which to infer that the proposed transaction risks a reduction in theatrical output. The fatal conceit of that analogy, however, is that the Disney/Fox transaction closed a year before the COVID pandemic began, which drove dramatic changes in studio output and audience content consumption patterns. In the years following the pandemic, Disney substantially increased its total spending on content production in the aggregate across its theatrical and streaming platforms. Moreover, as an entertainment and hospitality business focused historically on developing core franchise IP to monetize across a diversified business, the incentives of Disney with respect to total output of theatrical content do not clearly align with a pure-play media business like Paramount. Another theory raised whether the merger would harm competition for labor as an input for the production and distribution of scripted content . While taking seriously the potential impact of the proposed transaction on the creative community and domestic labor groups, the substantial evidence does not suggest a likelihood of reduction in output. That is because the demand for creative workers and labor is correlated with the Parties’ incentives to maintain or expand output. Thus, the expressed labor concerns do not raise actionable antitrust concerns. *** The Division’s mandate is to investigate and, if necessary, litigate proposed mergers that harm competition or American consumers. This investigation included a review of reams of documentary evidence, hours of deposition testimony of senior-level executives, interviews with third-party witnesses, and staff-led meetings with the Parties themselves. These investigative efforts all led to the same conclusion: the film and television industry is highly dynamic, and the proposed transaction is not likely to harm competition or American consumers. 1 Consistent with controlling Supreme Court precedent, these facts raise serious questions regarding rigid reliance on historical market shares to sustain a legal presumption of harm regarding competition for theatrical release. See United States v. General Dynamics Corp. , 415 U.S. 486, 508 (1974). 2 Brunswick Corp. v. Pueblo Bowl-O-Mat, Inc. , 427 U.S. 477, 488 (1977) (citing Brown Show Co. v. United States, 370 U.S. 294, 320 (1962) (“the antitrust laws…were enacted for ‘the protection of competition, not competitors’”).


title: Wausau Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – A Wausau man has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Madison to wire fraud and money laundering, according to Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Stanley Pophal, 64, Wausau, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today to defrauding investors out of $14.25 million and using investor funds to fund his lifestyle. ”Today’s plea hearing makes one thing unmistakably clear: those who prey on hardworking people through deceit and greed will face decisive consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing financial criminals wherever they hide, and we will never hesitate to bring the full weight of the justice system against anyone who abuses the public’s trust. I applaud the investigators for their hard work and commitment to holding Pophal accountable for his crimes.” “Stanley Pophal built a façade of wealth and success, then used that illusion to convince people to hand over their hard-earned money,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Instead of investing those funds as promised, he spent them financing a lifestyle he could not afford and kept the scheme alive by using new victims’ money to make payments to earlier investors. We will continue pursuing criminals who enrich themselves at the expense of honest people and hold them accountable for the damage they leave behind.” “The FBI will always follow the money to root out investment fraud schemes. Stanley Pophal operated a multiyear scheme in which he made false promises to investors. His actions led to the victimization of people while Pophal pocketed their money. Pophal then spent victims’ money to fund his personal life and hobbies to include payment of his mortgage and purchasing hundreds of snowmobiles,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “In addition to Pophal’s guilty plea, he will be ordered to pay significant financial restitution. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to bring those who seek to enrich themselves by taking advantage of others to justice.” According to court documents, between May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal, using the business name Bright with Silver, Inc. (formerly DBA Fromm Bros., Inc.), offered investment opportunities; including cryptocurrency, real estate flipping, artificial intelligence technology, gold, silver, and emeralds. Pophal convinced most investors to sign investment contracts, which he styled as promissory notes. The promissory notes guaranteed investors a rate of return of at least 20%. Pophal told investors that he was able to secure high rates of return because he had connections in the finance, commodities, and real estate sectors. Pophal also repeatedly told investors that even if his investments on their behalf were not successful, their investment principal was never at risk because he had enough personal wealth to repay each investor's principal. He told investors that he had accumulated his wealth through past business and investment success. In fact, Pophal’s claims of past business success were exaggerated, and his claims of vast personal wealth were false. Pophal never had sufficient funds to personally guarantee each investor’s principal. Pophal used the vast majority of money he received from investors to pay his personal and business expenses, fund personal travel, pay his mortgage, rent a private plane, and purchase snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles. To further the fraud scheme, Pophal made “ponzi” payments to early victims, falsely representing the payments to be investment returns or interest, when in truth the payments were comprised of funds from new investors. Pophal will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley on September 2, 2026. As part of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased using investor funds. The items included hundreds of snowmobiles, which Pophal stored in a rented warehouse. Two photos from that warehouse are below. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Pophal agreed to forfeit these items. Public auction of these assets will occur at a later date. The charges against Pophal are a result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.


title: Georgia Man Indicted for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Northern District of Florida

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Jimmy Randell Chason, 69, of Cairo, Georgia, has been indicted in federal court on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Chason appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Florida. Change of plea is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 11:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Chason faces 10 years’ to life imprisonment on each count. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Billings man sentenced to over 11 years in prison after trying to buy 35 pounds of meth

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who tried to buy a suitcase full of meth at a Laurel truck stop was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Derrick Chandler Lucero, 48, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided. The government alleged in court documents that Lucero attempted to purchase 35 pounds of meth from a courier with ties to a Mexican drug operation. The case against Lucero started in Omaha, Nebraska, when Omaha police officers and agents with the DEA intercepted a suspected drug courier at a bus station on July 22, 2025. The courier told law enforcement he was travelling from California to Montana – later admitting he had 35 pounds of meth in his bags. He then offered to help law enforcement deliver the meth as part of a controlled buy to catch the courier’s connection. Agents travelled with the courier to Billings along with the 35 pounds of meth, which was later tested to verify its legitimacy. They then swapped out 34 of the 35 bundles with white ice melt that they wrapped the same way as the original packages. Early on July 23, 2025, agents and the courier created a plan for delivery. Contacting his handlers in Mexico, the courier received instructions to contact the buyer by phone and determine a location to make the exchange. His handlers told him he was to collect $12,500. The buyer, later identified as Lucero, contacted the courier at 12:02 a.m. and told him they’d meet at the TA Truck Stop in Laurel. Asked for a description of his vehicle, Lucero responded, “I’m in a green and tan Ford Expedition.” Law enforcement started surveillance on the TA Truck Stop, eventually spotting the Expedition. The courier approached the Expedition with the suitcase holding the meth and ice melt. He opened the rear passenger door and set the suitcase inside. Lucero threw a stack of $100 bills on the back seat for the courier, who took the money, closed the car door and gave Lucero a thumbs up, indicating to the arrest teams that the transaction was complete. The agents moved in and arrested Lucero. 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 Montana comprises agents and officers from numerous federal agencies and drug task forces throughout the state, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation as part of the HSTF. XXX


title: Coordinated Law Enforcement Actions Results in Arrests of Seven Men in Connection with Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan Applications

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – As a result of coordinated law enforcement actions in three states, seven men have been arrested and indicted in connection with submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, totaling $205,639 in fraudulent loan proceeds. The takedown was conducted by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; FBI Phoenix Division; FBI Houston Division, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. “This case demonstrates the power of a true whole-of-government approach to deliver swift justice against fraudsters—and it should be replicated in every region across the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “I commend the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the FBI, the SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for holding these individuals accountable.” “Seven defendants are alleged to have exploited government-funded programs designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans to line their pockets,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative efforts by the FBI, SBA-OIG, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department these defendants will now each have their day in court to face federal criminal fraud charges.” “Exploiting federal programs intended to support small businesses is unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The defendants used the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to steal from taxpayers for personal gain and should be held fully accountable. The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and investigating those who seek to defraud federal programs designed to assist businesses in need of operational support.” According to allegations contained in court documents, Elias Santino Acereto; Sheyland Juakeen Barnett; James Sean Freeman II; Yves Garry Harrison-Pierre; Tyrone Tatrice Johnson; Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner; and Nathan Jeffry Scott, all of Las Vegas, each provided false information and fake documentation when applying for PPP loans and/or EIDL loans. As alleged, they each fraudulently obtained the loan funds to enrich themselves. Acereto; Barnett; Johnson; McMillian-Bonner; Harrison-Pierre; and Scott are each charged with one count of wire fraud; and Freeman is charged with two counts of wire fraud. On June 11, Barnett, Freeman, Johnson, and Scott were arrested in Las Vegas; Acereto and Harrison-Pierre were arrested in Phoenix, and McMillian-Bonner was arrested in Richmond, Texas. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Las Vegas Field Office, SBA-OIG, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated these cases. The FBI Phoenix Division and FBI Houston Division provided valuable assistance with the arrests of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting these cases. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Florida Residents Indicted for Multi-Year Scheme to Defraud International Electronics Manufacturer with U.S. Headquarters in New Jersey

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was arraigned on a conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and wire fraud charge for a scheme to defraud his former employer, an international electronics manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, by conspiring to funnel marketing business to a Florida company controlled by his co-defendant, Anthony William Rossi III, in exchange for approximately $6.7 million in kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Brian Normann, 46, of Orlando, Florida, was arraigned on June 2, 2026 before Senior U.S. District Judge William J. Martini. Rossi, 75, of Mount Dora, Florida, was arraigned before Judge Martini on May 27, 2026. Normann and Rossi were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 12, 2026 in a one-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Between in or around approximately 2015 to in or around August 2020, Normann and Rossi conspired to enrich themselves by: (1) depriving the Victim Company of Normann’s honest services as an employee and fiduciary, including through Normann’s repeated referral of marketing and promotional work to GS Line, Inc., a marketing company that Rossi controlled, in exchange for kickbacks GS Line paid to Normann without the Victim Company’s knowledge or consent; and (2) fraudulently obtaining and using funds from the Victim Company by overbilling it for services GS Line provided, and by billing the Victim Company for services that neither GS Line nor Rossi actually provided. In 2019 and 2020, GS Line paid Normann approximately $6.7 million in kickbacks, including kickbacks paid through Rossi, without the Victim Company’s knowledge or consent. Normann used the money to fund his lifestyle, including to purchase a luxury property for approximately $2 million, and to fund his personal brokerage accounts. The conspiracy charge in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to Normann’s and Rossi’s indictment. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar, Co-Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Lynn A. Neils, Esq. (for Brian Normann). Mary E. Carpenito, Esq. (for Anthony William Rossi III). normannetal.indictment.pdf


title: Former Kansas business executive and Latvian broker sentenced to prison for violating U.S. export laws by smuggling avionics equipment to Russia

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former executive of a Kansas-based avionics company was sentenced to 32 months in prison for circumventing United States export laws to sell advanced aviation technology to Russian end users. According to court documents, Douglas Edward Robertson, 58, of Olathe, Kansas, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company Inc., pleaded guilty to export control and money laundering violations. After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government tightened export controls concerning Russia. Robertson and two codefendants continued to purchase, sell, and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Robertson was arrested in March 2023 for smuggling U.S. avionics to Russia by lying about the exports’ value, end users, and end destinations. Oleg Chistyakov, a/k/a Olegs Čitsjakovs, 56, of the Republic of Latvia, acted as a broker for KanRus. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy. Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 63, of Lawrence, the former President and owner of KanRus, is awaiting sentencing. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering, and he consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment. “The U.S. changed trade restrictions with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine for a reason. These defendants put money over country and considered themselves more clever than Customs officials. They thought they could circumvent the restrictions without being detected, but they were wrong,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Smugglers can’t fly under the radar without federal investigators ultimately uncovering their criminal activities.” “The sentencing marks another milestone in the government’s successful effort to hold those accountable who conspire to circumvent and bypass U.S. regulations. The individuals in this case conspired to illegally purchase, sell and export sophisticated aviation equipment to Russia. Robertson’s fraudulent actions were willful and substantial. The sentencing should provide assurance to the public: the FBI will investigate and arrest those who wish to violate our nation’s laws,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. The Latvian authorities assisted in the investigation while U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas as well as Adam Barry, a former trial attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance. ###


title: Suffolk County woman pleads guilty to her role in fraud scheme

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jennifer Poliandro, 35, of Medford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Between February 18 and February 26, 2026, Poliandro conspired with others to obtain personally identifiable information of multiple victims from the internet and use this information to create counterfeit military identification cards and United States passport cards. These fraudulent cards were then used to obtain and attempt to obtain money from various banks in the Western District of New York area. On February 18, 2026, Poliandro went to a Lake Shore Bank branch in Fredonia, NY, where she used a counterfeit military identification card in the name of an individual residing in Jamestown, NY, to obtain $7,800 from a home equity line of credit account associated with the individual. The total loss amount of the scheme, including actual loss and intended loss, is between $15,000 and $40,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood. Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2026, before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: More Than 250 New Immigration Cases Added in Western District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 254 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from June 5 through June 11, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes including crimes against children, thefts, and multiple prior removals. Across the district, 76 of the charges are for improper entry by an alien, 142 are for illegal re-entry, 20 cases are for alien smuggling, and 13 are for fraud and misuse of visas, permits and related documents. Among the new cases, four individuals were arrested near Socorro and charged via a criminal complaint with alien smuggling after their alleged smuggling scheme was foiled by U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 7. The complaint alleges that agents located and apprehended eight illegal aliens who admitted they had crossed the Rio Grande River, used a ladder to climb over the international boundary fence, and entered the U.S. without inspection or authorization. During processing at the Ysleta Border Patrol Station, agents observed that one of the illegal aliens had received incoming calls and messages from multiple phone numbers associated with alien smuggling activity. Further investigation led to the location and arrests of Adrian Silvestre Ortiz , Sheyla Carrillo-Aguilar and Veronica Madrid , who were allegedly involved in the planned pickup and transportation of the illegal aliens. An alleged fourth conspirator, Irvin Alonso Guzman Luna , admitted he served as the foot guide for the illegal aliens after they crossed into the U.S., according to the criminal complaint. U.S. citizen Ashley Villalobos is charged with alien smuggling for allegedly attempting to smuggle two Mexican children from Hidalgo that she picked up at a grocery store in Ciudad Juarez. A criminal complaint alleges that Villalobos stated she was going to be paid $1,500 per child and had smuggled illegal alien minors twice in May. Raul Oliver Rede-Mendez , an illegal alien from Mexico with a lengthy record of felony convictions, was found at or near Texas State Highway Loop 375, about a half mile west of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry in El Paso. Rede-Mendez has also gone by the names Raul Fierro-Mendez, Juan Rede, and Raul Reyes. He’s been removed from the U.S. four times, the last being in May 2024, following an illegal re-entry conviction. He’s also been convicted of failure to stop at the scene of personal injury, theft by shoplifting, obstructing judiciary/congress/legislature, assault, and more. Edwin Eberaldo Miranda-Hinojosa , an illegal alien from Bolivia, was arrested in El Paso for allegedly attempting to evade immigration laws by appearing under an assumed or fictitious name. According to a criminal complaint, Miranda-Hinojosa applied for admission into the United States at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry via the pedestrian primary, presenting a counterfeit Border Crossing Card. The complaint alleges that Miranda-Hinojosa initially claimed that the document was his but then stated that he obtained it from another individual and was going to pay $4,000 for it after he entered the U.S. Miranda-Hinojosa was removed from the U.S. in December 2025, following his second DWI conviction within five years. He has also been previously convicted multiple times of assault and battery of a family member. Javier Granados-Leon , an illegal alien from Mexico with eight prior deportations, was found in the Hays County Jail on June 4. His criminal record includes three convictions for improper entry by an alien, four convictions for illegal re-entry, two DWIs, two failures to identify, two convictions for manufacturing/delivering controlled substances, and one conviction for assault causing bodily injury. Granados-Leon has also gone by the names Miguel Basilio Hernandez and Mondregon-Jaimes. He’s now charged again with one count of illegal re-entry. On June 5, ICE Enforcement Removal Operations officers responded to assist Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers with a traffic stop on Interstate Highway 35 in New Braunfels. According to a criminal complaint, the driver of the pulled over vehicle was Alejandro Quezada-Mota , an illegal alien from Mexico, who was previously removed from the United States in December 2011. In April 2008, Quezada-Mota was convicted in Harris County of aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to seven years confinement. He now faces one count of illegal re-entry and, if he’s convicted, up to 20 years in federal prison. In Del Rio, Santos Rutilio Barahona-Banegas , a convicted felon and illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Barahona-Rojas has been deported five times, the most recent being in March 2023. His criminal record includes prior convictions of cocaine possession, family violence and child cruelty, illegal re-entry, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Also in Del Rio, USBP agents arrested Fernando Omar Aguilar-Gonzalez aka Manuel Aguilar Pena. Aguilar-Gonzalez is an illegal alien from Mexico who has been deported from the U.S. four times, the last being in July 2019. He has been previously convicted of grand larceny, possession of a controlled substance, escape from confinement, and burglary of a habitation. He’s now charged with illegal re-entry. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Tonawanda man going to prison on child pornography charge

body_text: BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shawn Demmick, 33, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. On March 21, 2025, Demmick possessed a cellular phone, which contained images and videos of child pornography. The images and videos included depictions of prepubescent minors less than 12-years-old minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau. # # # #


title: Bardstown Man and Woman Sentenced to Over 30 years and 10 Years  in Federal Prison for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Nelson County man and woman were sentenced to federal prison on June 10, 2026, after being convicted of multiple fentanyl and cocaine trafficking offenses following a five-day jury trial in September 2025. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division made the announcement. According to court documents, Neal Scott Stone , 50, was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, Stone was on federal supervised release at the time of the offenses. He was sentenced to an additional 3-year term of imprisonment for violating the terms of supervised release, 18 months of which was ordered to run consecutively with the 30-year sentence, for a total combined sentence of 31.5 years. Stone was also ordered to pay a $40,000 fine. Keely Logsdon , 42, was sentenced to 10 years, followed by 6 years of supervised release. Between August of 2022 and June of 2023, Stone and Logsdon , both of Bardstown, conspired with each other and others to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Stone and Logsdon , aided and abetted by each other, distributed cocaine and/or fentanyl on eight separate occasions. During the conspiracy, Stone was an over-the-road truck driver, who obtained cocaine and fentanyl from the southwest border of the United States and Mexico and transported the substances back to the Bardstown area for distribution. The jury also found that Stone had previously been convicted of the following serious drug felonies, which resulted in enhanced penalties. On May 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Stone was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. On April 20, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Stone was convicted of attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Neal Stone has lived a life of crime, with a callous disregard for his community. Despite the opportunity to learn from three prior federal drug trafficking convictions, Stone directly transported significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from the Mexican border into Bardstown, Kentucky. There’s no telling how many lethal doses of deadly poison he ultimately brought into our Commonwealth. At 50 years old, this 31 1/2-year sentence in the federal penitentiary all but assures Stone will never harm Kentuckians again. I am proud of the investigative work by first class DEA Agents, and the prosecutorial effort of AUSA Frank Dahl, who are at the forefront of fighting the narcotics epidemic plaguing our state.” “Drug traffickers like Stone and Logsdon have no regard for human life and should expect nothing less than to feel the full weight of our justice system for their crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “I’m very proud of the work done by our special agents and all our law enforcement partners to ensure these individuals are put away for a very long time.” There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI and DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Kentucky State Police, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Dahl and Amy Sullivan prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic. 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 Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. ###


title: Illegal alien, long-time resident of Renton, Washington sentenced to 7 years in prison for distributing pound quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 41- year-old Renton, Washington resident, illegally present in the U.S. was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 84 months in prison for his role as a significant drug distributor to both Western Washington and Western Kentucky, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Manuel Garcia Hernandez, a Mexican national, was arrested in June 2024, following a wiretap investigation of a drug trafficking organization importing methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine into the Seattle area from Mexico and Colombia. When law enforcement searched his truck and residence, they found heroin as well as a loaded firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and 12 mobile phones. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was an extremely serious, very significant drug conspiracy with national and international reach, exposing multiple communities to harm.” “This case highlights the problems with sanctuary policies. Those in favor of these policies see a man who lived in the community for 20 years, owned a construction business, and has a family. In reality, this defendant entered the United States illegally and willfully participated in the destruction of other families by spreading meth, heroin and cocaine in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He was previously convicted of crimes in Washington including a 2022 DUI, but sanctuary policies kept him from being turned over to federal immigration authorities. It is a disturbing reality that in Washington State it takes a federal felony conviction to finally get him removed from the U.S. following his term in prison.” “This investigation dismantled a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing dangerous narcotics across in Western Washington by tracking the source of supply all the way back to the jungles of Colombia,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Rob Saccone, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Working alongside our federal, state, local, and international partners, DEA remains committed to targeting the criminal organizations that peddle poison, drive addiction, and threaten public safety. This work is central to DEA’s commitment to a Fentanyl-Free America by reducing the availability of synthetic opioids, saving lives, and protecting our communities.” According to records filed in the case, between 2020 and 2024, the Homeland Security Task Force began investigation of a drug trafficking organization bringing drugs into the U.S. from Mexico and Colombia. In all the investigation resulted in seizures of more than 32 kilograms of cocaine, 14 kilograms of methamphetamine, 83,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 3 kilograms of heroin, and 1 kilogram of fentanyl powder. Multiple firearms were seized including one at Garcia Hernandez’ home. Garcia Hernandez became a focus of investigation during wiretaps conducted in late 2023 that showed he was cutting deals for pound quantities of meth and cocaine. During the same time that Garcia Hernandez was redistributing these drugs in the Western District of Washington, he also brokered a three-kilogram deal for controlled substances that were to be delivered in the Western District of Kentucky. He was arrested in June 2024, and in May 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In asking for an 87-month prison sentence prosecutors wrote to the court that Garcia Hernandez had kept drug dealing even after he learned of arrests of coconspirators in Kentucky. “Garcia Hernandez engaged in a sustained course of conduct that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in Washington and the planned distribution of heroin in Kentucky… That Garcia Hernandez continued to engage in drug trafficking activity notwithstanding the fact of the Kentucky (arrests) demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the law. The recommended sentence sends a clear message that continued armed drug trafficking—after law enforcement intervention―will be met with the substantial sanction warranted by such conduct,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Seattle Police Department. The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia General) partnered with U.S. law enforcement on this investigation. The Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided critical assistance. The cases from this investigation are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Silvio and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington.


title: Three defendants associated with human trafficking operation sentenced to federal prison

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: WAYCROSS, Georgia: Three defendants have been sentenced on federal conspiracy charges after a transnational, multi-year investigation into a human smuggling and labor trafficking operation that illegally transported Mexican and Central American workers into brutal conditions on South Georgia farms. Sentences were handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and announced by Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap. They include: Margarita Rojas Cardenas , a/k/a “Maggie Cardenas,” 48, of Reidsville, Georgia, was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,838.94 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Nery Rene Carrillo-Najarro , 61, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The court scheduled a restitution hearing on August 4, 2026, to assess victims’ losses and to determine the amount of restitution owed by the defendant. Brett Donavan Bussey , 44, of Douglas, was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,224.73 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. There is no parole in the federal system. “This case is an outstanding example of the extensive collaboration with our partner government agencies which led to these convictions,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The work carried out by these professionals has had a direct impact in protecting vulnerable people and preserving the American dream for those who pursue it.” As described in court documents and proceedings, investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI began investigating the Patricio transnational criminal organization in November 2018. Court documents describe that in or before 2015, the conspirators and their associates “engaged in mail fraud, international forced labor trafficking, and money laundering, among other crimes,” fraudulently using the H-2A work visa program to transport foreign nationals from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras into the United States under the pretext of serving as agricultural workers. The activities took place within the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Georgia; the Middle District of Florida; the Southern District of Texas; and Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and elsewhere. The conspirators required the workers to pay unlawful fees for transportation, food, and housing while illegally withholding their travel and identification documents and subjected the workers “to perform physically demanding work for little or no pay, housing them in crowded, unsanitary, and degrading living conditions, and by threatening them with deportation and violence.” The conspirators are alleged to have reaped more than $200 million from the illegal scheme, laundering the funds through cash purchases of land, homes, vehicles, and businesses; through cash purchases of cashier’s checks; and by funneling millions of dollars through a casino. The case was originally investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, now Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). HSTF is an interagency law enforcement network established to investigate and dismantle transnational criminal organizations, human smuggling networks, and foreign gangs in the United States. Operation Blooming Onion was also designated as a Priority Transnational Organized Crime Case. “Federal labor programs are not a playground for criminals. Let these sentencings send a clear message: if you exploit workers, commit fraud, launder money, or abuse programs designed to help people, my office will find you and hold you accountable,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "This scheme preyed on vulnerable individuals and corrupted a lawful worker program for illegal profit. Alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue rooting out fraud, protecting American workers, and ensuring bad actors face the full weight of justice.” The sentencings of Cardenas, Bussey, and Carrillo-Najarro bring the case against the original 24 defendants to a close. Many of the defendants were sentenced to incarceration and ordered to pay restitution to the victims in the case, with the restitution total reaching more than $1.3 million. Agencies investigating this case include Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Wage and Hour Division; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the FBI; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from the Georgia National Guard; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia State Patrol; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office; the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office; the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office; the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan E. Bondura and L. Alexander Hamner. If you believe you have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. All reports are confidential, and you may remain anonymous. Interpreters are available. The information you provide will be reviewed by the National Hotline and forwarded to specialized law enforcement and/or service providers where appropriate.


title: Ukrainian National Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: NASHVILLE — Following his extradition from Ireland, Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected more than 1,000 computers and networks worldwide. “Targeting transnational criminal organizations who victimize American citizens with these outrageous ransomware attacks are among the highest priorities of our office and the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “These criminal enterprises are sophisticated, but our prosecutors are up to this challenge and are dedicated to rooting these thieves out and holding them accountable.” “The defendant and his conspirators used the Conti ransomware to terrorize people and businesses in the United States and around the world, causing millions of dollars in damage,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Ransomware continues to pose a threat to all business organizations, from critical infrastructure to small businesses. The Justice Department will continue to work with international partners to bring to justice anyone, anywhere who attacks the United States with ransomware.” “Lytvynenko’s guilty plea is a significant step toward holding cyber criminals accountable for the damage they inflict on victims worldwide,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Lytvynenko profited from fear and coercion, conspiring to use Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. This case demonstrates that the FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue those responsible for cybercrimes, regardless of where they operate, and bring them to justice.” “This guilty plea is a powerful reminder that cybercriminals — whether acting alone or as part of a larger group — cannot hide behind their keyboards or international borders,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Criminal Investigative Division. “While this individual played a role in a group responsible for significant harm, this guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to tracking down every member of these criminal networks. The Secret Service will continue to work with our partners here and around the world to disrupt ransomware operations and ensure those responsible are held accountable.” According to court documents, Lytvynenko, of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. Court filings allege the conspirators hacked into victims’ computers and networks, encrypted data, and demanded a ransom to restore the victims’ access to their files and to avoid public disclosure of the stolen information. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, Conti ransomware attacks resulted in at least $150 million in ransom payments. Lytvynenko admitted to joining the Conti conspiracy no later than approximately September 2021. He admitted to possessing data from eight U.S. and four overseas victims which had been stolen by Conti conspirators. Lytvynenko further admitted to joining a team run by a Conti conspirator during which time Lytvynenko was directed to work on coding a “loader,” which is typically a type of malware, or malicious software, that is used to load programs necessary to execute other malicious attacks. Lytvynenko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In September 2023, an indictment charging four other Conti conspirators was unsealed in the Middle District of Tennessee. The FBI’s San Diego, Nashville, and El Paso Field Offices and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips of the Middle District of Tennessee, and Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Irish Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, the Irish Office of the Attorney General and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau provided valuable assistance to secure the arrest and extradition of Lytvynenko. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI's sustained enforcement response to that threat. # # # # #


title: Waterloo Teen Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Possessing Guns

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A convicted felon from Waterloo who possessed a gun was sentenced June 11, 2026, to two years in federal prison. Oliver Lee Buls, 19, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 16, 2026, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Buls was the passenger in a car that police officers stopped in May 2025. Officers searched the car after smelling the odor of marijuana. During the search, officers found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun underneath Buls’ seat. The gun was loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Officers also found a loaded Palmetto State Dagger 9mm handgun under the hood of the car. The Palmetto also contained a high-capacity magazine and had a machine gun conversion device, or “switch,” affixed to it. The “switch” allowed the gun to operate as a fully automatic firearm. Buls’ DNA was found on both guns. Buls was part of a social media group, which included juveniles, that posted videos of themselves playing with guns. Buls was on probation at the time he possessed the guns after being convicted of the felony offense of interference with official acts with a firearm. His probation for that conviction was revoked. Buls was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Buls was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-2038. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged With Possessing Weapon, Assaulting Other Inmate

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Edward Garlock, 59, an inmate in FCI Allenwood, Medium, was indicted on June 11, 2026, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison and assault with a dangerous weapon. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Garlock with one count of possessing contraband in prison, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Garlock was allegedly in possession of a lanyard with a lock attached, which he allegedly used to assault another inmate. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Newport News felon sentenced to two years in prison for  illegally possessing a firearm

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Newport News man was sentenced today to two years in prison followed by nine months of electronically monitored home confinement for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on Feb. 8, 2023, Carl Henry Coleman III, 34, was driving recklessly in excess of 70 mph in a posted 45 mph zone and weaving in and out of traffic when Newport News Police (NNPD) observed him and performed a traffic stop. Because neither Coleman nor his passenger was licensed to drive, officers initiated the process to tow the vehicle and conducted an inventory search. In a backpack on the floorboard behind the driver seat was a loaded handgun, along with Coleman’s social security card and bank card. Among other crimes, Coleman was prosecuted federally at age 21 for making false statements to law enforcement about the location of a discarded murder weapon that had been used in a gang-related double homicide. In 2016, he was convicted for threatening to kill and physically assault a victim. As a previously convicted felon, Coleman cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case with assistance from NNPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman 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. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-43.


title: South Carolina Man Charged with Hate Crime for Allegedly Defacing Multiple Buildings at Charlotte Jewish Complex

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A South Carolina man is facing a hate crime charge for allegedly intentionally defacing multiple buildings within a Charlotte complex used by the Jewish community for religious worship, education, and community activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Dalton Ray Mullis, 24, of Indian Land, was arrested on Thursday on a criminal complaint and appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. “Posting nazi and lynching symbols on the Jewish Community Center is pure hate and it’s disgusting,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “This is America, which was founded on the free exercise of religion and people ought to be free to worship without being threatened.” “The individual arrested yesterday is alleged to have distributed threatening materials at community institutions in an attempt to create fear or intimidate individuals based on their religious beliefs. These acts undermine public safety and violate federal law. The right to gather, learn, and worship are fundamental in our country and the FBI will continue to work resolutely with our partners to ensure that all members of the public are free to do so without fear.” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis. “This arrest reflects the strong partnership between the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our shared commitment that those who commit hate crimes in our jurisdiction are held accountable,” said CMPD Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. “CMPD works tirelessly to keep our community safe, and that includes protecting every person’s right to worship without fear. Acts that target or threaten our houses of worship and cultural institutions have no place in Charlotte. We will not tolerate intimidation of any kind, and we will continue to stand with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of our community.” According to allegations contained in the affidavit filed with criminal complaint, in the evening of January 19, 2026, an individual later identified as Mullis traveled to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) located within the Foundation of Shalom Park (Shalom Park) complex in Charlotte. Shalom Park also includes the Charlotte Jewish Day School (CJDS), the Holocaust Memorial, and other facilities occupied by multiple organizations that operate Jewish religious, cultural, and educational programs. It is alleged that Mullis defaced multiple buildings on the property including CJDS, the Holocaust Memorial, and an employee building, by affixing threatening, antisemitic flyers. The flyers depicted a noose, a swastika, and a Totenkopf or “death’s head,” which is historically associated with the German Nazi party and SS. It is further alleged that surveillance cameras on the property captured Mullis spraying one of the entrances to the CJDS with what appears to be an adhesive spray and placing the antisemitic flyer onto the door. Charging documents also allege that between January and April 2026, Mullis posted antisemitic messages and imagery on multiple social media sites through accounts he owned and operated, including the following post: Antisemitic Social Media Message Allegedly Posted by Mullis Mullis remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI Charlotte’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Columbia, the Lancaster County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, for their invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dallas Kaplan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte and Trial Attorneys Taylor Payne and Thomas Cilla with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. The charges against Mullis are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.


title: Convicted Felon Indicted for Firearm Charges  Stemming From Domestic-Violence Incident

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a convicted felon on firearm charges in connection with a domestic-violence incident. Marquis Thomas, 34, of Baltimore, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Thomas knowingly possessed a Hi-Point JHP .45 Auto Pistol loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. The firearm had an obliterated serial number. At the time of the offense, Thomas, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to the public filings, on October 30, 2025, BPD received a call about a domestic-assault involving a firearm. Upon law enforcement’s arrival at the residence, the victim opened the door and told officers that Thomas left the premises. The victim then led law enforcement into the living room and pointed to a handgun on the couch. Additionally, the victim reported that Thomas hit her in the face three times before pointing a gun at her, saying, “I should kill you right now.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office — in partnership with our federal, local, and state partners — works hard to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not authorized to carry them. This helps prevent violence and saves lives,” Hayes said. “We support prioritizing our residents’ safety and well-being through our commitment to community trust, strategic enforcement, and violence prevention, especially for those experiencing intimate-partner violence.” “We are committed to working with our state and local partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” Doerrer said. “Cases like these highlight the excellent work of our local police, local prosecutors, federal agents, and federal prosecutors.” This indictment is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn . # # #


title: Marshalltown Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced June 11, 2026, to more than eight years in federal prison. Juan Eduardo Rivas Martinez, age 25, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 12, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Information at the sentencing hearing showed that on June 11, 2024, Martinez distributed over 450 grams of ice methamphetamine to a confidential informant. After that transaction, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Martinez but he fled from the officers on a bicycle. Martinez crashed the bicycle he was riding and continued to flee on foot. Officers caught Martinez. Martinez had over $1,000 in his possession. As Martinez was fleeing, he threw a bag to the ground. Officers found and searched the bag and found over 440 grams of ice methamphetamine inside. Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Martinez was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. 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 Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. This HSTF case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-2033-005. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: 2 Lawful Permanent Residents Charged with Attempting to Smuggle Juvenile Through El Paso Port of Entry

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – Two Lawful Permanent Residents from Mexico made their initial appearances in a federal court in El Paso this week, facing criminal charges related to their alleged smuggling of illegal aliens, including a minor, from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, on June 7, Abraham Romo-Rivera, 39, and Amairani Munoz-Molinar, 29, approached the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in a vehicle and applied for admission into the United States. The vehicle had New Mexico plates, and Romo-Rivera was allegedly the driver of the vehicle. Romo-Rivera was accompanied by multiple passengers, including Munoz-Molinar. A criminal complaint alleges that Romo-Rivera and Munoz-Molinar presented the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) with their Lawful Permanent Resident Cards and Romo-Rivera additionally presented identification documents for two other passengers, declaring them to be his son and daughter. The documents allegedly bore the information of other individuals, and the CBPO noticed that the female passenger attempted to avoid showing her face. The CBPO referred the vehicle to secondary inspection, where Romo-Rivera and Munoz-Molinar allegedly maintained that the two passengers were their son and daughter. The CBPO also recognized that the photo on the female’s supposed identification document did not match the female, leading her to allegedly disclose that she was not the person depicted on the I.D. and was a citizen of Mexico. Further investigation revealed that Romo-Rivera was allegedly going to be paid $10,000 to smuggle illegal aliens into the U.S. During a pat-down search of Munoz-Molinar, a CBPO allegedly located a manila envelope containing the actual Mexican birth certificates and Mexican passports belonging to the two illegal aliens. The male passenger was determined to be a minor. Romo-Rivera and Munoz-Molinar were arrested and charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Van Pelt 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. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to 42 Months in Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daijon West, 29, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 42 months in connection with a years-long conspiracy to distribute fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in the Washington, D.C., area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. West pleaded guilty on Feb. 5, 2026, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered West to serve 4 years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 68-month prison sentence. According to court papers, West distributed fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in the Washington region during a period of several years. He obtained bulk quantities of the pills from a supplier in California, either by traveling to the West Coast himself or by arranging for the pills to be mailed to him. In one instance, in May 2022, law enforcement seized a package containing about 5,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills sent from California to West’s home in Maryland. Between September 2022 and April 2025, West sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to a law enforcement source on nine occasions. The quantities ranged from 100 to more than 1,000 pills per transaction. Testing confirmed the pills contained fentanyl, and in some transactions, they also detected fentanyl analogues, methamphetamine, xylazine, or other substances. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel. 25cr148 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Ohio Resident Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of More Than $460,000

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Conneaut, Ohio, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of wire fraud and theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The five-count Indictment named Yelena Andrews, 48, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2024 to in and around March 2025, Andrews, while employed as a paralegal with an Erie, Pennsylvania, law firm, did devise and intend to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. The Indictment alleges that Andrew’s actions resulted in the embezzlement of approximately $462,376 to which she was not entitled. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Illegal alien from Guatemala sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking cocaine

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

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, from Aug. 27, 2025, to Sept. 17, 2025, law enforcement conducted three controlled transactions during which Mitre Vega Gonzalez, 47, sold cocaine. On Sept. 18, 2025, investigators searched Vega Gonzalez’s residence and recovered a handgun, a loaded magazine, $5,410, and at least 510 grams of cocaine. USAO EDVA The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from Prince William County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Clement and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-43.


title: Two Colombian Nationals in the United States Illegally Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Colombian nationals who were in the United States illegally have been sentenced for trafficking cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia, 26, and Christian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, 26, each to 57 months in prison. Zapata-Valencia and Lugo-Beltran had pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. “This case represents the best of local law enforcement. The officers saw something, followed up, and were ultimately able to get 21 kilograms of cocaine off our interstates,” said U.S. Attorney Phil Williams. “Illegal aliens have no place in this country, especially when trafficking major quantities of narcotics.” “Twenty-one kilograms of cocaine is not just a number—it represents a significant threat to the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “This case demonstrates HSI’s unwavering commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous drugs and the violence they fuel off our streets. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to profit from trafficking poison into our neighborhoods and hold them accountable.” According to the plea agreements, on February 6, 2025, an officer with the Calera Police Department was on routine patrol when he noticed suspicious behavior by the defendants at a Chevron gas station in Calera, Alabama. After noticing the patrol car, the defendants left Chevron without pumping gas. The officer continued to watch Zapata-Valencia and Lugo-Beltran. They drove across the street to the Valero gas station to get gas. The officer radioed another Calera police officer who was sitting on Interstate 65. A short time later, that second officer conducted a traffic stop for an inoperable tag light. The officer asked for identification, but neither defendant had a driver’s license. The defendants were driving from Los Angeles, California, to Miami, Florida. The officer then asked Zapata-Valencia to exit the vehicle. During a probable cause search for the vehicle, officers discovered a suitcase in the trunk hidden beneath a blanket. Inside the suitcase were 21 individually wrapped bricks of cocaine. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Calera Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.


title: Missouri Couple Sentenced for Abducting and Sexually Abusing 13-Year-Old They Groomed Online

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A married couple was sentenced today to lengthy prison terms for grooming a teenager online before picking her up in Virginia and repeatedly sexually abusing her as they drove back to their apartment in Missouri. Justin Johiah Curtright, 41, was sentenced today to 45 years in federal prison. His wife, Christin Marie Curtright, 33, was sentenced to 27 years. The Curtrights, of Springfield, Missouri, pled guilty in 2025 to sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. “This Office is committed to seeking maximum accountability against predators who target our children online or through other means. This sentence should send a clear message to those who exploit our children: you will be identified by law enforcement and prosecuted to the full extent of the law by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci. “I wish to thank the Springfield, Missouri Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation for their outstanding work bringing these predators to justice.” “The abduction and abuse of a young child is a crime beyond measure- feeding on fear, destroying innocence, and leaving scars that last a lifetime. This case exemplifies just how important it is for parents to stay alert. The internet can be a hunting ground, and awareness is your child’s first line of defense. Law enforcement will continue to hunt down and bring to justice those who continue to prey on our youth,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. According to court documents, in 2024 Justin Curtright first contacted the minor victim on Discord, an online video chatting platform. Justin later introduced the victim to his wife, and from that point, the three talked extensively, both online and by phone. As encouraged by Justin, the victim’s family did not know about her contact with the Curtrights. The Curtrights also engaged in sexually explicit acts on camera while video chatting with the victim and urged her to do the same. Justin would frequently pretend to be the victim’s father. After weeks of planning, in the summer of 2024, the Curtrights met the victim near her home in Virginia. The victim got into the Curtrights’ van, and they drove her back to Missouri. While on the road, the Curtrights took turns sexually abusing the victim in the back of the van. Once they reached their apartment, they continued their sexual exploitation of the victim for several more days. Days later, officers with the Springfield Police Department went to the Curtrights’ apartment, where they found the victim hiding in the back of a closet in the Curtrights’ bedroom. The victim had an ID card that Justin Curtright gave her, which falsely represented her as Justin’s daughter. Springfield officers seized the Curtrights’ phones, which held video and images of the victim’s online sexual exploitation, as well as images of the victim being abused during the drive to Missouri. Investigators later obtained extensive Discord chat logs, which revealed how the Curtrights doggedly groomed and manipulated the victim. The chat logs also showed that Justin was actively seeking and sexually exploiting other children online. Justin told his wife that he had a fantasy of sexually abusing a teenaged runaway. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Springfield Police Department, and various local law enforcement agencies investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Drew O. Inman and Lee S. Brett prosecuted the case for the United States. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .