title: Mobile Man Sentenced To Five Years In Prison  For Arson At Local Grocery Store

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Timothy Jones has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for arson. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock earlier today. According to court documents, in February 2024, Jones intentionally set a fire inside of the Greer’s Downtown Market at Government and Broad Streets in Mobile, Alabama. Jones’ actions were captured on surveillance footage, and he was apprehended nearby shortly after he set the fire. The store was open at the time Jones set the fire and employees and customers were inside. Fortunately, no one was injured but Jones’ actions caused damage to the store. At sentencing, Judge Beaverstock imposed the 5-year mandatory minimum sentence and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Jones’ discharge from prison. Jones was also ordered to pay approximately $25,000 in restitution to the business due the losses suffered because of his actions. The Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Stepan and Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Forty-Eighth Conviction in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Asad Mohamed Abshir has pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. He is the 48 th defendant to be convicted in this massive fraud scheme. “This guilty plea is another step in exposing the staggering levels of corruption that have been hiding in plain sight across Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This defendant laundered millions meant to feed children and funneled it into a web of shell companies and luxury spending. As FBI Director Kash Patel recently said, this case stands as one of the most egregious abuses of public trust in recent memory. The people of Minnesota deserve better.” In fall of 2020, the defendant, Asad Mohamed Abshir, 34, assisted his brother and co-defendant, Abdinasir Abshir, in the operations of non-profit called Stigma Free International. Under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, the Abshir brothers claimed to operate, through Stigma Free, a food distribution site in Mankato, Minnesota. At the same time, Abdinasir Abshir claimed to provide food for the Mankato site through an entity he controlled called Horseed Management LLC. But the Abshirs did not provide the food they claimed to, and they were not entitled to the taxpayer dollars they received for their claims. Over the course of 2020 to 2021, the Abshirs fraudulently claimed to have provided 1.6 million meals to children. For his role in the scheme, Abdinasir personally received about $750,000. The defendant used $77,353 in fraud proceeds to purchase a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali truck, which has been seized and will be forfeited to the United States. In addition, the Unites States seized $424,762.51 from the bank account for the defendant's shell company, Santana LLC, all of which will be forfeited. “Asad Abshir’s guilty plea underscores a troubling intersection of deception and exploitation within federal assistance programs designed to nourish vulnerable populations,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Abshir not only undermined the integrity of the Federal Child Nutrition Program, but also abused the resources intended for the nation’s most at-risk children. This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for stringent oversight and accountability in the administration of taxpayer dollars.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Abshir pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.


title: Across-the-Board Convictions in Final Highs RICO Trial of 2025

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Following an eight-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted two defendants of all charged counts for their involvement in the Highs street gang, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Defendants Cortez Davon Blakemore, 35, and Robert Lesure, 23, were convicted by a jury of federal RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Blakemore and Lesure were long-standing and prolific drug traffickers for the Highs criminal street gang. They sold fentanyl at the intersection of Broadway and Lyndale in North Minneapolis, which the Highs had taken control of and turned into an open-air drug market. As the jury heard at trial, the Highs is a violent criminal street gang that has long wreaked havoc on North Minneapolis, selling fentanyl and other deadly drugs and enforcing its territory through violence, kidnapping, and murder, including the murders of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Forty members of the Highs gang were charged in this large RICO indictment. Blakemore and Lesure are the 37 th and 38 th defendants to be convicted in this case. A final RICO defendant is set to be tried in 2026. “These convictions bring justice not just to the victims of the Highs gang, but to an entire community that has endured years of violence, fear, and loss,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “For too long, this gang terrorized Minneapolis, maintaining control through chaos. Today, the people of this city get something they’ve long been denied: peace. This case is the result of a relentless federal coalition—the U.S. Attorney’s Office side-by-side with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Our message is clear: if you endanger our communities, we are coming for you. And we won’t stop until every neighborhood in this city is free from fear.” “This isn’t just another trial; it’s a continuation of our full-court press to dismantle the Highs street gang and hold every last member accountable,” said Travis Riddle, ATF Special Agent in Charge of the St. Paul Field Division. “We’re proud to stand alongside our prosecution and investigative partners who’ve shown unmatched determination, trial after trial, to bring justice to the communities harmed by this violence.” “As the summer progresses, Minneapolis is continuing to see a drop in violent crime, especially gun violence throughout the city,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “The outstanding work of MPD officers and our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been instrumental in targeting the small number of individuals committing a disproportionate amount of violence in the city. This conviction is the latest result of efforts that can not only be seen in the reduction of crime, but also felt by the community as we work to rebuild trust.” “Our focus isn’t just on the money—it’s on the damage that money fuels,” said Jason Bushey, IRS Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office. “When violent gangs push drugs and fear into our communities, our agents work relentlessly to expose the money behind the violence. This conviction is the result of that effort and a clear reminder that those who profit from chaos and pain will be held accountable.” “In the wake of the guilty verdicts in the Highs gang RICO trial, it becomes abundantly clear that the efficacy of our justice system hinges not merely on the application of law, but on the transformative power of collaborative law enforcement partnerships,” stated FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “These alliances are essential, for they weave a fabric of shared intelligence and resources that fortify our collective resolve against violent crime, ensuring that justice is not merely an ideal, but a tangible reality for our communities.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigation, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also is deeply grateful to the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section (VCRS) for their continued partnership and expertise on this and other ongoing RICO cases. This partnership has been critical to the success of these gang prosecutions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, Albania Concepcion, and Carla Baumel tried this case. They are prosecuting the case along with Attorney Brian Lynch of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section.


title: Woman Who Distributed Fentanyl Resulting in Death Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who sold fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison. Jessica Lee Erickson, age 44, from Daytona Beach, Florida, received the prison term after a January 2, 2025 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. Starting in or about May 2024, Erickson began providing a mixture or substance containing fentanyl to the victim. On June 15, 2024, Erickson distributed a mixture or substance containing fentanyl to the victim at a home in Dubuque, Iowa. On that same day, the victim used the fentanyl that had been provided by Erickson and died. Erickson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Erickson was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Erickson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR- 01033. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Individual Involved in Multi-Million Dollar Cocaine Seizure in Humacao is Sentenced to 18 1/2 Years in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 15, 2025, United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa sentenced Domingo Acosta to 222 months and 14 days in prison and 5 years of supervised release for the importation of more than 850 kilograms of cocaine on April 12, 2022. According to court documents, Domingo Acosta pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to: (1) conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere; and (2) possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As part of the conspiracy, the defendant possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activities. On October 7, 2022, federal agents searched a property used by the defendant and seized the following electronic devices, handguns, magazines, and ammunition: (1) a Glock model G23, (2) a Glock model 19, (3) 2 Glock .40 caliber magazines, (4) 2 Glock 9mm magazines, (5) 38 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, (6) 42 rounds of 9mm ammunition, (7) 2 Garmin GPS units, and (8) a handheld radio ICOM. The defendant also has a prior felony conviction for immigration offenses. The DEA HIDTA Fajardo TFGII/Maritime Program led the investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organization (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Homeland Security Task Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side by side in the same location, assisted in the prosecution of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Antonio J. López-Rivera from the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crime Unit prosecuted the case. ###


title: Indian man arrested for possessing a forged alien resident card

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Swapnil Ramesh Tejale, 34, a citizen of India, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a forged alien resident card, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on July 10, 2025, the Niagara Falls Border Patrol Station received a request from the Niagara Falls Police Department to help identify three individuals that they had encountered during a traffic stop. Agents arrived at the scene and questioned the three individuals as to their citizenship. Tejale presented a Lawful Permanent Resident Card but voluntarily admitted that the card was fictitious. It was determined that Tejale was illegally present in the United States without any immigration documents that would allow him to remain in the country lawfully. After Tejale was taken into custody, agents located a Social Security Card in his name. Record checks verified that the Social Security Card was also fictitious. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Border Patrol Niagara Falls Station, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Brady Waikal. # # # #


title: Foreign National Sentenced for Conspiring to Export U.S.-Made Drill Rigs to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions Laws

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, 63, of Beirut, Lebanon, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. “The defendant conspired to export millions of dollars of U.S.-made heavy machinery to Iran, a leading state sponsor of terrorism,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “The National Security Division will find and prosecute those who illegally sell American products to our adversaries.” “The defendant threatened U.S. economic and national security by conspiring and concealing his efforts to circumvent our export controls to provide heavy machinery to Iran, a designated state sponsor of terrorism for the past 40 years,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida. “My office will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who violates our laws and offers material support to America’s enemies.” Assi was convicted of the charges in October 2024. According to evidence presented at trial, Assi was a Middle East-based salesman of a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant located in Alachua, Florida. Assi conspired with individuals affiliated with Sakht Abzar Pars Co. (SAP-Iran), based in Tehran, Iran, to export U.S.-made heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Assi and his Iranian co-conspirators orchestrated the scheme by locating an Iraq-based distributor to serve as the forward-facing purchaser of two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the U.S. subsidiary of Assi’s employer. The drills are a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are then filled with controlled explosives for mining. Assi facilitated the sale of the drills and attempted export them to Iran and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to Turkey. In doing so, Assi concealed any Iranian involvement in the transaction from his employer, claiming the drills were ultimately destined for use in Iraq. But in truth, Assi intended for his Iranian co-conspirators to transship or reexport those items from Turkey to Iran, in circumvention of the U.S. export control and sanction laws. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Assi concealed his activities with his Iranian co-conspirators by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (AES), a U.S.-government database containing information about exports from the United States. The U.S.-based plant hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drill’s export from the U.S. to Iraq. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee’s name and the ultimate delivery destination. Assi misled his employer by claiming that the Iraqi distributor was the ultimate consignee, and that the ultimate delivery destination was Iraq. In fact, Assi knew that his co-conspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination. In furtherance of the illicit transaction, Assi and his co-conspirators caused the transfer of approximately $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States. The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Grogan and Harley W. Ferguson for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.


title: Pierre Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in Central South Dakota

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025. Scott Reiners, age 37, was sentenced to 12 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Reiners was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Reiners was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 . He pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025. The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy between September 2022 and April 2023 in which Reiners and several other individuals conspired to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations. As part of the conspiracy, Reiners was involved in distributing between 5 kilograms and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. Reiners was also involved in a traffic stop where law enforcement seized 254 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine and a handgun. Reiners is prohibited from possessing firearms due to three prior felony convictions. 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Reiners was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Belle Fourche Man Sentenced to Nearly 13 Years in Federal Prison for Money Laundering

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Belle Fourche, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025. Turner Heinbaugh, 35, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Heinbaugh was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025. The money that Heinbaugh laundered was generated from a methamphetamine operation in the Black Hills. Heinbaugh worked with others to collect drug proceeds and then sent the proceeds through electronic payments to other co-conspirators in the United States and Mexico. Altogether, investigators believe Heinbaugh was responsible for transferring approximately $98,000 in drug proceeds through financial institutions. He was also involved in selling methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy. This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal program established in 1982 to combat transnational organized crime and reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to drug enforcement. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), and the Drug Enforcement Administration. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Heinbaugh was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national previously deported from the United States in 2018 has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal reentry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Jose Alejandro Morales Cordon, 37, came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Enforcement Center in June 2025 following his arrest on state assault and cyberstalking charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court on July 28, 2025. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Julie M. White. The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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). A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Honduran Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Elio Yoel Cardona-Torres, age 43, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced on July 17, 2025, to time-served (five months in prison) by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed. Cardona-Torres had pleaded guilty to the charge. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Cardona-Torres was arrested during targeted enforcement in Sayre, Pennsylvania, on February 22, 2025. Cardona-Torres had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to court order in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Cardona-Torres again faces deportation proceedings. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: Grand Juries Charge Three Mexican Nationals with Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced that federal grand juries in the Northern District of Ohio have returned indictments charging three Mexican nationals with violating Title 8 U.S. Code (USC) 1326, illegal reentry. Additionally, one defendant was charged with using fraudulent documents. These are separate cases and not related. Raul Samano-Fuerte, 49, has been charged with one count of illegal reentry. He has been previously removed from the United States four times with the most recent being March 10, 2009. On June 23, 2025, he was found in Norwalk, Ohio, without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. Gonzalo Diaz-Resendiz, 29, has been charged with one count of illegal reentry. He has been previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Sept. 6, 2013. On June 30, 2025, he was found in Ottawa, Ohio, without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. Cesar Ramirez-Velazquez, aka Cesar Ramirez-Rincon, 44, has been charged with one count of illegal reentry. He has two previous removals from the United States with the most recent being June 7, 2009. He was again found in the country on March 19, 2024, in Norwalk, Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security to be readmitted. He was also charged with two counts of possession of a fraudulent identification document for possessing a fraudulent permanent resident card and a fraudulent Social Security card in violation of Title 18 USC 1546 (a). Additionally, the defendant is charged with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 42, USC 408 (a)(7)(B). The investigations preceding the indictments were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ava Rotell Dustin is leading the prosecution. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Carbon County Man Sentenced To 188 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking Offense

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jason Mika, age 44, of Lansford, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 17, 2025, to 188 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for one count of possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Mika previously pled guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Mika also admitted to possessing over 400 grams of methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and a revolver--all of which were found in his Lansford, PA, home during the execution of a search warrant by members of the Nesquehoning Police Department, and other investigators. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, the Lehighton Borough Police Department, the Nesquehoning Police Department, the Lansford Police Department, the Franklin Township Police Department, and the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office. United States Attorney James Buchanan prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: INTERPOL Washington Advances Panama’s Ability to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Gangs and Terrorists

component: Criminal - International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program

body_text: Under Project TERMINUS, an INTERPOL Washington team recently deployed to Panama City, Panama, to deliver and install critical equipment and technology designed to assist Panamanian authorities in detecting and interdicting transnational criminals and terrorists before they reach our borders. This latest deployment builds on a previous mission in June 2024 where a TERMINUS team integrated INTERPOL data into Panama’s newly established Border Information and Analysis Targeting Unit (BIATU). “Project TERMINUS reflects our commitment to forward-deploy U.S. capabilities and build out trusted partnerships in key locations that enhance global security,” said INTERPOL Washington’s Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Keith Hood, who oversees the program. “This project with our Panamanian partners serves as a model of success for TERMINUS. By equipping one of our closest allies against cartels with the tools and training they need to disrupt transnational crime at its source, we helped protect our own communities, the homeland, and the region at large.” The visit was conducted in close coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism. The team participated in operational briefings with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Panamanian National Police (PNP), Panama Immigration, and the Panamanian Passport Authority. During the visit, the team formally donated essential equipment to the PNP and to Panama’s immigration fusion center (UPAPF), reinforcing operational capacity and advancing joint security objectives. The team also saw firsthand how SENAFRONT—the Panamanian border security agency—has connected to and is actively utilizing INTERPOL’s I-24/7 system, marking a major milestone in the country's border integration efforts. Project TERMINUS continues to serve as a vital tool for strengthening international police cooperation, disrupting transnational threats, and promoting shared regional security.


title: Four Foreign Nationals Plead Guilty, Two Others Awaiting Trial in a  Multi-State ATM and Retail Skimming Conspiracy

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Four foreign nationals illegally present in the United States have admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that they participated in a scheme that compromised more than 15,000 credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and that they made hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized bank withdrawals and retail purchases, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. The defendants admitted that they used credit card “skimming” devices to steal debit and credit card users’ personal financial account information, which they then appropriated for their own use. Skimming devices were placed on retail outlet point-of-sale terminals and on ATMs at various financial institutions An investigation revealed that from May 2023 through February 2024, the defendants compromised more than 15,000 bank cards and gained users’ personal financial account information by placing card skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals at various locations of major retailers and on ATMs of various financial institutions in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, more than 200 debit cards were compromised at two Rhode Island financial institutions, resulting in over $280,000 of unauthorized ATM withdrawals from 67 customer accounts. Robby Vicson Codreanu, 21, a citizen of the United Kingdom; Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 24, a citizen of Romania; and Armando Ion Codreanu, 24, and Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 23, citizens of Ireland, each pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud; producing, using and trafficking in counterfeit access devices; accessing fifteen or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices; and access device making equipment. Nicolas and Armando Codreanu also pleaded guilty to a charge of access devices issued to another person. Nicolas Codreanu will be sentenced on October 14, 2025. Isabella, Armando, and Robby Codreanu will be sentenced on October 21, 2025. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Two other defendants, Ionut Zamfir, 38, and Mila Ciuciu, 21, both citizens of Romania, are awaiting trial. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bristol Police Department, with the assistance of the Warwick Police Department, Coventry Police Department, Westerly Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Seekonk Police Department, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Lafayette, LA, New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA. ###


title: Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Traveler Sentenced To More Than 17 Years In Prison For Attempting To Entice And Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jeremy Wayne Leggett (37, Jacksonville) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for using the internet to attempt to entice and meet a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Leggett was arrested on June 19, 2023, and has remained been in federal custody. Leggett pleaded guilty on January 15, 2025. According to court records, Leggett is a registered child sex offender, having been previously convicted in Florida in 2020 of traveling to meet a minor to commit an unlawful sexual offense and transmitting harmful materials to a minor. On June 16, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (UC) in the Jacksonville area, posing as a child, was working online in a social media application (app) to identify individuals seeking to meet children for sexual activity. The UC engaged in online conversation with an app user “dAddi” who posted a notice in a public chat room that read “Lookingfor [under 18 emoji] wannaspoiladaughter.” During this online conversation, user “dAddi,” who was identified as Leggett, was advised that the “child” was 13 years old. Leggett asked if the “child” “[l]ike[d] older men,” and sent the “child” a photo of himself. Leggett denied being a murderer or a kidnapper, telling the “child” that he was “just a pedophile.” He suggested that that they meet so he could perform oral sex on “her” in his vehicle. After more conversation, Leggett sent the “child” explicit photos of himself. On June 17, 18, and 19, 2023, Leggett initiated text messages with the UC and continued attempting to persuade the “child” to meet for sex. On June 19, 2023, Leggett and the “child” arranged through text messages to meet at a retail shopping center in Jacksonville. That evening, Leggett drove his vehicle to this location to meet the “child” and circled the parking lot. When law enforcement officers attempted to stop Leggett’s vehicle, he quickly reversed his vehicle and fled the scene. A short time later, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and FBI agents located Leggett at a residence in Jacksonville and he was arrested. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Career Offender Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

body_text: PROVIDENCE – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy who began trafficking kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and various quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl within three months of completing a term of incarceration in state prison for drug trafficking was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. William Mendez, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to a term of incarceration of 168 months to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2024, Mendez pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. His conduct included distributing cocaine base, powder cocaine and approximately 769.5 grams of fentanyl to a government agent. In September 2021, Mendez and more than a dozen other individuals were charged in federal court with having had a role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that he led. Like Mendez, many of the defendants had previously been convicted of violent crime offenses such as firearm, robbery, assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and domestic violence charges. Court records reflect that prior to his arrest in this matter in September 2021, William Mendez had served a total of twenty-two plus years in prison related to three separate serious felony drug convictions and two separate violent felony assault convictions; when arrested he was serving a term of state probation, having been released from Rhode Island state prison less than three months prior after completing a term of incarceration of nearly seven years. The FBI Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Narcotics Bureau joint investigation targeted all levels of drug dealing in several communities. Federal court records reflect the following: Ramon Barriera, 53, Providence , pled guilty on October 23, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 70 months of incarceration and four years of supervised release. Rafael Cruz, 75, of Providence, pled guilty on January 3, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on May 29, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release. Nelson Hazin, 57, of Providence, pled guilty on October 30, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to time served and three years of supervised release. Ricardo Martinez, Jr., 37, of Providence, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to 78 months of incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 24, of Providence, pled guilty on June 5, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on March 18, 2025, to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, of New Bedford, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Victor Yandel Aponte-Cirano, 25, of Taunton, pled guilty on September 6, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on January 22, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release. Keven Restrepo, 33, of Providence pled guilty on December 12, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 77 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Juan Gonzalez, 47, of Providence, pled guilty on January 25, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on July 16, 2024, to 72 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Charles Sims, 60, of Providence, pled guilty on November 20, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on September 25, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release. Anthony Lacoste, 33, Woonsocket, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2025. Karla Rivera-Rosa, 34, of Taunton, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is awaiting sentencing on a date yet to be set by the court. Felix Robles, 63, of Providence, is awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Law enforcement agents seized approximately $78,000 in drug proceeds from Mendez at the time of his arrest. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson and Taylor A. Dean, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Sandra R. Hebert. Acting United Sates Attorney Blooms thanks the FBI, DEA, and Providence Police Department for leading this investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation; and the United States Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police, Cranston, Central Falls, Fall River, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments for their assistance with the arrests of the defendants and the execution of search warrants. ###


title: José Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, Leader of Los Choneros Transnational Criminal Organization Extradited to Brooklyn Federal Court to Face International Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as “Fito,” a citizen of Ecuador, will be arraigned today at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn for crimes committed as the leader of Los Choneros, a transnational criminal organization based in Ecuador that is responsible for significant drug trafficking into the United States, firearms trafficking from the United States, and acts of extreme violence. Macías Villamar will be arraigned on a seven-count superseding indictment charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy; international cocaine distribution; using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; smuggling firearms from the United States; and straw purchasing of firearms conspiracy. Macías Villamar will be arraigned before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon after being extradited yesterday from Ecuador to the Eastern District of New York. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Robert Murphy, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); L.C. Cheeks, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division (ATF); and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office (OEE), announced the extradition and arraignment. “As alleged, the defendant served for years as the principal leader of Los Choneros, a notoriously violent transnational criminal organization, and was a ruthless and infamous drug and firearms trafficker. The defendant and his co-conspirators flooded the United States and other countries with drugs and used extreme measures of violence in their quest for power and control,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This case demonstrates our Office’s commitment to identifying and targeting the leadership of such organizations, wherever they may be located, and bringing them to face justice here in the United States.” “José ‘Fito’ Macias thought he could traffic poison into our country, smuggle American weapons back to his killers, and further his criminal enterprise using chaos and bloodshed. He was wrong,” stated DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “Today, the kingpin of Los Choneros faces justice on U.S. soil for his crimes.” “ATF remains dedicated to working with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt the shooting cycle by focusing on those individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Cheeks. “ATF will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to address violent gang and drug-related activity that endangers the safety of our communities. Our joint efforts are essential in bringing accountability to violent offenders, combatting threats to the public, and reducing violent crime.” As alleged in the indictment and other public filings, from at least 2020 to 2025, Macías Villamar was the principal leader of Los Choneros, the most violent and powerful transnational criminal organization in Ecuador. As the principal leader of Los Choneros, Macías Villamar employed members of the organization to carry out serious acts of violence on the organization’s behalf. At Macías Villamar’s direction, Los Choneros committed violent acts toward Ecuadorean law enforcement, Ecuadorian politicians, attorneys, prosecutors, and civilians. Los Choneros obtained many of its firearms and weapons by illegally trafficking and exporting them from the United States to Ecuador. As alleged, the defendant specifically employed individuals who purchased firearms, firearms components, and ammunition in the United States and then illegally smuggled them to Ecuador for use by Los Choneros. In 2011, Macías Villamar went to prison in Ecuador on murder, robbery, weapons possession, and drug trafficking charges. He escaped in 2013 before being recaptured months later. During his second imprisonment in Ecuador, Macías Villamar used contraband cell phones and the internet to continue to direct the activities of Los Choneros and publish external communications and threats on Los Choneros’ behalf. In January 2024, he escaped from Ecuadorian prison a second time—just two days ahead of his planned move to a maximum-security facility. In response to his escape, Ecuador erupted in violence—including prison riots, gang attacks, kidnappings, and bombings—and the government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency. Ecuadorian authorities recaptured Macías Villamar on June 25, 2025, and he was extradited from Ecuador yesterday. Macías Villamar and members and associates of his organization used firearms in furtherance of their weapon and drug trafficking activities, including machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, and grenades. Macías Villamar and the Los Choneros organization have also been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Ecuadorian authorities provided substantial assistance to secure the extradition of Macías Villamar. This marks Ecuador’s first extradition of an Ecuadorian national since an April 2024 popular referendum amended Ecuador’s constitution to allow for the extradition of Ecuadorian nationals. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to life. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section, and as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Chand Edwards-Balfour, Lorena Michelen, and David Berman are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JOSÉ ADOLFO MACÍAS VILLAMAR (also known as “Fito”) Age: 45 Ecuador E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 25-CR-114 (FB)


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, community partners to host National Night Out event in East St. Louis

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – To strengthen relationships between residents and law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois, event organizers and police officials are inviting the East St. Louis community to a free event with activities for attendees of all ages to celebrate National Night Out. The event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 8206 State St. in East St. Louis. Community partners will give out school supplies to students, provide food to families and offer an array of activities like competitive games, police demonstrations, and a live DJ. This National Night Out is a free event for East St. Louis residents. Ameren Illinois, ATF, Catholic Urban Programs, the City of East St. Louis, Community Development Sustainable Solutions, Community Life Line, DEA, the East St. Louis Police Department, the FBI Springfield Field Office, Illinois State Police, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service are partnering to host the event. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes community partnerships with police and neighborhood camaraderie.


title: Suspicious vehicle leads to arrest of three smugglers and 33 illegal aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas - A local resident and two Mexican nationals have been charged with human smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The criminal complaint alleges Joe Michael Cruz, 64, Rio Grande City, and Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia, 19, transported aliens from Mission to Hebbronville, while Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel, 21, allegedly harbored aliens at a residence in Mission. All three are scheduled for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 10 a.m. According to the charges, Cruz arrived at the Hebbronville Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint early July 17 driving a truck towing a box trailer. Law enforcement noticed the trailer had an uneven weight distribution and searched it, leading to the discovery of 24 illegal aliens, including Moreno, according to the charges. The complaint alleges Moreno was accompanying the aliens in the back of the trailer but was a paid smuggler. Moreno and Cruz had allegedly smuggled 18 aliens two weeks earlier. According to the complaint, two of the transported aliens provided information on the residence where they were earlier that morning. The charges allege authorities executed a search warrant at the location and found another 10 illegal aliens with Hernandez, who was identified as the caretaker of the residence. If convicted, all face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to .repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood . A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: 22 Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth and Cocaine Trafficking Operation from Southwest Border to Indianapolis

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- The following 22 individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an extensive methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy responsible for trafficking hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine. The 23 rd defendant, Edeer Avila, remains a fugitive. Defendant Charge(s) Sentence Edeer Avila, 34 Mexico Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments FUGITIVE Martin Felix-Garcia, 36 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 25 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Isaias Gonzalez-Torres, 34 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 24 years, 4 months’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Erlin Lucero-Asencio, 33 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances Illegal Alien Found in the United States 27 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Abel Ayala-Garcia, 34 Columbus, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 24.5 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Juliann Magallanez, 36 Terre Haute, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime 15 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release John Whiffing, 50 Terre Haute, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 14 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Victor Vazquez-Hernandez, 42 Seymour, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 10 years, 7 months’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Eduardo Rodriguez, 29 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 14 years, 8 months’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Andrew Calix-Maldonado, 30 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 11 years, 3 months’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Julio Vicente-Guox, 36 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 11 years, 3 months’ imprisonment 2 years of supervised release Luis Daniel Hernandez, 27 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 9 years’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Jendry Medina, 23 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 9 years, 2 months of imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Abner Rodas-Abelardez, 39 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 5 years, 10 months’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Kenia Acosta, 41 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 9 years’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Jeami Waleska Sevilla Luna, 30 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 8 years, 10 months’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Dillon Smith, 34 Terre Haute, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 17 years, 6 months’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Allison Perdue, 27 Seymour, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 9 years’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Eulalia Murillo-Resura, 34 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 7 years, 3 months’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Nathan Lee, 31 Columbus, IN Distribution of methamphetamine 10 years’ imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Emilio Landa-Lagunes, 27 Seymour, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 6 years’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Claudio Garcia-Morales, 38 Columbus, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment 2 years of supervised release Candy Medina-Corcoles, 27 California Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 4 years, 8 months’ imprisonment 2 years of supervised release According to court documents, Isaias Gonzalez-Torres was the primary Indianapolis ringleader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into Indianapolis and surrounding areas, including Seymour, Columbus, and Terre Haute. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 82 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,750 fentanyl pills, a kilogram of cocaine, and nine firearms. The conspiracy would operate as follows: Isaias Gonzalez-Torres and Erlin Lucero-Asencio worked in unison to coordinate large shipments of methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics from Edeer Avila in Mexico, Martin Felix-Garcia in Arizona, and others. The Indianapolis-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) utilized an elaborate system of drug couriers and clandestine mail parcels to transport the methamphetamine and other drugs across the country for redistribution in rural communities throughout the Southern District of Indiana. Once the shipments of methamphetamine arrived in Indianapolis, the DTO utilized multiple stash houses to break down and store the drugs for further distribution. The DTO employed multiple drug couriers, including Luis Daniel Hernandez, Andrew Calix-Maldonado, Julio Vicente-Guox, and Eduardo Rodriguez, to deliver the methamphetamine to local distributors in Seymour, Columbus, and Terre Haute. These local distributors then broke down the narcotics for further redistribution in their respective communities. Additionally, between October 2021 and March 2022 the defendants and other conspirators engaged in money laundering by depositing approximately $3,586,092 in United States currency into Candy Medina-Corcoles’ Bank of America account. Deposits occurred in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. From there, a conspirator would remove the funds from the account and transfer those drug proceeds to bank accounts based in Mexico. Between January 2020 and April 2022, the defendants also engaged in money laundering by sending at least 324 wire transfers totaling $291,116.08 from Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona and Mexico utilizing nominees to conceal their involvement in the wire transfers. “This case exemplifies the mission of Operation Take Back America- to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the devastating effects of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cartel-driven crime,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the dedication of our law enforcement partners and AUSA, we have severed a key pipeline of deadly drugs and illicit funds flowing into Indiana.” “This case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,” said Greg O’Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. “Without these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn’t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Seymour Police Department, and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Indiana Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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: ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Juan Dias-Zacarias, also known to law enforcement as “Gabriel P. Roberro” and “Gabriel Perez Roblero,” an illegal alien from South America, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Law-abiding citizens are guaranteed the right to keep and bear firearms by our U.S. Constitution, but illegal aliens who unlawfully enter our country have no such right. In this case, the defendant not only unlawfully possessed a firearm, he used it to violently threaten another person. This criminal alien has repeatedly attempted to evade detection by using various aliases, but law enforcement’s advanced biometric capabilities helped to confirm his actual identity and secure his federal conviction. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from violent criminals, and my office will continue to fulfill that promise by aggressively prosecuting these cases to keep our communities safe.” Court records reflect that Dias-Zacarias was asked by a security guard multiple times to evacuate a hotel located in Pensacola, Florida. Dias-Zacarias responded by removing a revolver from his waistband and pointing it at the security guard, causing him to fear for his life. Eventually, the guard was able to disable Dias-Zacarias, remove the firearm from him, and notify law enforcement. Dias-Zacarias was previously encountered by immigration authorities in the United States in 1998, and he returned to Mexico. The defendant’s history reflects he has provided varying names, dates of birth, and countries of origin to U.S. law enforcement since his removal and illegal return. Recorded biometrics, however, have allowed law enforcement to identify him on each occasion. “This criminal illegal alien posed a clear threat to public safety by illegally possessing a firearm, brandishing it at other people, and by repeatedly attempting to deceive authorities on his true identity,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nichola Ingegno. “His prior deportation and continued efforts to evade law enforcement demonstrate a complete disregard of the laws of the United States. This sentencing reinforces our commitment to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public from these kinds of threats and hold accountable those who abuse our system and endanger others.” An ICE detainer has been lodged against Dias-Zacarias, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term. Dias-Zacarias’ imprisonment will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Department of Justice Honors Senate Judiciary Committee Request for Information Related to Clinton Email Investigation

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement regarding Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley's request for information related to the FBI's handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and mishandling of classified information during her time as Secretary of State: “Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassley’s request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comey’s failed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State. I commend Chairman Grassley for his unwavering, years-long commitment to exposing the truth and holding those who seek to conceal it accountable. This Department of Justice is fully committed to transparency and will continue to support good-faith efforts in Congress to ensure accountability across the federal government.”


title: Leader of major cocaine trafficking organization sentenced to life in prison

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Texas man to spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of leading an operation to transport more than 325 kilograms of cocaine to southern Illinois. Following an eight-day trial, a jury convicted Daniel Robert, 48, of Houston, Texas, also known as Dewayne Robert, on one count of conspiracy to distribute the controlled substance: cocaine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of witness tampering and one count of attempted witness tampering. “Large-scale drug traffickers who profit from poisoning our communities with dangerous narcotics and then try to obstruct justice through threats or intimidation will be held fully accountable under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This life sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations.” According to court documents and evidence presented at the trial, Robert recruited and employed multiple couriers to deliver drugs and collect proceeds. After he was arrested and charged with the cocaine distribution charges, Robert attempted to obstruct justice by trying to improperly influence a witness. The Government estimates the drug operation was responsible for trafficking at least 327 kilograms of cocaine and was active between January 2014 and August 2018. “Several communities in Southern Illinois will rest easier tonight knowing that Daniel Robert has been sentenced to a lifetime in federal prison,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “Robert was responsible for moving an estimated $1 million worth of cocaine in and around Illinois. Let this serve as a reminder that the DEA will work relentlessly to remove these poison-pushing criminals from our communities and put them behind bars.” The indictment also charged co-defendants: Jeffrey Taylor, 42, of Alton, Illinois, also known as “King”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, five counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Daniel Matthew, 50, of Richmond, Texas, also known as “B Dog”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Stephanie Reynolds, 47, of Godfrey, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, two counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth. Simbiat Soetan, 36, of East St. Louis, Illinois, also known as “Simba”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth. Lloyd Parker, 36, of Hutchinson, Kansas, also known as “PJ”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth. Michael Martin, 51, of Meridian, Mississippi, also known as “Cuz”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Shataya Moore, 27, of Richmond, Texas, also known as “Taya”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Shermiya Reynolds-Ray, 30, of Alton, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Talishia Shannon, 38, of Rossville, Tennessee, also known as “T”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Lendarious Hayes, 28, of Meridian, Mississippi, also known as “Lil Daddy”, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. "The outcome of this case highlights the tireless efforts of every law enforcement agency involved in this investigation," said IRS Criminal Investigation St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. "The fact that Daniel Robert has been sentenced to life in prison for his actions should serve as a warning to others involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. They will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice." As part of the prosecution, the Government seized one black Mercedes car and one silver Chevrolet truck used in the conspiracy. DEA St. Louis and IRS Criminal Investigation contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Dean and Amanda Fischer are prosecuting the case.


title: Charges Filed After Alleged Water Damage To ICE’s York County Office Space

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Guerdison Printus, age 27, a citizen of Haiti, was indicted by a federal grand jury for destruction of government property. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that, on or about June 25, 2025, in York County, Printus tampered with a sprinkler, causing water damage in the office space of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The indictment further alleges that the resulting damage exceeded the sum of $1,000. The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty upon conviction for the charged offense is 10 years imprisonment, one year of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Iowa Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking Multiple Victims

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: An eight-count indictment in the Northern District of Iowa has been unsealed charging a Des Moines man with four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and four counts of interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution through coercion and enticement. According to the indictment, Marlin Santana Thomas Sr., 49, used force, fraud and coercion to cause four adult women to engage in commercial sex acts in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere between 2009 and 2015. The indictment also alleges that Thomas transported women from Iowa to Illinois and North Dakota for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. It also carries a minimum of five years of supervised release up to a lifetime of supervised release along with a fine of up to $250,000. Finally, restitution is mandatory upon any conviction for sex trafficking. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence upon any conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and Des Moines Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Nydle for the Northern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. The FBI is asking that anyone with information about Thomas to contact the Omaha Field Office at (402) 493-8688. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .


title: Woman Indicted for Robbing a Parking Enforcement Officer

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Maylin Carranza Garcia, 29, of Annandale, Virginia, was indicted in Superior Court on felony charges of robbery and retaliating against a government official on June 25, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Carranza Garcia was indicted by the grand jury on July 16, 2025. An arraignment is scheduled for July 29, 2025. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3:07 p.m. on June 25, 2025, at 2526 L Street Northwest, Washington, D.C., a Parking Enforcement Officer just finished issuing a parking ticket for a driver who refused to move their car from a no parking zone. The driver’s sister, Carranza Garcia, then engaged in a verbal altercation with the parking enforcement officer before snatching her parking enforcement device and fleeing the scene. Carranza Garcia discarded the parking enforcement device on the side of the road. Carranza Garcia was located and arrested on June 26, 2025. The stolen parking enforcement device was recovered the same day. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kadian Carter. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: MEXICAN MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY OFFENSE

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Esau Matul-Hernandez, 37, of the country of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “This case is another shining example of the great success of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, and fulfills the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to stop the flow of illegal immigration into our country. This criminal alien not only repeatedly illegally entered our country, he endangered our communities by continuing to violate our laws while unlawfully present here. My office will aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.” Court records reflect that on December 28, 2023, Matul-Hernandez was arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO). Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Matul-Hernandez at the Okaloosa County Jail the following day. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) quickly determined that Matul-Hernandez was an alien in the United States and a citizen of Mexico. Matul-Hernandez had been previously deported from the United States in 2007 and twice in 2020. Matul-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States thereafter. As a result of his 2023 OCSO arrest, Matul-Hernandez was prosecuted by the State of Florida and convicted of Attempted Sexual Battery prior to being turned over to federal custody on this case. “Illegal aliens who repeatedly and knowingly violate U.S. immigration laws blatantly undermine the integrity of our legal system and place an added burden on law enforcement and public safety resources,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “The United States has clear and lawful pathways for entering and residing in this country, and those who choose to ignore those laws — especially after three deportations — will face serious consequences. HSI, working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting our communities from those show blatant disrespect for the rule of law.” An ICE detainer has been lodged against Matul-Hernandez, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term. Matul-Hernandez’s imprisonment will be followed by a one year term of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Crystal Lake Man to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 19, 2025, to more than five years in federal prison. Jeremy Nedved, age 42, from Crystal Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 6, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At sentencing, Nedved admitted that between February and September 2024, he utilized the “dark web”, a part of the internet that is not visible to search engines and requires the use of an anonymizing browser called Tor to be accessed, to purchase methamphetamine that he further distributed to others. In August 2024, law enforcement had become aware Nedved was using the U.S. mail to receive controlled substances. On August 29, 2024, a mail watch notification was triggered for Nedved’s P.O. Box in Crystal Lake on a package. A search warrant was obtained to intercept and search the package which netted approximately a half pound of methamphetamine. On September 3, 2024, a controlled delivery of the methamphetamine package took place at the Crystal Lake post office. Nedved retrieved this parcel and was arrested. Nedved was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nedved was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Nedved is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03040. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man who Possessed Multiple Machinegun Conversion Devices Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who possessed multiple machinegun conversion devices on more than one occasion was sentenced on July 18, 2025, to 108 months in federal prison. Gentile Kahungu, age 19, who was living in Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 31, 2025 guilty plea to possession of a machinegun. The evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Kahungu possessed a total of 18 machinegun conversion devices, two of which were connected to firearms. On June 25, 2024, Kahungu possessed some of the devices in his bedroom in his home in Marion along with a tan Glock magazine and ammunition. When he was later arrested in Cedar Rapids, he possessed additional machinegun conversion devices, along with a tan Glock firearm that had a machinegun conversion device connected to it. The evidence at the hearing also established that Kahungu’s Glock firearm was used during two other shootings, one in Marshalltown, Iowa, and one in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kahungu was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Kahungu was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Kahungu is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marshalltown Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-00088. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Brooklyn Man Charged with Arson of 10 NYPD Vehicles

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Jakhi McCray with arson for setting 10 New York City Police Department vehicles and a trailer on fire in a locked parking lot. McCray was arrested today and will make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Division (ATF); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner, New York Fire Department (FDNY) announced the arrest. “This destructive act of arson was deliberate, dangerous, and deeply disruptive,” said United States Attorney Nocella. “Setting police vehicles ablaze is not a form of protest—it is a federal crime. Our Office will not tolerate violence or destruction that undermines law enforcement efforts to ensure public safety and will prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law.” Mr. Nocella also expressed his thanks to the ATF-NYPD Arson & Explosives Task Force, the FDNY Marshalls, and the United States Marshalls Services NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force for their valuable contribution to the case. “Intentionally setting fire to police vehicles is a dangerous criminal act and a direct threat to public safety. The ATF Arson and Explosives Task Force — which includes ATF, the NYPD, and FDNY — is fully committed to identifying and bringing to justice anyone responsible for these dangerous and unlawful acts. This arrest demonstrates our shared resolve and unified approach to protecting our communities. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, the NYPD and the FDNY for their continued partnership in pursuing justice,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller. “The arson attack against New York City Police Department vehicles in Bushwick, Brooklyn was as cowardly as it was criminal,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The defendant in this case may have wanted to send a message – but all he did was mobilize the full force of the NYPD, the ATF, and the FDNY to identify, locate, and arrest him. Now, through the work of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, he will face much-deserved justice. Thank you to all the NYPD detectives, as well as our law enforcement partners, who closed this case.” “Burning a police vehicle is an intolerable crime that could have killed a police officer,” stated FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “We are grateful to our FDNY Fire Marshals for their role in investigating this crime, and our partners in law enforcement for their assistance in identifying the suspect. Arson is a serious crime that must be punished.” According to the complaint, at 12:52 a.m. on June 12, 2025, McCray was recorded on surveillance video scaling a fence into a secure private lot for reserve NYPD vehicles assigned to precincts in northern Brooklyn. The lot contained numerous NYPD vehicles and was located on DeKalb Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Central Avenue in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. McCray remained in the lot for approximately 32 minutes, during which he lit 10 NYPD vehicles and one trailer on fire. At approximately 1:24 a.m., an NYPD officer arrived to inspect the lot. As he approached, the officer saw the fire and observed McCray attempting to escape by scaling a fence, then fleeing through an existing hole in the fence. Subsequently, NYPD personnel recovered at the scene a cigar lighter torch and a pair of sunglasses. They also discovered 22 retail fire starters and 10 BBQ dragon egg fire starters that were placed under three undamaged vehicles. It was later determined that the sunglasses had McCray’s fingerprints on them. The vehicles were ignited two days before protests were scheduled to be held over the June 14-15, 2025 weekend. The NYPD has estimated that the total replacement cost of for the damaged vehicles is over $800,000. The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and McCray is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, McCray faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca M. Urquiola is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JAKHI MCCRAY Age: 21 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-238


title: THREE SANTA ROSA COUNTY MEN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR THEIR ROLES IN DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – David Kennedy, 41; Michael McQueen, 51; and Roosevelt Jones, 52, of Milton, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison for trafficking in controlled substances in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Working with our state and local partners, federal law enforcement was able to dismantle a significant drug trafficking ring that plagued Santa Rosa County for years,” stated United States Attorney Heekin. “We are pleased with this successful operation, in particular, because all three men are repeat drug trafficking offenders. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America by cracking down on the drug traffickers plaguing our communities, and my office will not stop aggressively pursuing those who seek to victimize our citizens by flooding our streets with poisonous drugs.” Court documents reflect that covert undercover purchases of illegal drugs, as well as surveillance and judicially authorized wiretap intercepts of telephone communications, enabled law enforcement to execute multiple search warrants in Milton that led to the seizure of cocaine, pure methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. In addition, law enforcement seized firearms and illicitly derived United States currency. David Kennedy was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Michael McQueen was sentenced to 11½ years in federal prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release. Roosevelt Jones was sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release. “Partnerships are key to disrupting drug trafficking activity, and we have great partners,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Our communities will be safer with these drug peddlers off the streets.” “The successful collaboration between the federal, state, local agencies, and our Narcotics Detectives has been instrumental in removing dangerous drugs from our streets,” said Sheriff Bob Johnson, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. “More importantly, this joint effort led to the arrest of key drug dealers, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions and making our communities safer.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .