title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun Sales

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Brown, age 28, of Syracuse, New York, was sentenced on February 23, 2026, to 132 months’ imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announced the sentence. In pleading guilty, Brown admitted that between December 2024 and May 2025 he sold three pistols and more than 90 grams of methamphetamine to someone he later learned was an undercover police officer. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense in Onondaga County Court, for which he served one year in prison. In addition to the 132-month sentence of imprisonment in this case, Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes sentenced Brown to 4 years of supervised release, which will begin after he completes his term of imprisonment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “Drugs and guns are a lethal combination, and we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute drug traffickers who illegally possess, use, and sell firearms to further their criminal activities. I am proud of the great work from our team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and our legal assistants for their outstanding investigative work and continued commitment to public service. I thank the ATF and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their continued partnership in keeping our communities safe.” Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo said, “Despite a prior felony drug conviction, this defendant chose to distribute methamphetamine and illegally sell firearms — a dangerous combination that threatens public safety. This 132-month sentence reflects the seriousness of those crimes. Through the strong partnership of ATF NY Syracuse, the New York State Police, the Syracuse Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, a repeat offender is now off the streets.” ATF investigated this Project Safe Neighborhoods case with assistance from the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit and from the Syracuse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Firearm Possession CONCORD – A Plaistow felon pleaded guilty today in federal court for unlawfully possessing two firearms, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Jonathan Balamotis, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante. Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Samantha D. Elliott. “Despite being a convicted felon for serious offenses, the defendant chose to disregard the law and is now being held accountable for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Our office will continue to pursue significant consequences for repeat offenders who threaten public safety.” “Balamotis has previously been convicted of felony assault and arson, demonstrating complete disregard for the safety of others. A firearm in his hands is an immediate and inherent risk to the public, making him the exact type of defendant ATF prioritizes for arrest and federal prosecution,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Greco. According to the public record, Balamotis was previously sentenced to 2-4 years of imprisonment in New Hampshire State Prison for Arson and Second-Degree Assault. After he was sentenced, Balamotis committed nine separate probation violations. A few years later, Balamotis was sentenced to another felony in 2015 for possession of a Class A Controlled Substance. Balamotis was convicted again in 2017 for another Possession of a Class A Controlled Substance in Massachusetts. On October 21, 2024, the Plaistow Police Department executed two residential search warrants related to a separate investigation. While that investigation was ongoing, Plaistow Police Department and ATF agents learned that the defendant attempted to purchase a gun on June 25, 2025. The charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person provides a maximum prison term of 15 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than 3 years of supervised release. 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. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. The Plaistow Police Department provided valuable assistance. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin prosecuted the case.


title: Miami Gardens Man Charged with Shooting at Uber Driver and Possession of Illegal Firearms and Narcotics

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Miami Gardens man made his first appearance in federal court on Friday after a grand jury in Miami charged him with drug crimes, using and firing a gun as part of the drug crime, and illegal firearm possession by a prior felon relating to his prior felony conviction. “This defendant shot repeatedly at an innocent man who stopped a crime as it was happening,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It was through the bravery of the Uber driver that police were alerted and able stop the movement of almost a kilogram of pure cocaine from hitting the streets of Miami. The Criminal Division will pursue violent drug dealers in every city in America.” “There is a real and dangerous link between drug trafficking and gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “According to the indictment, this defendant arranged a drug deal and then fired multiple shots at a rideshare driver. That kind of alleged conduct turns a drug crime into a life-threatening situation in seconds. Federal law treats that combination seriously, with a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years if convicted.” According to court documents, on or about Oct. 29, 2024, Lester Leon Sanders, 47, allegedly reserved an Uber ride share. When the driver arrived, Sanders and another man loaded three suitcases in the Uber. While this was happening, the Uber driver saw a firearm magazine fall out of Sanders’s clothing. Sanders got into the Uber and he and the driver drove off. Shortly thereafter, Sanders ordered the driver to stop the car. Sanders got out of the vehicle and began shouting. The driver, concerned with what he had observed, drove off without Sanders but with the luggage and other belongings still in the car. Sanders shouted at the Uber driver and fired a gun approximately five times as the Uber driver sped away. The driver then flagged down police and relayed what had happened. Law enforcement arrested Sanders a short time later. Inside of the Uber, police recovered a loaded, large-capacity firearm magazine, 929 grams of almost pure cocaine, six pounds of marijuana, and more ammunition, as well as drug paraphernalia, such as a weight scale and multiple small transparent bags. They also found shell casings in the vicinity of where Sanders fired at the Uber. If convicted, Sanders faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case with assistance provided by the Miami Gardens Police Department. Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burns and Jinah Chang of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case no. 26-cr-20029. ###


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Pizza Restaurant and Discharging a Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – Eugene Campbell IV (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with two Jacksonville restaurant robberies. Campbell faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to two life terms plus 20 years, in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, on August 4, 2025, Campbell entered a pizza restaurant in Jacksonville, discharged a sawed-off rifle into the ceiling, and demanded money from the employees at gunpoint. He escaped with approximately $500. The next day, Campbell entered another pizza restaurant in Jacksonville, discharged his firearm into the wall, demanded money from the employees at gunpoint, and escaped with approximately $700. Law enforcement conducted ballistics analyses of the shell casings recovered at both scenes, which showed that the rounds had been fired from the same gun that had also been used during another incident in St. Johns County. Investigators connected the robberies to Campbell by interviewing Campbell’s associates and reviewing surveillance footage obtained from the victims and neighboring businesses. Officers from Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested Campbell on August 6, 2025, he subsequently admitted to the robberies. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: New Jersey Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding an Evansville Business

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Marsha L. Jester, 69, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, has been sentenced to one and a half years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Jester has also been ordered to pay $231,589 in restitution. According to court documents, Jester stole nearly $500,000 over a seven-year period while employed with companies that entrusted her with managing daily operations. She exploited her positions of trust by creating fake vendors, fabricating invoices, and falsifying records to divert company funds for personal use. From 2019 through 2022, Jester worked for a New Jersey-based business that places Site Managers at client locations to oversee day-to-day operations. Although employed by the service provider, Site Managers worked on-site at client businesses and were responsible for sourcing and ordering products, approving invoices for payment, and serving as liaisons between clients and vendors. In September 2021, Jester was assigned as a Site Manager for a food service provider in Evansville, Indiana. Her role gave her broad autonomy to facilitate and report transactions between the client and its vendors. Jester used this authority to orchestrate a fraud scheme involving a fictitious vendor she had created, “Global Solutions, Inc.” She submitted false invoices claiming Global Solutions had delivered products to the client, when in fact no goods were provided. To conceal the fraud, she entered fake inventory into the system. Her employer paid the invoices and then billed the Evansville client for the same amount, plus an upcharge. Jester submitted 13 fraudulent invoices, amounting to $87,356.31, while working as a Site Manager for the Evansville business. Once payments were made to Global Solutions, she accessed the funds through the company’s Square account. She used the stolen money for personal expenses, including purchases at Target, QVC, Massage Envy, IV Therapy Solutions, and Nail Gallery, as well as a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The government presented evidence that Jester stole a total of $489,489.54 from five businesses while working as a Site Manager. Over the course of the scheme, Jester submitted a total of 119 fraudulent invoices through Global Solutions and another sham business, “Master Products Company.” “Marsha Jester abused her position of trust to orchestrate a calculated and prolonged fraud scheme,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Her actions not only betrayed the companies that relied on her integrity, but also undermined the systems designed to protect them. This office remains committed to holding accountable those who exploit their access for personal gain.” “Fraud may seem invisible, but its effects are real and damaging. This case demonstrates the consequences of exploiting trust for personal gain,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI remains committed to pursuing those who commit fraud to ensure they are held accountable.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Navy Chief Petty Officer sentenced to 25 years in prison for creating child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Navy Chief Petty Officer was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, in December 2023, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Shane Matthew Harlacher, 39, used Facebook Messenger to send CSAM to another Facebook user. An investigation revealed that Harlacher, who was stationed in Gaeta, Italy, and previously lived in Virginia Beach, had used Facebook to share videos of bestiality and other sexually explicit images. In April 2024, NCIS searched Harlacher, his residence in Italy, and his workspace and berthing aboard the USS Mount Whitney. In his immediate possession was a cellphone containing approximately 112 video files and 32 image files of CSAM, including a video of a toddler being sexually assaulted. It also contained numerous video and image files depicting surreptitious recordings of a 13-year-old victim, Jane Doe. Harlacher created these recordings of Jane Doe at the bathroom of his home in Virginia Beach. NCIS seized three MicroSD cards from Harlacher's residence in Italy in April 2024 that contained surreptitious videos of Jane Doe recorded in the bathroom. Investigators seized another cellphone that contained the same videos of Jane Doe found on the other devices. NCIS also seized a one terabyte flash drive that contained CSAM, which Harlacher had transported from Virginia Beach to Italy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-63.


title: Venezuelan National Found Guilty on 5 Counts in Sex Trafficking of a Minor Case

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted a Venezuelan national Monday on five counts related to the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old starting in Columbia and extending to Richmond, Kentucky and San Antonio, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez, 23, harbored, provided, transported, obtained, advertised, and maintained a 16-year-old undocumented Venezuelan orphan. Co-conspirator Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez, 21, began a relationship with the girl when the child was 13 years old and living with her adopted parents in Colombia. Ramirez-Fernandez was 17 years old at the time. The two crossed illegally into the United States in December 2022, residing in Richmond, Kentucky. Perez-Martinez, a friend of Ramirez-Fernandez from Venezuela, crossed illegally into the U.S. in December 2023 and joined them in Kentucky in June 2024. Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez decided to take their victim to San Antonio where they would have her engage in prostitution. Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez intended to keep any money she earned. The three traveled via bus in July 2024 from Richmond to San Antonio for that purpose. An investigation revealed that Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez accompanied the minor to approximately six different motels in San Antonio from July 19 to July 30, 2024. The three shared a room at each location, paid for in cash by proceeds from the child’s commercial sex acts. On Oct. 1, 2025, Perez-Martinez was charged in a five-count indictment with aiding and abetting the sex trafficking of children, aiding and abetting the benefitting from sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to sex traffic children, aiding and abetting coercion and enticement of a minor, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The fees collected from the minor’s commercial sex acts were knowingly used by Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez for food, shelter, transportation, and other items. The two conspirators lived solely off of the proceeds for approximately six weeks. Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez were arrested on July 30, 2024, as part of an ongoing investigation into domestic sex trafficking. An undercover San Antonio Police officer with the Human Exploitation Unit responded to an advertisement posted on a website for escort services. Posing as a customer, the officer contacted the phone number on the advertisement and was instructed to meet at the Studio 6 motel on Pasteur Court in San Antonio. Once the undercover was in the motel room with the minor, the girl agreed to prostitution services, and the officer signaled for the arrest team. Simultaneously, Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez were arrested, as they were identified as spotters for the operation. “When we tolerate the stolen innocence of children, we slowly lose our soul as a nation,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. “In the Western District of Texas, we have zero tolerance for aliens who enter our country illegally and commit heinous crimes like those committed in this case. We will use all resources available to us to hold accountable those, like the defendant here, who seek to enrich themselves via the sexual abuse of children.” The trial for Perez-Martinez began Tuesday, Feb. 17, and on Monday, Feb. 23, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts. In October, an initial trial for Perez-Martinez resulted in a hung jury. Ramirez- Fernandez pleaded guilty to three counts of a superseding indictment. She faces 10 years to life in prison and has an ICE immigration detainer in place to facilitate her deportation after she serves her sentence. Her sentencing hearing is currently set for April 20. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery is presiding over the case and has not yet set a date for the sentencing of Perez-Martinez. Homeland Security Investigations and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia McNab and Sade Bogart are prosecuting the case. Megan Ramirez, with the office’s Advanced Litigation Support unit, provided technical assistance to the trial team leading up to and during the trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Winnebago County Woman Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud for Stealing Funds From a Booster Club

body_text: ROCKFORD — The former Treasurer of a booster club in Rockford, Ill. has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge for embezzling more than $34,000 from the club. SHONDRA MCLARTY, 55, admitted in a plea agreement that she embezzled and stole money from the Tumbling and Acro Boosters Club (“TAB”) from 2023 to 2024 while she served as Treasurer. McLarty fraudulently used TAB’s business debit card and fraudulently caused TAB to issue business checks, which she used for personal expenses and not for any legitimate business purpose. According to the plea agreement, McLarty admitted to concealing her misappropriation of funds by changing the mailing address of TAB’s business bank accounts to her personal residence. McLarty, of Rockton, Ill., pleaded guilty on Tuesday to wire fraud, which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence will be determined by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston, guided by the Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing is set for June 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.


title: District Man Pleads Guilty to Fatally Stabbing Man with Paraplegia

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kevin James Johnson, 38, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed for killing 44-year-old D.C. resident Antonio Pierre Woody in the early morning of October 6, 2024, in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Johnson’s guilty plea was pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(c) which calls for an agreed upon prison sentence between 18 and 23 years. The Honorable Rainey R. Brandt accepted the guilty plea on February 24, 2026. Sentencing has been scheduled, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, for June 12, 2026. According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on October 6, 2024, the victim, Antonio Woody, who was paraplegic and wheelchair bound, was gathered with others in the 1700 block of Lincoln Road in Northeast, Washington, DC. Johnson joined the group and less than a minute later approached Woody and began assaulting him. Johnson knocked Mr. Woody out of his wheelchair and as Woody, still on the ground, scooched himself backwards away from Johnson, Johnson struck and stabbed Woody multiple times, killing him. Johnson has been in custody since his arrest on October 6, 2024. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Rashmika Nedungadi. 2024 CF1 010048


title: Dallas Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Federal Prison for $1.1M Concert Promotion Fraud Scheme

body_text: A Dallas man was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for stealing more than a million dollars from investors through a concert promotion scheme, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Carlos Desean Goodspeed, 45, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to wire fraud in October 2025 after a federal grand jury indicted him in 2024 for obtaining funds from unwitting investors to whom he falsely represented that he was a concert promoter who would use their funds to purchase concert and event tickets and suites in order to resell them for a profit. On February 18, 2026, United States District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Goodspeed to 75 months in federal prison. He also ordered Goodspeed to pay nearly $1.2 million in restitution to seventeen victims of Goodspeed’s fraud scheme. Court records reveal that Goodspeed operated a business under the assumed name “Straight Like That Entertainment,” and held himself out as a promotor for concerts and events involving high-profile artists and entertainers, including, for example, Tyler, the Creator, Ludacris, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, and Future, none of whom were involved in or knew about Goodspeed’s fraud scheme. With respect to one of his victims, Goodspeed admitted in plea documents that he solicited an investment that was to be used to purchase concert tickets and suites for a series of Tyler, the Creator shows, and the investor would receive a return on their investment once the shows took place. The victim wired Goodspeed a total of $180,000 pursuant to partner agreements outlining the terms of the investments. Though the shows took place, Goodspeed did not pay the victim as promised. Goodspeed admitted that he instead used the victim’s investments, without the victim’s knowledge or consent, for personal expenses, including rental payments at an upscale apartment complex, a purchase at a high-end retail store, and airline fees and hotels. He also admitted that he used some of the victim’s money to pay other investors to continue concealing his scheme. Three victims testified at Goodspeed’s sentencing hearing and detailed their financial and emotional sufferings as a result of Goodspeed’s scheme. One victim testified that she used part of an inheritance to invest with Goodspeed in hopes of being able to pay medical bills for a family member diagnosed with cancer. Goodspeed did not pay her back as promised, and she was forced to take out loans and use credit cards to pay funeral expenses when her family member passed away. “Victims are often defrauded of life savings and suffer devastating economic and personal harm because of investment fraud schemes like this one,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Seeking lengthy prison time for defendants and restitution judgments on behalf of those victimized in these cases remain top priorities for my office.” “The FBI remains committed to investigating those who take advantage of our communities through investment fraud schemes. We encourage the public to thoroughly research investment opportunities and to contact us immediately if they suspect fraud,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. While on pretrial release before his guilty plea, Goodspeed’s conditions of pretrial release were revoked and he was taken into custody in July 2025 after a United States Magistrate Judge found probable cause to believe Goodspeed committed a criminal fraud violation and also, in contravention to his conditions, continued to solicit and receive new investments. He remains in federal custody to serve his sentence of imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter prosecuted the case.


title: Clairton Resident Pleads Guilty to Coercing Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Jeffrey A. McLaughlin Jr., 43, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between August 5, 2021, and November 17, 2021, McLaughlin—pretending to be a teenage boy—solicited nude images and videos from a 12-year-old female over social media. McLaughlin also sent explicit sexual content to the same minor. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, McLaughlin will remain in federal custody. Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, New York; the Allegheny County Police Department; and the Allegheny County Probation Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of McLaughlin. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Five Members and Associates of the Family Mob Street Gang Federally Charged

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Three indictments and two criminal complaints were unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging members and associates of the Family Mob street gang with drug trafficking charges. Agents and officers, including multiple S.W.A.T. Teams, executed several arrest and search warrants this morning targeting the gang and its members. “The Family Mob Gang is a ruthless criminal organization that uses violence to traffic poisonous narcotics, including fentanyl. No more,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen. “As alleged, these defendants dumped countless doses of fentanyl into our community. My office is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to pursue justice against violent criminals and those who profit from distributing dangerous narcotics.” “The distribution of illegal narcotics in our communities is unacceptable, as is the associated violent crime that too often affects innocent residents,” said Richard Evanchec, the Interim Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. “This case should send a message to other violent gangs that we’ll continue work with our partners at all levels of government to bring to justice those responsible for instilling fear into our communities and polluting them with illegal narcotics.” “These investigations underscore the critical importance of strong collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies on serious criminal matters that impact our most vulnerable people,” said Dawanna Witt, Sheriff of Hennepin County. “The investigative work and incredible results from HCSO’s WMDTF along with the FBI, DEA, and MPD is making a real impact on the drug trade in Hennepin County. I will continue to prioritize aggressively pursuing violent criminals who threaten the safety of those in our community.” “I’m incredibly proud of the members of the MPD who worked this, and who consistently go above expectations in their dedication to keeping our community safe,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “And I’m grateful for our federal and county partners whose hard work and dedication made today possible.” “The Family Mob Gang ruled by intimidation and violence, and wrongly assumed they could operate with impunity,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Today, the combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement imparted a significant blow to the drug trafficking efforts of a gang that has spread poison through a beloved Minneapolis community. Our job at the DEA is to remove the criminal threats from our neighborhoods, dismantle the drug distribution networks and save American lives. This is a plan we put into action every single day and we are relentless.” According to the allegations in indictment, complaint, and unsealed records, the defendants were members or associates of the Family Mob gang, which is based in south Minneapolis and originated in approximately the late 1990’s to early 2000’s. The Family Mob conspires to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. In the past year, the area in the Family Mob’s territory has seen a large presence of open-air drug trafficking, weapons violations, shootings, and homicides. The charged defendants are alleged to have collectively possessed with intent to distribute over seven kilos of fentanyl since July 2025 to the present. The group is alleged to have dealt fentanyl in a de-facto open air drug market in the area of Lake Street and Park Avenue in South Minneapolis, using force to push other drug dealers out of the area. The following defendants have been charged federally: Silk Lamond Davis, a/k/a “Good/Do Good”, 48, of Minneapolis, is charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Alexisus Jarmon Mosby, a/k/a “Snake”, 44, of Bloomington is charged by indictment with distribution of fentanyl. Kiron Jamoll Williams, 43, of Minneapolis, is charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Rashshon Jamahl Taggett, a/k/a “Dread” a/k/a “Lay Low”, 44, of Minneapolis, is charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Lakendrick Darnell Gilliam, a/k/a “Bay Bay”, 38, of St. Paul, is charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison drug trafficking. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. FBI, DEA, the Minneapolis Police Department, and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raphael B. Coburn and William C. Mattessich for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jury Convicts Las Vegas Man Of Threatening To Murder Federal Officials And State Employees

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A jury convicted a Las Vegas man of threatening to assault and murder federal officials and state employees in Washington, D.C., New York, and Montana. Court records and trial evidence showed that, from November 30, 2023, through July 7, 2024, Spencer Christjencody Gear made a series of threatening phone calls and sent an email threatening to assault and murder eight federal officials, including judges, as well as three state employees. The threats were intended to intimidate and interfere with the officials as they carried out their duties and to retaliate against them for actions taken in their official roles. After a six-day trial, Gear was found guilty of nine counts of threatening a federal official and 11 counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. Sentencing is scheduled on June 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of threatening a federal official and five years for each count of transmitting a threat to injure. “This verdict affirms a core principle: the First Amendment protects free speech, but it does not protect threats,” said Executive Assistant United States Attorney Summer Johnson for the District of Nevada. “The defendant’s calls and email were made to instill fear and included threats to assault and kill federal officials, judges, and state employees. This verdict makes clear that this conduct crosses a legal line.” “Threats of violence are never just words—they are serious federal crimes, and the FBI takes every threat seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “Spreading fear and intimidation has no place in our community. Our commitment is unwavering: any threat, whether spoken or written, will be investigated thoroughly. We stand firm in protecting our public servants and ensuring that those who seek to harm others are held accountable.” Executive Assistant United States Attorney Johnson, Special Agent in Charge Delzotto, Marshal Gary Schofield for the U.S. Marshals Service, and Chief Michael G. Sullivan for the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement. The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Capitol Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Operskalski and Daniel Schiess are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Director of Richmond homeless shelter sentenced to three years in prison for stealing funds designated for the shelter

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman was sentenced today to three years in prison for wire fraud in connection with her operation of a homeless shelter focused on women and children. According to court documents, Kia A. Player, 41, won a grant to operate an inclement weather shelter for homeless women and children in the Richmond metropolitan area, named RVA Sister’s Keeper. RVA Sister’s Keeper obtained over $995,000 in governmental funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Richmond to implement and operate the shelter. From August 2022 through April 2023, Player, RVA Sister’s Keeper’s director, fabricated and falsified at least 35 separate invoices for costs purportedly paid for the benefit of RVA Sister’s Keeper and its homeless residents, even though Player never made corresponding expenditures on RVA Sister’s Keeper’s behalf. Player submitted these fraudulent and inflated invoices for reimbursement to the City of Richmond, causing the city to improperly disburse funds to her. For example, Player submitted at least 21 separate inflated invoices claiming RVA Sister’s Keeper made payments to an entity called “VCM Catering Services” to provide breakfast and dinner at the homeless shelter. VCM Catering Services was a fictitious business, however, and Player had hired a family member to provide breakfast and dinner for the homeless residents. This family member was a cafeteria manager at a Richmond City public school and occasionally provided RVA Sister’s Keeper residents with food taken from the school’s cafeteria – food that had already been procured with other public funds and was in some cases expired. Player fabricated an invoice purporting to show that RVA Sister’s Keeper paid for repairs to the shelter’s roof, submitting the invoice to the City of Richmond. Player then stole the corresponding money the City of Richmond provided for the roof repairs, though the roof had multiple leaks. Player fabricated documentation purporting to show that RVA Sister’s Keeper paid a laundry company for wash and fold services on ten different occasions, though the company only provided services on three occasions and homeless residents sometimes received used blankets. Player also fabricated invoices for other services, such as bed bug treatment, that were never provided. Player’s inflated invoice scheme caused $199,163 in actual losses to HUD and the City of Richmond. Player spent the fraud proceeds on personal expenses, including on a tattoo, airline tickets, a luxury Caribbean ferry ride in Miami Beach, furniture, and items at an antiques store. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth prosecuted the case. The City of Richmond provided substantial assistance in the prosecution of this case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-146.


title: Charlotte Man Who Drove Minor To Commit Bank Robbery Sentenced To Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to seven years in prison today for the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Michael Malik Pringle, Jr., 32, of Charlotte, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. On June 4, 2025, Pringle pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and Chief Michael Hudgins of the Pineville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to court documents and today’s court hearing, on May 2, 2024, Pringle picked up a 16-year-old minor in a rented vehicle. Pringle and the minor had previously discussed robbing a bank and had agreed to rob a bank on that date. After unsuccessfully trying to rob one bank, Pringle and the minor travelled to a Wells Fargo bank located at 9420 Pineville-Matthews Road and parked in a parking lot near the bank. Pringle gave the minor a firearm and a black bag and told the minor to demand $20,000 from the bank employees. Court records show the minor entered the bank wearing a hoodie and a face mask while Pringle waited in the car. Once inside the bank, the minor told a bank employee that he needed to make a withdrawal. Then the minor pulled out the gun and the bag and told the employee to “put $20,000 in this bag right now.” One of the tellers filled the bag with approximately $18,333. The minor fled the bank and ran to the getaway vehicle where Pringle was waiting, and the pair drove off. Following the robbery, law enforcement located Pringle’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Pringle and the minor were placed under arrest. Officers located a loaded Glock 43 handgun with an extended magazine in a pocket on the driver’s door. Officers also recovered cash from the robbery that had been scattered throughout the back passenger area of the vehicle. Pringle is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, CMPD, and the Pineville Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Palm Coast Man Found Guilty of Attempted Sexual Abuse Aboard Cruise Ship

body_text: MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found a Palm Coast man guilty of attempted sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact aboard a cruise ship. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Brent Arthur Gilpin, 48, encountered the 21-year-old victim at a casino bar while on a cruise. Over the next 45 minutes, the victim became intoxicated to the point of incapacitation and fell to the floor twice. Gilpin helped her stand and then maneuvered her into a casino chair, where he placed her on his lap and began to fondle her. While the victim lay unconscious, video surveillance captured Gilpin attempting to digitally penetrate the victim. “Sexual predators look for vulnerability,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant exploited an incapacitated young woman aboard a cruise ship, believing he could take advantage of her condition without consequence. Cruise ships are meant to be places of recreation and safety, not exploitation. The evidence showed he targeted a woman who was unconscious and unable to protect herself. That conduct is criminal and unacceptable. The jury saw the evidence and delivered justice. Our Office will continue to prosecute sexual abuse aggressively, whether it occurs on land or at sea.” The jury convicted Gilpin of attempted sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. He faces up to life in federal prison for attempted sexual abuse and up to three years in prison for abusive sexual contact. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brianna Coakley and Daniel Rosenfeld are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20556. ###


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison Following Gas Station Shooting

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery man for his role in a deadly shooting at a local gas station. On February 24, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Rodriques Javaun Humphrey, 20, of Montgomery, Alabama, to 480 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on January 7, 2025, officers with the Montgomery Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were on Zelda Road in Montgomery when they heard gunshots being exchanged between two vehicles at a nearby gas station. As officers responded, they observed three individuals fleeing the scene. Gunfire struck a fourth individual, who died at the scene. Two of the suspects ran toward an apartment complex located behind the gas station. One of those individuals, later identified as Humphrey, was carrying a rifle and a backpack and shot at responding MPD officers as he fled. Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with an MPD K-9 unit, responded to assist in locating the fleeing suspects. One individual complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody. Humphrey, however, continued to flee but was ultimately apprehended. Officers recovered the rifle he had been carrying. A search of Humphrey’s backpack revealed multiple plastic bags containing marijuana and a digital scale. Investigators also recovered an AR-style pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, causing the firearm to function as a fully automatic weapon. The serial number on the firearm had been scratched off. On August 13, 2025, Humphrey pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machinegun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The third individual who fled the scene, Ladarius Lamar Knight , ran into a fast-food restaurant across the street while armed with a firearm and was apprehended by ALEA officers. Knight previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including its Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer, III is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Kansas City Woman Sentenced to 87 Months for Covid-19 Fraud and Identity Theft

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud and aggravated identity theft case that resulted in more than $40,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Rasheeda McDaniel, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 87 months’ imprisonment based upon her guilty pleas to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the CARES Act. According to court documents, prior to March 22, 2021, McDaniel and co-defendant Briauna Adams used the personal identification information of S.R. to submit an online application for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan in S.R.’s name. The loan application listed a fictitious business with Schedule C gross receipts of $147,412 and a net income of $98,562. S.R.’s true tax return listed zero taxable income and did not have a Schedule C. The loan application provided a bank account associated with the fictitious business. On April 2, 2021, the loan was approved and S.R.’s bank account received a $20,832 wire deposit. On the same day, $2,000 was transferred to an account controlled by Adams. An amount totaling $18,830 was transferred to defendant McDaniel’s account. Prior to February 27, 2021, McDaniel provided personal identification information to Briauna Adams and Adams submitted an online application in McDaniel’s name for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan. The application and supporting documents stated that McDaniel was the sole proprietor of a business established July 7, 2017, that had an Average Monthly Payroll of $8,333. As part of the application, a 2019 Form Schedule C was submitted listing Gross receipts of $144,080 and profit of $99,982. McDaniel did not have a business during that time period with gross income and net income in the listed amounts. On March 4, 2021, the defendant’s personal account received a $20,832 wire deposit. The same day, McDaniel made a $15,000 cash withdrawal from the account. On September 30, 2025, Adams was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Quemado man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 151 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Tomas Estrada-Torres, 47, conspired with several others in the alien smuggling and hostage-taking of a family consisting of a man, a pregnant woman, and their seven-year-old child. In August 2023, the family was being held at a stash house in Eagle Pass, while the smugglers demanded a $21,000 ransom. Estrada-Torres and co-conspirator Ambar Obregon transported the pregnant woman from Eagle Pass to San Antonio, purchasing new clothes for her along the way and instructing her on what to say at a U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint. The woman was then transferred to a new stash house in Austin where, over multiple days, she was sexually assaulted by Pedro Ruiz Gonzalez, who also demanded payment from her, threatened to sell the unborn child, and threatened to kill her son. On Sept. 21, 2023, USBP agents encountered Estrada-Torres at an immigration checkpoint near Eagle Pass with a passenger who was determined to be an illegal alien from Honduras. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations resulted in Estrada-Torres admitting to transporting the pregnant woman to San Antonio. Estrada-Torres was charged on April 24, 2024, with two counts in a six-count indictment. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy on Dec. 16, 2024. “I’ve said it many times, but I’ll say it again here: Mexican drug cartels and their associated alien smuggling organizations do not care about your hopes and dreams,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “They care only about money, and they will threaten and abuse you in any way imaginable to get more cash out of you or your family members. Thanks to the fine work by our AUSAs in Del Rio and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we were able to dismantle this alien smuggling group and ensure justice was done.” On Feb. 11, co-defendant Juan Antonio Flores was sentenced to 212 months for his role in the case. Co-defendants Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo and Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelaya were sentenced to 360 months and 180 months in federal prison, respectively. Gonzalez, Obregon and three other co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case. HSI, USBP, and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case with assistance from the Eagle Pass Police Department, Austin Police Department, Houston Police Department and the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: New York Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Darnell Ney, age 42, of Attica, New York, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for failure to register as a sex offender. According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in 2022 Ney was convicted of attempted rape and criminal contempt in New York. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) for a period of twenty years. Following his release from prison in New York, Ney fled to Pennsylvania and failed to register his change of address as required by law. On February 2, 2025, Ney was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania for assaulting an adult female. On July 2, 2025, Ney was convicted of unlawful restraint and terroristic threats and was sentenced in the Susquehanna Court of Common Pleas to 10 to 120 months’ imprisonment. Judge Mehalchick ordered that Ney’s federal sentence shall commence after service of his state sentence. The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wyoming County Sherriff’s Department in Warsaw, New York; and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office in Warsaw, New York. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson. # # #


title: North Carolina Family Members Plead Guilty to Trafficking Firearms to Mexican Cartel

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

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A North Carolina man and his two sons pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to conspiring to traffic firearms to the Sinaloa Cartel, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Jose Manuel Najera, 54, of Elon, North Carolina, arrived for outbound inspection at the Del Rio Port of Entry on Oct. 31, 2024, driving a gray pickup truck. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recognized that an alert had been placed on the vehicle for suspicious border crossing history. Najera, appearing nervous, provided a negative declaration for weapons, ammunition, and currency over $10,000, and stated he was traveling to Allende, Coahuila, Mexico from North Carolina. At secondary inspection, a CBP officer removed and unrolled a black tarp out of the bed of Najera’s truck, revealing a disassembled rifle along with a box magazine. Najera subsequently claimed that he was driving to Mexico to help a friend tow a vehicle and did not know the firearm was concealed inside his vehicle. After being told that it was illegal to lie to federal agents, Najera stated that his son, Fernando Najera-Avalos, 26, had purchased the rifle in North Carolina to provide it to subjects in Mexico, specifically a subject named Hector, in Acuna. Najera was released from detainment. A follow-up investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revealed that, between June 2024 and October 2024, Najera made five trips between the United States and Mexico through the Del Rio Port of Entry. The trips typically occurred within a week after purchasing firearms. On those five occasions, Najera-Avalos purchased a total of 14 firearms, and his father, Najera, would take the trip to Mexico shortly after. Additionally, a text message between Najera and Najera-Avalos contained a screenshot of a text message wherein an unsaved Mexican phone number asked for 50 guns over a few months beginning in March 2024. On July 30, 2025, Najera and Najera-Avalos were arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms. Najera-Avalos stated he had been in contact with the Sinaloa Cartel and was trafficking firearms for them due to debt he had accrued with the cartel. He added that he and his brother, Alonso Najera-Avalos, 22, would purchase the firearms and provide them to their father to transport into Mexico and give to the cartel. This led to the arrest of Alonso Najera-Avalos. In a post-arrest interview, Alonso Najera-Avalos admitted to owning the Sinaloa Cartel $70,000, and to conspiring with his father and brother to purchase and traffic firearms to Mexico. Najera and the Najera-Avalos brothers all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms. They each face up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Duarte II is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Luzerne County Man Charged with Dog Fighting and Drug Trafficking

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brandon Crum, age 39, of Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on dog fighting and drug trafficking charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Crum possessed and trained eight American Pit Bull Terriers for the purpose of having the dogs participate in an animal fighting venture, that is, dog fighting. The indictment further alleges that Crum distributed methamphetamine on several occasions and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine in Luzerne County. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison on Child Sex Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a Mexican national to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor. Giovanni Falcon, 41, began messaging a 15-year-old girl on Instagram in 2024 using an alias. In July and August of that year, Falcon sent the victim images of his genitals. Falcon then repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with the victim. On Aug. 13, 2024, the victim’s father contacted the St. Ann Police Department after discovering the explicit Instagram messages. St. Ann police arrested Falcon the next day, and he admitted sexually abusing the victim. Another juvenile alleged sexual abuse by Falcon several years ago, according to statements at Wednesday’s hearing. Falcon is not in the country legally and will be deported upon his release from prison. Falcon pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in September to transfer of obscene material to a minor and coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Ann Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Arizona Man Sentenced for Possessing More than Eight Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A man from Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Olajuwon Hasan Myers, 40, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Tulsa Police officers began investigating an individual suspected of transporting narcotics from Arizona to Oklahoma. While conducting surveillance, officers found the vehicle they believe was used to transport narcotics. Myers was seen getting into the vehicle and pulled over during a traffic stop. During the stop, a K9 officer conducted an open-air sniff and made a positive alert to their handler. While searching the vehicle, officers found more than eight pounds of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment. Myers will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyson McCoy and Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CRAIG JAMES (“JAMES”) , age 38, of New Orleans, was indicted on January 29, 2026 for Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on or about July 14, 2025, JAMES distributed forty (40) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. If convicted, JAMES faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to forty years; a fine of up to $5 Million; and at least four years of supervised release. JAMES also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Briana N. Williams of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Indictment Returned Charging Three Men with June 2025 Armed Carjacking Spree

body_text: WASHINGTON – Myandre Starnes, 22, Darius Irby, 19, and Andre Whitfield, 17, all of Washington, D.C., were arraigned on a series of armed carjackings, armed robberies and other related charges, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Whitfield, who is 17 years old, is being prosecuted as an adult under Title 16. “The indictment returned on a 17-year-old and his co-conspirators for robbing delivery drivers at gunpoint, sends a clear message that if you commit a crime in D.C., you will be held accountable, regardless of age” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “The violent crime in this city has got to stop and my office will continue to pursue justice and ensure the safety of our city.” The defendants were arraigned on the indictment on February 12, 2026, at a hearing before the Honorable Errol Arthur. Starnes has been charged with nine counts of armed carjacking and nine counts of armed robbery, among other related charges. Irby and Whitfield have each been charged with eight counts of armed carjacking and eight counts of armed robbery, among other related charges. They each face a mandatory minimum of fifteen years of incarceration per armed carjacking if convicted of the charges. According to the government’s evidence, the defendants and several unidentified co-conspirators carried out a series of at least nine armed carjackings and armed robberies between June 7 and June 12, 2025, throughout the District. The defendants primarily targeted delivery drivers on motorized scooters, taking their vehicles and personal belongings at gunpoint. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Scholz. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025 CF3 015341; 2025 CF3 015718; 2026 CF3 000409


title: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Allan Ricardo Medina-Morales will spend the next 135 months in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker. On February 7, 2023, Medina-Morales, 39, of Honduras, but illegally residing in Judsonia, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a four-count Indictment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 23, 2024, Medina-Morales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Medina-Morales to five years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that in March 2022, Medina-Morales, and others, conspired to distribute methamphetamine. On March 15, 2022, officers from the Conway Police Department conducted surveillance on the co-conspirator’s house when they observed Medina-Morales and the co-conspirator acting suspiciously. Officers observed Medina-Morales carrying a duffel bag from his vehicle into the house. Medina-Morales was also observed carrying an additional kilogram of methamphetamine from a tree stump in the yard into the house. After Medina-Morales and the co-conspirator were observed getting into the vehicle and driving away, Arkansas State Police troopers followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop shortly afterward. The vehicle belonged to Medina-Morales. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a Colt, Model Detective Special, .38 caliber firearm in the glove box. After obtaining a search warrant for the property, officers located approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in the duffel bag and drug distribution paraphernalia. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory later determined the substances seized by officers included approximately 11.7889 kilograms of methamphetamine. On January 6, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents arrested Medina-Morales for illegal entry across the border near Edinburg, Texas. On October 9, 2019, the Immigration Court in Baltimore, Maryland, ordered Medina-Morales removed to Honduras, however, Medina-Morales failed to appear at court. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a detainer to deport Medina-Morales to Honduras after he completes his federal sentence. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Arkansas State Police and the Conway Police Department. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: New Orleans Resident Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALONZO MCGEE (“MCGEE”) , age 43, of New Orleans, was indicted on February 6, 2026, for Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on or about November 12, 2025, MCGEE distributed forty (40) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. If convicted, MCGEE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to forty years; a fine of up to $5 Million; at least four years of supervised release, and the payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Briana N. Williams of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Washington, Missouri Embezzler Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a woman who embezzled more than $160,000 from her employer to 18 months in prison and ordered her to repay the money. Victoria Isgriggs, formerly known as Victoria Denise Missey, worked at a Franklin County nursery and florist as an office manager and accountant from approximately Nov. 26, 2023, through April 29, 2024. Isgriggs embezzled $34,934 from the company’s bank account. She applied for and received a company credit card without authorization and used it to make $76,095 in personal purchases and charged another $46,125 using five co-workers’ cards. She fraudulently increased her salary, stealing another $4,635. Finally, she added herself to the company’s Lowe’s credit card and made $2,666 in fraudulent charges there. Investigators were able to recover $11,850 in cash, as well as jewelry, Christian Louboutin footwear and Louis Vuitton bags and accessories. Isgriggs has agreed to forfeit the cash and other valuables. Isgriggs, 45, of Washington, Missouri, pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of wire fraud. The U.S. Secret Service and the Washington Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Roy prosecuted the case.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced for Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy and Money Laundering

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RODOLFO AVILES-REYES a/k/a “Omar,” (“AVILES-REYES”) , age 41, a resident of Mexico, was sentenced on February 25, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to three counts in a Superseding Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, one kilogram or more of heroin, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. AVILES-REYES was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, AVILES-REYES, and other co-conspirators, distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, AVILES-REYES, and other co-conspirators, traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics from Louisiana to Mexico, on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit was in charge of the prosecution.


title: Civil Rights Division Obtains Settlement with a Company that Used AI-Generated Advertisements that Excluded U.S. Workers from Jobs

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that it has secured a settlement agreement with Elegant Enterprise-Wide Solutions Inc., a Virigina IT professional service provider. The settlement addresses allegations that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it posted job advertisements generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that included citizenship status restrictions not authorized by law, including language restricting consideration only to applicants with H-1B, OPT, or H-4 visas. “It is unconscionable for companies to illegally exclude U.S. workers when recruiting and hiring,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminating against U.S. workers, no matter who — or what — drafts a job advertisement, or whether it is an employee, a recruiter, or an AI tool.” This settlement is the eighth settlement since the Department re-launched its Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative in 2025 to enforce the INA’s prohibition on citizenship status discrimination against companies that illegally discriminate against U.S. workers in favor of those with employment visas. Under these settlements, the Department obtains civil penalties for each violation and will continue to seek the maximum penalty permitted by law. The settlements also involve awards of back pay, when warranted, and require employers to conduct comprehensive training to relevant staff and recruiters and cease restricting consideration for job opportunities based on workers’ citizenship status without a lawful reason. For information about additional settlements under the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, visit IER’s website . For informal assistance, the public can call IER’s free hotline at 1-800-255-7688 for workers or at 1-800-255-8155 for employers (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired between 9am and 5pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation ; email IER@usdoj.gov ; or visit www.justice.gov/ier .


title: Felon Previously Convicted of Second-Degree Burglary Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Raymond Thomas McCrary, 51, to 15 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. In 2025, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched to a call where it was reported that a person matching McCrary’s description discharged a firearm. When officers arrived, there were several casings scattered around his house. Officers later executed a search warrant at his home and found a loaded firearm in McCrary’s bedroom. When officers spoke with McCrary, he admitted the firearm was his and that he previously fired the handgun at his house. Court records show that McCrary was convicted in State court for two counts of second-degree robbery in 2022. He was sentenced to a five-year suspended sentence and prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition. McCrary will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury prosecuted the case.


title: Monticello Man Who Had Grandmother Buy Firearms for Him Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed six firearms, three of which came from his grandmother, was sentenced on February 19, 2026, to one year in federal prison. Jonathan Michael Clark, age 32, from Monticello, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 3, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Information from sentencing showed that Clark applied for a weapons permit in 2018, and a sheriff’s office informed him that he was prohibited from possessing guns. In June 2024, while officers were in Clark’s residence to arrest him on a warrant, an officer saw ammunition. Officers subsequently searched Clark’s home and found six guns. The investigation showed that the source for at least three of the guns, two of which she purchased, was Clark’s grandmother. Clark was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Clark was sentenced to 12 months and one day’s imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Clark was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-2056. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Employee Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Daxin Wu, a Patent Examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that she violated conflict-of-interest rules during the course of her employment with the USPTO. Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests. The settlement resolves allegations that, between January 2019 and May 2022, Wu worked personally and substantially on at least nine patent applications submitted by companies in which she had a financial interest. For example, Wu allegedly worked personally and substantially on patent applications for companies in which she held more than $300,000 and $140,000 worth of stock, respectively. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that Ms. Wu reviewed patent applications submitted by companies that were commercial competitors of a company for which she owned more than $900,000 worth of stock. As part of the settlement, Wu has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that her conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees. “The Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General works hard to investigate alleged conflicts of interest at USPTO and throughout the Department of Commerce — and hold offenders accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Laura Barsczewski of the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. “We will continue to be resolute in our charge for justice and work closely with the Department of Justice.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General. This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Joshua Barron of the Civil Division. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Leader of Anchorage drug trafficking organization sentenced to 30 years

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for leading a local drug trafficking organization responsible for attempting to traffic large amounts of fentanyl and heroin to Alaska from the Lower 48. According to court documents, Marcelino Juarez, 31, led a conspiracy to purchase fentanyl and heroin in California and transport the substances to Alaska through the mail or in checked airline baggage. Marcelino Juarez conspired with his brother, Julio Juarez, 33, of Anchorage, Shane Murphy, 43, of Wasilla, Semaj Brown, 35, of Anchorage, Brandon Garrett, 46, of Anchorage, and Gustavo Sebastian Lopez-Chavez, 25, a Mexican national illegally residing in the U.S. Marcelino Juarez, Julio Juarez, Brown and Murphy all traveled between Alaska and California on multiple occasions to obtain drugs and contributed money toward drug purchase trips. The Juarez brothers and Brown had connections to California and were identified as known gang members by the Stockton Police Department in California. Court documents explain that Marcelino Juarez was identified as a drug supplier in Anchorage as early as September 2022. On Sept. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on a trailer in Anchorage that Marcelino Juarez was living in. Law enforcement seized over $71,000 in cash and a Draco AK style pistol with a loaded magazine from the trailer. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 Law enforcement’s investigation into the conspiracy culminated on Aug. 22, 2024, when agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified a suspicious parcel destined for a residence in Anchorage. On Aug. 26, 2024, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on the parcel and seized over two kilograms of fentanyl powder from the package. Later that day, law enforcement officials conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel at the destined location. Marcelino Juarez was observed entering the residence, which belonged to a third-party, and leaving with the package in a vehicle with Brown. Marcelino Juarez and Brown met with another vehicle at a local gas station before both vehicles were contacted by law enforcement through traffic stops. Marcelino Juarez was arrested during the traffic stop, and Garrett, who was an occupant in the other vehicle, was detained. Through further investigation, law enforcement also discovered that Brown and Murphy flew from Anchorage to Los Angeles to purchase heroin and fentanyl from multiple sources between July 3 and 5, 2024. Law enforcement later determined that one of the sources was Lopez-Chavez. On July 6, 2024, law enforcement at the Los Angeles International Airport seized roughly one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of fentanyl powder from a checked bag destined for Anchorage. When Murphy and Brown arrived in Alaska, they noted that the suitcase did not arrive. U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al. Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 On Nov. 14, 2024, the FBI arrested Lopez-Chavez in Los Angeles. He was found to be in possession of roughly 23 kilograms of fentanyl, U.S. currency and counterfeit immigration documents. In total, law enforcement seized at least 36 kilograms of fentanyl and roughly 10 kilograms of heroin connected to the drug trafficking conspiracy. According to court documents in this case, the price for fentanyl in Alaska, specifically, can be 10, 50 or 100 times the cost to buy powder or pills in California, making drug trafficking from the Lower 48 a lucrative business. U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al. Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 “The Juarez brothers were driven by greed and moved to Alaska to profit from and exploit people’s vulnerabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman. “They made a mistake in thinking they could target Alaskans. Now, they will face the consequences. This case is a great example of the incredible partnerships Alaskan law enforcement agencies foster to share resources and make an impact on an issue that directly impacts our state.” “The Juarez brothers, along with their co-conspirators, are known California gangsters who moved to Alaska for the sole purpose of trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “In this collaborative, multi-agency investigation spanning from California to Alaska, FBI Anchorage and our HIDTA law enforcement partners not only interdicted significant quantities of drugs intended for distribution, but also removed these dangerous traffickers from our streets, protecting both Alaskans and Californians.” On July 28, 2025, Marcelino Juarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Marcelino Juarez to pay a $50,000 fine and serve 20 years on supervised release upon completion of his custodial sentence. Additional information for each co-defendant is as follows: On July 17, 2025, Julio Juarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 8, 2026, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a $40,000 fine. On April 10, 2025, Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2026. On July 21, 225, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 15, 2026, he was sentenced to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. On July 31, 2025, Garrett pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2026. One June 16, 2025, Lopez-Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 20, 2026, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Mat-Su Narcotics Team investigated this case. Special assistance was provided by HIDTA’s Southcentral Area-wide Narcotics Team (SCAN), Fairbanks Area-wide Narcotics Team (FANT), and Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team (AAIT); U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), FBI Los Angeles Field Office, FBI Sacramento Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Los Angeles Special Response Team, Los Angeles Police Department, Stockton Police Department, and California Highway Patrol. The Anchorage Police Department and Alaska State Troopers also provided assistance as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley, Jack Schmidt, and Bill Reed are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Springfield Gang Associate Sentenced for Illegal Firearms

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was closely associated with a local street gang known as “FTO,” was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms, one of which has been linked to multiple shootings. Ty’lan Lamar Spencer, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 60 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on May 28, 2021, law enforcement stopped a vehicle in which Spencer was a passenger. Under the backseat officers found a loaded Pioneer Arms, Hellpup, 7.62 caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Spencer admitted the Hellpup firearm belonged to him and admitted he was a regular user of marijuana. It is a violation of Federal law for an unlawful user of a controlled substance to knowingly possess a firearm. On June 1, 2023, Spencer was caught on surveillance footage at a gas station brandishing a firearm during an argument. A warrant was issued for this incident, and he was arrested on Aug. 4, 2023.. During Spencer’s arrest, officers found a loaded Taurus, G2C, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket. Spencer was with another FTO associate. During a search of the associate’s vehicle, officers found a Glock, 23 Gen 5, .40 caliber, semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine. Spencer admitted that the Glock firearm found in the vehicle belonged to him. The Taurus pistol was submitted to the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (“NIBIN”) and leads were generated indicating that the firearm was used in two unresolved shootings, one that occurred on July 20, 2023, and the other that occurred on July 30, 2023. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Columbia Man Sentenced for Meth, Fentanyl, and Illegal Firearm

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense in St. Joseph, Mo.; transporting approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills at a train station in Kansas City, Mo.; and for possession with intent to distribute another 913 fentanyl pills in Quapaw, Okla. Walter Antwine Moore, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 180 months’ imprisonment based on his guilty pleas to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. According to court documents, law enforcement officers contacted Moore when he arrived at a train station in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 10, 2023. Moore became confrontational with the detective who questioned him and attempted to flee on foot. He was tackled by the detective and detained with the assistance of other detectives and tactical response officers. Officers found a bundle wrapped in clear cellophane on the floor close to where Moore was detained. The bundle, contained approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills. Moore had also been detained by law enforcement officers in St. Joseph, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2023. According to court documents, St. Joseph police officers were dispatched to a convenience store to investigate a report of a man who reportedly stole a bag of potato chips and was trying to sell drugs. Officers searched his vehicle and found a baggy that contained numerous clear plastic baggies with a total of 284.8 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the car. On Dec. 6, 2022, Moore was gambling at a casino in Quapaw, Okla. After quickly losing over $1,000 at a blackjack table, Moore became belligerent with a female blackjack dealer. Moore began cursing at her, making vague threats, and reaching into his coat as if he was armed. The pit boss asked him to leave, and Moore stated if he left it would involve “yellow police tape and lights and sirens.” The pit boss then summoned the Deputy Quapaw Marshals. Moore was asked to do a pat-down for the officer’s safety. Moore refused and reached his right hand into his jacket. Moore ultimately took his hand out of his jacket and the deputy noticed a baggie in Moore’s hand that appeared to have something blue inside of it. Moore then tried to push past the deputy and run. The deputy took Moore to the ground and they began to scuffle. During the melee, the bag exploded and small pills scattered. In total, casino staff recovered 913 blue pills marked with an “M" printed on one side and “30” printed on the other side of the pill. The pills later tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. This case was initially charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Pursuant to a plea agreement, this case was transferred to the Western District of Missouri and the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Missouri Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Nation Marshals Service. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.