title: Northern District of Indiana Announces Major Progress in Fight Against Crime

component: Department of Justice

body_text: FORT WAYNE, SOUTH BEND, AND HAMMOND – On May 5, 2026, the Honorable Adam L. Mildred completed his fourth month as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. To mark the date, U.S. Attorney Mildred shared statistics demonstrating the year-on-year increase in federal criminal law enforcement efforts. “We are proud to announce a great period of progress and renewed momentum for the Office, reflecting the hard work of the attorneys, litigation support team and our critical local, state, and federal law enforcement partners with whom we share this fight,” U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred said. “During the first four months of 2026, this Office brought 80% more indictments and charged twice as many defendants as it did during the same period of 2025. Both our narcotics and violent-crimes indictments increased by over 60%, our child-exploitation charges doubled, and our white-collar/fraud charges quadrupled. Meanwhile, we have aggressively pursued long prison sentences for those ultimately convicted of federal crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. “Since being appointed, my focus has been on the core mission of protecting the citizens of the Northern District of Indiana and vigorously enforcing the law. Our office focuses on prosecuting violent offenders and gangs, child predators and those that peddle poison in our communities. We seek to fight terrorists and enemies of our nation, both foreign and domestic. We address critical illegal immigration issues and are committed to the total elimination of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. We also represent the civil interests of the United States and defend the foundational rights of all Americans, particularly the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred said. “These sorts of increases put criminals on notice—if you choose to commit federal crimes in the Northern District of Indiana, you will be hunted down and held accountable by the exceptional law enforcement professionals who have dedicated their lives to keeping Indiana safe,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. The following notations of recent sentences illustrate the types of cases captured by those statistics: United States v. Miguel Angel Vera-Rosales : Mexican national with a previous felony conviction sentenced to 20 months for illegal reentry into the United States. United States v. Annamarie Fleischman : Roanoke woman sentenced to 600 months in prison following her conviction for sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography. United States v. Keith Hall : Kokomo man sentenced to 188 months in prison for possessing child pornography. United States v. Michael Deckinga : Dyer man sentenced to 180 months in prison for distributing child pornography. United States v. Lucas Kern : Huntington man sentenced to 168 months in prison for possessing child pornography. United States v. Devin Melvin : Michigan man sentenced to 270 months in prison for organizing and leading a fentanyl trafficking group. United States v. Robert Crayton : Illinois man sentenced to 216 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. United States v. Michael O. Beers : Fort Wayne man sentenced to 190 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and various firearms offenses. United States v. Aguila Binion : South Bend man sentenced to 144 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. United States v. Mark A. Lyons : Gary man sentenced to 158 months in prison for possessing over 25 pounds of methamphetamine and a firearm. United States v. Jahmal Sanders : Hammond man sentenced to 192 months in prison for possessing a stolen firearm as a felon. United States v. Gary Schmucker : Warsaw man sentenced to 46 months in prison for possessing a firearm while an unlawful drug user following a standoff with police. United States v. Jerry Boomershine : Elkhart man sentenced to 51 months in prison for bank robbery. United States v. Bethany A. Cataldi : Chesterton woman sentenced to 97 months in prison and ordered to pay over $19 million in restitution for committing health care fraud. United States v. Christine Reese : Crown Point woman sentenced to 84 months in prison for committing health care fraud and aggravated identity theft by fraudulently posing as a psychologist. United States v. Janis A. Sexton : Ossian woman sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay over $1.6 million in restitution for conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering against multiple defendants. # # #


title: Maryland Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False Returns

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for preparing false tax returns for clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, Zewdi Tsegay, of Burtonsville, Maryland, operated a tax preparation business initially called Taxes R Us LLC. From 2017 through 2023, Tsegay prepared and filed with the IRS false tax returns on behalf of clients. These tax returns included false business losses that resulted in either the clients receiving tax refunds that they were not entitled to receive or the clients’ tax liabilities being decreased. After Tsegay learned she was under investigation, she changed the name of the business to Taxes 4 You, LLC. In March 2020, the IRS conducted an undercover operation at Tsegay’s return preparation business. Tsegay initially prepared the undercover agent’s tax return correctly, which reflected that the undercover agent owed taxes. Tsegay then added a fictitious business loss to the undercover agent’s tax return, which resulted in the return improperly claiming a refund. Following a search warrant at her tax preparation business, Tsegay continued to prepare and file false returns on behalf of clients under the name of another individual. Further, from 2021 to 2023, Tsegay was required to file tax returns for herself, but she willfully failed to do so by the statutory deadline. In total, Tsegay caused a tax loss to the United States between $250,000 and $550,000. Tsegay pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false tax return. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ordered Tsegay to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $178,480 in restitution to the United States. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Catriona Coppler and Richard Kelley of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Justice Department Secures Landmark Resolution to End Pediatric “Gender-Affirming Care” and Create Detransition Clinic

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice announced the first resolution secured under the Department’s ongoing national investigation into violations of federal law in connection with the provision of sex-rejecting procedures on minors (often euphemistically called “gender-affirming care”). Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) has entered into agreements with the Department and the Texas Attorney General that include commitments to not perform such procedures on children, which include the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. TCH has also agreed to collectively pay over $10 million in damages and civil penalties and to dedicate millions to the provision of medical care to children harmed by the provision of such procedures ( i.e. , “detransitioners”). “The Justice Department will use every weapon at its disposal to end the destructive and discredited practice of so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ for children,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today’s resolution protects vulnerable children, holds providers accountable, and ensures those harmed receive the care they need.” Under the terms of the agreements, which the Department of Justice reached in coordination with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, TCH will pay $10 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false billings to public and private payors to secure insurance coverage for pediatric sex-rejecting procedures. The Department alleges this conduct violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and federal fraud and conspiracy laws. Critically, in addition to terminating these services, TCH has committed to establishing the first-of-its-kind clinic dedicated to restorative care for detransitioners. In connection with the settlements, the United States acknowledged that TCH took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperation with the Department in its investigation. At all times during the investigation, TCH remained cooperative, proactive, and solution-driven, as highlighted by its multi-million-dollar commitment to providing care to the victims who most need it. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting America’s children,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Today’s resolution furthers that commitment and puts providers of so-called 'gender affirming care' on notice that this Department will vigorously enforce federal law where children are put at risk.” “I am grateful that Texas Children’s wants to be part of the solution and no longer the problem,” said Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “Its commitment to providing detransitioner care is emblematic of just that. While the Department is satisfied with the resolution announced today, our division will continue to work tirelessly to protect America’s children and hold accountable pharmaceutical companies and medical providers who have taken advantage of vulnerable children under the guise of ‘care.’” These matters and the investigations into sex-rejecting procedures on minors are being led by the Justice Department’s Civil Division Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section. The claims resolved by the United States in the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Both entities have denied all allegations.


title: Jamestown woman sentenced for assaulting a federal officer

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alyssa Sheldon, 30, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer, was sentenced to serve one year of probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. On May 17, 2022, an arrest warrant was executed, and Sheldon was taken into custody. On May 18, 2022, made an initial appearance the U.S. Courthouse in the Western District of New York. During the proceeding, Sheldon was ordered remanded into custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. While being escorted back to her cell, Sheldon attempted to escape from custody. She resisted the escorting officer, kicking him below his waist. Sheldon continued to resist and attempted to spit in the officer’s face. This case was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. # # # #


title: Challenge to Sable Pipeline in California Dismissed

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California yesterday dismissed the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum – one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. In April 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a decision concluding that Sable was not required to revise its development and production plan for the Unit under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The plaintiffs then sued and sought a court order compelling the Bureau to require a revised plan. Instead, the court dismissed the lawsuit because the plaintiffs’ asserted procedural injury had no basis in the statute, was not traceable to any action by BOEM, and could not be redressed by an order of the court. Among other problems the court identified with the plaintiffs’ case, they invoked a provision of the statute that governs “approval of a development and production plan,” not revision of an already-existing plan. “This decision is a clear-eyed interpretation of federal law in keeping with the Supreme Court’s instruction in Loper Bright to follow the best interpretation of statutes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Our defense of BOEM’s decision supports domestic energy production in furtherance of President Donald J. Trump’s directive to unleash American energy.” Sable Offshore was required to immediately resume petroleum transportation through the Santa Ynez Pipeline System pursuant to a Defense Production Act order issued by Energy Secretary Chris Wright on March 13. Since then, the Unit has been transporting about 30,000 barrels of oil per day to California and is expected to reach 60,000 barrels per day. Attorneys with ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix Highlight Email Scams and Preventive Measures as Part of National Senior Fraud Awareness Day

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – As part of National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and the FBI Phoenix Division’s fraud team are reminding the public to remain vigilant as sophisticated scammers are capable of targeting virtually all businesses and individuals in the digital age. If you or a loved one become a victim of one of these scams, our offices encourage you to contact law enforcement and your bank as soon as possible after the incident, ideally within 24 hours, to help minimize financial losses. Unfortunately, in today’s world, no one is immune from the threats posed by scammers, who caused an estimated $20.9 billion in losses last year, according to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report – up more than $16 billion from 2020. Notably, Arizona ranked sixth in the country for total losses, amounting to nearly $631 million, behind only California, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Between staying connected with family and friends, shopping and banking online, and working remotely, we all depend on the security of our digital information. Protecting our digitally connected world has been, and remains, a key priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix. Some of the most common scams include Business Email Compromise (“BEC”)– also known as email account compromise (“EAC”), spoofing and phishing, tech/customer support, government impersonation, non-payment/non-delivery, and grandparent scams. Behind investment fraud, BEC scams accounted for the second largest loss amount across the nation in 2025—approximately $3 billion. BEC scams target businesses and individuals across industries that perform legitimate transfer-of-funds requests. In BEC scams, a scammer that has compromised a third party’s email account (through social engineering or computer intrusion), makes the scammer’s own account mimic the characteristics of the third party’s account that a victim would expect to see (including name, address, phone number, email address, logos, and font) to trick the victim into sending money to the scammer. For example, a scammer that has compromised the email account of a real estate title insurance company might target a home buyer shortly before a real estate closing, instructing the buyer to send the down payment to a bank account in the name of the title company. The email, however, is not from, and the bank account does not belong to, the actual title company– both belong to the scammer. Because the email and bank information are nearly identical to the actual title company, the fraud is very difficult to detect and the buyer complies with the instructions, sending the funds to the scammer. If you are the victim of a scam that involves sending money to a supposed bank or other financial institution, you should immediately (timing is imperative, as after 24 hours the probability of recovery is severely limited) take the following steps: Call your financial institution; report that you have been the victim of a scam. Provide the date, time, amount, and details of the transaction (including the sending account number, receiving financial institution and account number, and transaction number); and ask the financial institution to send a recall of the transaction and provide a Hold Harmless Letter to the receiving financial institution. File a Complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov/ by clicking the red “File A Complaint” button. Be sure to include all available information about the scam: date, time, amount, and reference number for the transaction; sending financial institution and account number; receiving financial institution and account number; and details of the scam. Immediately taking these steps after discovering you have become a victim can trigger the Internet Crime Center’s Recovery Asset Team to start the Domestic Financial Fraud Kill Chain or International Financial Fraud Kill Chain processes to attempt to freeze the fraudulent account and recover any stolen funds. It is imperative that a victim take these steps immediately after discovering that he or she has been scammed. With every minute that passes, the likelihood that a financial institution and/or law enforcement can recover any stolen funds decreases substantially. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-075_cybercrime 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: U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford Appointed to Attorney General's Advisory Committee

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has appointed U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon to serve on this Administration’s inaugural Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). Established in 1973, the AGAC is composed of 18 U.S. Attorneys from across the country, providing geographic, operational, and subject-matter representation in advising the Attorney General and senior Department of Justice leadership on national priorities and other critical issues. “I am deeply honored to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and advance the Department of Justice’s priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “I look forward to working alongside my distinguished colleagues on the AGAC’s important mission and making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.” Mr. Bradford joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and served in a variety of leadership roles within the office, including Chief of the White Collar Unit, Chief of the Economic, National Security, and Cyber Crimes Unit, and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In 2022, Mr. Bradford served as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Regional Cybercrime Attaché in Southeast Asia where he trained justice sector partners within the region to combat cybercrime. Prior to his return to Oregon as the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Bradford was the Acting Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the National Security Division in Washington, D.C.


title: Buffalo man arrested on drug charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Delmar Washington, 49, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the complaint, since November 2025, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in Buffalo. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Washington was involved in the drug trafficking activities. On March 30, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at a Landon Street residence in Buffalo, seizing approximately 475 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and 676 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and a shotgun, which had previously been reported stolen. Investigators also seized seizing 3.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine and 3.5 grams of suspected fentanyl from Washington at the time of his arrest. Washington made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was held pending a detention hearing on May 19, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: SDTX adds 206 more cases in ongoing border enforcement efforts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 211 individuals have been charged in immigration and border security-related crimes from May 8-14, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The Southern District filed a total of 49 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 133 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have previous convictions, such as narcotics, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. The cases also include 26 people allegedly involved in human smuggling, while the remaining matters relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges. As part of the newly filed complaints, two Mexican nationals have been charged with illegal reentry into the country. According to the charges, authorities previously removed German Omar Elbir-Palma in December 2025 before discovering him near Escobares this week. A separate case alleges law enforcement discovered Alejandro Perez-Miramontes near Hidalgo. According to their respective complaints, both men have prior felony convictions for illegal reentry. Perez-Miramontes also has multiple prior convictions for burglary, while Elbier-Palma was previously convicted of domestic assault. If convicted of the new illegal reentry charges, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison. Also announced this week was the sentencing of two illegal alien felons for unlawfully reentering into the country. Mexican nationals Jose Alcantar Esquivel Moreno and Esequiel Rueda-Ramirez received 54 and 48 months, respectively. Both have been removed from the country multiple times. Moreno has a previous felony conviction for aggravated assault-family violence, while Rueda-Ramirez has prior convictions for evading arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal reentry. Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Luis Miguel Sanchez-Martinez in Houston. The court imposed a 42-month sentence, noting his dangerous behavior and lack of respect for the law. Sanchez-Martinez has multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and was first removed in 2020. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: York County Man Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day in Prison for Threatening  U.S. Congressman

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Troy Lamont Rishell, age 48, a resident of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 14, 2026, to 12 months and one day in prison for threatening a United States Congressman. According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, Rishell left eight voicemails with the District Office of a United States Congressman. In those profanity-laced messages, Rishell threatened to assault and murder the United States Congressman, with intent to intimidate him while the Congressman was engaged in the performance of his official duties. The United States Capitol Police and the United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Burglarizing ATM in Hardin County

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Houston, Texas, man pled guilty yesterday to burglarizing a Hardin County bank’s ATM and stealing over $48,000. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jeremy Thompson of the Elizabethtown Police Department made the announcement. Jesse Kayembe, 26, of Houston, Texas, and others working with him, stole a truck in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Kayembe drove the stolen truck to the WesBanco Bank in Elizabethtown, hooked it to the ATM, and drove forward, ripping open the ATM door and vault. Kayembe and another individual took the cash drawers from the ATM, resulting in a loss to the bank of over $48,000. Kayembe pled guilty to one count of bank larceny. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Additionally, Kayembe will be required to pay restitution. United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner stated, “Across the country banks have unfortunately been the victims of numerous incidents where criminals ripped open ATMs and stole cash. These crimes cause significant economic harm and disruption to banks and their customers. Our office will simply not stand for this brazen criminality. I commend our law enforcement partners for catching this criminal.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson said, "Financial institutions are a vital part of the American way of life. When reckless criminals steal from banks to feed their personal greed, it not only causes disruption and damage to the business, but also puts bank customers and innocent bystanders in harm’s way. The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners every day to keep our communities safe." Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson stated, “This conviction and sentencing is an incredible example of collaboration between local and federal law enforcement. Intelligence led policing allowed us to know the suspects were in our area committing crimes. This should send a message to criminals everywhere; crime will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office and the Elizabethtown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Iraqi National Arrested and Charged with Providing Material Support to Iranian-Backed Terrorist Organizations and Directing Attacks Targeting U.S. Citizens and Interests

body_text: The Justice Department announced today the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Al-Saadi was charged by complaint with six counts of terrorism-related offenses for his activities as an operative of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including his involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks throughout Europe and the United States. Al-Saadi was arrested on the charges contained in the complaint, which was unsealed today, transferred into U.S. custody overseas, and transported to the United States. Al-Saadi was presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court and ordered detained pending trial. “Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in U.S. custody,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests and to kill Americans and Jews in the U.S. and abroad, and in doing so advance the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked and will use all tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.” “The FBI’s successful FTOC of Mohammad Al-Saadi, another high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism, is just the latest success in this administration’s historic work to bring terrorists to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units and interagency partners who delivered yet again. We are greatly appreciative of the work of our allies around the world—especially to Ambassador Tom Barrack, who led this joint sequenced operation and has been instrumental in bringing this successful mission home to the United States.” “As alleged, Al-Saadi coordinated a wave of attacks across Europe, including bombings, arson, and assaults targeting American communities and interests,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The complaint further alleges that Al-Saadi discussed attacking locations in New York, California, and Arizona and presented a serious threat to our national security. We will continue to work closely with international partners to hold terrorists accountable in U.S. courts.” “Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander for the terrorist organization, Kata’ib Hizballah, faces serious charges for his role in numerous attacks against U.S. interests across the globe, including his efforts to kill on U.S. soil,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, for years, Al-Saadi committed himself to furthering the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC, two terrorist organizations dedicated to harming the United States and its allies. More recently, Al-Saadi attempted to carry out attacks in the United States, including in New York City. Al-Saadi attempted to disrupt American society through intimidation and violence. In a righteous and just contrast, his prosecution will highlight the best of our country. Those who engage in or support terrorism against Americans and on U.S. soil should take note: the whole of the federal government is committed to dismantling terrorist organizations and bringing their members to justice. I commend our law enforcement partners for their outstanding investigative work resulting in the arrest of Al-Saadi, who will now face justice in a U.S. court.” “In the span of just three months, Mohammad Al-Saadi allegedly directed 18 terrorist attacks throughout Europe—including against United States citizens and interests—and planned to conduct a similar attack here in our country,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task Force maintains its unwavering resolve to hold accountable leaders of foreign terrorist organizations who utilize mass fear and suffering to further their anti-American agenda.” “This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah—Foreign Terrorist Organizations that have repeatedly targeted Jewish communities across Europe and the United States since the war began,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue, and in partnership with the synagogue’s leadership, ensured its security when the threat was elevated. The NYPD’s work in this case, from officers assigned to the JTTF, to intelligence analysis provided through our international liaison program, helped protect the streets of our city. The NYPD has the most robust municipal counterterrorism and intelligence capacity of any city in the world, which is only strengthened by our partnership with federal agencies on cases like this one.” Al-Saadi is a commander for Kata’ib Hizballah, a U.S. designated FTO operating in Iraq that is closely aligned with the IRGC. The IRGC, which is also a U.S. designated FTO, is an Iranian military and counterintelligence agency that operates under the authority of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The IRGC has publicly stated its desire and intention to conduct operations targeting those perceived to be enemies of the Iranian regime, and it has plotted and conducted attack operations targeting, among others, U.S. citizens residing abroad and in the United States, including attacks that resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens. Iran and the IRGC use other terrorist and paramilitary proxies in the region to take lethal action and to carry out operations against the United States and its allies. These proxies include Kata’ib Hizballah, which has received extensive training, funding, logistical support, weapons, and intelligence from the IRGC’s external operations force, the IRGC Qods Force (IRGC-QF). As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the longtime commander of the IRGC-QF who was killed during a U.S. airstrike in or about 2020, as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the leader of Kata’ib Hizballah until he was killed in the same airstrike that killed Soleimani. Below are photographs from one of Al-Saadi’s social media accounts of Al-Saadi with Soleimani, including at a military-related facility: In addition, as alleged, Al-Saadi has called on others to attack and kill Americans, including in retribution for Soleimani’s and al-Muhandis’s deaths. On or about July 2, 2020, for example, Al-Saadi published on one of his social media accounts the following image of the U.S. capitol in rubbles projected against the faces of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, with the text “our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier.” In recent months, Al-Saadi has also allegedly directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews, to further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC. In or about February 2026, for example, Al-Saadi posted on one of his social media accounts a message in Arabic, which read in part, “Do not abandon the blood of your Imam of the time, oh Shiites of Iraq. Kill everyone who supports America and Israel. Do not leave any of them remaining. Civil and military targets, as well as voices of discord, kill them everywhere.” As alleged, over the last several months, Al-Saadi and his associates have planned, coordinated, and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe (the “European Terrorist Attacks”), as well as two additional attacks in Canada, in the name of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, a component of Kata’ib Hizballah. On or about March 9, 2026—the day of the first of the European Terrorist Attacks—Al-Saadi posted on one of his social media accounts a message calling on “warriors of Islam” to engage in “jihad,” or violent holy war. From that point on, Al-Saadi and his associates allegedly have carried out attacks against U.S. interests. Al-Saadi and Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya have also published videos of the attacks. For example, on or about March 15, 2026, individuals carried out an attack involving explosives against the Bank of New York Mellon, an American bank, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The next day, on or about March 16, 2026, AL-SAADI posted a propaganda video of the attack, in which Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya claimed responsibility for the attack. The video also showed aspects of the attack planning, including maps of the location of where the attack would be and a message which read: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful This is the Final Warning[.] To all the peoples of the world, especially in the European Union, Immediately distance yourselves [] from all American and Zionist interests, facilities, and what is affiliated with them.” Similar attacks continued in or about March and April 2026, accompanied by videos allegedly published by Al-Saadi in which Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya claimed responsibility for the attacks. In one such attack, on or about April 12, 2026, an arson was allegedly committed against a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia. On or about April 16, 2026, Al-Saadi posted a video showing the site of that attack with a red target symbol and surveillance footage of the synagogue on fire, as depicted in the screenshots below with the logo of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya in the upper right corner of the images (circled in red): In another attack, on or about April 29, 2026, two Jewish men—including a dual U.S.-British citizen—were stabbed and seriously injured in London, United Kingdom. In addition, in or about April and May 2026, Al-Saadi, on behalf of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC, allegedly attempted to coordinate and carry out terrorist attacks to kill individuals in the United States, including by targeting Jewish institutions in New York, New York, and elsewhere. On or about April 3, 2026, Al-Saadi spoke to an undercover law enforcement officer (“UC-1”) whom Al-Saadi believed could carry out attacks in the United States. That day, Al-Saadi texted UC-1 photographs and maps showing the exact location of a prominent Jewish synagogue located in New York, New York (the “New York Synagogue”), as well as two additional U.S.-based Jewish institutions in Los Angeles, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectively, and directed UC-1 to carry out terrorist attacks against those targets. Al-Saadi also spoke on the phone with UC-1, and discussed with UC-1, with respect to the New York Synagogue, whether UC-1 would use an improvised explosive device or “set the place on fire.” Fortunately, no such attacks occurred at the time. Al-Saadi, 32, of Iraq, has been charged with: (i) conspiring to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; (ii) conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC, a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; (iii) conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism of attempting and conspiring to murder nationals of the United States, and bombing and conspiring to bomb a place of public use, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; (iv) providing material support for acts of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; (v) conspiring to bomb a place of public use, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; and (vi) attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosive, which carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum and mandatory minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. The case was investigated by FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, and the FBI Washington Field Office, Counterterrorism Division, and with the assistance of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section, the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the NYPD, and the New York State Police. This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Coyle and Sarah L. Kushner are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Paul Casey and James Donnelly of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Former USC Employee for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, 40, a legal permanent resident of the United States and Iranian citizen, has been convicted by a federal jury following a three-day trial. Harchegani was found guilty on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Evidence introduced at trial showed that on Dec. 3-4, 2024, multiple agencies with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participated in an online chat operation targeting child sex offenders where an officer posed as a 14-year-old girl. Harchegani met the undercover officer on an online dating application and began messaging with her. Shortly thereafter, he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the alleged 14-year-old girl over the course of multiple days. Harchegani used the name “Alex Shaw,” along with at least two other aliases, in an effort to disguise his identity. Harchegani ultimately traveled to the residence where he believed the girl was home alone to engage in sexual activities with her. He was arrested thereafter. Harchegani was a researcher at the University of South Carolina at the time of the chat. Upon his arrest, his employment was suspended and his contract with the university was not renewed. “Those who target children in our state will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “I’d like to thank our law enforcement partners at the FBI, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and our prosecution team for bringing this defendant to justice.” “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect children from those who exploit them,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore. “This verdict marks a victory in the fight to safeguard children. We applaud the jury for delivering justice and commend the investigative team and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to ensure this outcome.” Harchegani faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis presided over the trial and will sentence Harchegani after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department participated in the online chat operation and investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Woman Sentenced to 21+ Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte woman was sentenced yesterday to 262 months in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Aisha Khan, 40, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan, was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release. “It is unfathomable to me how someone can do things like this to a child,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “I am proud of my office for standing up for defenseless children who cannot stand up for themselves.” According to court records, in 2023, HSI began an investigation into Khan after discovering evidence the defendant had produced CSAM of a minor female. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that, between October and December 2021, Khan had produced multiple images and videos depicting a prepubescent minor victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After producing the CSAM, Khan distributed it to another individual. On February 25, 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. She is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited Homeland Security Investigations in Charlotte and Wilmington for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Agency in Wilmington, and the Jacksonville Police Department for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Nick J. Miller and Sara Kinlaw of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Waterbury Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses After His Arrest in Brattleboro

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Joshua Bedard, 38, of Waterbury, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base. On May 12, 2026, Bedard appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Bedard be detained pending trial. According to court records, Bedard was involved in the distribution of cocaine and cocaine base on at least two separate occasions in April of 2026 in the greater Brattleboro, Vermont area. During one of the distributions, Bedard was observed in possession of a revolver. Bedard was arrested for these distributions on May 12, 2026 in Brattleboro. At the time of his arrest, Bedard was driving a rental vehicle. Inside the rental vehicle, law enforcement located approximately 400 grams of cocaine and a loaded revolver. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Bedard is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Bedard faces up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI Vermont, the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the Brattleboro Police Department, and the Hartford, Vermont Police Department. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Bedard is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.


title: New Castle Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Melvin Dorsey-Pace, 33, pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on February 12, 2025, Dorsey-Pace possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, as well as a quantity of a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawrence County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Dorsey-Pace.


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Using the Internet to Sexually Exploit a Minor in the Philippines

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Bradley D. Hounsell, 44, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release, for using the internet to coerce and entice a minor in the Philippines to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. According to court documents, Hounsell used an online social media platform to pay an individual in the Philippines for sexually explicit images and videos of children. In November 2023, this individual informed Hounsell that she had access to an approximately 13-year-old girl, and Hounsell asked to have the minor pose in sexually suggestive positions. Hounsell then offered to pay for a video of the individual penetrating the child’s genitals. After Hounsell sent her money, the individual sent Hounsell a video depicting an adult sexually abusing a nude child. At various points in their conversations, Hounsell offered to pay this individual money for additional images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Law enforcement recovered this video and other evidence of Hounsell’s criminal conduct from his phone during a warrant-authorized search of his home in Wisconsin. Hounsell was employed as a correctional officer with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections prior to his arrest. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr of the FBI’s Milwaukee Field Office made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and Milwaukee Field Office with the assistance of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney William G. Clayman, formerly of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Humble for the Eastern District of Wisconsin prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Destin Man Indicted for False Statement to a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer

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

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Bryan Klein, 56, of Destin, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Klein appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida. If convicted, Klein faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Former Hanahan City Councilman Indicted on Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse Charges

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a 23-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth, 48, of Hanahan, for sex trafficking of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor, production, distribution, receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material and attempted production of child sexual abuse material.* The indictment alleges from at least December 2021 through his arrest on federal charges in April 2026, Hedgpeth targeted, recruited, and sexually exploited children using the internet. Hedgpeth used social media apps to contact children—including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Telegram and X—where he posed as a minor himself. Through those apps, he pressured and often paid minors to record sex acts with other minors, including with some of their own family members. He then saved the files in password-protected folders accessible on his phone. He named the folders after the actual names of victims. Hedgpeth distributed those files to others over the internet—including to minors—without victim consent. Hedgpeth used the files to pose as a minor and to entice victims into producing additional content. Hedgpeth exploited at least 19 children during the scheme, 13 girls and six boys, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old. Most victims were in South Carolina, and some lived in his local community. During the scheme, Hedgpeth was a public official, serving as a City Councilman and as Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Hanahan. Hedgpeth faces up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, supervision by the United States Probation Office for a term of lifetime following any term of imprisonment, restitution payable to victims, and additional financial assessments. He will remain detained pending trial. “The grand jury has charged Kevin Hedgpeth with a depraved, predatory criminal scheme through which he targeted the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We look forward to holding Hedgpeth accountable to the fullest extent, and we will continue to dedicate every resource to defend children in our state.” “The charges in this indictment are deeply disturbing and represent a profound betrayal of trust, especially by someone who held positions of public responsibility. No one—regardless of their title or status—is above the law,” said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. “Our commitment is unwavering: we will pursue justice for every victim and ensure that those who exploit their authority to harm children are held fully accountable. The gravity of these crimes demands a strong response, and we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.” Investigators continue to seek the public’s help to identify possible victims. If you have relevant information to report, please contact HSI at Charleston_exploitationtips@hsi.dhs.gov , by telephone at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423), or through the online tip form at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean H. Secor and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.


title: Nigerian Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Nigerian man, legally residing in Newark, New Jersey, Charles Nnamdi Emesim, 53, was sentenced on Wednesday to 115 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Defendant engaged in a decade-long scheme to receive and launder the proceeds of different internet- and telephone-enabled scams, including romance scams, government imposter scams, lottery scams, investment scams, inheritance scams, and medical expense scams. Between December 9, 2013, through at least June 28, 2024, Emesim opened and operated at least 17 bank accounts in his name, or in names of his companies, Chadon Export or Chadon Trucking. Throughout this time, at least 23 individuals located around the United States were defrauded into sending a total of more than $700,000 to Emesim by mailing cash or cashier’s checks to his addresses, sending money transfers, or otherwise wiring funds into his bank accounts. One victim, a senior citizen and widow living in the Eastern District of Kentucky, fell victim to a romance scam, believing she was in a romantic relationship with an individual named “Michael Oliver,” who wanted to transfer his wealth to the victim. To accomplish this goal, “Oliver” connected the victim with a “customs agent” to facilitate the receipt of money. The victim most frequently communicated with “Customs Agent Samuel Rock,” via WhatsApp. The victim traveled to the Lexington, Kentucky airport to meet with “Customs Agent Rock” in person, and during the meeting, gave him additional money, drove him to a local store, and bought him a computer tablet. The Court found that Emesim was the individual who impersonated “Customs Agent Rock” when meeting with this victim in person. This victim lost tens of thousands of dollars to this scam, by sending Emesim and his co-conspirators cash, cashier’s checks, and prepaid debit or gift cards. Emesim often withdrew the victims’ funds in cash, transferred the money to accounts in the name of relatives or businesses, or transferred the funds to his own bank accounts or bank accounts belonging to family members located in Nigeria. “Romance scams and financial fraud schemes are predatory crimes because they target victims through deception, emotional manipulation, and calculated exploitation,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This defendant spent years helping funnel stolen money from hardworking Americans, including an elderly victim in Eastern Kentucky who was manipulated into believing she was building a genuine relationship. These criminals do not see victims as people—they see them as targets. The Eastern District of Kentucky, alongside the FBI, will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who exploit trust, devastate families, and profit from fraud.” “For more than a decade, Mr. Emesim preyed upon trusting men and women, stealing their hard-earned money to line his own pockets,” said Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are steadfast in our pursuit of criminals who operate financial scams at the expense of innocent Americans, and that we will devote every available resource to seeking justice on behalf of victims and their families.” During the sentencing hearing, the Court characterized Emesim’s conduct as heartless and unquestionably reprehensible, explaining that it caused terrible financial damage and incredible emotional and psychological tolls on the victims. The Court urged all people in this country with ears to hear that there will be accountability, and those convicted of these international, internet-enabled schemes will be met with a sentence that is far worse than the potential for profit. Under federal law, Emesim must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Extradited Honduran National Sentenced for His Role in International Human and Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

body_text: An extradited Honduran national was sentenced today to over four years in prison for his role in a scheme to smuggle nearly two dozen illegal aliens and kilos of cocaine into the United States. “The defendant and his co-conspirators attempted to illegally bring aliens and approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine into the United States by boat,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His extradition from Honduras and this successful prosecution shows that the drug trade and human smuggling of illegal aliens often go hand in hand.” “Along with his co-conspirators, Olvin Javier Velasquez- Maldonado conspired to flagrantly violate our federal immigration and controlled substances laws by attempting to illegally bring in more than 20 Honduran aliens and approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine to Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “These crimes jeopardize and endanger the safety and welfare of our communities, as well as threatening our national security. This sentencing sends a clear message that those who engage in human smuggling and drug trafficking will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions. I am grateful for our continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners as we combat the scourge of human smuggling and illegal drug trafficking.” According to court documents, Olvin Javier Velasquez-Maldonado, 40, of Honduras, conspired with at least six others to bring cocaine from Honduras to the United States. In February 2022, Maldonado and others attempted to illegally bring more than 20 Honduran aliens and approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, aboard the M/V Pop , a sportfishing vessel co-owned by co-conspirator Carl Allison of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Many of the aliens paid up to $20,000 to Allison or his co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States. During the February 2022 voyage, the M/V Pop developed engine trouble. Allison and others chartered a boat to bring fuel to the disabled vessel so that it could complete its journey to the United States. Before the chartered boat reached the disabled vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the vessel off the coast of Louisiana and towed it to shore. After the vessel was towed to Jean Lafitte Harbor, a search of the vessel discovered approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment under a mattress in the captain’s sleeping quarters. Maldonado had packaged the cocaine and his fingerprints were found under the packaging. Maldonado was extradited to the United States from Honduras on April 9, 2025, and he subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Honduras to secure the arrest and extradition of Maldonado. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training also provided assistance. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.


title: Charges Of Sexual Exploitation And Child Pornography Involving An Infant

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the arrest yesterday of CORY MATTHEWS, and the Indictment, on April 29 th , of BETH SAIERS, a/k/a “Beth Young.” MATTHEWS and SAIERS are charged in separate charging instruments with sexual exploitation of an infant and the receipt and distribution of child pornography. MATTHEWS was taken into federal custody yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court and detained. BETH SAIERS was arrested in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 2026, pursuant to a Complaint that was unsealed on April 23, 2026. A Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York returned an Indictment of SAIERS on April 29, 2026. “The charges here—sexual exploitation of an infant—allege horrific conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Every New Yorker wants children protected from life-scarring conduct. We know our community wants this conduct investigated and, as appropriate, charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The women and men of this Office are dedicated to that mission.” As alleged in the charging documents and statements made in court: [1] On or about April 16, 2026, law enforcement executed a search of MATTHEWS’s residence in Putnam County pursuant to a New York state search warrant. Among the items seized was MATTHEWS’s cellphone. A search of the phone revealed chats on a social media application between MATTHEWS and SAIERS on April 14, 2026. In the course of the chats, MATTHEWS transmitted an image of an infant (“Victim-1”) to SAIERS, who responded “Put your dick in its face[.]” Thereafter, MATTHEWS transmitted an image in which Victim-1 is visible in the background and a man’s erect penis occupies the foreground. MATTHEWS asked, “Now what,” to which SAIERS responded, “Take a pic of my pedo dick in front of the babies face[.]” Thereafter, as MATTHEWS transmitted a series of sexually explicit photos and videos of Victim-1 to SAIERS, SAIERS commented on the images and directed MATTHEWS to engage in sexual acts involving Victim-1. On or about April 16, 2026, MATTHEWS was arrested and charged in the Town of Kent, New York, with promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child. On or about April 19, 2026, following the discovery of the photos and videos depicting the sexual abuse of Victim-1, additional charges were added. The charges included, among other things, predatory sex assault against a child and rape in the first degree. On or about April 23, 2026, SAIERS was arrested in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, pursuant to a Complaint filed on April 21, 2026, in the Southern District of New York. SAIERS was detained pending her removal to New York. On or about April 29, 2026, a Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York indicted SAIERS for sexual exploitation of a child and receipt and distribution of child pornography. There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov . * * * MATTHEWS, 38, of Kent, New York, and SAIERS, 41, of Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, are each charged with sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Child Advocacy Center Team, Putnam County Department of Social Services, New York State Police, Town of Carmel Police Department, Town of Kent Police Department, and the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Police Department in connection with this investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia S. Cohen and Jake Sidransky are in charge of the prosecution. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the Indictment and the description of the Complaint and the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Norwalk Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE ORJUELA, also known as “Hov,” 37, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 188 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics and unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Norwalk Police Department identified Orjuela as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the Norwalk area. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Orjuela and others transported kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Texas and Ohio, and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin from New York City, and distributed the narcotics in and around Norwalk through a network of associates. Orjuela stored narcotics and drug proceeds at his Marlin Drive residence in Norwalk, and also used the Darien residence of his co-conspirator, Christopher Pomponi, to store narcotics and drug proceeds, convert cocaine into crack cocaine, and package narcotics for street sale. Orjuela, Pomponi, and others were arrested on April 29, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple federal search warrants and seized approximately 15,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 350 grams of raw heroin, and quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine. Orjuela was apprehended while attempting to flush several hundred grams of fentanyl down a toilet. A search of a vehicle parked outside of his residence revealed a loaded 9mm pistol. Orjuela has been detained since his arrest. On April 30, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Pomponi pleaded guilty and, on November 12, 2025, was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Norwalk Police Department, the Darien Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Kenneth L. Gresham.


title: Suburban Houston resident admits to killing bald eagle

body_text: HOUSTON – A 42-year-old man who resides in Porter has entered a guilty plea to shooting and causing the death of a protected species, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Santos Guerrero admitted he shot a bald eagle at his residence Oct. 11, 2024. Authorities responded to reports of the incident and saw video footage of the eagle being shot and falling from a tree. They proceeded to Guerrero’s residence and matched the tree to the one seen in the video. They located the eagle alive and transported it to an animal hospital, but it had to be euthanized due to its injuries. A necropsy determined the bullet caused significant damage to the eagle’s wing. The impact from the fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding and a fractured leg. Bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered but remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest or egg, unless permitted. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 30. At that time, Guerrero faces up to a year in federal prison and $100,000 maximum fine. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.


title: 21-Year-Old Arrested for Child Exploitation

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A man was arrested on May 12, 2026, in the state of Minnesota on criminal charges related to child exploitation. According to court documents, in August 2024, Roberto Gadiel León-López, then 19, transported a then 13-year-old female minor, from her house to another location, with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. An investigation was initiated by law enforcement authorities related to this incident and, on April 15, 2026, a federal Grand Jury returned a one count indictment charging León-López with transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code , Section 2423(a). An arrest warrant was issued and, on May 12, 2026, León-López was arrested in Minnesota following a traffic stop. The defendant had his initial appearance on May 13 and is scheduled to have a detention and identity hearing on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Minnesota. He is expected to be transferred to the District of Puerto Rico after the scheduled hearings for further criminal proceedings. “Our dedicated team of prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, and support personnel will continue to work with our equally dedicated law enforcement partners to combat child exploitation and to bring these offenders to justice,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will prosecute criminals who exploit our children to the fullest extent of the law.” “Protecting children from exploitation and abuse remains one of the FBI’s highest priorities,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “This arrest reflects the relentless work of our agents and law enforcement partners to identify offenders, locate them wherever they may be hiding, and ensure they are brought to justice. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue the protection of vulnerable children and prosecution of those who would seek to harm them.” If convicted, Roberto Gadiel León-López faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum penalty of up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Transporting Child Pornography

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A North Carolina man was sentenced on May 12, 2026, to 324 months in federal prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release for producing child pornography of an Arkansas minor and for transporting a phone containing child pornography across state lines. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, Brian Issac Hughes , age 21, communicated with a 15-year-old female through social media and arranged to travel to Arkansas to engage in sex acts with her. In April of 2025, Hughes flew from North Carolina to Arkansas and picked up the minor near her school before transporting her to a nearby hotel where he had sex with the minor and produced explicit images and videos of the act. Later the same night, Hughes distributed the produced imagery of the minor on social media. A subsequent search of Hughes’s cellphone revealed numerous child pornography files, including files of children as young as 4. Investigators also located social media chats in which Hughes distributed and received child pornography files with other online users and at least one chat thread in which Hughes posed as a 16-year-old female to trade files with another minor female. Hughes was indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in April of 2025 and entered a plea of guilty in November of 2025. U.S. Attorney Kimberly D. Harris of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Serial Fraudster Sentenced for Embezzling from Multiple Employers in San Antonio

body_text: Image Credit: U.S. v. Vasquez Case #5:24cr246 SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Daniella Vasquez, 48, worked as a comptroller for two separate companies between May 2021 and September 2022, where her responsibilities included issuing payments. During her tenure with both employers, Vasquez embezzled $759,235.74, issuing unauthorized payments to herself and her husband, Thomas Vasquez, as well as to companies for personal expenses. She spent much of the embezzled funds on luxury goods, vehicles, concerts, and sporting events, which she flaunted on social media. Vasquez was arrested on Oct. 25, 2022, by the Shavano Park Police Department on state charges related to her embezzlement from one company. On July 20, 2023, she was interviewed by the FBI at a new place of employment regarding her embezzlement from the other company. Vazquez was federally indicted on four counts of wire fraud on May 15, 2024. She pleaded guilty to one count on Aug. 5, 2025. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery presided over the case. Image Credit: U.S. v. Vasquez Case #5:24cr246 “Vasquez abused her employers' trust to live the high life, spending thousands of dollars to attend pop concerts and NFL games while wearing expensive luxury items and even rewarding herself with a $1,500 upscale spa experience,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “These greedy criminal schemes are tremendously harmful to the small businesses that are the lifeblood of our community. This sentence demonstrates our office’s commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and sends a message about the consequences they will face when we catch them.” “The FBI worked closely with the Shavano Park Police Department to hold Vasquez accountable as she abused a position of trust by misusing corporate funds for self-enrichment and greed,” said Alex Doran, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “She used stolen funds to support a lavish lifestyle while flaunting the proceeds of her fraud on social media. The FBI has zero tolerance for fraud and the abuse of trust for personal gain. These crimes cause significant financial harm to businesses and erode public trust.” Image Credit: U.S. v. Vasquez Case #5:24cr246 The FBI and Shavano Park Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen prosecuted the case. ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Role in Cross-Border Tunnel Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – As a result of diligent work done by members of the Homeland Security Task Force, a Mexican national with Legal Permanent Resident status was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 42 months in prison for facilitating alien smuggling operations using cross-border tunnels and storm drains, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Ricardo Guadalupe Dominguez, 54, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, along with other members of an alien smuggling organization, used a subterranean passage and the connecting storm drain tunnels to bring aliens into the U.S. from Mexico. Dominguez facilitated the human smuggling events by providing vehicles and tools used to tamper and cause damage to the existing storm drains. Dominguez was also identified as being involved with the construction of a man-made cross-border tunnel that was discovered on Jan. 10, 2025. Dominguez was arrested while attempting to cross into the U.S. from Mexico via the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to bring in aliens. Co-defendant Oscar Ivan Carrillo was sentenced in January to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to use a border tunnel. Carrillo and others would guide aliens through the tunnels and into the U.S. At the tunnel exit, a box truck modified with a trap door was driven over a manhole cover; the trap door was then opened, allowing the aliens to climb up out of the tunnel and into the box truck without being detected. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with DHS, has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 300 U.S. convictions; more than 250 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. ###


title: Charleston Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Victor Lynn Jarrett, 74, of Charleston, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation for dealing firearms without a license. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May 2019 and March 2023, Jarrett purchased at least 79 firearms from licensed retailers and sold at least 72 of those firearms to others to make a profit. As part of his guilty plea, Jarrett admitted that he did not buy the firearms for his own personal collection, he did not have the required license when he sold them, and he sold them either from his Charleston residence or at various locations in the Charleston area. Investigators determined that Jarrett sold firearms at locations including a gas station on the East End, a flea market near Capital High School, and from his truck parked on the side of the road in Kanawha City. Several of the firearms Jarrett purchased were recovered by law enforcement at local crime scenes. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-162. ###


title: Convicted Felon Indicted on Gun Charge

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Jeremy Jovon Randolph, 37, of Jennings, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Randolph appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Randolph faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .