title: Nihilistic Violent Extremist Arrested

body_text: BOSTON – A Washington State man has been arrested and charged with allegedly threatening to murder a Massachusetts minor, distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and distributing videos of animals being crushed. Joseph Pacheco, 23, of Everett, Wash., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor; five counts of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce; and possession and distribution of animal crushing videos. The defendant was arrested this morning and will appear in the Western District of Washington this afternoon. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. It is alleged that Pacheco’s communications with a minor victim in Massachusetts and the contents of his social media accounts espoused goals shared by Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). According to the indictment, NVEs engage in criminal conduct to further the goal of bringing about society’s collapse by sowing chaos and social instability. NVEs frequently use social media to connect with individuals, particularly minors, to desensitize them to violence by breaking down societal norms regarding the commission of violent acts, normalizing the possession and distribution of CSAM as well as gore material and otherwise corrupting and grooming the individuals towards committing future acts of violence. It is alleged that Pacheco knowingly distributed CSAM to a minor victim, distributed animal crushing videos and, on five occasions, threatened to murder a minor victim: Approximate Date Description of Threat June 1, 2025 I will kill you if you ever leave me. I cannot live without you. You’re mine forever. June 6, 2025 I have your address and I’ll commit a murder suicide. July 11, 2025 Just self-harm or hit yourself to make yourself useful. I’ll f*****g rape and kill you. I know where you live. July 12, 2025 After you were messaging her without telling me Don’t do it again Cause omg. If I caught you one more time I’ll swear I’ll f*****g kill you. July 13, 2025 If you don’t add me back I promise you I’ll f*****g kill you Kill your whole family. The charge of knowingly distributing child pornography to a minor provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of animal crushing videos provides for a sentence of up to seven years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chief Paul B. Saucier of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ . The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: NIGERIAN NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO  POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY AN ALIEN ADMITTED TO THE  UNITED STATES UNDER A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that Godson Oghenebrume, age 22, a Nigerian National residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa. Oghenebrume’s conviction is punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment. He also faces a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. He may also be subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence. According to admissions made during his plea, on February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa. Based on the complaint that proceeded the indictment, on the night of February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume was in his apartment when an ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived at the apartment with the baby. Oghenebrume, who had been in the apartment with another young woman, went outside and an argument ensued between him and the mother of his child. During this argument, and while the baby was present, Oghenebrume discharged the firearm. Oghenebrume went back into his apartment. However, sometime thereafter Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend opened his apartment door, observed Oghenebrume and the other young woman in the living room, and she and Oghenebrume began to argue. That argument spilled out of the apartment, and Oghenebrume discharged the firearm more times as the mother of his child fled. Multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex. Oghenebrume then smashed her phone and took the baby, who had been present throughout the incident. Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend then approached the other woman, who was attempting to leave, and asked her for help getting the baby. She agreed to help and was able to get the child from Oghenebrume. When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring their commands, and discarded the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some shrubs. Oghenebrume was detained soon thereafter. Deputies spoke to Oghenebrume’s neighbor, who confirmed hearing shots, and stated his ears had been ringing. In a post Miranda interview, EBRSO detectives asked Oghenebrume why he had shot the firearm in the apartment complex. He claimed that he had wanted his ex-girlfriend to go home and that he had shot the gun to scare her away. This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and Lyman E. Thornton III. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Guilty of Drug Trafficking in Columbus, Georgia

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A repeat offender who prosecutors say was attempting to take over the illicit drug market in Columbus, Georgia, by obtaining methamphetamine, cocaine, and high grade marijuana from California was found guilty by a jury yesterday of drug trafficking resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in the community conducted as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels. Marquez Holloway, aka “Glizzy,” 32, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of marijuana following a two-day trial. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2026. “The jury convicted the defendant of working across state lines to traffic dangerous drugs — methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana — into his community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “These poisonous drugs drive violence and addiction. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers to restore a sense of safety to neighborhoods throughout the country.” “Illegal drugs pouring into our communities from dangerous cartels pose a serious threat to the safety of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Here in the Middle District of Georgia, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations and hold their associates accountable.” “Illicit drugs devastate our communities, resulting in significant suffering by those addicted and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to prevent this poison from finding its way onto our streets.” “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is deploying all resources available to combat criminal organizations that are destroying our communities with drugs, guns and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Rob Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This repeat offender’s actions show a deliberate attempt to seize control of an illicit drug market and expand the harm these substances inflict on our communities. DEA will not allow individuals like this to profit from addiction and violence. We will continue working with our partners to disrupt their operations and bring them to justice.” “This is a huge victory for the citizens we serve,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.” According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from Aug. 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. During this extensive investigation, agents discovered that Holloway, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to take control of the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying exceptionally high-grade marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from California. Between September and December 2023, Holloway obtained at least 110 pounds of marijuana to sell in Columbus. Evidence revealed Holloway was sold a kilogram of cocaine and attempted to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in the community during this time. Holloway is a repeat offender, with a prior state conviction in Georgia for drug trafficking. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the FBI, the DEA, and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office; the Sacramento County, California, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office. Trial Attorney Matthew P. Mattis of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.


title: Former DOE Engineer Settles Claims of Secretly Working Air Force Contractor Jobs While on Federal Payroll

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it has reached a settlement with a former Department of Energy (DOE) engineer to resolve allegations that he secretly worked for Air Force contractors while holding his full-time DOE position. Jose A. Nieves was employed as an engineer at DOE's Sandia Field Office. Between April 2021 and September 2021, he allegedly took a second job with Air Force contractor Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE) while still working full-time at DOE. After leaving PAE, he allegedly secured another position with Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) from September 2021 through July 2022, again while maintaining his DOE job. The government's investigation revealed that Nieves allegedly lied to get these contractor positions. He reportedly told PAE he had retired from DOE when applying for that job. Later, when applying to ASRC, he allegedly claimed his DOE employment had ended. In reality, he kept working at DOE during both contractor jobs. To maintain the deception, Nieves allegedly submitted false timesheets to both employers during his dual employment. Investigators found he filed 19 fraudulent timesheets with PAE, 24 with ASRC, and 33 with DOE, claiming to work full-time hours at both jobs simultaneously. This scheme allegedly allowed him to collect two government paychecks for overlapping work hours. The Air Force contractors paid Nieves based on these false timesheets and then sought reimbursement from the government, resulting in improper payments of taxpayer funds. Under the settlement agreement, Nieves will pay the United States $165,000, which includes $156,799.22 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General supported the Government’s investigation. The government’s investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Cunniff and Auditors Phillip Stella and Julie Chappell and criminal investigators from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. View the Settlement Agreement (Nieves).pdf


title: 40-month Prison Sentence for Menominee Man Convicted of  Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 1, 2025, Darryl D. Smith (age: 53), formerly of Keshena, received a 40-month sentence for a violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, came after Smith entered a guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury on December 1, 2025. After his prison sentence, Smith will be on supervised release for an additional 36 months. According to court documents, Smith, a former girlfriend, and her children were temporarily residing at a shelter on the reservation when Smith and his former girlfriend began arguing. Smith punched the woman in the nose, causing fractures and displacement to nasal bones and significant pain. The woman received medical treatment for her injuries. In sentencing the defendant, Senior Judge Griesbach noted Smith’s lengthy criminal history and the seriousness of the offense. Judge Griesbach specifically pointed out Smith’s previous convictions in Wisconsin and Menominee Tribal Court involving violence against others, and abuse of alcohol as a contributing factor in nearly all the previous convictions. Judge Griesbach described the offense as “impulsive” yet “horrible,” and referred to the amount of pain the defendant caused. Judge Griesbach noted the need to protect the public from the defendant and to send a message to others that violence will not be tolerated and will result in punishment. The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Woman Seated Next to Him on 2024 Los Angeles to Philadelphia Flight

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Vernon Baker, 41, of Linden, New Jersey, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Anita B. Brody to one count of abusive sexual contact on an aircraft. The defendant was charged with that offense by indictment in January of this year. As detailed in court filings, on October 30, 2024, aboard a commercial flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Baker made sexual advances toward the female passenger sitting next to him. After the victim refused his advances, Baker took out his penis and forcibly tried to get the victim to touch him. He then grabbed her breast over her clothing and untied her pants. Traumatized and shaken, the victim rushed to the back of the cabin, where she reported this assault to flight attendants. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3 and faces a maximum possible term of three years’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Davison and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.


title: Possession of Narcotics and Machine Gun Net D.C. Man 71-Month Prison Term

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Naseer Green, 19, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 71 months in prison for possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and possession of a fully loaded Glock handgun that had been outfitted with a conversion device to fire as a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Green pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, 2025, to a two-count Superseding Information, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 71-month prison sentence, Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Green to serve three years of supervised release. Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to court documents, on March 16, 2025, at approximately 2 a.m., MPD officers patrolling the in the Logan Circle neighborhood approached a sedan parked near a fire hydrant in a no-parking zone. Four men were inside the vehicle. Officers spotted a handgun between the legs of one of the rear passengers. After additional units responded to the scene, MPD searched the vehicle’s occupants incident to arrest, and three of the four occupants had firearms, including Green who had a Glock Model 19 9mm tucked into his waistband. Green’s Glock was outfitted with an extended magazine with a 24-round capacity and was fully loaded. Additionally the pistol was modified with a machine gun conversion device, known as a “switch,” which allowed the gun to operate as a fully automatic firearm. Officers also recovered from Green about 24 white tablets in a pill bottle; 134 blue pills in a clear bag; four grams of a white powdery substance in clear bag; and $357 in cash. The pills later tested positive for fentanyl and oxycodone. The gun was determined to have been reported stolen out of Maryland. Two of Green’s co-defendants – Wesley Hilliard and Sequan Collier – are awaiting trial. This case was investigated by the MPD and the ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate M. Naseef and Matthew W. Kinskey. 25cr81


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Threats Against President

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to approximately 10 months imprisonment for using social media to issue violent threats against the President. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between January 2 and 4, 2025, Tyler Leveque , 38, made a series of social media posts threatening to kill then President-Elect Trump. First, in a TikTok video posted on January 2, 2025, Leveque made statements indicating his disdain for several people and groups of people. Leveque stated these people should be “fucking scared,” that Leveque didn’t care if he ( Leveque ) died, and his willingness to die is what should frighten them the most. Leveque ended the video with the taunt “Run, run.” Then, on January 3, 2025, Leveque made threats on the social media platform “X” (formerly “Twitter”) stating the following: “@realDonaldTrump I got my eyes on you sir! Cant wait for your Victory rally! The 19th right!? Lol you and your rich friends are dead no threat a promise” “Hey @celebrities @ceos @elonmusk @DonaldTrump @Joemarafa its too late for yall shouldve shut down tik tok a long time ago see u on the 19thfor war!” In response to a January 2, 2025, post from President-Elect Trump, Leveque wrote “Die” Finally, on January 4, 2025, Leveque posted the following on Facebook: “Just bought my first gun bitches!” “Hey world hey America hey trump hey ceos get rich we are hunting you down! Hahaha I’m getting ready myself! Here we come it ends now” “The 19th we march the sts to our state offices and demand change they are threatening shutting down the power grid on us! Fuck them! If ur there see ya! If not! U disappoint me and wish u the best I more than likely will die or be thrown in jail but unlike u all I am fighting for what’s right!” The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI contacted Leveque at his Albuquerque residence on January 6, 2025. During this encounter, law enforcement learned that Leveque was in the process of purchasing a firearm from an Albuquerque firearms dealer. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Leveque paid for the firearm online on January 4, 2025, but had not yet finalized the purchase, nor taken possession of the gun. Although Leveque stated his belief that his online activity was constitutionally protected, law enforcement explained that his posts had crossed the line into threats, which are not protected under the First Amendment. “Threatening violence against public officials is a serious federal offense, and this office will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Today’s sentencing serves as a clear reminder that such threats carry significant, lifelong consequences, including time spent incarcerated, a permanent felony record, the loss of firearm rights, and years of federal supervision. We hope others take note and choose a different path.” “The sentencing today reminds all of us that threatening violence is not protected speech and the United States Secret Service will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue prosecution on all threats against our protectees and elected public officials.” said Ron Emmot, Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Albuquerque Resident Office. "The FBI wants to remind the public that we uphold and support every individual’s constitutional right to free speech. Free speech protects ideas and debates, but it does not and will never protect violence," said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Threatening speech that is directed toward a specific person or a group of people, whether you believe it to be anonymous or harmless, will be investigated by federal agents and we will hold them accountable." Leveque pled guilty to making threats against the President and successors to the Presidency. Upon his release from prison, Leveque will be subject to three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Resident Agent in Charge Ron Emmot of the U.S. Secret Service Albuquerque Resident Office, and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.


title: South Texas man receives 10 years for cocaine trafficking

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Rio Grande City man has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Adolfo Alvarez III pleaded guilty Aug. 28. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now sentenced Alvarez to 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On June 28, law enforcement learned of a green tractor-trailer possibly involved in narcotics trafficking. Later that day, Alvarez approached the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias driving a vehicle matching that description. Upon questioning, Alvarez stated he was “hauling produce.” At secondary inspection, an x-ray revealed irregularities. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 40 bundles of cocaine weighing 49.5 kilograms. The packages, wrapped in black tape, were hidden beneath the bottom mattress in the sleeper area. Alvarez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation along with Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bird prosecuted the case.


title: Georgia Businessman Sentenced In  International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police. The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments of sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts. Zaglin was convicted after trial in September 2025. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marchena was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the scheme in November 2025. Cosenza and Molina are awaiting sentencing. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation. Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa .


title: Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – On December 1, 2025, a Pawtucket man pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for knowingly accessing, possessing, and distributing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Gary Ethier, 60, pleaded guilty to charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. He will be sentenced on March 5, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, in November 2024, members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center received information that Ethier was discussing the sexual exploitation of minor children with another individual online and sent the individual multiple images of child pornography. On December 2, 2024, the defendant’s home was searched by members of HSI and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. As a result of the search, law enforcement located over 600 images depicting child pornography on Ethier’s electronic devices. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Roklan. The matter was investigated by HSI and the ICAC Task Force. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/


title: CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING FIREARMS AND NARCOTICS

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Terrance Josiah Fasold, 32, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines every day fighting to keep our communities safe from violent, drug dealing criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with successful prosecutions like this one to keep dangerous felons off our streets. Operation Take Back America is a promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will deploy the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the scourge of deadly drugs and criminal violence.” According to court records, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were investigating vehicle burglaries involving stolen firearms. On October 29, 2024, deputies attempted to make contact with the defendant in a Penscaola hotel parking lot. The defendant fled on foot and discarded a bag containing a large amount of fentanyl under a parked vehicle. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s hotel room and located more fentanyl, as well as methamphetamine, cocaine, multiple firearms, and ammunition. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton. 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Guilty of Drug Trafficking in Columbus

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A repeat offender who prosecutors say was attempting to take over the illicit drug market in Columbus by obtaining methamphetamine, cocaine and high-grade marijuana from California was found guilty by a jury this week of drug trafficking resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in the community conducted as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels. Marquez Holloway, aka “Glizzy,” 32, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of marijuana following a two-day trial that began on Dec. 1, before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. The defendant faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system. “Illegal drugs pouring into our communities from dangerous cartels pose a serious threat to the safety of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Here in the Middle District of Georgia, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations and hold their associates accountable.” “The jury convicted the defendant of working across state lines to traffic dangerous drugs — methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana — into his community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General, Matthew R. Galeotti. “These poisonous drugs drive violence and addiction. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers to restore a sense of safety to neighborhoods throughout the country.” “Illicit drugs devastate our communities, resulting in significant suffering by those addicted and their families,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to prevent this poison from finding its way onto our streets.” “The DEA is deploying all resources available to combat criminal organizations that are destroying our communities with drugs, guns and violence,” said Rob Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This repeat offender’s actions show a deliberate attempt to seize control of an illicit drug market and expand the harm these substances inflict on our communities. DEA will not allow individuals like this to profit from addiction and violence. We will continue working with our partners to disrupt their operations and bring them to justice.” “This is a huge victory for the citizens we serve,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.” According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from Aug. 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. During this extensive investigation, agents discovered that Holloway, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to take control of the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying exceptionally high-grade marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from California. Between September and December 2023, Holloway obtained at least 110 pounds of marijuana to sell in Columbus. Evidence revealed Holloway was sold a kilogram of cocaine and attempted to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in the community during this time. Holloway is a repeat offender, with a prior state conviction in Georgia for drug trafficking. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office; the Sacramento County, California, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew P. Mattis of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: TALLAHASSEE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE OR PERSUADE A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph Edward Hudson, 38, of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our community is fortunate to have such outstanding local and federal law enforcement officers who are committed to safeguarding our children against sexual predators like this defendant. Keeping our kids safe from sexual exploitation and victimization is one of the top priorities of my office, and my team of aggressive prosecutors will use the full force of the law to hold sex offenders, like this defendant, accountable for their disgusting crimes.” Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Tallahassee focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to exploit children in a sexual manner. During the operation, investigators identified the defendant, an adult male who was soliciting minors for sex through a social media platform. The defendant believed he was going to be engaging in sexual activity with a minor when he drove to a meeting location where he was met by law enforcement and immediately arrested. Hudson faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2026, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Checotah Resident Pleads Guilty To Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Joshua Darrin Breshears, age 33, of Checotah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by ten years to life in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The Indictment alleged that on or about May 31, 2024, Breshears knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance. The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A United States District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Breshears will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Drug Dealers who Caused Fentanyl Overdose Death  of Mille Lacs Man Sentenced to 21 Years and 10 Years

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL – Two defendants who distributed fentanyl in Minnesota, resulting in the death of a man on the Mille Lacs Reservation, have been sentenced to lengthy sentences in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Dimitric Timopkin Wilson, 48, was sentenced to 261 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release, and Allen Lee Goodwin, 51, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release. According to evidence presented at Wilson’s May 2025 trial, Wilson, a drug dealer, obtained fentanyl from a source in Detroit, Michigan, and distributed it in Wisconsin and Minnesota to lower-level traffickers, including Goodwin. In July 2023, Goodwin sold fentanyl to a 38-year-old man living on the Mille Lacs Reservation. The next morning, the victim injected the fentanyl and died minutes later. Additionally, in October 2023, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper pulled Wilson over for a traffic stop. During the stop, the trooper found hundreds of grams of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and crack cocaine hidden in a compartment of Wilson’s car and arrested Wilson. Finally, less than a year after being indicted, and while on pretrial release, Wilson sold fentanyl to a police informant. A jury convicted Wilson of one count each of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and distributing fentanyl while on pretrial release. This was Wilson’s second federal drug conviction, as he was convicted in 2008 in the Eastern District of Michigan for conspiracy to distribute heroin. In October 2025, U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced Wilson to a total of 261 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and distributing fentanyl while on pretrial release. Judge Frank specifically found that the death of the Mille Lacs man was a foreseeable result of Wilson’s fentanyl trafficking and that Wilson therefore bore responsibility for the man’s death. The sentences run consecutively, and the total sentence to 261 months in prison is well above the sentencing guidelines range. Goodwin pled guilty in a separate proceeding to distributing fentanyl resulting in death. On December 3, 2025, Judge Frank sentenced Goodwin to 120 months’ imprisonment and 4 years’ supervised release. Judge Frank noted the “devastation that fentanyl is having” on Minnesota’s communities and said that in his decades as a state and federal judge, he had “seen nothing quite like it.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department, the East Central Drug Task Force, the Sawyer County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Lac Courte Oreilles (Wisconsin) Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Campbell Warner and Allen A. Slaughter, Jr., prosecuted the case.


title: Battle Ground, Washington Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Battle Ground, Washington woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Megan Farra, 39, pleaded guilty on December 2, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute various schedule IV-controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute various schedule IV-controlled substances. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, Farra was part of a drug-distribution network that included several co-conspirators working for a drug organization based overseas. Members of the group in the United States received bulk shipments of pills from their international source, repacked the drugs into smaller quantities, and mailed them to buyers throughout the U.S. In return, they were paid for their role in facilitating the distribution scheme. The conspiracy was responsible for the importation and distribution of tens of thousands of pills containing schedule IV-controlled substances as well as non-controlled prescription drugs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron. The matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).


title: Three companies settle allegations they applied for and received pandemic related loans that were illegal

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Three different companies settled allegations they applied for and accepted millions of dollars in pandemic loans for which they were not qualified, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The companies have agreed to pay back a total of more than $5.4 million in restitution and penalties. The settlements are not an admission of guilt. The first settlement payment is from Lotte Duty Free Guam LLC. A division of Lotte Hotel Holdings USA LLC. According to the settlement agreement, Lotte Duty Free Guam LLC received two Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. In its application for the loans, Lotte -which operates a duty-free store at the Guam airport, claimed to have fewer than 500 employees making them eligible for the loans. However, the Guam store is part of a much larger company which has too many employees to qualify for the loans. Lotte will pay $3,437,549 to resolve the matter. An Everett, Washington company that is a subsidiary of multinational aerospace conglomerate UMBRAGROUP S.p.A will pay $1,424,996 to resolve allegations it had too many employees to qualify for the SBA PPP loan it received. Finally, Podworks Corporation will pay the government $632,958 for an SBA PPP loan the company received. In April 2025, a relator filed suit in U.S. District Court in Seattle alleging that Podworks did not qualify for the PPP loan because some of its business involves the sale of cannabis which is illegal under federal law. The settlement resolves the allegation. These civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. These resolutions were negotiated by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Waldrop and Kayla Stahman.


title: Ohio Man Convicted of $1.2M in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Portage County man who orchestrated a financial conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to prison. Mustafa Ayoub Diab, 42, of Ravenna, Ohio, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., after a federal jury found him guilty in March on 12 counts of theft of government funds, 12 counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of aggravated identity theft, and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and to launder monetary instruments. Diab was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,213,860 in restitution. Judge Oliver imposed the sentence Dec. 1. According to court documents, Diab owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Akron, Ohio, along with co-conspirator, Elizabeth Lorraine Robinson, 34, also of Ravenna. From around June 2020 to August 2021, Diab submitted fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment benefits and small business assistance for many of his business clients. Without their knowledge, he lied about their employment and their status as small business owners on applications to qualify for pandemic funds and benefits such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. When the pandemic relief funds were deposited into bank accounts that he opened and controlled for his clients without their knowledge, he immediately withdrew the funds in cash for his personal use. Diab bought real estate, cars and took international trips. Among the evidence presented at the nearly week-long trial, were fraudulent applications that he submitted using the names of nearly 80 victims. These applications caused the federal government to pay out more than $1.2 million in pandemic benefits that were deposited into the various bank accounts that Diab controlled. Co-defendant Robinson previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release thereafter. She was also ordered to pay $183,450 in restitution both joint and severally with Diab. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Akron Field Office. The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Vanessa V. Healy and Brenna L. Fasko .


title: Illegal alien and Atlanta man face federal charges after massive seizures of methamphetamine concealed in fruit shipments

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: Atlanta – Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico who previously served time in federal prison, and Nelson Enrique Sorto face federal drug charges related to a recent seizure of a combined 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in blackberry shipments at locations in Southeast Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia. “These repeat offenders, including an illegal alien, allegedly attempted to conceal and traffic an enormous quantity of deadly methamphetamine in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We are thankful for the quick action of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who apprehended these individuals and stopped nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets.” “The FBI will never waver in our commitment to disrupt traffickers and prevent their dangerous drugs from reaching our streets, no matter where they try to hide them," said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Thanks to the quick response and dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners, these repeat offenders will be held responsible for their crimes.” “This indictment serves as a clear message that drug trafficking has no place in our communities. It shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together with determination and purpose. We remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to pursue and disrupt the plans of those who threaten our communities through drug trafficking,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “These arrests and the confiscation of this massive amount of methamphetamine represent a major disruption to the criminals who traffic this dangerous poison in our communities,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly in this case to hold accountable those who threaten the well-being of people in our county and communities across Georgia. I’m incredibly proud of the teamwork displayed by our investigators and our state and federal partners.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On November 20, 2025, law enforcement surveilled a cold storage warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, and observed three refrigerated box trucks parked outside. Agents followed one of the trucks as it traveled in tandem with an SUV, driven by Sorto, to a residence in southeast Atlanta. Sorto then opened the rear door of the truck and examined the storage area and its contents. Shortly after midnight, Sorto departed in the SUV with two passengers. Georgia State Patrol troopers initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and located two firearms and several containers of blackberries in the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the box truck parked outside the Atlanta residence, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents assisted by the FBI recovered approximately 924 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in pallets of blackberries. At the same time, another team of federal agents and sheriff’s deputies followed a second box truck from the cold storage facility to a gas station in Gainesville. Solorio-Alvarado arrived, picked up the box truck driver, and departed the gas station. After a K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, agents searched the abandoned box truck and recovered approximately 661 pounds of methamphetamine hidden amongst pallets of blackberries. Solorio-Alvarado was later arrested at his Gainesville residence as he attempted to flee from the back of the home. Inside the home, deputies found keys to the abandoned truck. The investigation revealed that Solorio-Alvarado, an illegal alien from Mexico, has a prior federal conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Solorio-Alvarado served 17 years of imprisonment for those offenses. Law enforcement also learned that Sorto is currently on probation for a 2024 conviction for possession of methamphetamine in Hall County, Georgia. Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025, on charges of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, of Atlanta, Ga., was charged in a criminal complaint on December 1, 2025, with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment and criminal complaint only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Georgia State Patrol, and the Hall County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Keen and Dwayne Brown, Jr. are prosecuting the cases. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood. These prosecutions are also 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia . The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Anchorage man sentenced to 30 years for producing child pornography

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possessing and producing child pornography of multiple minors known to him, including images of his hands-on sexual abuse of one of the minors. According to court documents, in 2017, Richard Dougherty, 43, began sexually abusing a minor under the age of 16. Dougherty took photos and videos of the sexual abuse, creating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Between January 2003 and April 2023, Dougherty possessed, accessed with intent to view, received and distributed CSAM. Some of the CSAM Dougherty distributed were visual depictions, including video, of him sexually abusing the minor victim. Throughout the course of the investigation, the defendant knowingly possessed over 600 images of CSAM. On May 27, 2025, Dougherty pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. “Mr. Dougherty’s crimes are despicable and perverse. This 30-year sentence ensures that the public and Alaska’s children are protected from his deviancy for the maximum number of years permitted under the law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman. “I want to commend the survivors for showing extraordinary strength. I also want to thank U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Alaska State Troopers for their diligent investigative work that helped bring this case to justice. We will continue to work together to hold accountable predators who target our children.” “The exploitation of children is one of the most reprehensible crimes that we encounter,” said Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes. “The Alaska State Troopers will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect Alaskans, keep our children safe, and hold offenders accountable.” The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. ###


title: Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JATNIEL MORALES GONZALEZ, 28, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified Joseph Giovanni Soto as the leader of a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment. During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses. Joseph Giovanni Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. In August 2023, investigators saw a reemergence of suspicious parcels coming from Puerto Rico to the New Britain and Meriden areas, and then to a Waterbury address where Morales Gonzalez was living. Investigators determined that Morales Gonzalez and Soto had worked together prior to Soto’s arrest, and that Morales Gonzalez had assumed control of the Connecticut side of the cocaine trafficking network after Soto’s arrest. Investigators identified several new drop addresses for suspicious parcels and observed Morales Gonzalez and others retrieving the parcels and bringing them to Morales Gonzalez’s residence before they were ultimately delivered to the Bronx. During this part of the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified 98 additional suspicious parcels and seized and searched four of them. Each of the searched packages contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. On June 26, 2024, a court-authorized search of Morales Gonzalez’s residence revealed approximately two kilograms of cocaine, a loaded handgun, and a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 Shield firearm, and two drug ledgers. On September 2, 2025, Morales Gonzales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine. Released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on January 21. Joseph Giovanni Soto pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on May 9, 2025, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. Ramon Soto pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on January 8, 2025, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Brian Martinez Rivera, 29, of Torrington, and Luis Torres Ortiz, 24, of New Britain, have also pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement in this conspiracy and await sentencing. This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.


title: ‘King’ of Violent Haitian Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Hostage Taking of 16 American Christian Missionaries

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joly Germine, 34, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life in prison without the possibility of supervised release for his role in orchestrating the 2021 hostage taking of 16 American citizens, including five children, and holding most of them hostage for 62 days, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The victims were part of a missionary organization, Christian Aid Ministries, and were on their way back from working at an orphanage when they were taken hostage in October 2021. Germine, aka “Yonyon,” was found guilty by a federal jury on May 16, following a 10-day trial in the District of Columbia, of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and 16 counts of hostage taking of a U.S. national for ransom. In addition to life in prison, Judge John D. Bates ordered Germine to pay a fine of $1,700. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the Miami Field Office. “The missionary group included 12 adults and five young children, including a 6-year-old, 3-year-old, and an 8-month-old. Sixteen of the victims were U.S. citizens from Christian Aid Ministries,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “This sentencing makes clear that Germine’s scheme to win freedom for himself by using Christians as pawns backfired.” The former leader and self-described “king” of the notoriously violent Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo, Germine had previously pleaded guilty to his role in a gun trafficking conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws and the laundering of the gang’s funds derived from ransoms paid for other U.S. hostage victims. For those crimes, he was sentenced in June 2024 to 35 years in federal prison. According to court documents, Germine’s gang, 400 Mawozo, operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets area to the east of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Germine directed the gang’s operations from prison using unmonitored cell phones and was constantly in touch with other 400 Mawozo leaders, most of whom were his relatives. Germine controlled the gang’s finances, supplied the gang’s weapons, and otherwise directed operations. On October 16, 2021, 17 Mennonite missionaries from Christian Aid Ministries, an Ohio-based missionary aid organization, were returning from visiting an orphanage when they were stopped by 400 Mawozo’s armed and masked soldiers. Many of the gang’s soldiers brandished guns supplied by Germine. The gang drove the missionaries to a field and robbed them, while consulting by phone with Germine, their leader. The gang took the missionaries to a building in a rural area, held them at gunpoint, and demanded ransom of $1 million each for their return. In postings on social media, the gang threatened to kill all the hostages if the ransom was not paid. Early on in the negotiations, senior gang leadership said that, in lieu of the ransom monies, 400 Mawozo would accept Germine’s release from prison in exchange for the hostages. On November 20, 2021, two hostages were released when one of them was suffering from life-threatening health conditions. On December 5, 2021, 400 Mawozo released three of the hostages, two adults who had significant medical issues and the six-year old child, after receiving a $350,000 ransom payment. Though the gang had stated they would release all the hostages for the ransom paid, at Germine’s direction, the gang thereafter refused to release any more hostages, hoping instead for his own release from Haitian jail in exchange for the hostages’ release. On December 16, 2021, the remaining hostages escaped under cover of darkness while their captors were distracted, walking for five hours through the Haitian bush until they were out of the gang’s territory. They were received by the FBI, which had deployed to Haiti and arranged to immediately transport them from Haiti before the gang could respond to their escape. In total, most of the missionaries were held for 62 days. The evidence at trial showed that Germine directed the initial kidnapping, arranged for the locations where hostages were held, and set the $17 million ransom demand, knowing it was too high to be paid and hoping it would result in the Haitian government negotiating his release from prison in exchange for the missionaries. The evidence also showed that Germine was involved in or consulted on the decisions to release victims. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. During the law enforcement response to the kidnapping, extraordinary assistance was provided by various agencies in a whole-of-government response, including the Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Defense, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the government of Haiti, the government of the Dominican Republic, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Department of State and the Embassy in Port-au-Prince, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida’s Special Prosecutions Section. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Thomas N. Saunders with invaluable assistance from Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Victim Advocate Yvonne Bryant, and Victim Witness Coordinators Tonya Jones and Guisela Castillo. 22cr161


title: Former Loveland, Colorado, Police Department Officer Found Guilty of a Civil Rights Violation for Sexual Assault of a Minor

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER - Following a trial that lasted more than two weeks, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Dylan Miller, 30, who faced a civil rights charge for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty as a police officer with the Loveland Police Department in Colorado. The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer the evening of August 3, 2023, through the early morning of August 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Marv Massey of the FBI’s Denver Field Office made the announcement. The U.S. Marshals Service took Miller into custody following the jury’s verdict. Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the civil rights offense. Sentencing will be set for early 2026. The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Resisting Federal Law Enforcement Officers

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national living in Rhode Island was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island for resisting federal law enforcement officers as they attempted to execute an immigration arrest warrant, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Cristian Aroldo Pineda Diaz, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to time served. Pineda Diaz pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to resisting a lawful arrest by federal officers. According to court documents, on July 15, 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers and other supporting federal agents observed Pineda Diaz in the vicinity of College Street and Benefit Street in downtown Providence and attempted to execute the arrest warrant. Pineda Diaz refused verbal commands, attempted to flee, collided with a federal agent, and resisted efforts to gain control of his limbs, stiffening his body and concealing his arms under his body. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys G. Michael Seaman and Julie M. White. The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man pled guilty today to wire fraud in a scheme to fraudulently obtain a $312,500 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Jarrell Curne, 36, was the owner of a Missouri limited liability company called Hustle Ova Everything Entertainment (Hustle). On May 13, 2020, Curne submitted a $312,500 PPP loan application to U.S. Bank on behalf of Hustle. In the loan application, Curne falsely stated that, in 2019, Hustle had an annual payroll of $1.5 million and 100 employees. In reality, Hustle had no eligible employees or payroll whatsoever. Based on the fraudulent representations Curne made in the Hustle PPP loan application, on May 15, 2020, U.S. Bank transferred $312,500 to a bank account controlled by Curne in the name of Hustle. In furtherance of his wire-fraud scheme and in an effort for the Small Business Administration to forgive the Hustle PPP loan, Curne falsely certified that the loan proceeds were used for permissible business purposes under the PPP. In reality, the funds were used by Curne for personal expenses. Under federal statutes, Curne is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on a set of advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul S. Becker and James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.


title: Hammond Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Fernando Porras Jr., 64 years old, of Hammond, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Porras Jr. was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on January 22, 2024, Porras Jr. sold methamphetamine and cocaine at a gas station in Gary, Indiana. He also sold methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on several occasions in Dolton, Illinois, and Gary, from May 2023 and March 2024. Porras Jr. has a prior conviction for dealing in LSD. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake County Combined Task Force - Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.


title: Trucking Company Operator Sentenced to Prison For Tax Evasion

body_text: CLEVELAND – A trucking company operator from Stark County who hid income from the U.S. government in attempts to not pay taxes has been sentenced to federal prison. Alice F. Martin, 66, of Louisville, Ohio, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, after pleading guilty in August to Attempt to Evade and Defeat Income Tax, and Attempt to Evade and Defeat Payment of Tax. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $1,971,660.86 in restitution. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Dec. 2. According to court documents, Martin attempted to evade the payment of taxes, penalties, and interest tied to a trucking company that she owned and operated under the name of Martin Logistics. The tax evasion scheme consisted of a plan to phase out the company after it became burdened with tax debt as a strategy to avoid paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, Martin intended to continue operating her trucking business through a new company, TSA Transportation. Income that TSA Transportation received was then deposited into a bank account for another business entity that Martin owned and controlled, A.F. Martin. In addition, she placed Martin Logistic’s assets, such as trucks and trailers, under the name of yet another company she established, Martin Global. IRS investigators found that from around 2013 to 2018, Martin directed approximately $18 million in gross receipts from TSA Transportation to be deposited into the bank account of a different company, A.F. Martin. The investigation concluded that she did not report $3.6 million in taxable income and failed to pay approximately $1.2 million in federal taxes due between 2013 and 2018. IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment. The prosecution in this case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Brydle for the Northern District of Ohio. IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.


title: Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Preparing and  Filing False Income Tax Returns

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to preparing and filing false income tax returns for others. Tanisha Spencer, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill Morris to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return. According to court documents, Spencer prepared income tax returns for pay for persons who contacted her via Facebook. She prepared the income tax returns at 4300 Bellefontaine, Kansas City, Missouri, and the returns were electronically filed with the Internal Revenue Service in Kansas City, Missouri. The Federal income tax returns prepared by Spencer included fraudulent Sick Leave and Family Leave credits, illegitimate fuel tax credits, and fraudulently inflated federal tax withholdings. By including these and other fraudulent items on the client’s tax returns, Spencer was able to manufacture substantial refunds to her clients that they would not have been entitled to if the returns had been accurately prepared. Spencer electronically filed returns and charged her clients a return preparation fee of between $500 and $14,840 per return. The 156 returns that Spencer prepared claimed $4,047,531 in refunds, of which the IRS paid out $689,872. Under federal statutes, Spencer is subject to a sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Law Enforcement With its 2025 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey honored several federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals on Wednesday, for their outstanding contributions to investigations and prosecutions in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The Office’s 2025 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards were presented during a ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington and recognized exceptional work in a number of cases involving Office priority areas, including violent crime, drug trafficking, overdose deaths, money laundering, government program fraud, and child exploitation. “The results we obtain in court to keep Eastern District of Kentucky communities safe and to preserve taxpayer dollars are only possible because of the exceptional work of our law enforcement partners,” said Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “The men and women recognized today stand out for their tremendous courage and character in the pursuit of justice.” The following law enforcement officers and organizations were honored: Ted Jones, Special Agent, FBI Matt Resch, Special Agent FBI Ben Hughes, Staff Operations Specialist, FBI Josh Smith, Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Kimberly Kidd, Special Agent, FBI Michael Frazee, Deputy, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Task Force Officer, DEA Todd Tremaine, Special Agent ATF John Barnett, Special Agent, ATF Jason McCowan, Detective, Manchester Police Department; Task Force Officer, ATF Brian Lewis, Deputy, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office; Task Force Officer, ATF Stanley Williams, Task Force Officer, FBI; University of Kentucky Police Department Jeff Monnin, Special Agent, U.S. Department of Agriculture- Office of Inspector General Diane Ansley, Special Investigator, U.S. Department of Agriculture RMA Tressa Whittington, Forensic Accountant, FBI Jared Volk, Supervisory Special Agent, IRS Chris Boyd, Detective, Newport Police Department; Task Force Officer, DEA – END –


title: Maryville Man Pleads Guilty To Damaging And Attempting To Destroy An Interstate Gas Pipeline Facility

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On December 3, 2025, Christopher Kyle Duke, 36, of Maryville, Tennessee, entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan to one count of damaging and attempting to destroy an interstate gas pipeline facility. Sentencing has been set for April 15, 2026, at 2pm, before Judge Varlan in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee. Duke faces a term of up to 20 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to three years. As part of the written plea agreement, Duke waived an indictment by a federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty to the aforementioned charge. According to filed court documents, Enbridge is an international natural gas supplier that services approximately 25% of the natural gas consumed across the United States. East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge and operates a metering and regulating station in Maryville, TN. This station delivers natural gas to commercial and residential consumers in Blount County. On May 9, 2025, Duke scaled the chain-link and barbed-wire fence surrounding the station and recklessly damaged equipment used to monitor, meter, and regulate the transmission of natural gas, causing thousands of dollars in damage and loss. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Maryville Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. represented the United States. ###


title: Two Virginia Men Arrested for Conspiring to Destroy Government Databases

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two Virginia men were arrested today for their roles in a conspiracy to destroy government databases hosted by a federal government contractor, among other crimes. “These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to attack government databases and steal sensitive government information. Their actions jeopardized the security of government systems and disrupted agencies’ ability to serve the American people,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division remains committed to investigating and prosecuting those who compromise sensitive information and threaten the integrity of government operations.” “The malicious and intentional criminal actions allegedly committed by the defendants in this case undermine the ability of the United States to serve our citizens effectively and transparently,” said U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This office will hold accountable anyone who abuses the trust placed in them to safeguard vital government information, and we will prosecute those who deliberately compromise our data infrastructure.” “Destroying government records and data is unlawful and can jeopardize public safety and the integrity of agency operations,” said Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Inspector General Jennifer L. Fain. “Such misuse and exploitation by government contractors will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of wrongdoing that pose a threat to federal agency programs and operations, and services they provide to the American people.” “Federal contractors who abuse their positions will be held accountable for their actions,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D. “The actions of individuals like Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter are threats to our national security. The Office of Inspector General remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring perpetrators to justice.” According to court documents, brothers Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, both 34, of Alexandria, Virginia, were indicted on Nov. 13 for conspiring to delete databases used to store U.S. government information. Both men were federal contractors. Following the termination of their employment, the brothers allegedly sought to harm the company and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, issuing commands to prevent others from modifying the databases before deletion, deleting databases, stealing information, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. The indictment alleges that on or about Feb. 18, Muneeb Akhter deleted approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information. Many of these databases contained records and documents related to Freedom of Information Act matters administered by federal government departments and agencies, as well as sensitive investigative files of federal government components. Court documents further allege that approximately one minute after deleting a DHS database, Muneeb Akhter asked an artificial intelligence tool how to clear system logs following the deletion of databases. According to the indictment, the brothers also discussed cleaning out their house in anticipation of a law enforcement search. The company laptops used by both men were wiped before being returned to the federal contractor. Muneeb Akhter also allegedly obtained information from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission without authorization after he was fired from the contractor. He is further alleged to have stolen copies of IRS information stored on a virtual machine, including federal tax information and other identifying information of at least 450 individuals. The indictment also charges Sohaib Akhter with trafficking in a password that could access a computer used by and for the government of the United States. Muneeb Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and to destroy records, two counts of computer fraud, theft of U.S. government records, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Sohaib Akhter is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and to destroy records and computer fraud (password trafficking). If convicted, Muneeb Akhter faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count and a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison on the remaining charges. If convicted, Sohaib Akhter faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison. The FDIC Office of Inspector General (OIG), DHS OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Agriculture OIG; Department of Education OIG; Environmental Protection Agency OIG; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission OIG; Federal Reserve Board OIG; Department of Health and Human Services OIG; DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG; Department of the Interior OIG; International Development Finance Corporation OIG; Department of Justice OIG; Department of Labor OIG; Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG; Small Business Administration OIG; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs OIG; United States Capitol Police; and Fairfax County Virginia Police Department. Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Southern New Mexico Medical Spa Operator Settles Allegations of Controlled-Substance Recordkeeping Violations

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – The United States has reached a civil settlement with Luis Carlos Cordova , operator of Limitless Aesthetics and Healthcare in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to resolve allegations that he failed to meet federal controlled-substance recordkeeping requirements under the Controlled Substances Act. According to the settlement agreement, Cordova committed multiple recordkeeping violations over a two-year period. For the clinic’s 2021 biennial inventory, he allegedly failed to record the required count or volume of the controlled substances on hand and could not account for 240 missing dosages of controlled substances. For the 2022 biennial inventory, he again failed to document the required count, volume, and finished form of controlled substances and failed to account for an additional four missing dosage units. Per the settlement agreement, Cordova also allegedly failed to record the actual dates of receipt for controlled-substance shipments delivered on four occasions between 2020 and 2021, and that he failed to document the bottle size for 269 dispensing-log entries between September 30, 2020, and May 15, 2022. Federal law requires practitioners to maintain complete, accurate, and current records for all controlled substances they receive, store, and dispense so that inventories can be fully tracked and audited. “Accurate recordkeeping is the backbone of the Controlled Substances Act and the clearest way to prevent diversion,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “This office and our DEA partners will keep enforcing those requirements without exception so New Mexicans stay protected from the risks of missing or unaccounted-for controlled substances.” “The men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to utilize every tool at its disposal to hold those who betray the American trust,” said Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “When a DEA registration is issued, practitioners are held to the highest standard; they are expected to properly handle and document the handling of controlled substances.” Under the settlement, Cordova will pay $70,000 to resolve the alleged civil violations. The agreement includes no admission of liability but resolves the United States’ civil monetary claims arising from this conduct. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration supported the Government’s investigation. The governments investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Cunniff and Auditors Julie Chappell and Phillip Stella. View the Settlement Agreement (Cordova).pdf


title: Arizona Man Sentenced for Assaulting Baby

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for the assault of a one-month-old child. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, in October 2022, Logan Nelson , 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted a one-month-old baby multiple times. As a result of the final incident on October 15, 2022, the baby suffered an ulna fracture on their left arm and multiple other fractures in the legs and ribs. Nelson subsequently pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Nelson will be subject to three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Student Doctor Sentenced for Child Sexual Exploitation

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A former student doctor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing and possessing child sex abuse material. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, between June 2020, and February 2024, Kevin Weiss , 29, produced child sexual abuse imagery of a minor victim. Further, between December 2023, and March 2024, Weiss possessed child sex abuse material involving prepubescent minors. Weiss pled guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Upon his release from prison, Weiss will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today. The Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the New Mexico State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting 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 Justice.gov/PSC.