title: Marshall Man Admits to Drug and Gun Offenses

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Marshall, Mo., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to drug and gun charges arising out of a May 2025 search warrant, during which two Pettis County deputies were injured. James Joseph Elsea, 62, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing firearms after a prior felony conviction. In a plea agreement filed with the court after the hearing, Elsea admitted that while Pettis County Sheriff’s Office deputies were executing a no-knock search warrant at his home on May 2, 2025, Elsea fired shots from inside the residence, hitting and injuring two deputies. Approximately nine minutes after the shots were fired, Elsea made a 911 call reporting that he believed he had shot someone. Later, after the officers arrested Elsea and made entry into his residence, they found evidence that Elsea had discarded methamphetamine down the toilet, leaving loose methamphetamine on the bathroom floor, around and underneath the toilet, on the toilet seat, and in the toilet bowl. Firearms were also found within the home. Elsea has prior felony convictions and is not permitted to possess a gun. Under federal statutes, Elsea is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and up to 15 years for his possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. He is also subject to a sentence of not less than 10 years for possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which must be consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. These maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes, but Elsea’s ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Kansas City Man Indicted for Distribution of Controlled Substances  and Illegal Sales of Firearms

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – German Alvarez-Rubio, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin as well as firearms offenses. Alvarez-Rubio made his first appearance in federal court after his arrest on January 12, 2026. The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2025, the Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine. On July 29, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine and methamphetamine and illegally sold ten firearms. On August 19, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed methamphetamine, cocaine, and psilocybin (mushrooms) and illegally possessed a machinegun. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Eleven Charged in Bristol Area Drug Trafficking Ring; Several Overdose Deaths Connected

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Bristol Police Chief Mark Morello today announced that the following 11 individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from a long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking in Bristol and elsewhere in central Connecticut: JOSHUA OCASIO , also known as “J” and “Jim,” 30, of Middletown JOSE ROSADO-ORTIZ , 29, of Manchester RYAN JASSOR , 30, of Phoenix, Arizona DEBRA JANKOWSKI , 44, of Avon TONI RISUCCI , 29, of Watertown JAMES WARKOSKI , 58, of Plymouth RYAN RIBACK , 24, of Plainville KYLE MASTROIANNI , 32, of Bristol ROBERT PINETTE , 39, of Bristol GRIFFIN DEPREY , 28, of Plainville QURAN MUHAMMAD , 30, of East Windsor As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and Bristol Police Department have been investigating a narcotics trafficking enterprise headed by Ocasio. The investigation revealed that Ocasio, with the assistance of Rosado-Ortiz and Jassor, who formerly resided in Connecticut, acquired and distributed fentanyl, cocaine, crack-cocaine, counterfeit pills pressed with fentanyl, and pharmaceuticals including oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax. Ocasio employed, and frequently rented vehicles for, Jankowski, Risucci, Warkoski, Riback, Mastroianni, Pinette, and Deprey as “drug runners” to conduct drug transactions on his behalf. Muhammad helped facilitate narcotics transactions for Ocasio and also distributed drugs that he acquired from Ocasio to his own customer base. It is alleged that the investigation has connected five overdose deaths in Bristol and one overdose death in Berlin, which occurred between April 2024 and May 2025, to Ocasio’s drug trafficking network. Ocasio and Rosado-Ortiz were arrested on a federal criminal complaints on December 4, 2025. On that date, a search of Ocasio’s residence revealed approximately $440,000 in cash and watches and jewelry valued at approximately $270,000. A search of Rosado-Ortiz’s residence revealed approximately two kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of crack cocaine, 250 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of methamphetamine, 2,500 oxycodone pills, 500 Xanax and Adderall pills, tabs of LSD, one ounce of ketamine, 25 empty kilogram wrappers that field tested positive for the presence of cocaine, an AR-15 style rifle, a ghost gun, $10,000 in jewelry, and $7,260 in cash. On January 7, 2026, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging each of the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Ocasio, Rosado-Ortiz, Risucci, Riback, and Mastroianni face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Jankowski, Pinette, and Deprey face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Jassor, Warkoski, and Muhammad face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. In addition, the indictment charges Ocasio with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and cocaine resulting in death and serious bodily injury, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. This charge stems from the overdose death of a 20-year-old woman in Bristol on October 26, 2024. The indictment also charges Rosado-Ortiz with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the cash and jewelry seized on December 4, 2025, $30,338 that was seized from Ocasio in February 2025, and multiple vehicles. “As alleged, Joshua Ocasio operated a sophisticated drug trafficking network that, quite literally, destroyed lives in Bristol and surrounding communities in central Connecticut,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan. “I thank the members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Bristol Police Department, and the many other police departments that have worked on this long-term investigation which resulted in dismantling this drug network and bringing Mr. Ocasio and his associates to justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners continue to target those who profit from the illegal distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics. This investigation clearly established an indisputable connection to a drug-related death that necessitates the charging of this 20-year mandatory minimum offense.” “DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large-scale poly drug trafficking organizations like this one operating throughout central Connecticut,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget. “This organization was allegedly responsible for the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and pharmaceuticals which can be linked to several overdose deaths in the state. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes.” “The Bristol Police Department commends the DEA, every member of this Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless pursuit of justice and their unwavering commitment to dismantling illicit drug trafficking networks,” said Bristol Police Chief Mark Morello. “These efforts hold accountable those whose actions poison our communities and contribute directly to loss of life. Because of this work, the City of Bristol and the State of Connecticut are safer. The Bristol Police Department remains resolute in its mission to protect and serve the community with integrity and professionalism, and we will continue these enforcement efforts every day to protect our community and save lives.” U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Bristol Police Department, the Middletown Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, and the East Central Narcotics Task Force. The Connecticut Forensic Laboratory and the New Britain, Berlin, Newington, Canton, Hamden, and Glastonbury Police Departments have assisted the investigation. The DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, and the Bristol, West Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Seymour, and Torrington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Keefe and Natasha Freismuth. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Indianapolis Woman Charged with Threatening to Kill United States Representative

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS—Shayla Addison, 28, of Indianapolis, has been charged with two counts of Influencing a Federal Official by Threat. According to court documents, on January 15, 2025, beginning at approximately 8:53 a.m., Addison sent five text messages to the campaign phone number of Victim 1, a member of the United States House of Representatives. The messages included explicit threats to kill Victim 1, including statements such as “Come outside b**** we’ll kill you” and “Tread lightly,” among other variations. Minutes later, Addison sent additional messages to Victim 1’s campaign email address, again threatening to kill Victim 1 and stating, “We will kill you and blow that whole building up b**** come outside.” That same day, Addison also posted threatening comments on Victim 1’s Instagram account, including: “Shut up h** I’ll kill you” and “I hope you got mace… cause you gone need it.” By sending the messages, Addison intended to retaliate against Victim 1 on account of Victim 1’s performance of official duties. The FBI and United States Capitol Police investigated this case. Addison faces up to ten years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Olivier, who is prosecuting this case. ###


title: Florida Man Admits Defrauding Zelle Users

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KUTTINO JAMAL SCOTT, 24, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to an offense stemming from his role in a scheme that defrauded individuals who use the electronic payments system Zelle. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating crimes against users of digital payment applications, including Zelle. Typically, a scheme victim receives a fraudulent text message, purporting to be from the victim’s bank, asking the victim to confirm whether a Zelle transaction was authorized. When the victim denies the transaction, the victim receives a response that a bank representative will be in contact. The victim then receives a phone call from an individual impersonating a bank representative, who informs the victim that an unauthorized transaction has occurred and that they need to work together to reverse the transaction. Without the victim’s knowledge, the fraudsters will link the victim’s actual phone number or email address via Zelle to a bank account that does not belong to the victim. The victim is then instructed to “reverse” the fictional fraudulent transaction by making a Zelle payment to what they believe is their own account, but is, in fact, an account controlled by the fraudsters. From approximately February 2021 through August 2023, Scott and others, including Kader Gahmaal Biwaki Edmond, defrauded numerous victims, including victims in Connecticut, of a total of more than $250,000 through this Zelle scheme and other fraud schemes. Scott was arrested on August 31, 2023. Scott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. Edmond pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on August 19, 2024, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang. Victims can report Zelle fraud to their bank or credit union, or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime, at www.ic3.gov .


title: California Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison  for Participating in Large-Scale Drug Distribution Conspiracy in Sioux Falls

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from California City, California, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on January 5, 2026. Alonzo Green, 43, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Green was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025. Green was a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization which began operating in the Sioux Falls area in the Fall of 2023. The group sourced large quantities of narcotics, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, from California, and then used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls. As a member of the group, Green directed multiple shipments of drugs through the mail and assisted in driving loads of drugs from California to South Dakota. He was arrested while transporting one such load on September 17, 2024. Green and a co-conspirator were stopped by the South Dakota Highway Patrol while traveling through the Hot Springs area. DEA agents on site obtained a search warrant and found packages containing over 4,900 grams of methamphetamine and 925 grams of powder fentanyl in Green’s vehicle. “This was a tremendous arrest resulting in an appropriate prison sentence that has significantly disrupted the activities of this California-based drug trafficking organization in South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Impressive work all around by these dedicated law enforcement officers.” This case was investigated by the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Green was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Federal Sentences Imposed in Montgomery Business Robbery

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Sara Jones with the FBI Mobile Field Office announced today that two additional men have been sentenced in connection with the March 10, 2025, robbery of a Montgomery dry cleaning business. On January 13, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 51-year-old Spirit Hooks, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 175 months in federal prison. On the same date, Spencer Thomas, 68, of Montgomery, Alabama, received a sentence of 144 months in prison. The ringleader and organizer of the robbery, 58-year-old Zedekiah Sykes, was previously sentenced to 195 months in prison on October 23, 2025. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on March 10, 2025, Hooks, Thomas, and Sykes, along with alleged co-defendant Clinton Thompson, 55, forcibly entered the Montgomery business located on East South Street by shattering the front door with a rock. Once inside, the men confronted the business owner and forced him into an office containing a locked safe. During the robbery, Thomas brandished what appeared to be a handgun, pointed it at the victim’s head, and demanded that the safe be opened. The gun was later determined to be a BB gun. When the owner struggled to recall the combination, Hooks became agitated and struck the victim in the left eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. The group ultimately accessed the safe and stole approximately $8,000 in cash. Before fleeing the scene, the assailants zip-tied the victim’s hands and feet and stole his cell phone and car keys. They then used the stolen keys to escape in the victim’s vehicle. Hooks, Thomas, and Sykes previously pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. The three were also ordered to pay $17,624.49 in restitution. Charges of robbery and carjacking against Thompson remain pending, and his trial is scheduled for May 11, 2026. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and Thompson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. “This was a calculated and violent robbery that left a hardworking business owner injured and traumatized,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “The defendants planned out their actions and used threats and violence to carry them out, completely disregarding the safety and well-being of the victim. These sentences reflect the seriousness of the offense and our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.” "The dedication of the men and women in the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, ALEA, Montgomery Police Department, United States Attorney's Office and the FBI has culminated in a just result for our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “These lengthy sentences reflect the gravity of the crimes committed and our unwavering resolve to bringing justice to victims and local businesses alike. We are stronger when we work together to combat violent crime." The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Woman Who Committed $129,000 in Pandemic Fraud is Fined, Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a woman who fraudulently sought more than $1.1 million in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic to 24 months in prison and ordered her to pay a $75,000 fine. Judge Divine also ordered Bridgette Johnson, 61, of Berkeley, Missouri, to repay the $129,000 that she stole. Johnson fraudulently applied for and received $120,000 from the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program by falsely claiming that one of the numerous businesses that she registered in Missouri, Compassion at Home, would use PPP loan money to retain employees and pay business expenses. She later sought loan forgiveness, falsely claiming that she’d used the money for permitted purposes. Johnson instead made tens of thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals from the account that had received the loan money. Johnson also admitted fraudulently applying for $1 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely inflating profit and personnel count in eight applications in 2020 and 2021 filed in her name and in the name of five of her companies. Although the SBA rejected most of the applications after flagging them as fraudulent, Johnson did receive $9,000 in advances. “Johnson used a global pandemic as an opportunity to enrich herself of approximately $130,000 at the expense of small businesses that desperately needed that money to pay their employees and keep their operations from shuttering,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf wrote in a sentencing memo. Johnson pleaded guilty in October to one count of wire fraud. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case. Anyone with information about pandemic fraud should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Ohio Man Arrested and Charged for Firearms Dealing, Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Ohio man has been arrested and charged in connection with multiple sales of firearms transported from Ohio to Massachusetts. Ruben Joel Sanchez Jr., 31, was charged with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sanchez made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Jan. 9, 2026. According to the charging documents, beginning at least as early as June 2025 through January 2026, Sanchez engaged in the business of unlawful trafficking in firearms. In June 2025, Sanchez, who is not licensed to deal in firearms, sold three firearms to an individual in exchange for $4,000. On Jan. 8, 2026, Sanchez was recorded and observed selling four additional firearms to the same individual in return for $8,500. When Sanchez was arrested at the scene, an AR-style pistol equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a rifle equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a loaded pistol equipped with an extended magazine; and an additional loaded pistol were recovered. The charge of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. The charge of unlawful trafficking in firearms provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Previously Convicted Killer Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Rocky Lee Brown, 53, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was charged in an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Brown was wanted on an active warrant out of Maryland when he was arrested Dec. 29, 2025, by the United States Marshals Service on the 5200 block of Hayes Street, NE. An officer with the Metropolitan Police Department responded and allegedly recovered a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol from Brown’s jacket pocket. The firearm contained nine rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Brown did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District. A criminal history check showed that Brown was previously convicted in D.C. Superior Court for second-degree Murder. On May 5, 2006, Brown was sentenced to 25 years of incarceration. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss. 26cr7 rocky_lee_brown_indictment_1_count_s_1_forfe.pdf An indictment is only a formal accusation by a grand jury that there is enough evidence for a serious criminal case to proceed to trial.


title: Maplewood Man Admits Selling Machine Gun Conversion Devices

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Maplewood, Missouri on Wednesday admitted selling nine machine gun conversion devices to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Tanario Darden, 23, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony counts: transporting prohibited weapons without a license and transferring machine guns. He admitted using his Instagram account to offer machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) for sale. MCDs, also known as switches or auto sears, convert a semi-automatic firearm into fully automatic weapon. MCDs are defined as a machine gun under federal law. ATF agents learned of the Instagram account in the spring of 2024 and an undercover agent contacted Darden. After arranging the sale via Darden, an intermediary delivered two MCDs on April 29, 2024. A different man delivered seven more on May 29, 2024. Darden is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15.The transporting prohibited weapons charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. The machine gun charge carries a penalty of 10 years in prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican Native Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Mexican citizen was sentenced on January 14, 2026, to six months in federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported. According to public court documents, Alan Hernandez Lagunas, 42, had previously been deported from the United States three times. On February 21, 2025, law enforcement encountered Hernandez Lagunas in Columbus Junction, Iowa when he was arrested for and later convicted of operating while intoxicated and interference with official acts. Hernandez Lagunas rear-ended a semi-tractor, exhibited signs of intoxication, and resisted arrest. Hernandez Lagunas had been convicted in Iowa of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2010 and 2012. After completing his term of imprisonment, Hernandez Lagunas will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations.


title: Clark County Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Clark County, Ky., man, Tommy Martin, 70, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 480 months’ imprisonment for multiple counts of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; possessing, carrying, and using firearms in furtherance of and during and in relation to his drug trafficking crimes; and possession of multiple firearms by a convicted felon. On September 24, 2025, Martin was found guilty by a federal jury in Lexington of 11 felony violations: six counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of carrying or using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to evidence presented at trial, between July 1 and October 10, 2024, Martin sold various quantities of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Clark and Montgomery Counties. In addition to the methamphetamine, Martin, a convicted felon, sold a firearm to the informant. The investigation culminated in a search of Martin’s residence in Montgomery County in December of 2024, revealing additional quantities of methamphetamine intended for sale as well as firearms in Martin’s possession. Under federal law, Martin must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Martin’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, and Chief Travis Thompson, Winchester Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Winchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota’s ‘Affirmative Action’ Regime

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit today against the State of Minnesota challenging Minnesota’s requirement that all state agencies implement sex- and race-based affirmative action plans and consider “affirmative action goals on all staffing and personnel decisions.” The State’s affirmative action program directs agencies to engage in employment practices that “balance” the sex and race composition of its workforce with the civilian labor force. “From suing over sanctuary city policies to a wide-ranging fraud investigation, today's lawsuit is the Department of Justice's latest effort to bring Minnesota into compliance with federal law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Making hiring decisions based on immutable characteristics like race and sex is simple discrimination, and the Trump Administration has no tolerance for such DEI policies.” “For far too long, courts have allowed employers to discriminate based on race and sex when it is packaged as ‘affirmative action,’” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Supreme Court put an end to using race as a factor in college admissions through its Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. This case is the next logical step. Title VII protects all people from race and sex discrimination in employment. There is no exception that allows discrimination against employees who aren’t considered ‘underrepresented.’” “Minnesotans already had to see their state officials let criminals brazenly walk off with over a billion taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “Now they see those same officials abusing their power by systematically and unlawfully branding jobseekers as the wrong race or sex. The United States Attorney General and the Justice Department are on the side of Minnesotans and have stepped in to hold the State accountable.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleges that this affirmative action mandate discriminates against, limits, and classifies employees and prospective employees on the basis of their race and sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). “Because staffing is a zero-sum game,” the complaint states, “when Minnesota gives preferences to employees or prospective employees on the basis of their race, color, national origin, and sex, it inevitably and necessarily discriminates against other employees or prospective employees because of their race, color, national origin, and sex.” While the U.S. Supreme Court previously sanctioned the consideration of race and sex in hiring for “traditionally segregated job categories,” the United States argues such outdated precedents are inconsistent with both the text of Title VII and subsequent Supreme Court caselaw. United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified this case as a matter of general public importance. This designation invokes a provision of Title VII that entitles the United States to expedited review by a three-judge district court and direct appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The filing can be read here .


title: Taunton Man Sentenced for Enticement of a  Child and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Taunton, MA, man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence for traveling to Rhode Island to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor and receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Paul Fredericks, 38, was sentenced on January 13, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 15 years imprisonment and 15 years of supervised release. Fredericks pleaded guilty in August 2024, to attempted enticement of a minor, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. “One of the most important responsibilities of the United States Attorney’s Office is to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. In this case, our message is clear. If you intend to exploit or harm children in the District of Rhode Island, there is no safe haven for you here, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. According to court documents, Fredericks engaged in online communications with an individual he believed to be the father of nearly 10-year-old girl and arranged to meet with him and his prepubescent daughter, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The person Fredericks was communicating with was, in fact, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. On October 5, 2022, Fredericks traveled to Providence and met with the purported father in a parking lot, where he discussed preparing the child for sexual activity. Fredericks was arrested at the conclusion of that meeting by members of the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). A forensic examination of his cell phone revealed that he had received and possessed CSAM. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Pleads Guilty

body_text: BOSTON – A Cambridge, Mass. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with an ongoing investigation of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Over the course of the past four years, the defendant is alleged to have been responsible for the manufacturing of over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills. Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK,” a/k/a “Michael Sylvain,” 35, of Cambridge pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In July 2025, Oppenheimer was arrested and charged. He was subsequently was indicted in August 2025 . According to court documents, Oppenheimer is known to be technically skilled in the chemical processes used in the synthesis of fentanyl, the compounding of controlled substances for distribution and the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. Recipes, pill press molds used in the manufacturing process, documents and invoices demonstrating that Oppenheimer purchased numerous pill presses and parts for pill presses from online vendors were seized. Multiple packages shipped from China to Oppenheimer, and various female associates of Oppenheimer, that contained pill press parts, were also seized. Based on the review of orders and invoices from companies selling powders and other substances used in the pill manufacturing process, since 2019, Oppenheimer obtained over 200 kilograms of these filler powders. According to the recipes recovered during the investigation, when manufactured into counterfeit pills, 200 kilograms of filler powder equates to millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additionally, Oppenheimer communicated directly with an illegal chemical supplier based in China. During this conversation, Oppenheimer inquired about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals and sought to purchase kilogram quantities of these substances. Fentanyl precursor chemicals are substances that can be used to synthesize raw fentanyl in a laboratory setting. Oppenheimer sought to synthesize his own fentanyl through the importation of these fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States. Lastly, Oppenheimer obtained over $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications that were submitted in April 2021. Oppenheimer submitted false statements concerning his income through self-employment for the 2019 tax years and provided false tax return documents substantiating that income. During the execution of a search warrant on Parker Street in Cambridge on July 18, 2024, over five kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were recovered. Based on prior felony convictions, Oppenheimer is prohibited from possessing firearms. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Chicago Nurse Charged with Distributing Counterfeit Ozempic

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A registered nurse has been charged in federal court in Chicago with distributing counterfeit Ozempic. SHARON CHRISTINE SACKMAN distributed the counterfeit drugs to three individuals in Chicago in 2023, according to a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The drugs were labeled as the weight-loss medication Ozempic, but they were not manufactured by Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, nor did they contain Ozempic’s active ingredient semaglutide, the information states. Sackman was a registered professional nurse but was not licensed by law to prescribe, administer, dispense, or sell Ozempic, the information states. Sackman, 52, who currently resides in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is charged with one count of distributing misbranded drugs and three counts of dispensing counterfeit drugs. Each count is punishable by up to a year in federal prison. Sackman pleaded not guilty on Tuesday during her arraignment in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing was scheduled for Feb. 3, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally. The charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ronne Malham, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey. The public is reminded that an information is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. sackman_information.pdf


title: Revere Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Role in International Money Laundering Organization

body_text: BOSTON – A Revere man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds for drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and for possessing over 17 kilograms of various controlled substances. Jason Hunter, 48, was sentenced on Jan. 8, 2026 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025 , Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents, law enforcement received information about large-scale international money laundering organizations that used money brokers in Colombia as liaisons between drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and their drug customers in the United States. The money brokers arrange contracts with U.S.-based money launderers to conduct pickups of drug proceeds on behalf of the drug suppliers in Latin America. As part of the investigation, undercover investigators posing as money launderers, conducted controlled pickups in connection with contracts offered by the money brokers in cities throughout the United States, including Boston. Over the course of the investigation, Hunter delivered drug proceeds to undercover investigators on multiple occasions, including on Feb. 28, 2024, when he delivered $140,000 of bulk cash drug proceeds. On April 3, 2024, Hunter was arrested on his way to a money pickup that had been arranged by a broker. At the time of his arrest $100,000 in drug proceeds was seized from Hunter’s possession. A subsequent search of his residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, as well as over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana. In May 2025, Hunter’s co-defendant, Walter Norton, was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Norton is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case. This case 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.


title: Georgia Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Missouri, Kansas Victims with Law Enforcement Spoofing Scam

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a woman who aided scammers pretending to be law enforcement officers to 24 months in prison. Ariel Burden, 33, was part of a group that called victims from phone numbers that appeared to be associated with local law enforcement. The “spoofers” claimed to be law enforcement officers or affiliated with law enforcement and told victims that they had outstanding warrants for missing court appearances. They threatened to arrest the victims if they didn’t pay thousands of dollars to a bondswoman. The scammers stayed in contact with the victims until they met with the supposed bondswoman, Burden. Burden was calling herself “Jennifer Davis.” She collected the money and provided victims with a receipt that contained fake citation numbers and other false information. One Jefferson County, Missouri resident paid $12,000 to avoid arrest when the scammers claimed to be with the Crystal City police. In all, Burden admitted defrauding three victims out of a total of $28,000. Judge Autrey on Wednesday ordered her to repay the money. Burden, from the Atlanta area, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in September to one count of wire fraud. She will now be transferred to Georgia to face potential revocation of her probation in an aggravated battery case there. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, in conjunction with the Jefferson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office and the McPherson, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.


title: Boyd County Man Receives 10 Year Sentence for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Boyd County, Ky., man, Terry Gannon, 52, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, in February 2025, law enforcement received information that Gannon was distributing large amounts of drugs from his residence in Boyd County. On February 25 and 27, 2025, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to purchase a total of four grams of fentanyl from Gannon. A subsequent law enforcement search of Gannon’s vehicle and residence uncovered 89.934 grams of fentanyl, 1.27 grams of methamphetamine, eight firearms, ammunition, scales, baggies, a suspected drug ledger, and $11,049 in cash. Gannon admitted to possessing the drugs with intent to distribute them. He also admitted that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Gannon was previously convicted of trafficking drugs in the third degree and trafficking drugs in the second degree in the Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County, Ohio, and was therefore prohibited from possessing any firearm. Under federal law, Gannon must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Gannon’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years. Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and  Operating Illegal Offshore Gambling Business

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to operating an illegal gambling business, laundering money, and evading his taxes. The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Jason Noah Feinman of Calabasas operated a Costa Rica-based business that, among other things, ran a website that unlicensed and illegal gambling businesses used to facilitate their gambling activities by permitting their customers, including customers who lived in California, to place bets through websites the defendant maintained, which is illegal under state and federal law. Feinman laundered the cash he derived from his business by exchanging the cash for checks made out to him or one of his businesses. For example, between May 2018 and Jan. 2024, Feinman gave one of his customers more than $1.5 million in cash and received in exchange 18 checks made payable to him or his businesses totaling that amount. Overall, Feinman exchanged between $1.5 million and $3.5 million in cash for checks. In addition, between 2018 and 2022, Feinman knew that he had to report his illegal gambling business on his tax returns and pay tax on the income he earned from it, but did not do so. He instead concealed up to $4,198,136 of income from the government. In fact, despite earning $1.8 million in income in 2020, Feinman reported no taxable income on his tax return and paid no tax for the year. In total, Feinman caused a tax loss to the United States of no more than $1,524,528. Feinman is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge and five years in prison for the tax evasion and illegal gambling charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Tax and Financial Crimes group and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys John C. Gerardi and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Massachusetts Company Charged with Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s Death

body_text: BOSTON – John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., a corporation doing business in East Freetown, Mass. has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) safety standards in a 2023 incident that led to a worker’s death. According to court documents, the company utilized a large soil screener for purposes of processing and screening soil and similar substances. The soil screener was approximately 46 feet long and 13 feet high, and weighed approximately 35,880 lbs. The tail conveyor of the soil screener – which weighed approximately 1,500 pounds – could be placed in a vertical closed position or could be opened to an approximate 45° angle. It is alleged that at various occasions in 2022 or 2023, the tail conveyor of the soil screener closed unexpectedly, and the soil screener had suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line. On Sept. 6, 2023, a company employee was working alongside a co-owner on the tail conveyer of the soil screener, which was in the open position. At the time, there was no equipment in place to prevent the tail conveyer from closing. According to the charging documents, as the employee was seeking to remove a bolt, the tail conveyor closed unexpectedly. The employee held onto the upper frame of the soil screener as the tail conveyer closed into the vertical position, crushing the employee’s head. The employee suffered massive head trauma and was pronounced dead soon thereafter. For willfully violating an OSHA safety standard, John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc. faces a term of probation of up to five years, a fine of up to $500,000 and restitution payable to the estate of the deceased victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal judge based upon statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Jeff Erskine, Regional Administrator of the Department of Labor OSHA Boston Region; and Maia Fisher, Regional Solicitor for Department of Labor Boston Region made the announcement today. Assistance in the investigation was also provided by, OSHA Criminal Investigations Team, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Coyle Man Sentenced to Serve 29 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – COLT TRAVIS GLADDING , SR. , 42, of Coyle, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 348 months in federal prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public record, on July 15, 2024, officers with the Troy Police Department (TPD) in Troy, New Hampshire, received a report regarding the sexual abuse of a minor. The minor reported she was sexually abused by Gladding several times over a two-year period while she lived in Coyle, OK. Gladding also coerced the victim to send him sexually explicit photos. On May 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Gladding with production of child pornography. Gladding pleaded guilty on August 6, 2025, and admitted he persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. At a sentencing hearing on January 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Gladding to serve 348 months in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton noted the serious nature of the offense and the need to protect the public, emphasizing Gladding’s continued, consistent abuse of the victim over nearly two years. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Troy Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case. This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Federal grand jury indicts man who allegedly vandalized Vice President Vance’s Cincinnati home, assaulted federal officer

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – The man who allegedly vandalized Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home has now been indicted by a federal grand jury on several charges related to the incident. The three-count indictment charges William D. DeFoor, 26, with damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. DeFoor was originally charged by criminal complaint on Jan. 5. The U.S. District Court has ordered that the defendant remain in custody pending trial. According to court documents, around midnight, United States Secret Service (USSS) agents observed DeFoor running along the front fence of the protected residence. DeFoor allegedly breached the property line at the driveway and attempted to break the driver’s side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle blocking the driveway entrance. DeFoor was armed with a hammer. DeFoor allegedly refused law enforcement commands to stop and drop the weapon. Charging documents state DeFoor ignored all commands and began to use the hammer to break glass windows across the front of the protected residence. DeFoor’s hammer strikes also caused damage to the enhanced security assets on each window owned by the United States government and valued at more than $28,000. The defendant allegedly attempted to flee on foot and was detained by USSS agents and Cincinnati police officers. Causing more than $1,000 in damage to United States property and engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds are each federal crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, and Cincinnati Police Acting Chief Adam Hennie announced the charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case. An indictment contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve 55 Years in Prison Following Retrial after Shooting Woman in Metro Parking Garage

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT LEE HARRISON JR. , 52, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve the statutory maximum 660 months in federal prison for attempted kidnapping, illegal possession of ammunition, and attempted carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On April 6, 2022, a federal grand jury charged Harrison with illegal possession of ammunition, carjacking, kidnapping, and use and discharge of a firearm during the carjacking. On January 11, 2023, Harrison was tried by a federal jury and found guilty on all counts. Harrison received a life sentence on October 24, 2023. On appeal, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the kidnapping and use and discharge of a firearm during the carjacking convictions due to changes in the law and authorized a retrial on the charge of attempted kidnapping. On July 30, 2025, at the retrial, a federal jury convicted Harrison of attempted kidnapping. At the trials, Harrison’s ex-girlfriend testified that he forced her into her car at gunpoint as she left work at the Integris Baptist Medical Center parking garage in Oklahoma City. Evidence further showed that Harrison confined her in the car and repeatedly punched her before she escaped. Harrison then caught her in the elevator lobby of the parking garage, where he shot her approximately eight times before he fled . The following day, Oklahoma City Police Department officers arrested Harrison after a brief foot chase. At a sentencing hearing on January 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II, sentenced Harrison to serve 660 months in federal prison and ordered Harrison to pay restitution in the amount of $13,907.41. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the defendant’s criminal history, his lack of remorse, and the fact that he was at a heightened risk of future conduct because of the “violent and horrific” offense. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nichols, Jr. and Jacquelyn Hutzell prosecuted the case. This case is part of “Operation 922” and operation “Shots Fired,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal firearms violations connected to domestic violence. “Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn . Reference is made to court filings for further information.


title: Grand jury indicts owners of real estate investment group, closing & title company employees in more than $50 million bank fraud conspiracy

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted two Israeli real estate investment entrepreneurs, their company, and two other co-conspirators for allegedly double-pledging properties to obtain multiple loans and for conspiring to conceal information from lenders and investors. Those charged include the business Vision & Beyond Group LLC (V&B), its co-owners Stanislav Grinberg and Peter Gizunterman, and real estate closing and title company employees Keya Hamilton and Kelly West. According to the indictment, Grinberg and Gizunterman formed the real estate business V&B in approximately 2019 to purchase 100 multi-unit apartments and family properties, including in the greater Cincinnati area, for renovation and rental income. Grinberg and Gizunterman, with the help of Hamilton and West, then allegedly obtained refinancing for the properties but did not use the funds to pay off the existing loans and mortgages. The defendants also allegedly falsified financial documents, altered closing documents and removed mortgages from title commitments. For example, in December 2022, the indictment details that Grinberg and Gizunterman received two loans totaling more than $36 million for approximately 60 multi-family properties in the Cincinnati area that were owned by the defendants. The closing of the two loans was supposed to pay off 30 specific prior mortgages. It is alleged that 20 of the prior mortgages worth $17.2 million were not paid off at closing. Instead, more than $273,000 was allegedly paid directly to Hamilton; nearly $7 million was paid to a title company controlled by Hamilton and used by V&B; more than $6.2 million was paid directly to V&B’s account and approximately $2.7 million was paid to another bank. The co-conspirators allegedly engaged in a similar scheme in 2023 involving four apartment complexes in Lexington, Kentucky, involving loans totaling $24.6 million. The defendants are each charged with conspiring to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, making false statements and money laundering. Grinberg was originally charged by criminal complaint in March 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Korey Brinkman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations; and Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General; announced the charges. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Painter are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Florida-Based Veterinary Supply Company Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of Xylazine; Sentenced to Forfeiture of More Than $748,000

component: Civil Division

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that All Veterinary Supply, Inc. (AVS) of Doral, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of introduction and delivery of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney to three years of probation, an $18,000 fine, and forfeiture of $748,507.25, the company’s approximate gross profit from the illicit sales. AVS was charged by information in August of last year, arising from its illegal distribution of xylazine outside the scope of its state permit, which did not permit the company to sell drugs to other wholesalers. While xylazine was only approved for veterinary use in the United States, it was increasingly found in the illegal drug supply and linked to overdose deaths. The drug, colloquially known as “tranq,” is particularly dangerous when combined with fentanyl, but even on its own has harmful side effects, including soft tissue necrosis for users who inject the drug. As detailed in the government’s court filings, AVS sold approximately 180,993 bottles to its two primary wholesaling customers in Puerto Rico, in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including xylazine that ultimately ended up in the illicit drug supply in Philadelphia. This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony D. Scicchitano and Bryan C. Hughes, with Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Steven R. Scott and Brett Ruff of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch, former DOJ Trial Attorney Michael Wadden, and EDPA contract investigator Michael Sullivan.


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Unregistered Devices And Attempting To Maliciously Use Explosive Device

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jesse William Korff (31, North Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of unregistered silencers, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and attempted malicious use of an explosive. Korff faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for possession of firearms by a convicted felon, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the possession of unregistered silencers and destructive device, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for attempted malicious use of an explosive. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on May 19, 2025, Korff was at a residence when the Fort Myers Police Department was dispatched to a 911 hang-up call. Officers arrived and reported a hostage situation. The officers observed a male, later identified as Korff, in a scuffle with a female. They detained Korff. The officers seized a firearm and silencer that had come loose during the scuffle and also located a destructive device coming out of Korff’s pocket. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Bomb Squad used a robot to remove the pipe bomb and take Korff into custody. Further evidence and testing of the device by LCSO and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that the device had attempted to be detonated. Another silencer, firearm, and ammunition were located inside Korff’s vehicle. Officers and agents also found other bomb making materials within Korff’s residence. Korff is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. He was previously convicted of transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure a person in a foreign country. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.


title: Biostatistician Charged with Insider Trading

body_text: BOSTON – A New Jersey biostatistician was charged today in federal court in Boston with allegedly earning more than $450,000 by trading on the material non-public information of a Massachusetts company. Hong Wang, 59, of East Brunswick, N.J., was charged in an indictment with three counts of securities fraud. Wang was arrested this morning at his home and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the indictment, Wang was a biostatistician who worked as a consultant for a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company (Company A). In 2023, during the course of his work for Company A, Wang allegedly obtained material non-public information about the fact that in Decmember 2023, Company A planned to publicly announce positive test results concerning one of its cancer-treating drugs (the Decmember Disclosure). While in possession of this material non-public information, and in violation of his fiduciary duties to Company A, Wang allegedly bought shares of Company A in advance of the December Disclosure. Over a roughly 22-day period, Wang allegedly purchased more than 150,000 shares across several different brokerage account he controlled. Wang allegedly sold 20,000 shares after Company A made the December Disclosure and held the remainder of the shares. It is alleged that Wang earned more than $450,000 trading in the securities of Company A based on its material non-public information. The charges of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil complaint against Wang alleging violations of the securities laws. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Prior Felon Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm and Drug Conspiracy

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

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Drug Conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Kenneth Wayne Toney, 41, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Toney was indicted in 2024 after being found in possession of a stolen firearm. During a routine traffic stop, Toney claimed he was driving a borrowed car and stated that he did not have a driver's license. After further investigation, officers found that Toney had a suspended driver’s license and arrested him. After a search of the vehicle, officers found methamphetamine and a loaded firearm, which was reported stolen. While booking Toney into jail, officers found an empty holster on Toney’s waistband. In a separate case, Toney was indicted for drug conspiracy with several others. Toney fled to California to avoid prosecution, was arrested, and brought back to the Northern District for prosecution. Court documents show that Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a group of people believed to be distributing methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma. After further investigation, the group was working with a Mexican drug trafficking organization and distributed more than 9.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in a month. Toney admitted to conspiring and working with others to distribute methamphetamine. Court records show that Toney was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including robbery with a firearm and kidnapping. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Sapulpa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.


title: Butler Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Thomas James Clark, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to a one-count Indictment charging Clark with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on January 20, 2024, law enforcement apprehended Clark on an outstanding arrest warrant relating to aggravated assault charges. Upon encountering law enforcement, Clark dropped the belongings in his possession, which included an AR 15-style rifle with no serial number, a revolver, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Clark was previously convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, Pennsylvania, of methamphetamine production and criminal conspiracy. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Hardy scheduled Clark’s sentencing for May 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police (Butler Patrol and Fugitive Apprehension Unit), and the Butler City Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Clark. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Heber Springs Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Charles David Agnew, who has two previous convictions for crimes involving children, will spend 15 years in federal prison for attempted distribution of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr. On April 5, 2023, Agnew, 42, of Heber Springs, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On August 19, 2025, Agnew pleaded guilty to attempted distribution of child pornography. Judge Marshall also sentenced Agnew to 10 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that on September 15, 2022, Agnew asked an online an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) what the UC’s minor daughters looked like and asked for a photograph. When asked by the officer if he traded photographs, Agnew stated no but that he “…[has] nudes of myself.” The officer then asked Agnew if he watched “teen incest” online to which Agnew replied, “Oh yes.” Agnew then inquired of the ages of the minor daughters, and when told they were 7 and 9 years old, he replied that they were the “perfect age.” The UC asked Agnew if that was too young and Agnew stated, “Nope,” and asked the officer to send the photographs to him through the online platform. Agnew continued the conversation with the UC stating his favorite video was that of “A dad daughter. She was 11.” Agnew then attempted to send the UC a link and commented that it contained “Good incest videos.” Agnew asked the UC again if the UC wanted a nude photograph of Agnew’s private parts and sent a photograph to the UC. Agnew also told the UC that he was serious about being physically touching the minor daughters and that he would travel across the country to see them. Agnew has two previous state convictions for internet stalking of a child and pandering or possessing medium depicting sexual conduct involving a child. He received a sentence of 72 months’ imprisonment for each of those convictions. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Parents are encouraged to always monitor your children’s online activity. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Federal Way, Washington, man who committed kidnapping as revenge for a drug-deal-gone-wrong, sentenced to 8 years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 25-year-old Federal Way, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to eight years in prison for using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Daniel Lopez was indicted by the grand jury on November 6, 2024, for the October 13, 2024, kidnapping of the spouse of someone who had cheated him in a drug deal. The Auburn, Washington woman was abducted at gunpoint from her home and ultimately was found safe in Guatemala. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said, the sentence was merited because of “the defendant’s use of a firearm in a violent kidnapping . . . and the violent nature of the charged conduct.” “This defendant has a lengthy and serious criminal history with many of the offenses involving firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Mr. Lopez has been involved in street gangs since his mid-teens and has committed several violent offenses including robbery, drive-by shooting and illegal possession of guns and drugs. This 8-year prison sentence is focused on protecting the community.” “After losing money in a fraudulent drug deal, Lopez retaliated by violently kidnapping a person involved in the scheme, along with an innocent victim, at gunpoint,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He held the victims against their will, directed co-conspirators to force them across the Mexico border, and fled to Texas where he was apprehended by FBI Houston. FBI Seattle is grateful to our partners in the Auburn Police Department and our FBI colleagues in Texas for their commitment to combatting violent crime alongside us, no matter how far the subject attempts to flee justice.” According to records filed in the case, the kidnapping was retribution for a drug deal gone bad. The woman’s husband and a second victim who was also kidnapped, had taken $2500 from Lopez for cocaine, but the cocaine was never delivered. The female victim’s husband reported her missing on October 14, 2024, after arriving home and finding her belongings at their apartment. Two witnesses reported seeing the woman leaving with two men, one of whom was carrying a firearm. This man was subsequently identified as Lopez. Lopez was initially identified based on surveillance video from across the street showing vehicles in the apartment complex parking lot. Officers then reviewed traffic camera pictures to obtain license plate information and ultimately determined Lopez was a registered owner of one of the vehicles. The investigation revealed that the victims were held in the Seattle area for two days before being transported to the southern border with Mexico. Lopez had associates drive the woman and the other victim to the border and forced them to walk across. The two were identified by immigration authorities in Mexico and were transported to Guatemala. Neither had legal status in the U.S., and so have been barred from returning to their lives in the U.S. Lopez was ultimately traced to Houston, Texas and was arrested on October 19, 2024, at a hotel. He has remained in custody since his arrest. The case was investigated by the Auburn Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.


title: Justice Department Files Complaint Against California Over Unconstitutional State Regulation of Federal Lands

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging California Senate Bill 1137 (SB 1137), which prevents oil and gas development activities within 3,200 feet of a so-called “sensitive receptor.” SB 1137 would knock out about one-third of all federally authorized oil and gas leases in California. This lawsuit argues that federal law — specifically, the Mineral Leasing Act and the Federal Land and Policy Management Act — preempts SB 1137. President Trump directed the Department of Justice to stop the enforcement of state laws that unreasonably burden domestic energy development so that energy will once again be reliable and affordable for all Americans. This lawsuit advances President Trump’s directive in Executive Order 14260, Protecting American Energy from State Overreach . “This is yet another unconstitutional and radical policy from Gavin Newsom that threatens our country’s energy independence and makes energy more expensive for the American people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “In accordance with President Trump’s executive orders, this Department of Justice will continue to fight burdensome regulations that violate federal law and hamper domestic energy production — especially in California, where Newsom is clearly intent on subverting federal law at every opportunity.” “The Constitution forbids states from obstructing federal energy policies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “California’s SB 1137 violates federal law and threatens our nation’s energy independence. In challenging it, we seek to protect the security and wellbeing of all Americans from California’s unlawful overreach.” “Rolling back this law strengthens America’s energy security and protects hardworking American families from higher costs,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This administration is pushing back against every burdensome, unlawful rule that tries to stand in the way of U.S. energy production. Americans deserve reliable, affordable energy, and Interior is committed to fighting for it every step of the way. Thanks to President Trump’s executive orders, we have the tools to do so.” The lawsuit seeks a declaration that SB 1137 is unconstitutional and an injunction against its enforcement. The Department plans to move for a preliminary injunction in the coming days.


title: Jamaican National Pleads Guilty to  Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Victims

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A citizen of Jamaica and resident of Georgia has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges related to his role in a nationwide sweepstakes fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Owen Demoy Byfield, age 33, pleaded guilty on January 13, 2026, to mail fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and will be sentenced on April 16, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Byfield will be subject to immigration removal proceedings following any sentence imposed. According to court documents, from approximately March 2022 through October 2024, Byfield and his co-conspirators operated a “sweepstakes scam” that falsely informed victims that they had randomly been entered into a raffle and subsequently won millions of dollars. Victims throughout the United States, including Rhode Island, were contacted through the mail, carriers such as UPS and FedEx, phone calls, text messages, and other wire communications and directed to call a purported “prize representative.” The scammers then used fictitious names to induce victims to send money, valuable property or provide access to their financial accounts. The alleged purpose of these payments was for various fraudulent reasons, including to pay taxes on their winnings, shipping costs, or even to refuse the winnings and be removed from the so-called list of winners of the sweepstakes scam. In one instance, Byfield used approximately $171,635.00 of the fraudulent proceeds to make a down payment on a residence in Georgia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Warwick Police Department. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Federal Prison for Carjacking

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday to 102 months in federal prison following his convictions for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced the sentencing today and was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court records, Brandon Sims, 35, of Detroit, Michigan, committed the carjacking on October 18, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Sims carjacked a man who was assisting a young woman move out of Mr. Sims’s residence. Sims entered the male victim’s SUV and brandished a firearm. The victim pushed the gun away, causing it to discharge. The male victim ran from the vehicle and Sims drove off with the young woman. Several hours later, FBI Special Agents and members of the Detroit Police Department's Commercial Auto Theft Section located Sims and the young woman in Pontiac, Michigan, and took Sims into custody. The carjacked vehicle was found the following day. “Carjackers pounce on ordinary folks—by putting a gun their face—when they are a sitting duck in their car. We will prosecute the criminals who commit these terrible and violent crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “The sentencing of Brandon Sims, a convicted felon, reflects the serious consequences facing those who commit reckless crimes of violence and place innocent lives at risk,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Sims chose to use violence by producing a firearm and carjacking an innocent citizen in Detroit. I am proud of the dedicated members from FBI Detroit, working alongside our partners at the Detroit Police Department, whose diligent efforts help keep our community safe. I also commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their relentless and successful prosecution, ensuring Sims is held fully accountable under federal law.” The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI, the Detroit Police Department, and handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Brunson and Craig Wininger.