title: York County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Eric Michael Deon Brown, 37, of York County, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Brown was responsible for selling drugs that were obtained from other members of a drug conspiracy operating out of Rock Hill. Agents learned the group obtained cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and pills that resembled 30 mg Oxycodone tablets, also known in the generic form as Roxicodone. The pills were produced by members of the conspiracy with fentanyl at various locations in the Rock Hill and Charlotte region. Brown was supplied with fentanyl and fentanyl laced pills. United States District Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Brown to 168 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Pinedale Man Sentenced for Violent Knife Attack

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinedale man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for slashing a man’s throat during a confrontation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on February 17, 2025, Laberto Curley , 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used a knife to slash John Doe’s throat during a physical altercation, resulting in serious bodily injury. Fortunately, others nearby were able to intervene, disarming Curley and tending to John Doe’s injuries while Curley fled the scene. Upon his release from prison, Curley will be subject to three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro prosecuted the case.


title: Another massive week: 360 more people face charges as the Southern District strengthens border security efforts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 358 more cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from Sept. 12-18, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. A total of 179 people face charges of illegal entry, while another 154 individuals face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. An additional 21 people have been charged with human smuggling, while the remaining six have been charged with firearms offenses, assaults on federal officers and other immigration crimes. One of those charged is Penitas resident Diego Masiel Torres , who allegedly impeded federal law enforcement during an Aug. 27 consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen. Court documents allege Torres tried to pull an officer away from apprehending an illegal alien. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in federal prison. “The Southern District of Texas is committed to fully enforcing our country’s immigration laws, and anyone who tries to stop a federal agent from carrying out this mission will be held accountable before a judge and jury,” said Ganjei. “So, the message is simple. Don’t end up on the wrong end of a federal indictment – keep your hands to yourself.” Among those charged this week are Gonzalo Alvarado-Cortez and Enedino Nieves-Tomas, both Mexican nationals. According to court documents, authorities discovered Alvarado-Cortez near Edinburg after his March 2019 removal and Nieves-Tomas near Roma after his October 2023 removal. Both men have prior convictions for illegal reentry and face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted. Charges also allege Jose Manuel Lopez-Hernandez and Marcos Joel Castro-Lopez, both Mexican nationals, were found near Alamo after removals in July 2024 and February 2012, respectively. Lopez-Hernandez has a prior conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, while Castro-Lopez has a prior conviction for aggravated sexual assault, according to court documents. In Houston, Mexican national Manuel Albert Aragon-Hernandez , 39, was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country. Aragon-Hernandez, who has multiple prior felony convictions including theft and drug possession, was first removed in 2010 and returned illegally three times. Authorities discovered him again during a traffic stop for speeding and found methamphetamine and marijuana in his vehicle. At sentencing, the court also heard evidence that he fired a weapon while intoxicated. Also sentenced this week was Mexican national Fidel Ramirez-Mancilla , 39, who received 15 months for illegal reentry. He has a prior conviction for aggravated felony of assault with the intent to commit mayhem, rape, sodomy or oral copulation. He was removed from the United States in 2011, but authorities encountered him again May 19. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . 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 history, including 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 nine 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: Three Members of MS-13 Convicted of Two Murders and Multiple Attempted Murders

component: Criminal Division

body_text: CORRECTION : an earlier version incorrectly mentioned drug trafficking offenses Today, a federal jury in Maryland convicted three men, Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, also known as Humilde and Marco Saravia, 26, of El Salvador, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, also known as Little Felon, 24, of Honduras, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto, also known as Truney, 24, of Honduras; for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murders, attempted murders, as well as murder in aid of racketeering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Central America, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. The defendants, as members and associates of MS-13, were required to commit acts of violence to increase their status and rank within the gang. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. In Baltimore City and Baltimore County, MS-13 maintained a rivalry with the 18th Street Gang, among others. “Over the course of a few short months, these defendants – seeking to be promoted within the ranks of the designated foreign terrorist organization MS-13 – spread fear through the streets of Baltimore by committing brutal and heinous acts, including the murder of two young women,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s verdict demonstrates the Department of Justice’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting MS-13 members to the fullest extent of the law in order to eradicate the transnational street gang, obtain a measure of justice for their victims, and restore the safety and security of our communities.” “The MS-13 gang continues to show a total disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “These defendants’ commitment to carrying out multiple vicious attacks and murders, including the killing a 16-year-old girl, is unconscionable. Members of this ruthless, international gang thrive on murdering and terrorizing others, and in this case, did so to advance their standing within this lawless organization. We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who commit these despicable crimes and dismantling the violent criminal organizations that terrorize our communities.” “The defendants convicted today engaged in excessive and brutal violence as members of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization that routinely shows contempt for the rule of law,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We are proud of the work that has taken these individuals off the streets so that they can no longer harm the community of the greater Baltimore area, and we will continue our nationwide efforts in thwarting MS-13.” Constanza-Galdomez and Pesquera-Puerto were members or associates of the Carlington Locos Salvatrucha (CALS) clique, and Valenzuela-Rodriguez was a member of the Huntington Criminales Locos Salvatrucha (HCLS) clique. From June 2019 through at least October 2021, the defendants participated in the racketeering activities of MS-13, including two murders, four attempted murders, and witness tampering. On April 25, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 conspired to assault a man whom they suspected was a rival gang member. That same day, they allegedly assaulted the victim in Baltimore by striking him with machetes multiple times, causing injuries to the victim’s face and arm. On May 29, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, Pesquera-Puerto, and other members and associates of MS-13 lured Gabriela Gonzalez-Ardon, a 16-year-old girl whom they suspected of associating with rival gang members, to an area near Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, Maryland. There the defendants and other members and associates of MS-13 struck her with a machete and stabbed her multiple times, murdering her. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. On June 5, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates lured Michelle Tenezaca, whom they suspected was a rival gang member that cooperated with law enforcement, to an area near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. There the gang stabbed her 143 times, killing her and leaving her body near the train tracks. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. Photograph of MS-13 graffiti near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland In June 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13, conspired to murder a man who had disputes with the gang. Therefore, on June 6, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates confronted the man and his girlfriend, the sister of one of the homicide victims, at a library in Baltimore, Maryland. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then ordered younger members of the gang to take the woman to an area near the train tracks where Michelle Tenezaca was killed. The younger members of the gang then stabbed the woman over 70 times. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then forced the male, at knifepoint to go to Dundalk, Maryland to murder him. The defendants then attempted to murder the man by stabbing him multiple times with knives. Both victims survived the attacks. Constanza-Galdomez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Valenzuela-Rodriguez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Pesquera-Puerto was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and one count of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes made the announcement, and also thank Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger for their offices’ assistance in the case. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Grace Bowen and Chrisopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Wallner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Transportation of Illegal Aliens Case

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 19, 2025, Carlos Alfredo Barrera Vasquez, 31, of Jalapa, Guatemala, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 12 months imprisonment. Barrera Vasquez previously pleaded guilty to transporting two adults and two small children after they had illegally crossed the border from Canada into the United States. According to court records, on November 23, 2024, United States Border Patrol was alerted that four individuals had illegally crossed into the United States from Canada near Derby, Vermont. A Border Patrol agent responded to the area and encountered a truck with multiple individuals inside, later confirmed to be driven by Barrera Vasquez, travelling at a high rate of speed away from the area. Barrera Vasquez attempted to evade the Border Patrol agent by continuing to speed away, running through a stop sign, and eventually driving into an open field. During the pursuit, Barrera Vasquez’s vehicle collided with the responding Border Patrol agent’s vehicle. It was later determined that Barrera Vasquez’s passengers included the aliens who had just entered the United States illegally, two of whom were minor children not properly secured in Barrera Vasquez’s vehicle. Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that Barrera Vasquez had been promised money in exchange for transporting the individuals who had illegally crossed the border. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Joshua Banker, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Charles W. Kirkham. Barrera Vasquez was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Emily Kenyon and Carmen Brooks. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Department of Justice Issues Sentencing Memo for 2022 Attempted Murder of Supreme Court Justice

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland issued a sentencing memo following Nicholas John Roske’s April 8 guilty plea for the attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice condemns political violence and our prosecutors will ensure that this disturbed individual faces severe consequences for his deranged actions.” The memo asks for a sentence of 30 years. Please read the full memo linked HERE .


body_text: U.S. vs. Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto, Defendants, No. 1:22-cr-00409-SAG, filed 05/08/25 Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a federal jury convicted three men, Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, also known as Humilde and Marco Saravia, 26, of El Salvador, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, also known as Little Felon, 24, of Honduras, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto, also known as Truney, 24, of Honduras; for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murders, and attempted murders, as well as murder in aid of racketeering. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the convictions with Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, Justice Department, Criminal Division, and Assistant Director Jose A. Perez, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Criminal Investigative Division. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Central America, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. The defendants, as members and associates of MS-13, were required to commit acts of violence to increase their status and rank within the gang. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. In Baltimore City and Baltimore County, MS-13 maintained a rivalry with the 18th Street Gang, among others. “The MS-13 gang continues to show a total disregard for human life,” Hayes said. “These defendants’ commitment to carrying out multiple vicious attacks and murders, including the killing a 16-year-old girl, is unconscionable. Members of this ruthless, international gang thrive on murdering and terrorizing others, and in this case, did so to advance their standing within this lawless organization. We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who commit these despicable crimes and dismantling the violent criminal organizations that terrorize our communities.” “Over the course of a few short months, these defendants – seeking to be promoted within the ranks of the designated foreign terrorist organization MS-13 – spread fear through the streets of Baltimore by committing brutal and heinous acts, including the murder of two young women,” Galeotti said. “Today’s verdict demonstrates the Department of Justice’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting MS-13 members to the fullest extent of the law in order to eradicate the transnational street gang, obtain a measure of justice for their victims, and restore the safety and security of our communities.” “The defendants convicted today engaged in excessive and brutal violence as members of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization that routinely shows contempt for the rule of law,” Perez said. “We are proud of the work that has taken these individuals off the streets so that they can no longer harm the community of the greater Baltimore area, and we will continue our nationwide efforts in thwarting MS-13.” Constanza-Galdomez and Pesquera-Puerto were members or associates of the Carlington Locos Salvatrucha (CALS) clique, and Valenzuela-Rodriguez was a member of the Huntington Criminales Locos Salvatrucha (HCLS) clique. From June 2019 through at least October 2021, the defendants participated in the racketeering activities of MS-13, including two murders, four attempted murders, and witness tampering. On April 25, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 conspired to assault a man whom they suspected was a rival gang member. That same day, they allegedly assaulted the victim in Baltimore by striking him with machetes multiple times, causing injuries to the victim’s face and arm. On May 29, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, Pesquera-Puerto, and other members and associates of MS-13 lured Gabriela Gonzalez-Ardon, a 16-year-old girl whom they suspected of associating with rival gang members, to an area near Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, Maryland. There the defendants and other members and associates of MS-13 struck her with a machete and stabbed her multiple times, murdering her. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. On June 5, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates lured Michelle Tenezaca, whom they suspected was a rival gang member that cooperated with law enforcement, to an area near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. There the gang stabbed her 143 times, killing her and leaving her body near the train tracks. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. In June 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13, conspired to murder a man who had disputes with the gang. Therefore, on June 6, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates confronted the man and his girlfriend, the sister of one of the homicide victims, at a library in Baltimore, Maryland. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then ordered younger members of the gang to take the woman to an area near the train tracks where Michelle Tenezaca was killed. The younger members of the gang then stabbed the woman over 70 times. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then forced the male, at knifepoint to go to Dundalk, Maryland, to murder him. The defendants then attempted to murder the man by stabbing him multiple times with knives. Both victims survived the attacks. Constanza-Galdomez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Valenzuela-Rodriguez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Pesquera-Puerto was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and one count of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshal’s Service, Baltimore County Police Department, and Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation, along with the offices of Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore City State’s Attorney, and Scott Shellenberger, Baltimore County State’s Attorney, for their valuable assistance with this case. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James Wallner, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorneys Grace Bowen and Chrisopher Taylor, Justice Department – Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, who are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Former Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To Workers’  Compensation Fraud

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Sandra “Sandy” Cannon Throneburg, 74, of Morganton, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf today and pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kathleen Woodson, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. “For years, Throneburg lied about her ability to return to work to keep receiving payments from the federal workers’ compensation program,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “My office will continue to work to protect the workers compensation program for people who truly need it.” “Most postal employees who collect workers’ compensation benefits have legitimate claims. A small percentage, however, abuse the system and cost the Postal Service millions of dollars in fraudulent claims and enforcement costs. Therefore, USPS OIG Special Agents will continue to relentlessly pursue those identified as fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation funds from the Postal Service,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Woodson. According to filed court documents and the plea hearing, Throneburg was employed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as a rural carrier in Valdese, N.C. On or about September 8, 2015, Throneburg sustained an injury at work while performing her duties. Throneburg stopped working for the USPS because of her injury. On October 23, 2015, she began receiving compensation benefits, in the form of medical benefits and disability compensation administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) for employees covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). In order to receive and maintain FECA benefits, Throneburg was required to report, among other things, all employment, self-employment, involvement in business enterprises, and volunteer work. On or about September 24, 2020, Throneburg completed, signed, and submitted a DOL OWCP Form EN 1032 that contained materially false responses to questions related to her employment status. For example, as Throneburg admitted in court today, she gave negative responses to questions related to whether she had worked for any other employer or was self-employed. Contrary to statements Throneburg made on the form, between 2016 and 2020, Throneburg had worked for an accounting firm where she performed clerical duties and had received compensation. According to filed court documents, Throneburg failed to disclose to OWCP or USPS that she was employed by and receiving earned income from the accounting firm, while also receiving over $261,000 in workers’ compensation benefits, and OWCP had paid over $278,000 for Throneburg’s medical bills related to her alleged medical condition. Throneburg pleaded guilty to knowingly and willfully making a false statement on a report. The maximum penalty for the offense is five years in prison. After the plea hearing, Throneburg was released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set. The USPS OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Rockford Man Sentenced to over a Year in Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearms

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

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced yesterday to thirteen months in federal prison for straw purchasing three firearms. JAMARIUS HOLMAN, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of knowingly providing a false and fictitious written statement to a federally licensed dealer of firearms, misrepresenting that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when, in fact, he knew he was not the actual buyer. Holman admitted that in May of 2023, he purchased three firearms in two separate transactions for an individual who was legally prohibited from owning a firearm and did not have a valid Firearm Owners Identification. Holman falsely completed firearms transaction records indicating that he was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms. Holman was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston in federal court in Rockford. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF’s Chicago Field Division. Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.


title: Exchange of Gunfire in Suburban Chicago Parking Lot Leads to 20-Year Prison Sentence

body_text: CHICAGO — A man involved in an exchange of gunfire in a suburban Chicago parking lot has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison. ANTHONY HAYES and JAMARI WILLIAMS each fired multiple rounds at REGINALD DANIELS in a parking lot of an auto repair shop in Calumet City, Ill., on Aug. 9, 2021. Daniels and another individual with him were wounded. Daniels drew a gun from his waistband and fired multiple rounds at Hayes and Williams as they ran away. One of Daniels’s shots struck an innocent bystander who happened to be driving near the store. The innocent bystander suffered life-altering injuries. Three days after the shootings, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search of Hayes’s residence and discovered eight firearms, including the guns used by Hayes and Williams in the shooting of Daniels and the individual with him. Hayes, Williams, and Daniels were indicted in federal court in 2022 and have been in federal custody since then. Hayes, 27, of Dolton, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. On Monday, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., sentenced Hayes to 20 years and eight months in federal prison. Williams, 26, and Daniels, 33, both of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm charges. Williams was sentenced last month to ten years in prison, while Daniels was sentenced in June to eight and a half years. The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Substantial assistance was provided by the Calumet City, Ill. Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, South Suburban Emergency Response Team, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police. “By letting loose a hail of bullets towards an open business abutting a busy four-lane thoroughfare, defendant threatened countless other repair shop customers, employees, and passersby,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Hayes’s case. “Justice accordingly demands commensurate punishment.”


title: Mexican National Admits Distributing Cocaine in New Haven

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARTIN ONOFRE-MENDEZ, 50, a citizen of Mexico last residing in New Haven, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a cocaine trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the DEA New Haven District Office Task Force learned that Onofre-Mendez was distributing narcotics from a restaurant on Grand Avenue in New Haven. Between May and September 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases totaling approximately 600 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez. Onofre-Mendez was arrested on October 1, 2024. On that date, investigators seized 225 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez and 480 grams of cocaine from a location he used to store drugs. He has been detained since his arrest. Onofre-Mendez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to sentenced on December 12. This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.


title: Two Chinese Chemical Company Executives Sentenced To 25 And 15 Years In Prison, Respectively, For Fentanyl Precursor Importation And Money Laundering Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced that QINGZHOU WANG, a/k/a “Bruce,” and YIYI CHEN, a/k/a “Chiron,” were sentenced to 25 and 15 years in prison, respectively, for fentanyl precursor importation and money laundering offenses. WANG and CHEN, both nationals of China, were found guilty on February 3, 2025, following a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe, who imposed the sentences. WANG, who was also convicted of importing a methamphetamine precursor, was sentenced today, September 18, 2025, and CHEN was sentenced on August 22, 2025. “American families are burying loved ones because of fentanyl and individuals like Qingzhou Wang and Yiyi Chen who unlawfully market and supply the ingredients to make it,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “There is no place to hide for those who callously fuel the fentanyl epidemic, and these sentences—which were only possible because of the extraordinary efforts of the career prosecutors in this Office and our partners at the DEA and abroad—prove it.” “These executives turned a Chinese chemical company into a pipeline of poison, shipping hundreds of kilos of fentanyl-related precursors into the United States, disguising them as everyday goods, and cashing in through cryptocurrency,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Americans were dying, but they kept selling. Thanks to DEA and our global partners, they now face justice, and this case sends a clear message: anyone, anywhere in the world who profits from American deaths will be found and held accountable." As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial: AMARVEL BIOTECH was a chemical manufacturer based in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China, that exported vast quantities of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and its analogues. During this investigation, AMARVEL BIOTECH and its principal executive, WANG, its marketing manager, CHEN, and a sales representative, FNU LNU, a/k/a “Er Yang,” a/k/a “Anita” (“YANG”), shipped more than 200 kilograms of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl and its analogues from China to the U.S. They shipped the precursors to the U.S. after being told that the chemicals would be used to produce fentanyl in New York, and then they agreed to supply multi-ton shipments of fentanyl precursors despite being told that Americans had died after consuming fentanyl made from the chemicals that the defendants had sold. In exchange, AMARVEL BIOTECH received tens of thousands of dollars in payment in cryptocurrency. In or about November 2022, YANG began negotiating the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors to a DEA confidential source (“CS-1”) posing as a fentanyl trafficker in Mexico with operations in the U.S. AMARVEL BIOTECH thereafter shipped from China to New York approximately 999.7 grams of the fentanyl precursor 1-boc-4-AP, approximately 1,002.6 grams of the fentanyl precursor 1-boc-4-piperidone, and approximately 893.6 grams of the methamphetamine precursor methylamine. In or about March 2023, WANG and CHEN traveled from China to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet with an individual whom CS-1 represented was CS-1’s boss but who was in fact another DEA confidential source (“CS-2”). During the meeting, WANG and CHEN discussed AMARVEL BIOTECH’s ability to supply ton-quantities of fentanyl precursors to New York for CS-1 and CS-2’s fentanyl manufacturing operation. After CS-2 stated that CS-2 wanted a different formula for manufacturing fentanyl and that several of CS-2’s American customers had purportedly died, WANG and CHEN advised they had “a lot of customers in America and Mexico” who could provide technical assistance with fentanyl production. After the March 2023 meeting in Bangkok, AMARVEL BIOTECH, WANG, CHEN, and YANG agreed to sell CS-1 and CS-2 approximately 210 kilograms of fentanyl precursors, again in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency. During an April 10, 2023, video call with WANG and CHEN, CS-2 stated that the approximately 210 kilograms of fentanyl precursors would be used to manufacture approximately 50 to 55 kilograms of fentanyl—an amount that, as noted above, could contain approximately 25 million deadly doses. In or about May 2023, AMARVEL BIOTECH, WANG, CHEN, and YANG sent to the U.S. the shipment ordered by CS-1 and CS-2. On or about May 5, 2023, the DEA retrieved the precursor shipment from a warehouse near Los Angeles, California. Lab testing confirmed the presence of a precursor chemical for a fentanyl analogue. In an encrypted messaging group chat with CS-1, CS-2, WANG, and CHEN, YANG explained that “New York, the United States, has been strict in checking the precursors of the ‘final product’ some time ago, so for the sake of safety, this time it is sent to California.” In or about June 2023, WANG and CHEN traveled from China to Fiji to meet again with CS-2. During the meeting, WANG and CHEN discussed with CS-2 a multi-ton order of fentanyl precursor chemicals. WANG and CHEN also discussed the need to take additional measures to protect themselves from detection and interdiction of their shipments “because recently American government . . . seized some Mexican group and they followed the routes to China,” where the U.S. Government found “our competitor in China”—an apparent reference to fentanyl-related charges filed in the Southern District of New York and announced in April 2023 against, among others, leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel and certain China-based precursor chemical company executives. AMARVEL BIOTECH openly advertised online its sale of precursor chemicals for use in manufacturing fentanyl. Through its website and a host of other storefront sites, AMARVEL BIOTECH targeted precursor chemical customers in Mexico, where drug cartels operate clandestine laboratories and distribute finished fentanyl into and throughout the U.S., including by advertising fentanyl precursors as a “Mexico hot sale,” guaranteeing “100% stealth shipping” abroad, and posting to its websites documentation of AMARVEL BIOTECH shipping chemicals to Culiacan, the home city of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the dominant drug trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere and which is largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the U.S. in recent years. AMARVEL BIOTECH also endeavored to thwart law enforcement interdiction of its precursor chemical shipments. AMARVEL BIOTECH advertised online the business’s ability to use deceptive packaging—such as packaging indicating the contents are dog food, nuts, or motor oil—to ensure “safe” delivery of the illicit contents of such shipments. During this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately $900,000 in cryptocurrency from accounts tied to AMARVEL BIOTECH and domain names for 12 websites tied to AMARVEL BIOTECH. * * * In addition to their respective prison terms, WANG, 37, and CHEN, 33, both of China, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release. WANG was ordered to forfeit $67,168.25, and CHEN was ordered to forfeit internet domain names for 12 websites previously seized by law enforcement. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit. Mr. Clayton also thanked the DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Wellington Country Office, DEA Beijing Country Office, DEA Honolulu District Office, DEA New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force, DEA Riverside District Office, DEA Special Testing Laboratory, the DEA Southwest Laboratory, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Fiji Police Force Narcotic Bureau, the Fiji Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li and Kevin Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Sabrina Jim Munoz.


title: Three Mexican Nationals Arrested for Conspiracy to Distribute 133.5 Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2025-153_Gomez Padilla, et al

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – On September 17, Mariano Gomez Padilla, 28, Eduardo Garcia Lopez, 21, and Abel Martinez Valenzuela, 25, all Mexican nationals living in Arizona, were charged by federal criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to the complaint, on September 17, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force agents established surveillance at an apartment complex in Glendale, Arizona, in anticipation of an expected methamphetamine drug purchase. From the complex, agents followed Gomez Padilla and Garcia Lopez as they drove in tandem to another location in Glendale. During the drive, agents attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicles, but both drivers failed to yield. Instead, Garcia Lopez exited his vehicle and fled but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Gomez Padilla also failed to yield to law enforcement and instead rammed his vehicle into one of the agent’s cars as well as two other vehicles parked on the street, causing significant damage. Shortly thereafter, Gomez Padilla and Martinez Valenzuela, who was riding as a passenger in Gomez Padilla’s vehicle, were also apprehended after trying to flee on foot. Agents searched the vehicles and seized approximately 61.75 pounds of methamphetamine from the car that Garcia Lopez had been driving. Agents also searched a nearby Ford F-250 associated with the investigation and seized an additional 71.75 pounds of methamphetamine, which was packed identically to the drugs found in Garcia Lopez’s car. Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 grams or More of Methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Drug Enforcement Administration Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force HIDTA and the Mesa Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Zander, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. 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. CASE NUMBER: 25-MJ-8495-PHX-JZB RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-153_Gomez Padilla, et al # # # 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: North Fort Myers Man Sentenced To More Than Six Years For Offenses Related To Possessing And Accessing Child Sexual Abuse Images And Videos

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Patrick William Cotton (48, North Fort Myers) to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Cotton was also sentenced to a term of life of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Cotton pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025. According to court documents, from February 14 through November 6, 2024, Cotton knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view images and videos of child sexual abuse that he had searched for using social media applications and the internet. In February 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from an electronic service provider reporting that Cotton had uploaded videos that depicted child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from his cellphone. The FBI then executed a search warrant for Cotton’s social media account which revealed videos and images depicting children being sexually abused. In November 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cotton’s residence and seized Cotton’s two cellphones. After Cotton agreed to speak with agents, he advised that he had accessed his social media account using his cellphone and collected CSAM. Cotton said that he had received links to CSAM in different groups he participated in using his social media account. Cotton also admitted that he had paid an individual to send him CSAM on another social media application. The subsequent forensic examination of Cotton’s cellphones revealed CSAM. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Palatka Housing Authority Employee Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Federal Funds

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Thomas B. Hoffman (45, Florahome) has pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. Hoffman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, as well as forfeiture in the amount of $155,706 and restitution to the victim. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Hoffman was an employee of the Palatka Housing Authority (PHA), which received federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer public housing programs in Palatka and neighboring municipalities. Hoffman was responsible for information technology and accounts payable. During an audit of vendors in 2025, PHA identified an unapproved company called “Data Max,” which had received approximately 48 fraudulently issued payments from PHA’s general account between July 2023 and February 2025, totaling $155,706. A federal investigation determined that Hoffman owned and controlled Data Max and its corporate bank account, and that Hoffman had caused the fraudulent payments to be issued. The investigation showed that Hoffman used the funds for his personal benefit. Bank surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed Hoffman cashing PHA checks issued to Data Max on numerous occasions. Hoffman agreed to forfeit $155,706, the proceeds of the theft of federal funds, as well as pay restitution. “Thomas Hoffman took advantage of the position of trust he held to oversee federal funds intended to provide housing for our most vulnerable community members by stealing over $155,000 and converting it to his own personal use. By creating a fictitious vendor that he owned, he also took away the opportunity for other actual hard-working companies to compete for contracts and provide services to the Palatka Housing Authority,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bozena Schrank with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable individuals who take advantage of their positions of trust to defraud HUD programs and our low-income housing communities.” This case was investigated by HUD – Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.


title: Five Defendants Charged Federally, More Than 30 State Warrants Executed in Henderson Crime Suppression Effort

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with federal and local law enforcement, announced that five individuals have been charged in separate federal cases as part of a coordinated enforcement operation. In addition to the federal charges, more than 30 state warrants were executed in the Henderson area. The operation targeted violent offenders, drug traffickers, and absconders, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to protecting communities destabilized by violent crime and drug activity. “These charges and arrests show that law enforcement will not stand idly by while violent offenders and absconders fuel instability in Henderson,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This surge reflects the strength of our local, state, and federal partnerships, and we remain committed to supporting Henderson and Vance County in this united fight against crime. If you commit a federal crime, you can expect to spend a lot of prison time.” “The FBI is committing resources to support our law enforcement partners across North Carolina every day. The FBI Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force is honored to have assisted the Henderson Police Department in this important fugitive roundup. When we work together to address and mitigate violent crime, the American people win and the Justice system can take the next step to hold offenders convicted in court, accountable,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “Enforcement operations like this demonstrate the importance of collaboration,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Through partnerships and a commitment to public safety, we’re finding and apprehending those individuals that pose the greatest threats to our communities.” “Violent offenders threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods, and this operation shows the strength of coordinated law enforcement at every level,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., of the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure fugitives are apprehended and communities across Henderson and Vance County are safer as a result of these efforts.” “This operation is a result of planning, intelligence sharing, and collaboration. It sends a clear message that criminal activity has no place in our neighborhoods, and we will use every resource available to uphold the safety and integrity of our communities,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “But our work does not stop with arrests, it continues with prevention, community outreach, and making sure that our enforcement efforts are matched by support for the families and neighborhoods most affected by crime.” “On behalf of the SBI and our hard-working agents, we are extremely proud to join forces with our local, state, and federal partners to arrest probationers and absconders in Vance County to reduce crime and keep citizens safe. We are committed to assisting our sheriffs, chiefs, and U.S. Attorneys with the ongoing effort to get drugs off the street and put violent offenders in jail. Without the strong partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, the success of this type of operation would not be possible,” said the North Carolina SBI Director Chip Hawley. “Successful collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners is essential to strengthening our communities and making North Carolina safer for everyone,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “I'm grateful for the strong relationships we've built that make operations like this possible.” “This operation is an excellent example of how effective law enforcement collaboration can be in improving safety in our communities,” said Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary for the Department of Adult Correction. “I’d like to thank all our law enforcement and prosecution partners for their ongoing assistance to reduce crime and ensure compliance among those we supervise.” “This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among law enforcement agencies with diverse areas of expertise. Extensive preparation was devoted to its planning and execution, and the success achieved reflects the strength of federal, state, and local agencies working in unison. As the Chief of Henderson, I am proud of our relationship with each of these agencies and look forward to more proactive projects in the near future,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. Participating agencies included the FBI, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina SBI, the North Carolina ALE, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, District Attorney Mike Waters, the Henderson Police Department, the Oxford Police Department, and the Vance County Sheriff's Office. Law enforcement divided the effort into three arrest teams and three search teams, conducting approximately 30 absconder warrant services and 40 warrantless searches. Together, the teams executed coordinated arrests and searches aimed at reducing violent crime and holding fugitives accountable. According to court documents, the following five individuals, all from the Henderson area, were arrested on federal charges as part of the recent enforcement effort: • Qwmaine Raekwon Knott of Henderson, 29, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. • Andre Khan of Henderson, 30, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison. • Terrance Hargrove of Henderson, 47, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison. • Keith Bagley of Oxford, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. • Shamar Evans of Oxford, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 35 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser, Jaren Kelly, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Becker are prosecuting the cases. These federal cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on our website . An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Unlawful Re-Entry and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Methuen, Mass. has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation and possessing narcotics intended for distribution. Raul Fernando Lora, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to 66 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In March 2025 , Lora pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of unlawful reentry of deported alien. Lora was charged in November 2023. Lora was previously removed from the United States on July 2, 2013 and June 5, 2018. Before his first removal, Lora was convicted of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently using the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen. Additionally, Lora has prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin, firearms offenses and assault and battery — all of which were under the name of the identity Lora had stolen. In 2023, immigration authorities became aware of Lora’s presence in the United States after being notified that his fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Lora had default warrants outstanding for both cases. Lora was arrested on Oct. 3, 2023, at which time he was found in possession of a sock that contained over 200 grams of fentanyl and over 30 grams of cocaine in multiple plastic bags. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal Firearm Possession Lands Oklahoma City Felon in Federal Prison for More Than Seven Years after Firing Weapon Outside Home

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – DAVY EUGENE KING , 52, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 90 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public record, on February 2, 2025, and into the early morning hours of February 3, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a home due to a reported shooting. The calling party told OCPD that King had become argumentative, had exited the home, and began firing his weapon at others and into the air before fleeing the scene. Nobody was injured. Shortly after, OCPD officers spotted King inside a nearby gas station and surrounded the convenience store. Officers witnessed King pull out a firearm and throw the gun across the counter before he was arrested. Public record further reflects that King has numerous previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including second-degree murder in case number CF-1990-5376, possession of a stolen vehicle in case number CF-2014-4630, attempted grand larceny in case number CF-2014-5432, and domestic abuse (great bodily injury after former felony conviction) in case number CF-2014-2946. On March 4, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged King with illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction. King pleaded guilty on April 19, 2025, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions. At the sentencing hearing on September 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced King to serve 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Palk noted King’s long criminal history, which includes violent and domestic violence offenses, and emphasized the seriousness of the offense given that King not only illegally possessed the weapon, but fired it, as well. This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Laney Ellis prosecuted the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with City of Oklahoma City whose position is funded by a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant awarded to the City of Oklahoma City to enhance efforts to address and reduce violent crime. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is part of “Operation Shots Fired,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok/project-safe-neighborhood-psn . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds Nearly 300 New Immigration Cases

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 294 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Sept. 12 through 18. Among the new cases, Mexican national Ramiro Barrera-Gonzalez was charged in San Antonio with assault on a federal officer after he was initially arrested for illegal entry by an alien. A criminal complaint alleges that while he was in U.S. Border Patrol custody on Sept. 11, Barrera-Gonzalez ingested bleach and was transported to a San Antonio hospital for medical treatment. Two days later, as a Border Patrol agent escorted Barrera-Gonzalez to a hospital restroom, Barrera-Gonzalez allegedly lunged toward the agent’s holstered firearm. An altercation ensued, causing both the Barrera-Gonzalez and the agent to fall to the ground and resulting in an injury to the agent’s forearm. Two U.S. citizens were arrested on Sept. 12 when they approached a Del Rio Border Patrol checkpoint and allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed after refusing to open the trunk of their vehicle and failing to pull over for secondary inspection. A criminal complaint alleges that Border Patrol agents caught up in a pursuit and observed the driver, Andre Limon Criston Austin, pull over before the car’s trunk opened and two females were seen attempting to climb out. As the agents approached, Austin allegedly accelerated again, causing the trunk to close with the females still inside. Austin’s vehicle allegedly stopped again, and one female exited the trunk before he accelerated another time, causing the second female to fall out of the vehicle. Both females were found to be in the U.S. illegally. Austin and a female passenger in his vehicle, Paris Engjqulique Walpool, were eventually taken into custody. Further investigation revealed that Austin and Walpool allegedly co-conspired with other facilitators after accepting a job in a Facebook group to “move” things in Eagle Pass for $2,500. Austin and Walpool are both charged with bringing in and harboring certain aliens. Another U.S. citizen was charged in a separate incident for allegedly conspiring to transport two illegal aliens further into the United States. Sebastian Medina-Carrillo was arrested near Carrizo Springs on Sept. 11 when U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted a traffic stop on and allegedly observed physical abnormalities in an external fuel tank of his vehicle. An immigration vehicle inspection allegedly revealed two illegal aliens concealed inside the fuel tank. A criminal complaint alleges Medina-Carrillo was transporting the two aliens to Dilley and would be paid $1,000. Three individuals, including two male illegal aliens and a female with a Permanent Resident Alien Card, were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents after allegedly using two vehicles in an attempt to pick up and transport six illegal aliens who had crossed the border fence more than seven miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. The two vehicles were allegedly seen speeding away from where the illegal aliens had been observed. USBP agents initiated traffic stops, arresting Juan Pedro Zamarron-Navarrete, a Mexican national, who was identified as the driver of one vehicle. The alleged driver of the second vehicle, Ayde Castaneda-Rivera, and her passenger Oscar Chapa-Gomez, who was confirmed to be an illegal alien, were also arrested. Further investigation revealed that Zamarron-Navarrete had illegally re-entered the U.S. on Sept. 2, after serving six months in jail for an alien smuggling conviction and being removed to Mexico. The investigation also revealed that Castaneda-Rivera and Chapa-Gomez allegedly served as lookouts for Zamarron-Navarrete, who decided to leave the pick-up location when he saw USBP arriving. On Monday, USBP agents in El Paso responded to a vehicle suspected of picking up seven illegal aliens who had just crossed into the U.S. A criminal complaint alleges that the agents observed an empty driver’s seat when they located the vehicle, and they found the seven aliens, including two unaccompanied illegal aliens, attempting to hide inside the vehicle. The driver, identified as U.S. citizen Miguel Arturo Corral, was allegedly located attempting to conceal himself in a nearby cotton field and was arrested on a human smuggling charge. Corral’s criminal history includes several prior convictions, including racing on the highway, driving with an invalid license, evading arrest, and two DWIs. U.S. citizen Lucio David Rivera-Esparza was also arrested and charged with human smuggling in El Paso. USBP agents arrested two illegal aliens on Sept. 11 and noticed that one of the aliens possessed a cell phone that continuously received calls from a number originating in Mexico. A criminal complaint alleges that the cell phone led agents to a pick-up location where they met Rivera-Esparza, who had coordinated to transport illegal aliens further into the United States. Agents searched Rivera-Esparza’s vehicle and allegedly discovered a loaded handgun and an unknown amount of money in the center console. Agents also seized an additional $1,921 that Rivera-Esparza allegedly obtained by smuggling and transporting illegal aliens. Rivera-Esparza was convicted in April 2024 for a state charge of smuggling of persons and sentenced to five years in jail. In Austin, Honduran national Jose Orellana Espana was taken into ICE custody after being encountered at the Travis County Jail. He had been arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury to a family member and unlawful restraint. Espana was previously convicted in 2017 of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful restraint. Ricardo Quiroz-Rincon, a Mexican national, was also encountered at the Travis County Jail where he had been charged with assault causing bodily injury. Quiroz-Rincon has been previously removed from the U.S. five times since 2009. He’s been twice convicted for improper entry by an alien, with three additional convictions for illegal re-entry. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – KENNETH LYNCH , 45, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, in October 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that were shared on a chat board on the dark web, a computer network within the internet that is restricted and cannot be accessed by the general public using a standard search engine. HSI agents were able to identify the minor victim in the images and spoke with her the following month. The victim told agents Lynch sexually abused her on multiple occasions and captured the images in question. Edmond police arrested Lynch at his home on January 16, 2025, after executing a search warrant. On Lynch’s phone, law enforcement found some of the CSAM images that started the investigation. “Through manipulation and coercion, this defendant engaged in abhorrent acts of child exploitation, concealed his crimes in secrecy, and shared his abuse across the dark web,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The harm he caused will haunt his victim for life. While no sentence can undo that pain, this punishment stands as a stark warning that those who prey upon our most vulnerable will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable to the fullest measure of justice.” “This dangerous predator sexually assaulted an innocent child and then published recordings of the abuse to the dark web forcing his victim to relive that horrifying nightmare for the rest of her life knowing those images could still be out there,” said Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners and leveraging our expertise in investigating sophisticated criminal activity on the dark web, our special agents were able to quickly identify Mr. Lynch and remove him from the community to ensure he is no longer a threat to our children.” On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Lynch with sexual exploitation of a child. Lynch pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, and admitted he used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing CSAM. At a sentencing hearing on September 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Lynch to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered Lynch to pay restitution in the amount of $32,300. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the extraordinarily egregious conduct of the defendant, the need to “send a message” to others who would consider being involved in similar conduct, and that society will not tolerate this kind of abuse toward children. This case is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Kissimmee Claims Adjuster Found Guilty Of  Wire Fraud Against His Employer After Jury Trial

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found James Octavias Tobias Owens (34, Kissimmee) guilty of 10 counts of wire fraud. Owens faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2025. Owens was indicted on March 19, 2025. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between March 2021 and February 2022, Owens defrauded his employer, a regional insurance company, out of more than $580,000. Owens, who worked as a claims adjuster at the company, would reopen claims files that had already been settled and paid out. He would upload “comparative estimates” that he created to the claim files to make it look like additional work had been done. Owens would then cause checks to be issued on the claims to a shell company that he controlled that was disguised as a construction and roofing company. After the checks were issued, Owens would cash the checks at Orlando-area ATMs. He then used the proceeds for his own personal benefit, including to purchase designer clothing, jewelry, hotel rooms, vehicle accessories, and other luxury items. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Bianca Bansal.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending September 19, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 65 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 8 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 44 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 84 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for illegal reentry, theft, robbery, and possession of counterfeit identification. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Easton Man Convicted of Wire Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – An Easton man was convicted today, following an eight-day trial of using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to secretly purchase a home in the name of a close relative. Bill Dessaps, 49, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering, and one count of bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2026. In January 2024 , five other individuals were charged for their alleged involvement in the PPP fraud scheme. “Dessaps sought to defraud the American people through his misappropriation of COVID-19 relief loans. He scammed to enrich himself, at the expense of people in need” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s conviction is another reminder that fraud does not pay.” “The guilty sentence of Bill Dessaps demonstrates IRS-CI’s continued commitment to prosecuting all those who took advantage of the CARES Act for their own undue self-enrichment,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Dessaps defrauded a federal program designed to help those most in need at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic with the sole intent of living a lavish lifestyle, while others, who were truly in need, struggled.” Dessaps – the operator of an Abington-based used car dealership – allegedly conspired with individuals in Massachusetts and Florida to submit a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Dessaps’ dealership. The application they prepared and submitted for Dessaps’ dealership falsely stated that the dealership had 40 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $334,720. As a result of the applications, the lender disbursed a PPP loan of $836,800 to Dessaps. After receiving these funds, Dessaps made kickback payments to one or more of the individuals who assisted with the application. After Dessaps received the PPP loan, he purchased a $750,000 home in the name of a straw buyer—his close relative—because his credit score would have prevented him from obtaining a mortgage on favorable terms, and because he purchased the home using PPP funds, a purchase the PPP prohibits. Dessaps, his close relative, and a real estate agent submitted false mortgage application documents to a lender, including forms and forged records that inflated the relative’s income and assets. For a portion of the home costs, Dessaps transferred PPP proceeds into a joint bank account that he and his relative controlled. After a lender denied the close relative’s application for a secondary loan for the remaining funds, Dessaps and his real estate agent arranged a sham gift of $127,500 from the real estate agent’s girlfriend to the close relative, which Dessaps wired to the girlfriend. Through these and other misrepresentations, Dessaps obtained a $510,000 mortgage on the home and lived in it. Dessaps also attempted to obtain a “Second Draw” PPP loan through another fraudulent application in March 2021. The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transaction. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Foley and IRS SAC Demeo made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: One of “Savannah’s Top Ten Most Wanted” Indicted Federally

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Ra’Quavius Rawls (24) of Savannah, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. On July 24, 2024, officers with the Savannah Police Department responded to an anonymous tip that Ra’Quavius Rawls, an individual on “Savannah’s Top Ten Most Wanted” list was at a local gas station. As officers arrived, Rawls exited the property by vehicle. The officers then conducted a traffic stop and identified Rawls as a passenger. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm in the passenger side glove box. “Removing illegally possessed firearms from convicted felons play a key role in reducing violent crime in our communities,” said Margaret Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize taking these tools of violence out of the hands individuals who are prohibited from possessing them.” "The collaboration between the ATF and local law enforcement is essential in identifying and apprehending individuals who pose a threat to public safety, particularly those on lists like 'Savannah's Top Ten Most Wanted’,” said Acting Assistant Special Agent Robert Davis. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Savannah Police Department. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese. All indicted defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Savannah Man Sentenced for Possession of a Machinegun

body_text: Savannah man sentenced to 37 months imprisonment for the illegal possession of a machinegun SAVANNAH, GA: Javon Edwards (31) of Savannah, Georgia, pled guilty to the Illegal Possession of a Machinegun in April 2025. On September 11, 2025, Edwards was brought before Chief Judge R. Stan Baker for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia for sentencing. Edwards was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. “Sadly, we have seen an unfortunate uptick in criminals possessing illegal conversion devices that transform semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons of war. We will continue to work with our state and federal partners to apprehend these criminals and ensure they are brought to justice,” stated Margaret Heap, United States Attorney. "The illegal possession of machineguns is not just a violation of the law; it endangers our communities, and we will continue to pursue those who threaten public safety,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent Robert Davis. This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The case was being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Savannah Police Department. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese.


title: Dunkirk man going to prison for 30 years for labor trafficking and kidnapping

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Augusto Mateo Francisco, 34, of Dunkirk, NY, who was convicted of two counts of forced labor, and one count of transportation of a minor, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Francisco was also ordered to pay restitution and register as a sex offender. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, and Department of Justice Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Trial Attorney Meghan Tokash, who handled the case, stated that Francisco, a native of Guatemala and a Legal Permanent Resident, facilitated the illegal entry of Guatemalan migrants into the United States and helped transport them to the Dunkirk area, where he would provide them with housing and work at area farms. Francisco would charge the migrants for their housing, rides to work, and for other items. He would also take a cut of the wages they earned working at the farms. Francisco threatened two of the victims by telling them that if they stopped working for him or if they did not pay back the money they purportedly owed to him, he would harm their families or would call immigration authorities and have them deported. Francisco also pursued a sexual relationship with a minor victim, who was a 16-year-old Guatemalan migrant who had come to the U.S. with her mother. Francisco repeatedly raped the minor and threatened to harm her family in Guatemala, if she told anyone about what had happened. Francisco also kidnapped the minor victim and took her to a trailer in Ripley, NY, where she was held for nearly two weeks, until being rescued by police. After being rescued, the minor victim and her mother fled to Georgia to escape Francisco. However, he followed them and kidnapped the minor victim again and brought her back to the Western District of New York, where he unlawfully held her for several more days. “This defendant’s conduct of facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into the United States and then extorting them for his own personal and sexual gratification underscores the evils that can be associated with illegal trafficking,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “My office will continue to pursue and prosecute those individuals who engage in such conduct.” HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan stated, “This case lays bare the sheer depravity of Francisco’s crimes — perpetrated by a foreign national who not only exploited the vulnerabilities of migrants for profit, but also subjected a minor to unimaginable abuse. Francisco weaponized his victims’ immigration status through threats, coercion, and violence, including repeated rapes and multiple kidnappings. This significant sentence underscores the seriousness of his heinous actions and demonstrates HSI's unyielding commitment, together with our law enforcement partners, to holding such predators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The sentencing is the result of by Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Chautauqua County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. # # # #


title: Brazilian National Charged with Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Fall River has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Evaldo Ferreira Pinto, 51, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Pinto, who was arrested on Aug. 7, 2025, is currently in custody and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, Pinto was allegedly found in the United States on Aug. 7, 2025, after previously having been removed from the United States on or about May 31, 2019. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: High-volume tax preparer pleads guilty to preparing fraudulent tax returns

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A high-volume tax preparer in Vancouver, Washington pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to sixteen counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Keith Altamirano, 52, operated Integrity Investments, LLC, doing business as “Servicios Latinos.” Between 2017 and 2021, Altamirano prepared at least 12,000 tax returns. A statistical sampling analysis reveals that his false entries on customer tax returns cost the U.S. Treasury more than $5 million in tax loss. Altamirano is scheduled for sentencing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on December 19, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. According to the plea agreement and indictment, Altamirano falsified clients’ income tax submissions by listing fake medical expenses, and charitable donations for deductions, listing fake cars for depreciation and expense deductions, and by listing fabricated and inflated business expenses. Altamirano concealed his fraud by using “White Out” and omitting his name on his clients’ filed returns. The clients did not know Altamirano falsified their tax return to get them a larger refund. Altamirano’s fraud helped build his business as customers recommended him to others to get larger refunds. The tax loss for the 16 counts he pleaded guilty to is $104,518. Altamirano agreed to pay that amount in restitution to the IRS. This month, Altamirano also pled guilty to attempted second degree murder and drug charges in Clark County Superior Court. Altamirano was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment in his state case, which will run concurrently with his federal sentence according to the Clark County judgment. For each count of aiding and assisting with filing a false or fraudulent tax return Altamirano faces up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend imprisonment at the low end of the federal guidelines range. Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law. The tax fraud case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The tax fraud case is being prosecuted by Amanda McDowell.