title: Illegal Alien from Guatemala Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the Country

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Guatemalan man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for reentering the United States after a prior removal. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neuman sentenced Elmer Enrique Ramirez-Ardon , 33, to time served. He pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026. According to court records, on March 12, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Franklin County were driving near Stratton when they observed a white box truck heading north towards the U.S.Canadian border. Ramirez-Ardon was in the truck’s passenger seat. After observing the truck and its occupants, the agents suspected it contained aliens. They stopped the truck after it reversed direction and began travelling south towards the interior of the state. During a subsequent roadside immigration inspection, agents determined that the truck’s two occupants were, in fact, aliens without lawful authority to be in the country. They were transported to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station for processing, at which time agents determined that Ramirez-Ardon, a citizen of Guatemala, had been ordered deported and removed from the country in 2014. The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Operation Take Back America : This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Woonsocket Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Jerry Lee Davenport, 51, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to ten years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $6000 restitution to the victims. Davenport pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to possessing child pornography. According to court documents, in March 2023, members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information that Davenport had received and viewed images containing child sexual abuse material. During a search of Davenport’s Woonsocket residence, law enforcement located several thumb drives in a locked drawer in Davenport’s bedroom containing numerous images of CSAM. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/


title: Registered sex offender charged with possession of child pornography

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a convicted sex offender with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Jesse William Laws, 46, of Leavenworth was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Laws is accused of knowingly viewing or accessing CSAM in November 2025 and therefore allegedly a violation of his terms of release related to a previous conviction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana for receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in 2006, and a conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri for possession of child pornography in 2017. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . OTHER INDICTMENTS Adrian German Marrufo-Morales, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. James D. Hall, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case. Raul Leyva-Ramirez, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. Sergio Manuel Martinez-Sanchez, 53, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry by a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines is prosecuting the case. Obed Rocha-Flores, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Justice Department announces results of Operation Iron Pursuit

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys, offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort, including the Buffalo FBI Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month . “This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.” “Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.” “Working closely with our partners at every level of law enforcement, we will use all of the tools at our disposal to investigate and bring to justice those defendants who prey on the most vulnerable of victims, our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Let these efforts also serve as a reminder to parents to be vigilant in consistently monitoring your children’s online activities.” “FBI Buffalo and our law enforcement partners work every day to identify and arrest criminals who prey on children,” said Philip Tejera, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “Operation Iron Pursuit exemplifies the FBI’s steadfast commitment: we will not stop until those who endanger children are removed from our communities and held accountable.” Two defendants were charged in the Western District of New York as part of Operation Iron Pursuit: CJ A. Wolf, of Lewiston, NY, was arrested and charged with enticement of a minor, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. According to the criminal complaint, in October 2025, Wolf began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer via text message, after responding to an advertisement, posted online by investigators, of a purported minor female willing to meet in person to have sex. During these communications, Wolf was told to travel to a specific location where he could have sex with the purported 13-year-old girl who was advertised online. Wolf traveled to a retail parking lot and interacted with the undercover officer who was coordinating the sexual interaction between Wolf and the purported 13-year-old girl. Wolf was asked if he had the money, which he confirmed by showing he had $200 and agreeing for “a half hour.” After some further conversation, Wolf was arrested. Kenneth Tootle, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged with production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and receipt of child pornography, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, the Rochester Police Department received a report from a mother that she found disturbing messages between her seven-year-old daughter (minor victim) and Tootle on her daughter’s cell phone, including sexual photos and videos. A review of the minor victim’s phone confirmed that she was communicating with Tootle and sent him images and videos of herself that constitute child pornography. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed on Tootle’s cell phone. However, the complaint states that the images of child pornography sent by the minor victim to Tootle had been deleted. This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice , concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice , concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders. The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org . The Department urges the public to remain vigilant, and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov , or by calling your local FBI field office. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Roger Lee Cousins, 51, of Beckley, was sentenced today to two years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 8, 2024, Cousins sold approximately 14.66 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant in Beckley. As part of his guilty plea, Cousins admitted to selling approximately 27.2 grams of fentanyl during the transaction, and to receiving a total of $3,140 for both controlled substances. Cousins also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Cousins admitted to selling cocaine and fentanyl on October 21, 2024, cocaine on October 29, 2024, and fentanyl on December 6, 2024, each time to a confidential informant. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-42. ###


title: District of Arizona Charges 340 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 2, 2026, through May 8, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 340 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 143 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 177 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Christian Diangelo Martinez-Espinoza. Christian Diangelo Martinez-Espinoza was charged by criminal complaint on May 4, 2026, with one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person and two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer. On May 3, a U.S. Border Patrol agent initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Civic in Patagonia, Arizona. Martinez-Espinoza, the driver, initially stopped, but immediately afterward reversed the Honda into an agent’s vehicle, striking the front end of the vehicle. He then fled the scene. Agents pursued the Honda as it fled reaching speeds of approximately 100 mph. Agents then deployed a vehicle immobilization device (VID) and successfully deflated three of the tires. Martinez-Espinoza continued to travel at approximately 80 mph on the flat tires when agents successfully deployed the VID again, deflating the remaining tire. Martinez-Espinoza continued with all tires deflated for approximately eight more miles until he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over and crash off the side of the road into the desert. He fled the vehicle, and agents pursued him on foot. Martinez-Espinoza then assaulted an agent, punching him in the mouth, in an effort to avoid apprehension. He was eventually taken into custody. Two passengers were located inside the crashed vehicle. One was critically injured and transported to a hospital. Both passengers were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-1826MJ – Tucson] United States v. Gregory Elisha Evans . On May 5, 2026, Gregory Elisha Evans was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. On May 5, 2026, U.S Border Patrol agents observed a white Hyundai Genesis enter and exit a known smuggling area near the border. Agents responded to the area where the vehicle was last seen and discovered footprints belonging to two individuals originating from a wash near the international border fence. The description and direction of travel of the Genesis was sent out to nearby Border Patrol stations and local law enforcement partners. Shortly after, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed the Genesis on I-10 and noticed there was an object mounted to the center of the windshield. He then conducted a traffic stop on the Genesis. While speaking with the driver, Gregory Elisha Evans, the deputy observed two passengers attempting to conceal themselves on the floorboard between the front and back seats. The passengers were wearing camouflage pants, and there was a strong body odor coming from the back seat, both indicative of individuals traveling through the desert for long periods. Border Patrol agents determined that both passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-06150 - Tucson] This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-072_May 8, 2026, Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Chinese National and Ringleader Sentenced to 12.5 Years in $27 Million Multinational Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Targeting Over 2,000 Seniors

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Zhao Wang, aka “Oscar,” was sentenced in federal court today to 151 months in prison for leading a $27 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting approximately 2,000 elderly victims across the United States. Wang, a Chinese national, was the lead defendant charged in a five-defendant indictment unsealed in 2024. According to public documents, members of the conspiracy operated a series of technical support, bank impersonation and government impersonation, and refund scams targeting elderly victims. Victims received unsolicited phone calls, emails, and pop-up ads directing victims to call a phone number. Unbeknownst to the victims, those phone numbers belonged to India-based scam call centers. Once a victim called the call center, members of the conspiracy used social engineering techniques to build trust with victims. In many instances, the conspirators had victims download commercially available remote desktop software, which the conspirators used to access victims’ computers and to carry on the scams. One of the most frequent scams was a refund scam. In the refund scams, victims were told they were entitled to a small refund, for example, from a retailer for an alleged unauthorized charge. While pretending to process the refund, the victim would be accidentally “over-refunded” money. The conspirators would then instruct the victim to send the alleged over-refunded money through wire transfers or in cash via express mail to members of the conspiracy. In reality, the victims had not been refunded any money and victims were scammed into sending their own money. Victims were instructed to send the alleged over-refunded money via wire transfers and in bulk cash via express mail packages to members of the conspiracy, including defendant Zhao Wang, in the United States. When a victim was duped into sending bulk cash in the mail, Wang would provide his India-based co-conspirators a fictitious name plus an address of a retail location that could accept express mail packages. Those names and addresses would then be relayed to the victims, who were instructed to express mail the bulk cash. Then, once a victim had sent the cash in the mail, Wang and his co-conspirators would use fake IDs to get the packages of cash sent by the elderly victims. In sentencing papers, the government argued that Wang oversaw the U.S.-based operation, including co-conspirators who would retrieve victim packages and document themselves retrieving and opening packages and counting the money inside. Agents seized countless such photos and videos from Wang’s phone. Investigators identified over 2,000 elderly victims from throughout the country, including victims in San Diego, who were defrauded and suffered over $27 million in losses over an approximately two-year period between 2021-2023. At sentencing, the government emphasized that Wang was explicit that his operation was, in his own words, scamming elderly Americans. The following conversation from February 2022 was seized from Wang’s cellphone during the investigation: In publicly filed documents, Wang also admitted that after receiving the fraud proceeds, he and his co-conspirators laundered the money using cryptocurrency back to their foreign-based counterparts. Wang admitted that typically each day after collecting victim packages, Wang’s co-conspirators would deliver the money from the packages to him. Wang would then coordinate with his foreign-based co-conspirators, who would provide a cryptocurrency wallet that Wang would use to transfer cryptocurrency. Wang took upwards of 18 percent of the fraud proceeds and transferred the rest via cryptocurrency to his co-conspirators. Wang also admitted that he laundered the proceeds to promote the fraud scheme by using fraud proceeds to pay co-conspirators and to purchase the fake IDs used in the scheme. “This sentence recognizes the profound human cost of exploiting trust and treating vulnerable people as opportunities for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Zhao Wang, “Oscar,” and his co-conspirators callously scammed more than 2,000 elderly victims throughout the country with a variety of fraud schemes for years,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Today’s sentence ensures that Wang, the coordinator perpetrating the multitude of scams, is held accountable for his role. FBI San Diego and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate those who think they can prey on our elder population without consequences.” At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie called the scope of the fraud “staggering” and called Wang’s domestic operation of the scheme “100 percent reprehensible.” In finding Wang specifically targeted elderly victims, Judge Huie emphasized, “Their vulnerability was not incidental. It was not coincidence. It was how they were selected. It was how they came to be scammed.” The wife and daughter of an 83-year-old victim spoke at the sentencing hearing today. They said that within months of being scammed, the victim lived with suspicion, distrust and resentment and he soon passed away. Judge Huie commented, “It’s really hard to fathom the depth of that harm in somebody’s last months on this planet.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-cr-1317-RSH-01 Zhao Wang, aka “Oscar” Age: 41 Las Vegas, NV SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349, 2326 Maximum Penalties: Forty years in prison; $1 million fine Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 1956(h) Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General Homeland Security Investigations San Diego County District Attorney’s Office San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Diego Police Department San Diego Elder Justice Task Force Chino Police Department Coronado Police Department Escondido Police Department Glendora Police Department Long Beach Police Department Orange County Sheriff’s Department


title: Veazie Man Sentenced for Enticing Minors and Possessing Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Veazie man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for two counts of enticing a minor and one count of possessing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Austin Cocchiaro , 24, to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Cocchiaro pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025. According to court records, in 2022 and again in 2024, Cocchiaro used his cell phone to induce a minor to participate in the production of child pornography. He also offered to pay for images using an online payment application. On November 14, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cocchiaro’s home in Veazie resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on two cell phones he owned. The FBI investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Man Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Prison for Attempting to Traffic Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Sterling, Ill., man has been sentenced to more than fifteen years in federal prison for attempting to traffic methamphetamine from California to Illinois. TONY CLAPP, 62, pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Clapp to 15 years and eight months in federal prison. In his plea agreement, Clapp admitted that in February 2022 he arranged for the purchase and delivery of approximately three kilograms of pure methamphetamine from a source in California. This crime was committed while Clapp was serving a term of court-supervised release following a 2008 federal prison sentence for distribution of cocaine—a fact that the Court found to be an aggravating factor in sentencing Clapp. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane R. Catone, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.


title: Tyler Toomey Sworn in as the Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – On May 4, 2026, Tyler Toomey was sworn in as the Public Affairs Specialist for the Northern District Of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “I am proud to welcome Tyler Toomey to our team and look forward to utilizing his experience and expertise in media relations and community affairs to highlight the good work the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office and our Federal partners are doing.” Toomey, a Syracuse-area native who resides in Oswego County, will lead communication and public outreach efforts on behalf of First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District. In this role, he will coordinate media relations and assist in issuing communications about major prosecutions and public safety initiatives in support of the Department of Justice mission. Toomey comes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office after serving as a staffer in the New York State Assembly for former Minority Leader William Barclay and most recently Minority Leader Ed Ra.


title: New Braunfels Woman Indicted for Attempted Arson of Comal County Republican Headquarters

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment this week charging a New Braunfels woman with actual and attempted malicious damage by fire to property involved in interstate or foreign commerce, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, on Jan. 14, Grace Carol Brown, 22, attempted to set fire to a New Braunfels building that houses the Comal County Republican Party Headquarters and two other commercial businesses. An indictment alleges Brown broke a window of the building and threw a backpack inside. She was then allegedly unsuccessful in her attempt to climb into the building through the broken window and decided to light a rolled magazine on fire and through it inside the building. Image Credit: U.S. v. Brown Case #5:26cr210 Brown allegedly left a note at the scene. The backpack found inside the building allegedly contained, among other items, one container of ethanol, two containers of gasoline, a lighter and matches. An investigation determined that Brown displayed antipathy through writings and actions, toward the goals and activities of the Comal County Republican Party Headquarters, law enforcement elements of the United States government to include ICE, and certain Executive Branch officials whom she allegedly referred to as “Enemies of the U.S. Constitution.” Brown was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged in Comal County with burglary of a building and arson. She now faces federal charges as well and, if convicted, faces five to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the New Braunfels Police Department and New Braunfels Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Mangels is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Paisas gang member sentenced for human smuggling while on supervised release in joint HSTF/JTFA effort

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Laredo resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting illegal aliens following a failed smuggling attempt near the La Bota Ranch area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Duilio Ivan Selgado pleaded guilty Feb. 3. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now ordered Selgado to serve 41 months in federal prison as well as a consecutive 14 months for violating his supervised release. The total 55-month term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. During the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing Selgado’s extensive criminal history involving violence and other conduct that placed the public at risk, including assaults, arson and high-speed flights from law enforcement. In imposing the sentence, Judge Saldana commented on the distressing criminal history and noted that this marked Selgado’s sixth arrest for alien smuggling and the second time he violated a term of supervised release by committing the very same offense for which he was already under supervision. On Nov. 10, 2025, authorities were conducting surveillance in the La Bota Ranch area of Laredo. They observed approximately 20 illegal aliens cross the Rio Grande and walk towards a nearby boat ramp. Shortly after, a Ford Expedition and Ford F-150 picked up the aliens. Law enforcement-initiated pursuit of the Expedition and observed Selgado exit the vehicle from the front passenger side. As they approached, several aliens fled on foot. One illegal alien stated he paid to be smuggled into the United States. After crossing the river, the group was directed to walk up a boat ramp to be picked up. He also said Selgado was on the phone receiving directions. Selgado admitted to being a member of the Paisas prison gang. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day prosecuted the case. This operation is now part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation/IRS; Interpol/Department of State and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety also provided assistance in the case. The investigation and charges are also a result of coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Cuban National for Ramming ICE Vehicles in San Antonio

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted a Cuban national today on two counts of destruction of government property, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 13, Robyn Argote-Brooks, 25, of Havana, Cuba, used his vehicle to damage an SUV and a sedan, both of which were property of the United States and maintained by ICE. The amount of damage to each vehicle exceeded $1,000. Argote-Brooks was arrested and charged via complaint with one count of destruction of government property. An indictment filed Feb. 4 added a second destruction of government property count as well as a charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery presided over the three-day jury trial. ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle are prosecuting the case. Megan Ramirez, with the office’s Advanced Litigation Support unit, provided technical assistance to the trial team leading up to and during the trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Another illegal alien multi-DUI offender heads to federal prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 33-year-old illegal alien living in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country without authorization again, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Luis Miguel Sanchez-Martinez pleaded guilty Feb. 19. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Sanchez-Martinez to serve 42 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court considered his dangerous behavior, lack of respect for the law and need for further deterrence. Sanchez-Martinez has multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. Authorities first removed him from the United States in November 2020 following his third DUI conviction. He was subsequently removed after a fourth DUI, but law enforcement found him in Houston Aug. 9, 2024, with no authorization to be in the country. Sanchez-Martinez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: 21-Year-Old Felon Who Possessed Gun Sentenced

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a loaded gun illegally was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to 51 months in federal prison. Devieon Jermaine-Oliver Irvin, age 21, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 3, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm as a felon. While investigating a theft, police officers learned that Irvin was sending text messages to a 13-year-old juvenile. In these messages, Irvin and the juvenile discussed Irvin providing the juvenile with drugs. On March 13, 2025, police searched Irvin’s residence in Marion, Iowa, and found a loaded gun in the couch in the living room. Irvin was a convicted felon and was on state probation at the time he possessed the gun. Irvin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Irvin was sentenced to 51 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. Irvin 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 investigated by the Marion Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-00078. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Operation Take Back America efforts continue with 267 more charged in the Southern District of Texas

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 256 cases have been filed for immigration and border security-related crimes from May 1-7, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The charges include 40 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 46 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 180 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. The remaining case includes another immigration violation. Most of those charged this week have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses and more. Three of the filed cases allegedly involve illegal aliens found in the McAllen area. One individual is Armando Montoya-Cardozo from Bolivia, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for carnal knowledge of a minor before he was removed from the United States, and that law enforcement discovered him near Roma with no authorization to be in the United States. Also found near Roma was Juan Jose German-Carrillo despite having been removed Jan. 8, according to the complaint against him. The Mexican national was previously convicted of injuring a child or the elderly and possession of a controlled substance. Another Mexican national with prior drug convictions is Rene Villarreal-Carmona, according to his charges. Authorities discovered him near Escobares despite having been previously removed from the country. If convicted, all three men face up to 20 years in federal prison. In addition to the new cases, a three-time DUI offender illegally in the United States was ordered to federal prison in Houston federal court. Mexican national Jose Alejandro Luna-Rangel was previously removed from the United States in July 2016 following his conviction for driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle. However, he illegally returned and was convicted for assault-family violence and felony driving while intoxicated (third offense). He was ordered to serve 40 months for the federal illegal reentry after prior removal conviction. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Vsoft Corporation Agrees to Pay Nearly $2.3 Million to Resolve Allegations It Improperly Obtained A PPP Loan

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that VSoft Corporation (VSoft), a banking and payment solutions provider located in Atlanta, Georgia, has agreed to pay $2,291,927.07 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by providing false information to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible. This settlement resolves allegations that VSoft misrepresented that it was a small business with less than 300 employees on its application for a second round PPP loan of $1,259,732.00—when instead, VSoft was part of an international corporation with multiple locations worldwide, totaling well over the 300-employee limit for second round PPP loans. This matter arose from a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. GHGH2, Inc. v. Vsoft Technologies Corporation ; Case No. 3:24-cv-999 (W.D.N.C.). The government’s investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Johnson. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Autism researcher extradited from Germany to face federal charges of stealing CDC grant money

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Poul Thorsen, a Danish researcher who was one of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s top ten most wanted fugitives, was arraigned today on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges after his extradition from Germany. “Poul Thorsen allegedly stole more than $1 million in federal grant money by submitting fabricated invoices and diverting funds to his personal bank accounts,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “International fugitives who think they can avoid responsibility for serious federal crimes by living overseas are wrong. Due to the unwavering persistence of my office and our law enforcement partners, Thorsen has been extradited to the United States and will face justice in federal court.” “Thorsen is alleged to have diverted more than a million dollars designated for critical public health and autism research. These funds were entrusted to advance scientific understanding and support children and families; instead, these tax dollars were exploited for personal gain, a serious breach of law and profound betrayal of public trust,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Thorsen’s extradition reinforces a core principle: individuals who are accused in an indictment of defrauding the American people and misusing federally funded research will be pursued wherever they flee. HHS-OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of federal programs and ensuring that those who steal from the public are held accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From 2000 to 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, awarded over $11 million to two governmental agencies in Denmark to study the relationship between autism and exposure to vaccines, between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy, and between childhood development and fetal alcohol exposure. In 2002, Thorsen, who had worked as a visiting scientist at the CDC when it was soliciting the grant applications, became responsible for administering the research money awarded by the CDC. Thorsen allegedly stole more than $1 million of the CDC grant money by submitting fraudulent documents to the Danish government, Aarhus University, and a Danish hospital where scientists performed research under the grant. From February 2004 through June 2008, Thorsen allegedly submitted over a dozen fraudulent invoices, containing the forged signature of a CDC laboratory section chief, that falsely claimed a CDC laboratory had performed work and was owed grant money. Based on these invoices, Aarhus University transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to CDC Federal Credit Union accounts the university believed belonged to the CDC. In truth, the credit union accounts were personal accounts held by Thorsen. After the money was transferred, Thorsen allegedly withdrew the fraudulent proceeds for his own use, obtaining cashier’s checks and buying a home in Atlanta, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and Audi and Honda vehicles. A federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant after a grand jury in Atlanta indicted Thorsen on April 13, 2011, but Thorsen evaded apprehension for nearly 14 years by remaining in Denmark. On June 4, 2025, Thorsen, 65, was arrested in Passau, Germany, pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice based on the April 2011 arrest warrant. Earlier this year, Germany agreed to extradite Thorsen to face trial on two counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering. On May 7, 2026, Thorsen was flown to the United States in federal custody. He was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Elizabeth McBath and will be held without bail pending further proceedings. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition of Thorsen from Germany. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. McClain is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO THIRTY MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DECADES-LONG IDENTITY THEFT AND FRAUD SCHEME

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on May 7, 2026, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Pennell sentenced Raymond Kenneth Musgrove, age 78, to 30 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $1,025,544.69 in restitution to the United States. The Court also imposed a $1,100 special assessment. Musgrove pled guilty to two counts of false representation of a Social Security number, five counts of wire fraud, and one count of theft of government funds. He was also found guilty at bench trial of three counts of aggravated identity theft stemming from a decades-long scheme in which he impersonated a real Vietnam veteran to unlawfully obtain government benefits and services. According to court records and evidence presented, Musgrove engaged in a fraudulent scheme spanning more than 25 years. Beginning as early as 1997, he assumed the identity of a real individual, identified in court documents as J.M.C., a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. While posing as J.M.C., Musgrove obtained Veterans Affairs compensation benefits, received healthcare services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, opened financial accounts using the victim’s identity, and submitted false statements and documentation to maintain and reinstate benefits. Even after the real J.M.C. died in 2018, Musgrove continued the scheme by falsely claiming the death had been reported in error and successfully persuaded agencies to resume benefit payments. The fraud continued until 2023, when his attempts to obtain additional benefits led to the discovery of the scheme. In total, Musgrove fraudulently obtained more than $860,000 in federal benefits, contributing to the total restitution amount ordered in this matter. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the sentence reflects the gravity of Musgrove’s conduct, which involved a highly calculated and sustained fraud scheme, the exploitation of a deceased veteran’s identity, significant financial losses to the government, and repeated efforts to deceive federal agencies over decades. District Court Judge Rebecca Pennell, before imposing sentence, told Musgrove, “Your offense conduct was lengthy and very troubling. I don’t think it can be fairly characterized as just a mistake . . . You had been living a lie for decades.” Judge Pennell went on to note Musgrove seemingly had no concern for how his actions would impact the victim or his family, and that his pattern of putting himself before others “stops today.” First Assistant Pete Serrano noted, “Mr. Musgrove carried out a calculated and deeply troubling fraud for decades, exploiting the identity of a military veteran to steal over a million dollars in benefits intended for those who have honorably served our country. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his conduct and underscores our commitment to protecting public resources and holding accountable those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.” “Today's sentencing underscores the VA OIG’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those involved in fraudulent activities targeting veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.” “Raymond Musgrove falsely represented the identity of a veteran as his own to deceptively receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, diverting critical benefits meant for veterans who earned them through service and sacrifice,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. “His actions represent a theft from our veterans and the systems designed to support them.” The case was investigated by the U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frieda K. Zimmerman of the Eastern District of Washington. For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington


title: Federal Indictment Charges Suburban Chicago Businessman With Orchestrating $4 Million Fraud Schemes

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a pair of fraud schemes that netted him more than $4 million. An indictment unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges RAED NASER with eleven counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering. Naser owned a freight transport company based in Orland Park, Ill. According to the indictment, Naser engaged in two wire fraud schemes—one involving the submission of false invoices from Naser’s company for nonexistent freight shipping and the other involving bakery franchises that Naser sold to an unsuspecting buyer after fraudulently inflating their value. The money laundering charges accuse Naser of laundering the proceeds from the fraud schemes by, among other things, purchasing a Lamborghini Huracan, a BMW M8 Gran Coupe, and a Cadillac Escalade. Naser, 41, of Crown Point, Ind., pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing is now set for June 10, 2026, at 9:45 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Manschreck. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. naser_indictment.pdf


title: Brentwood Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NASHVILLE - David Gebhardt, 54, of Brentwood, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns that failed to report millions of dollars in income from cryptocurrency sales and from his consulting business. According to court documents, Gebhardt, a Tennessee-licensed attorney, purchased cryptocurrency but used decentralized exchanges and nominees to conceal his income from those investments. In total, from March 2018 through December 2022, Gebhardt withdrew approximately $6.6 million in funds from his cryptocurrency sales. Despite being warned by his accountants to report all of his cryptocurrency income on his tax returns, he failed to do so. Further, on his 2020 through 2022 returns, he indicated that he did not engage in virtual currency transactions when, in fact, he did. Gebhardt also failed to report all the gross receipts earned by a consulting business he owned. In total, Gebhardt caused a tax loss of more than $550,000 by filing false tax returns for 2018 through 2022. Gebhardt pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false individual tax returns. His sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of 6 years in federal prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Trial Attorney Parker Tobin of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Criminal Chief Ahmed Safeeullah for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. # # # # #


title: Tampa Woman Charged in Fraud Scheme to Obtain Social Security and Pension Benefits by Disposing of Aunt’s Body to Conceal her Death

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Rebecca Stewart Vaughn (64, Tampa) has been charged by federal indictment with four counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. If convicted, Vaughn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the theft of government money. The indictment also notifies Vaughn that the United States is seeking the forfeiture of more than $75,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, Vaughn engaged in a fraud scheme to obtain Social Security benefits and City of New York pension benefits that did not belong to her. The benefits were being paid to Vaughn’s aunt, J.C. When J.C. died, Vaughn concealed her death by wrapping J.C.’s body in layers of blankets, sheets, and plastic bags, placing her body in a mattress bag, and disposing of the body in a wooded lot adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant. Vaughn also falsely represented to law enforcement officers that J.C. was still alive. By concealing J.C.’s death, Vaughn fraudulently induced the Social Security Administration and the Teacher’s Retirement System of the City of New York to continue to pay monthly benefits for J.C., which Vaughn then spent on herself and others. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty for His Role in an International Conspiracy to Smuggle Aliens from Canada into the U.S.

body_text: WASHINGTON — An alien from Mexico pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in an international human smuggling conspiracy that illegally brought aliens from Mexico, Central, and South America across the northern border with Canada into the United States for profit. According to court documents, Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 24, was a leader in an alien smuggling organization (ASO) while he was living illegally in Kansas City, Missouri. The ASO smuggled hundreds of aliens into the United States. Once the aliens were inside the U.S., the ASO employed drivers to pick them up and drive them further into the country. The defendant personally participated in and coordinated smuggling events with other leaders of the ASO. During one smuggling event in May 2023, a van carrying aliens became involved in a high-speed chase with U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol had to stop their pursuit due to the risk to the public. Ultimately the local sheriff’s department used a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle after it failed to yield. Sanchez-Solis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and five counts of alien smuggling for commercial advantage and private financial gain. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office made today’s announcement. FAUSA Sarcone stated: “The defendant was a leader of an alien smuggling organization that smuggled hundreds of aliens into the United States during the prior administrations unprecedented open border policy. The defendant has ties to Canada and Mexico, but he coordinated many of the smuggling events while he was also illegally living in the United States. This defendant exploited Canada’s lax visitor visa policy and used Canada as a waypoint for unvetted aliens traveling from Mexico looking for a way into the United States. This conviction sends a message that the North Country will not tolerate illegal immigration along its border, and the Northern District of New York and its federal partners in law enforcement will identify, apprehend, and prosecute alien smugglers to the fullest extent of the law.” HSI SAC Erin Keegan stated: “By pleading guilty, Edgar Sanchez-Solis has admitted his role in an international human smuggling conspiracy that moved dozens of aliens through Canada into northern New York for profit and put the public at risk with dangerous high-speed attempts to flee from law enforcement. His conviction is a significant blow to that criminal network and sends a clear message that HSI Rouses Point and our partners with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Border Patrol will not tolerate smugglers who exploit our borders and endanger our communities.” HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station investigated the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham for the Northern District of New York and Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted the case. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. 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 other 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 Project Safe Neighborhood. ###


title: Three Affiliated Skilled Nursing Facilities to Pay $300,000 to Resolve  False Claims Act Allegations Related to Medically Unnecessary Rehabilitation Services

component: Civil Division

body_text: Three affiliated skilled nursing facilities in Illinois have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing the submission of false claims to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for medically unnecessary rehabilitation services. Under the agreement, Symphony Jackson Square LLC doing business as Symphony of Chicago West, Symphony Park South LLC doing business as Symphony of Morgan Park, and Symphony Midway LLC will pay the United States a total of $300,000. The settlement is based on their ability to pay. Prior to October 2019, Medicare reimbursed skilled nursing facilities for therapy services to patients based on a patient’s resource utilization group (RUG). The RUG was to be determined by the amount of therapy and other services provided to the patient. The more therapy a patient received each week, the higher the RUG category, and the higher reimbursement a facility received. The United States alleged that, between Jan. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2019, the skilled nursing facilities billed Medicare for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology services provided to patients for longer than medically necessary and without regard for patients’ individual medical needs. These actions resulted in the submission of false claims based on inflated RUG levels. “We expect nursing facilities to provide their patients, which include some of our most vulnerable citizens, reasonable and appropriate amounts of skilled rehabilitation therapy services,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to holding accountable skilled nursing facilities that provide services based on their financial interests rather than the clinical needs of their patients.” “Providing unnecessary medical services endangers the health of patients and raises the cost of treatment and insurance premiums for hard-working taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will remain vigilant in our efforts to deter those who seek to exploit critically important federal health care programs that are intended to help people in need — not cheats who seek to abuse and misuse our nation’s generosity.” “Skilled nursing facilities that place profits above patient care betray the trust placed in them by vulnerable beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “HHS‑OIG will not tolerate the provision or billing of medically unnecessary services. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect vulnerable beneficiaries and ensure taxpayer‑funded health care dollars are used appropriately.” “The FBI is committed to ensuring that the nation’s nursing facilities are poised to provide top-notch, medically necessary care, not putting vulnerable patients at-risk or increasing the costs for vital health care,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “While greed and fraud are often uncovered in law enforcement investigations, the FBI is uniquely poised with the personnel and resources to ensure that critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid are protected. Today’s announcement underscores the importance of the work that the FBI and our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners engage in to ensure offenders face accountability. We would especially like to thank the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Office of Inspector General for their partnership in this investigation.” The allegations resolved by the settlement arose from a qui tam or whistleblower lawsuit filed by Integra Med Analytics LLC. Under the False Claims Act, private parties can sue on behalf of the government and receive a portion of any recovery. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Integra Med Analytics LLC v. Symphony Healthcare LLC et al. , No. 20-CV-0348 (N.D. Ill.). The whistleblower will receive $45,000 of the recovered funds. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of Illinois, HHS-OIG, and the FBI. The matter was handled by Fraud Section Attorney Rachel Karpoff and Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Wawzenski for the Northern District of Illinois. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Note : This release has been updated to reflect the contributions of additional law enforcement partners.


title: DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 240 MONTHS FOR LARGE-SCALE FENTANYL TRAFFICKING OPERATION

body_text: Spokane, Washington — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on May 6, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas Rice sentenced Clinton Paul Patterson, age 42 to 240 months (20 years) in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release for his role in a significant fentanyl trafficking operation that distributed tens of thousands of pills across Eastern Washington. The sentence follows an extensive investigation involving law enforcement agencies, including the Regional Anti-violence Enforcement and Narcotics Task Force (RAVEN) and federal partners, which uncovered a sophisticated drug distribution network operating between Seattle and Spokane, with meetings frequently arranged in Ritzville, Washington. According to court documents and information revealed during the sentencing hearing, beginning in December 2023, approximately 5,475 fentanyl pills (weighing over 480 grams), along with cocaine, firearms, and multiple cell phones were seized from the execution of a residential search warrant. Law enforcement, through surveillance footage, determined that location was utilized for the distribution of fentanyl in Spokane. Text message evidence revealed that Patterson —identified through phone records and financial transactions—was the source of supply for that fentanyl being trafficked out of this residence. The messages showed Patterson directed drug distribution activities, coordinated meeting locations, and arranged payments through Cash App and cash exchanges. Records confirmed multiple payments totaling thousands of dollars corresponding to drug transactions. Patterson was arrested on October 21, 2024, in Pasco, Washington. Subsequent searches of his residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of additional narcotics, including: •Approximately 1,449 grams of fentanyl recovered from a toilet, where Patterson hadattempted to destroy evidence when law enforcement knocked and announced their presence athis door. •189 grams of fentanyl pills found in his vehicle. •Cocaine and MDMA located within his residence. In issuing this sentence, Judge Rice considered Patterson’s extensive criminal history, which included prior convictions for attempted second-degree murder and a previous federal drug trafficking offense. Notably, Patterson had previously received a reduced federal sentence for fentanyl distribution but continued engaging in similar criminal conduct upon release, resulting in the this conviction. Additionally, while in custody, Patterson made threats against his own legal counsel and a federal prosecutor, further raising concerns about public safety and deterrence. First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano said, “This sentence was well deserved in this case given the huge quantity of deadly fentanyl involved and Patterson’s pattern of violent and drug-related criminal conduct. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of federal and local law enforcement to combat the distribution of fentanyl, a highly dangerous and often deadly substance contributing to the opioid crisis nationwide.” “This 20-year sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from poisoning our communities with fentanyl will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is relentlessly targeting the individuals and networks responsible for distributing this deadly drug. With strong enforcement, intelligence-driven investigations, and strategic partnerships, we are working every day to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain and save American lives.” Sergeant Julian Covella of the RAVEN Task Force said, “This sentence is reflective of the many hours of hard work and dedication shown by the lead investigator in this case and the RAVEN Task Force members as a whole. The RAVEN Task Force is proud of the collaborative work between our local and federal partners as we continue to battle the fentanyl epidemic affecting our community.” For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.


title: Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to distributing controlled substances. According to court records, beginning in February 2025, a confidential source working with the FBI made several controlled purchases of drugs from Dashane Seamster , 30. On April 1, 2025, the confidential source purchased approximately four ounces of methamphetamine and 120 grams of heroin from Seamster in Lewiston. Investigators surveilled and recorded the transaction. Seamster faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a maximum fine of $10 million, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated this case. ###


title: Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Loaded Firearm and Methamphetamine

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

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon was sentenced today for methamphetamine and firearms possession, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Wyatt Eugene Rogers, 39, for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Rogers was ordered to serve 90 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. Sapulpa Police officers pulled over Rogers for a traffic violation in September 2024. During the traffic stop, Rogers told the officer that he did not have a valid driver’s license or car insurance. After a records check, officers learned that Rogers was previously convicted of drug possession. Court documents show that officers observed Rogers moving around in the vehicle and reaching under the passenger seat. Officers asked Rogers to exit the vehicle while a K9 officer conducted a free-air sniff. The K9 officer alerted its handler that drugs were present in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun under the passenger seat and 73.51 grams of a crystal-like substance containing methamphetamine. Rogers initially denied knowledge of the firearm and the methamphetamine, but later admitted that it was his. Court dockets show that Rogers has a lengthy criminal history, including domestic assault, prior convictions related to methamphetamine distribution, and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Rogers will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sapulpa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.


title: Convicted Felon Out on Parole Sentenced Back to Prison for 29 Years for Armed Robberies

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man who committed a string of armed robberies while he was out on parole for a separate offense has been sentenced back to prison. Fourteen individuals were terrorized with life-threatening violence by his robberies. Lawrence Sturdivant, 36, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, was sentenced to 352 months (29.3 years) in prison after pleading guilty to: Use, Carry, and Brandish a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence Interference with Commerce by Robbery Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery Felon in Possession of Ammunition; prior convictions include Burglary and Attempted Burglary in 2010; and Aggravated Robbery in 2014. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. U.S. District Court Judge J. Philip Calabrese imposed the sentence May 5. According to court documents and information presented in court, throughout a three-week period in December 2021, Sturdivant terrorized employees and patrons at 10 Cleveland-area stores as he committed robberies at gunpoint. Each time he entered a store, he would wander around the aisles before bringing a small item to the cashier counter. When the cashier opened the cashbox for the sale, Sturdivant pointed his gun at the employees, threatened their lives, and demanded money. “Mr. Sturdivant’s violent actions inflicted a level of trauma on the employees and customers of these stores that was devastating and life altering,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are thankful to the ATF and our local police departments for piecing together the evidence in these robberies and bringing this individual to justice. Our community is safer now that this serial criminal will spend decades behind bars.” The victim businesses that were affected were: Walgreens Pharmacy, Chagrin Boulevard, Shaker Heights, Dec. 5, 2021 Walgreens Pharmacy, Union Avenue, Cleveland, Dec. 5, 2021 Family Dollar, Madison Avenue, Cleveland, Dec. 11, 2021 Family Dollar, South Miles Road, Cleveland, Dec. 11, 2021 Walgreens Pharmacy, Clark Avenue, Cleveland, Dec. 16, 2021 CVS Pharmacy, Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Dec. 16, 2021 Family Dollar, East 93rd Street, Cleveland, Dec. 17, 2021 Family Dollar, Kinsman Avenue, Cleveland, Dec. 26, 2021 Family Dollar, 4172 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Dec. 2021 Family Dollar, Detroit Road, Cleveland, Dec. 26, 2021 U.S. v. Sturdivant, case #1:22cr615 “There is no place in our society for criminals like Lawrence Sturdivant,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Smerglia. “The crimes he committed were despicable and cut to the very core of our moral fabric. Prison is exactly what he deserves. The tremendous work conducted by ATF Agents in conjunction with our local partners is a tribute to the excellent partnerships here in Cleveland. Violence will not be tolerated in our community, and I could not be prouder of our investigators and prosecutors for their efforts here every day.” Investigators also discovered that Sturdivant attempted to hide evidence of his crimes. After the tenth robbery, he cleaned his car, parked it away from where he was staying, and reported it stolen to Cleveland police. When agents later searched his home, they found 9mm rounds of ammunition. In total, Sturdivant stole nearly $3,000 during the robberies. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Cleveland Division of Police-Real Time Crime Center, the Shaker Heights Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against State of New Mexico and City of Albuquerque for Obstructing Federal Immigration Enforcement

body_text: The United States has filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against the State of New Mexico, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, the City of Albuquerque, and Albuquerque Mayor Timothy Keller, alleging that the implementation of House Bill 9 (HB9), entitled the “Immigrant Safety Act,” and Albuquerque City Ordinance O-26-15, entitled the “Safer Community Places Ordinance (SCPO),” infringes on federal immigration enforcement authority. Through HB9, the State of New Mexico is trying to abolish decades of long-standing, voluntary partnerships between local governments and federal authorities that are essential for enforcing immigration laws and keeping the federal immigration system running as Congress intended. Both HB9 and the SCPO seek to block federal agents from using any local government property to carry out their work. Additionally, by unlawfully requiring private businesses to tip off illegal aliens about immigration enforcement activities, the SCPO attempts to harbor and shield illegal aliens from detection by federal immigration authorities and poses an obstacle to the enforcement of federal immigration law. “New Mexico is attempting to regulate immigration policy, something the federal government is clearly and uniquely empowered by the Constitution to do,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our filings seek to halt the state’s unconstitutional actions by preserving cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement and allowing federal immigration officials to enforce the law.” “The State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque seek to intentionally obstruct federal law enforcement by preventing cooperation between local governments and the federal government,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “HB9 and the SCPO unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement, illegally discriminate against federal operations, and violate constitutional protections regarding contracts and federal supremacy. Additionally, by barring public entities from participating in federal immigration detention in New Mexico, HB9 jeopardizes nearly 300 jobs and the economy of Otero County. Our lawsuit asks the court to declare these laws invalid and issue an immediate injunction to stop them from being enforced.” Upon taking office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to address a security and public safety crisis caused by previous Open Border policies. On February 5, 2025, the Attorney General instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations. On August 5, 2025, the Attorney General published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which included Albuquerque, and vowed to bring litigation to end these policies nationwide. Today’s lawsuit in New Mexico is the latest in a series of lawsuits targeting illegal sanctuary jurisdiction policies across the country. Under President Trump’s mandate, the federal government is exercising its proper constitutional authority to remove criminal aliens from the United States. Central to this mission are long-standing, voluntary agreements between federal and local agencies that allow state and local officials to assist with the investigation, transportation, and detention of illegal aliens. The federal government relies heavily on these partnerships, which have operated successfully in New Mexico for decades, to fulfill its immigration enforcement duties and keep New Mexicans safe. The case is United States v. State of New Mexico et al., No. 1:26-cv-01471 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability .