title: Salvadoran National Arrested for Sexual Assault of Albemarle Teen,  Second Man Indicted for Role in Exploiting Victim

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILE, Va. – Gustavo Quintero, who was indicted by a federal grand jury last month for the repeated sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old Albemarle County girl months after he, and another man, got her so intoxicated she couldn’t walk, made his initial appearance in federal court today. The indictment charges Quintero, 25, with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography. The second defendant, Bryan Sixto Arias-Chicas, 23, a citizen of El Salvador who previously had his green card revoked, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint in October. According to the indictment and other court documents, on May 7, 2025, Quintero and Arias-Chicas encountered Minor Victim 1 (MV1), a 16-year-old female, near the intersection of Greenbrier Drive and Seminole Trail in Charlottesville. Quintero and Arias-Chicas did not know the victim before the encounter. However, they purchased alcohol for MV1. Specifically, they purchased Mike’s Harder Mango Lemonade (8% alcohol by volume) and Four Loko (13.9% alcohol by volume). MV1 consumed the alcohol and became intoxicated. That same night, police received a call from a citizen reporting two males carrying a young female, who appeared to be intoxicated. The citizen stopped and asked if they needed help, but the two individuals said they were taking MV1 to the hospital. After getting MV1 intoxicated, Quintero and Arias-Chicas sexually assaulted MV1 throughout the night and into the next morning. Late in the morning on May 8, 2025, Quintero and Arias-Chicas dropped MV1 off near an apartment complex in Albemarle County. Law enforcement found MV1 wrapped in a brown blanket, staggering down the sidewalk on Commonwealth Avenue, visibly upset, and wearing clothes that she later said did not belong to her. Investigators were later able to identify Quintero and Arias-Chicas as two of the men who initially made contact with MV1. Further investigation revealed that Arias-Chicas was on probation. On June 16, 2025, Arias-Chicas was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations on an unrelated matter. During this arrest, ICE recovered a phone belonging to Arias-Chicas, which contained evidence linking him to the sexual assault of MV1 on May 7 and 8. Two months after assaulting MV1, in the middle of July 2025, Quintero reconnected with MV1 via social media, and they began to engage in sexual conversation. In the course of this conversation, Quintero also tried to get MV1 to engage in additional sexual activity with him. Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg is investigating the case. The Albemarle County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Armed Robbery

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty yesterday to a years-long drug conspiracy and a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of cocaine. Harvey Rodriguez, a/k/a “Big Opp,” 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2026. In August 2025 , Rodriguez was arrested and charged. Rodriguez was a participant in a multi-year drug conspiracy that took place in the Lynn area and on the North Shore of Massachusetts. As described in the court papers, Rodriguez conspired with numerous other distributors including those he supplied, and others who have been previously charged with federal drug offenses, including Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz” , Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr. and Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK” . The drug conspiracy involved the manufacturing of counterfeit prescription pills and the sale of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in Lynn and throughout Massachusetts. Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to a cooperating witness and confidential informant on four occasions. Rodriguez also participated in an armed robbery of a drug customer. On Jan. 30, 2023, a drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Rodriguez was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. During the transaction, Rodriguez and Claudio Melo entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash, which was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in. Rodriguez and Melo then forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers departed with the $24,000 cash. The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug Dealing

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a man from St. Louis County, Missouri who sold fentanyl and other drugs to 15 years in prison. Dennis M. Davis, 48, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He admitted buying drugs from a Mexican source of supply and then returning some of the drug proceeds to a courier. On Oct. 6, 2023, investigators conducted a court-approved search of Davis’ home in St. Louis County and found fentanyl, three handguns and $6,679 in cash. At a stash house in St. Louis used by Davis, they found a money counter, scales, kilograms of fentanyl and other drugs, four rifles and a handgun. “Dennis Davis had enough fentanyl in his stash house to kill every single resident in the city of St. Louis,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “He was a threat to our city, pushing poisons, destroying lives and all the while lining his pockets with proceeds. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our city, our state or our nation.” “This case is another example of good task force work fueled by cooperation between both local and federal law enforcement agencies,” said IRS-CI St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “IRS-CI’s role in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. We’re proud to provide our financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the St. Louis County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Delworth prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.


title: Federal Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments Charging Nine Individuals with Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – On January 7, 2026, a federal grand jury in Louisville returned two indictments charging nine Louisville residents and one Detroit, Michigan resident with drug trafficking offenses. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin W. Jackson of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement. According to one indictment, Reginald Forsythe , 46, of Louisville, Damon Lewis , 50, of Louisville, Timothy McAtee , 46, of Louisville, Aiyisha Daniels , 43, of Detroit, James Henderson , 70, of Louisville, and Crystal Adams , 54, of Louisville are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Forsythe is also charged with one count of concealment money laundering. The drug conspiracy and money laundering activity occurred between September 3, 2024, and January 7, 2026. According to the other indictment, Isaiah Washington , 43, Chelsea Brown , 42, and James Leffler , 38, all of Louisville, are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both indictments stem from a months-long multi-agency investigation which identified and dismantled a drug trafficking organization responsible for the flow of large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from Detroit, Michigan to the streets of Louisville and beyond. As part of the investigation, 10 federal residential search warrants were executed in Louisville and 5 more search warrants were executed in Detroit on January 10, 2026, in a coordinated law enforcement action involving multiple federal and state agencies. All defendants have been arrested and made their initial court appearances this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, all defendants face a sentence of a minimum of 10 year and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The cases are being investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department, DEA Louisville, DEA Detroit, ATF, IRS, KSP, FBI, HSI, U.S. Marshal Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, St. Matthews Police Department, the Louisville Airport Police Department, and the Bardstown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erwin Roberts, Mac Shannon and Robert Bonar are prosecuting the cases. 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 Nashville is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI, ATF, HSI, ERO, DEA, IRS, USMS, USPIS, USSS and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Metairie Man Sentenced for Possessing Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Violating Federal Gun Control Act

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ROBERT ANTHONY MARSH, JR. (“MARSH”) , age 60, of Metairie, La. was sentenced on January 13, 2026, for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (a)(2), and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, on December 19, 2024, MARSH’s home was searched by state law enforcement officials and agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. At the time of this search, MARSH was on supervised release for a 2014 state conviction for Pornography Involving Juveniles. On December 19, 2024, following the search of his home, MARSH was arrested by Louisiana State Probation and Parole for possession of a Model 922 H&R Arms Co. firearm by a prohibited person and possession of child pornography. Thereafter, MARSH was transferred from state to federal custody in connection with this federal investigation. MARSH was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 14, 2025, and on August 26, 2025, MARSH pled guilty in federal court to knowingly possessing over 21 videos depicting the sexual victimization of minors and to knowingly possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. On January 13, 2026, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion sentenced MARSH to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by ten (10) years of supervised release, sex offender registration, and a $200.00 mandatory special assessment fee. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Jefferson Parish Police Department; and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Probation and Parole. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Honduran Man and Kansas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment unsealed yesterday in the District of Kansas charged a Honduran man and Kansas woman for conspiring to submit, and submitting, a sponsorship application with false statements to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) after the child entered the U.S. illegally. “This indictment represents the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting individuals who fraudulently pose as suitable UAC sponsors to obtain custody of vulnerable children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conduct represents a violation of the societal responsibility to safeguard children. Our efforts are a continuation of the Department’s commitment to hold accountable those who commit crimes related to the exploitation of UACs, and will serve to strengthen ORR’s UAC program and ensure it is not manipulated.” “We are determined to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “This task often takes a multi-faceted approach involving multiple agencies and superior coordination. Given Task Force Alpha’s efforts, we are seeing real results, and my office is happy to be on the front line.” According to the indictment, Romulo Hernandez Murillo, 45, a Honduran national without legal authorization to be in the U.S., agreed to pay defendant Lisa Marie Lopez Perdomo, 48, of Syracuse, Kansas, to assist him with applying to sponsor and obtain custody of a Honduran UAC. The agreement included being permitted to misrepresent himself by using Lopez’s address on the application to sponsor the minor. The defendants intended for the UAC to reside with Hernandez and work in the United States. In furtherance of his fraudulent sponsorship application, Hernandez submitted and signed, under the penalty of perjury, documents falsely claiming he resided at Lopez’s address. An employee of the HHS-funded care provider where the UAC was staying ultimately recommended that Hernandez’s application be denied after an investigation uncovered Hernandez’s false representations. The defendants are both charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement and one count of conspiracy to commit the same offense. If convicted of either offense, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This investigation was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests, which includes those of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood. HHS’s Office of Inspector General and DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case with assistance from the Kansas Department of Labor, Special Investigations Unit; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided invaluable assistance along with the United States Marshals Service. Acting Deputy Chief Christian Levesque and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Eden Man Indicted on Possession and Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah man was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with a drug crime after he allegedly possessed and attempted to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Utah. Christopher Eric Johnson, 40, of Eden, Utah, was charged by complaint on January 2, 2026. According to the allegations in court documents, in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), and the Unified Police Department (UPD) began investigating Johnson after information was received that Johnson was selling kilograms of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed, Johnson was communicating directly with a cartel member in Mexico to arrange for kilogram quantity shipments of methamphetamine to be sent to Utah. On November 18, 2025, a cooperating defendant from a separate drug arrest contacted Johnson asking for a quarter pound of methamphetamine and they agreed to meet in Midvale, Utah. Detectives conducted surveillance waiting for Johnson to arrive. Subsequently, he was taken into custody and law enforcement seized clear bags containing a crystal-like substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine. Johnson is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment was before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Unified Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Vernon G. Stejskal of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 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. The case was investigated by agents and officers of the HSTF Salt Lake and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 25 Years For Trafficking Narcotics In The Middle District Of Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Lorenzo Valerio-Popoca (31, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to 25 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and for distributing methamphetamine in the Tampa Bay area. A jury found Valerio guilty on July 31, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe made the announcement. Valerio, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States, was indicted in 2019 for trafficking methamphetamine in the Middle District of Florida. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2017 and 2018, Valerio routinely brokered and received kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine directly from his narcotics sources of supply in Mexico. Valerio then sold the methamphetamine in bulk to others in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties, among other locales. On behalf of Valerio, other conspirators regularly transported the methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Florida to the respective buyers. Valerio often arranged the sale of at least 1-2 kilograms of methamphetamine per transaction. In March 2018, Valerio’s courier delivered two kilograms of methamphetamine to a buyer in Hillsborough County; the drugs were later seized by law enforcement. Below are photos of the seized methamphetamine from March 2018. Before he was arrested in 2019, Valerio left the Middle District of Florida and remained a fugitive from justice until 2022, when he was arrested for trafficking over 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in Pasadena, Texas. Pictured below is the seized methamphetamine from Texas belonging to Valerio and his transnational criminal organization. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Tampa), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pasadena (TX) Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Asheville (NC) office and the United Stated States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (Houston office). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo. 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: Jury Convicts Orlando Man Of Bank Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft Involving COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits

body_text: Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Dexter Ray King (36, Orlando) guilty of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. King faces a mandatory penalty of 2 years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft and up to 30 years on each bank fraud count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to evidence presented at trial, during the COVID-19 pandemic, King filed dozens of fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits across several states. For many of the claims, King used stolen identities and fake addresses. Once the claims were approved, King changed the addresses on the claims to his Orlando apartment, ensuring that the debit cards containing the fraudulently obtained government benefits were mailed to him. He then used the debit cards to withdraw the funds from the bank. King also filed fraudulent claims using his own name, but Social Security numbers that did not belong to him, and had the resulting benefits direct deposited into his bank account. In total, King received more than $500,000 in fraud proceeds, which he spent on a new $77,000 SUV, a trip to Las Vegas, pricey restaurants, and luxury fashion brands. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.


title: Asian Boyz Gang Member Convicted of Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: BOSTON – A member of the Asian Boyz gang was convicted in federal court in Boston following a week-long jury trial of conspiracy to distribute counterfeit pills made with methamphetamine and resembling the prescription medication Adderall. Isiah Lyons, a/k/a “Tank,” a/k/a “Rozay,” 30, of Lowell, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV, scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2026. Lyons was indicted in January 2025 along with his co-conspirators. In 2021, law enforcement opened an investigation into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell. The evidence presented at trial established that Lyons profited from the illegal sale of the methamphetamine pills by brokering deals for bulk quantities of the pills, which he called “oranges” and “adds.” Between December 2022 and February 2023, Lyons joined a conspiracy to sell the pills in 1,000 pill units, which he called “g packs.” Lyons and his co-conspirators sold four “g packs” containing an estimated 4,000 pills and weighing 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Unbeknownst to Lyons, one of the pill customers was an undercover agent. To sell the methamphetamine pills, Lyons partnered with two Asian Boyz gang members who were part of the gang’s extensive drug network. They conspired in person and using encrypted messaging applications like Signal. In his message to one of his fellow co-conspirators, for instance, Lyons told him the price of the pills was $1,250 for the “pacc” – spelled specifically with two “c’s” as a way of acknowledging their common gang affiliation. Lyons sourced the pills from a co-conspirator he paid $1,000 for the “paccs,” booking $250 profit for each deal he brokered during the conspiracy. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III and David Cutshall of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN . This case 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.


title: Southern Utah Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Wire Fraud that Cost Investors Millions of Dollars

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – Brian Garry Sewell, 54, of Washington County, Utah, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment, followed by 36 months of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud that cost investors over $2.9 million. Additionally, in a separate case (4:24cr54), Sewell admitted that he operated an unlicensed money transmitting business where bulk cash was converted into crypto currency. In that case, he was also sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release. Sewell’s two sentences will run concurrently with each other for a total of three years imprisonment. In addition to his term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, ordered Sewell to pay $3,605,182 in restitution to defrauded investors, a mortgage lender, and a credit union in case number 4:24cr55. He was also ordered to pay $217,727 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in case number 4:24cr54. According to court documents and admissions made at Sewell’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Sewell participated in a scheme from December 2017 to April 2024, in Utah and elsewhere, to defraud others by obtaining victims’ money and cryptocurrency. Sewell obtained money from at least 17 investors by lying about his experience, education, and ability to generate large returns. As a result, Sewell’s fraudulent behavior led to him obtaining over $2.9 million. Additionally, from March 2020 to September 2020, in the District of Utah and elsewhere, Sewell managed Rockwell Capital Management, an unlicensed money transmitting business, without registering it as required by law. Sewell and his company converted bulk cash to cryptocurrency on behalf of third parties, including criminals engaged in fraud and drug trafficking. Sewell charged the third parties a fee for each transaction. In total, he converted over $5.4 million to cryptocurrency. He did so without complying with federal laws designed to prevent the movement of illicit funds. See prior press release: Two Washington County Residents Indicted after Allegedly Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business . “The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks our federal partners, and prosecutors for their hard work on this investigation and commitment to holding individuals like Sewell accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak. “My office is committed to stopping criminals from using our financial system to move dirty money. And we will continue to prosecute those who ignore statutes designed to stop the flow of illicit funds.” “This sentencing brings to an end a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme that used the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business to defraud investors out of millions and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government,” said IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory. “When this type of scheme emerges, all Americans are affected. Investors are victimized, taxpayers are defrauded, and dirty money is easily moved through the financial system with no scrutiny. IRS-CI will continue to investigate unlicensed money transmitting businesses and bring these fraudsters to justice.” “Fraud schemes like this don’t just involve financial losses—they shatter trust and upend lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Sewell preyed on his victims by lying about his experience and promising returns he could not deliver, leaving individuals and families to bear the consequences of his deception. The FBI will continue to put victims first by holding offenders accountable and pursuing those who misuse cryptocurrency and unlicensed financial services to exploit others.” “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system. This case demonstrates that those who exploit unlicensed financial services and defraud investors will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “Working alongside our federal partners, HSI will continue to pursue individuals who attempt to move illicit funds and undermine public trust. We are dedicated to ensuring that criminals cannot use our financial system to profit from deception.” The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion  from Boston-Area Hospital

body_text: BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court today in Boston for diverting benzodiazepine medication from a Boston-area hospital. Ariana Foley, 37, of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. In November 2025, Foley pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge. Beginning in December 2018, Foley worked as a nurse at a Boston-area hospital. On July 16, 2022, Foley worked an overnight shift where she was assigned to an intubated and immobile patient in the intensive care unit. During her shift, Foley checked out a bag of Versed, which is a controlled substance and a benzodiazepine medication. She also checked out three bags of fentanyl, one of which was discarded when it began leaking. None of these medications were scanned into the patient’s medical records. Foley was discovered slumped over on the wall of the patient’s room after an emergency alarm went off. Foley was questioned by hospital administrators and found to have three syringes in her pocket. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and Dr. Robert Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin and Meghan Cleary of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Man Who Committed Two Chicago Carjackings Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for participating in two violent carjackings in Chicago. EDMUND SINGLETON and two co-defendants conspired to commit the carjackings on a single night in November 2022. In the first carjacking, Singleton drove the trio in a stolen car to a gas station in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago, where the co-defendants violently took an Infiniti Q50 sedan from a driver who was pumping gas. One of the co-defendants jammed a gun so hard into the victim’s back that it left a bruise. A few hours later, Singleton drove the trio to a gas station in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, where the co-defendants attempted to take a BMW X6 from a driver who was also pumping gas. The co-defendants pointed guns at the driver, who walked with the assistance of crutches. The victim fell to the ground after being approached by the armed men. The co-defendants tried to drive away in the BMW but gave up when they couldn’t operate the victim’s specially designed car. The co-defendants retreated into Singleton’s car, and he sped away from the scene. A law enforcement officer soon spotted Singleton’s vehicle, and a chase involving police helicopters ensued. As police closed in, the defendants abandoned Singleton’s car and fled on foot while armed with guns. The defendants ran through backyards of residential homes and dropped their guns before police arrested them. A federal jury last year convicted Singleton, 35, and co-defendant RAMONE BRADLEY, 27, both of Chicago, on carjacking and firearm offenses. On Jan. 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Singleton to 17 years in federal prison. Judge Kennelly found that Singleton committed obstruction of justice before trial when he paid a co-defendant to author a false alibi affidavit for Singleton. Judge Kennelly last year sentenced Bradley to nine years in federal prison. The third defendant—MARQUELL DAVIS, 23, of Chicago—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted his role in the carjackings. Judge Kennelly last year sentenced Davis to 12 years in federal prison. The sentences were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. “Defendant’s crimes were serious, violent, and showed a complete disregard for human life,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner and Simar Khera argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Carjackings like those here not only leave the victims scarred and perhaps looking for new places to live, but they impact the sense of safety and security for all Chicagoans.”


title: Two Plead Guilty to Drive-By Shooting that Killed Bystander

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Iesha Marks, 31, of Bowie, Maryland and Daniel Bangura, 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty this week to the July 2023 shooting of 46-year-old Donald Childs, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Marks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on January 13, 2026, and is facing a sentence between 13 and 25 years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release. Bangura also pleaded guilty on that day to obstruction of justice and is facing a sentence between 48 months and 96 months in prison, followed by a term of supervised release. Both guilty pleas are contingent upon the Court’s approval at sentencing. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson will sentence Marks on June 12, 2026, and Bangura on March 13, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, at 2:43 p.m. on July 30, 2023, Bangura drove Marks to the 100 block of Farragut Street, NW. As they rode through a busy intersection, Marks extended her arm out of the front passenger window and fired multiple shots directly into Farragut Street, striking and killing Mr. Childs, who was standing on the sidewalk. Bangura sped away from the scene and drove Marks to Pennsylvania in order to dispose of the murder weapon. Marks was arrested in October of 2023 and has been in custody since. Bangura has been in custody since he was indicted in May of 2025. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmin Emrani. 2023 CF1 007750 2025 CF1 005760


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Eric Jaeshon Ray, also known as “Brody,” 32, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about May 2025 to in or about July 2025, Ray and co-defendant Franklin Fitzgerald Elly conspired together and with other individuals to distribute fentanyl in the St. Albans area of Kanawha County. On four separate occasions between May and June of 2025, Ray distributed quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant in St. Albans with Elly’s assistance as part of the conspiracy. As part of the investigation, officers searched an apartment in St. Albans where Ray was residing and recovered two loaded pistols, approximately 250 grams of fentanyl, approximately 236 grams of oxycodone, and $4,000. In all, Ray was held responsible for possessing or distributing approximately 1 pound of fentanyl. Ray has a criminal history that includes a prior conviction for felony assault with intent to murder and a misdemeanor conviction for assault and battery. Ray and Elly are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Five defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty. Ray and Elly are among four additional defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. Elly, also known as “Costco,” 36, pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2026. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-128. ###


title: Jordanian Man Admits Selling Unauthorized Access to Computer Networks of 50 Companies

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Jordanian man who was residing in the Republic of Georgia admitted his role as an “access broker” who sold unauthorized access to computer networks of at least 50 victim companies, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Feras Khalil Ahmad Albashiti, a/k/a “r1z,” a/k/a “Feras Bashiti,” and a/k/a “Firas Bashiti, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court today to an information charging Albashiti with fraud and related activity in connection with access credentials. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In May 2023, law enforcement officers were investigating an online forum where malware and malicious code was being offered for sale. Albashiti controlled an online moniker named “r1z” and used it in the online forum. On May 19, 2023, Albashiti sold to an undercover law enforcement officer unauthorized access to the networks of at least 50 victim companies in exchange for cryptocurrency. The charge of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gains or losses resulting from the offense. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured the July 2024 extradition from Georgia of Albashiti. Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2026. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents and members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. ### Defense Counsel: Rahul Agarwal, Esq. albashiti.information.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $33M in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine collected over $33 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2025, U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson announced today. The office collected $2,762,120.92 in criminal and civil actions during the past fiscal year. Of this amount, $1,422,280.10 was collected in criminal actions and $1,339,840.82 in civil actions. The office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $29,563,154.06 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $29 million was collected as part of a January 2025 agreement by SVCMC Inc., formerly known as Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly retaining erroneously inflated payments received from the Department of Defense for healthcare services provided to retired military members and their families. “One of our most important jobs as attorneys for the Department of Justice is to recover funds on behalf of crime victims and the taxpayers of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “Both our Civil and Criminal divisions work every day to ensure that victims and taxpayers receive money that is due to them, and that wrongdoers are not unjustly enriched.” The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department of Justice’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $871,012.00in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. ###


title: Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet  With a Minor for Sex

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to using an interstate facility to transmit information about a child. Alex Bou, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of use of an interstate facility to transmit information about a child before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick who scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In August 2025 , Bou was arrested and charged. On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts. The advertisement contained images of a young female and language purported to be written by a female describing herself as a “flower ready to blossom.” On Aug. 17, 2025, Bou sent a text message to the number listed on the advertisement saying, “U available,” to which an undercover agent posing as the purported minor responded suggesting Aug. 19, 2025. On Aug. 19, 2025, Bou continued his conversation with the undercover agent. In their conversation, the undercover agent stated that she was a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Upon being informed that the purported minor was 15 years old, Bou responded with, “Ok are you a virgin?” Bou agreed to pay $175 to have unprotected sex with the purported minor and acknowledged that he was agreeing to have sex with an “underage girl.” Bou obtained her address via text message, and shortly thereafter arrived at the location where he was placed under arrest. The charge of using interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Roxbury Man Convicted for Role in  Fraudulent CDL Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Roxbury man was convicted yesterday in federal court in Boston for engaging in a scheme to cause the Massachusetts RMV to issue a Commercial Learners’ Permit (“CLP”) to an individual by providing that individual with the answers to CLP exam questions. In the state of Massachusetts, you must have a commercial learner’s permit before obtaining a commercial driver’s license. Frank Castro, 52, was convicted of unlawful production of identification document. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2026. Castro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. On or about Oct. 18, 2021, Castro told an undercover agent that he could help him obtain a CLP in Massachusetts for $3,000. On or about Dec. 10, 2021, Castro explained to the undercover agent that the agent would need to sneak a Bluetooth device into the testing area at the RMV, surreptitiously place the device into his ear, then cover it with headphones used during the exam. Castro explained that he would be connected with the undercover agent via the Bluetooth device such that Castro could hear the audio questions and provide the undercover agent with the correct answers. On or about Dec. 22, 2021, the undercover agent deposited $3,000 into Castro’s bank account before proceeding to the Danvers RMV to take the CLP exam. The undercover agent connected with Castro using the Bluetooth device and Castro provided the exam answers to the undercover agent in real time during the exam. The undercover agent passed the exam with Castro’s unlawful assistance and received a Massachusetts CLP. The charge of unlawful production of an identification document provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Northeastern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and David G. Tobin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Browning man sentenced for causing death on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Browning man who caused a death on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Joseph Wayne Cree Medicine, 41, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on December 7, 2023, Cree Medicine crashed his Dodge Durango. The back seat passenger, John Doe, died as a result. The crash occurred after Cree Medicine left the roadway, overcorrected, and ultimately rolled the vehicle. Montana Highway Patrol conducted the crash investigation and determined Cree Medicine was driving too fast for conditions and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. A blood draw taken at the hospital showed Cree Medicine’s blood contained an alcohol content (BAC) of .137. EMS treated Doe at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The BIA, Montana Highway Patrol, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Armed Drug Dealer Convicted at Trial and Sentenced to  Federal Prison for Nearly 20 Years

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Anthony Travis Slaughter, age 31, to almost 20 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of the crimes of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a gun by a felon, and possession of a gun while selling drugs. “Drug dealers are a scourge upon our community,” said US Attorney Ellis Boyle. “When they use guns, it makes them even more dangerous. Gun toting drug dealers put the entire community including our children and grandparents at risk, and we will aggressively pursue those Big Shark Bad Boys like Slaughter who prioritize their own greed over our families’ safety.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the Wilmington Police Department pulled Slaughter over on Princess Place Drive in Wilmington after observing a traffic infraction. A police K9 officer alerted during the stop and WPD found two pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, and a digital scale in the car. WPD also found a loaded gun under the driver’s seat. Slaughter, a career criminal with seven state felony convictions left free to roam the streets of Wilmington, could not legally possess that loaded gun because he is a convicted felon. Slaughter’s prior felony convictions include a violent common law robbery and selling heroin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser and Jake Pugh prosecuted the case. The WPD and the ATF investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-51-FL.


title: Former Steuben County Sheriff’s deputy going to prison on child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stuart J. McHenry, 35, of Hornellsville, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that McHenry knowingly possessed digital images of child pornography. At least one of the images depicted prepubescent minors under 12-years-old. The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the instant messaging application Kik, which stated that Kik user “acman990,” uploaded approximately 24 files of suspected child pornography. A review found that approximately 22 of the files constituted child pornography. Subsequent investigation traced the account to the defendant and revealed messages between the defendant and other users in which the defendant sought, received, and distributed child pornography. Some of the videos and images possessed by McHenry contained violent conduct, and one of the images depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant. At the time of the offense, McHenry was working as a deputy for Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jim Allard.


title: Cape Cod Man Sentenced for Threatening a Federal Official and their Relatives

body_text: BOSTON – A South Dennis, Mass., man was sentenced yesterday for threatening to murder a prominent federal official, their relative and the relative’s spouse. Michael P. Mahoney, 62, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to two years of supervised release with three months home detention and a $5000 fine. In August 2025 , Mahoney pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person. In April 2025 , Mahoney was arrested and charged. On March 28, 2025, the relative of a prominent federal official was having dinner with two other individuals at a location outside of Massachusetts. At approximately 10:15 p.m. the relative received a phone call with “No Caller ID.” Upon answering the phone, the caller, later identified to be Mahoney, confirmed the relative’s full name. Mahoney then started to scream and stated that he was going to murder the relative, their spouse and the federal official –referring to the spouse and federal official by their first names – and said, “Die you f*****g c**t mother f****r.” The relative hung up while Mahoney was yelling. The call lasted approximately 12 seconds. Mahoney then called back immediately, but the relative did not answer. Call records obtained from the relative’s phone service provider indicated that the originating number for the threatening call, as well as the subsequent unanswered call, belonged to Mahoney. When approached by law enforcement at his South Dennis residence on March 29, 2025, Mahoney refused to answer the door or his phone. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Dennis Police Chief John Brady made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan, Chief of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Drug Trafficker On Federal Supervised Release Pleads Guilty To Distributing 63 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A convicted drug trafficker pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute more than 63 kilograms of cocaine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Matthew Gerard Hendy, 42, of Charlotte, was on federal supervised release for a previous drug conviction when he reoffended. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to the plea documents and other court filings, in 2012, Hendy was convicted in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina of drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by a term of supervised release. In 2023, and while Hendy was still under court supervision for the prior offense, law enforcement learned that he had arranged a large delivery of narcotics. On December 9, 2023, law enforcement intercepted the delivery when the tractor trailer loaded with the drugs arrived at the meeting location. When Hendy saw law enforcement on the scene he attempted to flee. Hendy later admitted he had ordered 63 kilograms of cocaine. Hendy remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison due to the prior offense, and a maximum of life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case, and the U.S. Probation Office for its invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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: Brothers indicted for trafficking firearms

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging two brothers with illegal firearms trafficking. According to court documents, Markeese Fluker, 27, of Independence, Missouri, and Markel Fluker, 29, of Kansas City, Missouri, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking in firearms and four counts of possession and transfer of machine guns. Markeese Flucker is also charged with one of count of possession and sale of a stolen firearm. From September 2025 to December 2025, the Fluker brothers are accused of conspiring to provide firearms to people who they allegedly knew were legally prohibited from possessing firearms and that their acquiring firearms would result in a felony offense. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Durham Police Department Officer Sentenced for Sexual Assault

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Rayshawn Deon Taylor, 36, a former Durham Police Department officer, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and two years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a man during a welfare check on Aug. 21, 2024. Taylor previously pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law involving sexual misconduct. According to filed plea documents, on Aug. 21, 2024, Taylor was on duty as a corporal with the Durham Police Department (DPD) when he conducted a welfare check on the victim at the victim’s residence. During the welfare check, Taylor sexually assaulted the victim. Taylor communicated with the victim using a translation application on his personal cell phone and threatened to arrest the victim if he said anything about the assault. Investigators later determined that Taylor deleted the translation application from his cell phone and the cache information associated with the application. Taylor did not activate his body-worn camera during this encounter with the victim, in violation of DPD policy, but portions of the encounter were captured by the dashboard camera on Taylor’s patrol vehicle. Assistant Attorney General K. Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop for the Middle District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Charlotte Field Office and the Durham Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.


title: Lackawanna father going to prison for 17 years for his role in kidnapping conspiracy attempting to force his daughter to marry in Yemen

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Khaled Abughanem, 53, of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to kidnap a person in a foreign country, kidnapping conspiracy, and threatening to retaliate against a victim, was sentenced to serve 204 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 8, 2021, Khaled and his son, co-defendant Adham Abughanem, flew from Buffalo, NY, to Guadalajara, Mexico to kidnap the Victim, who is the daughter of Khaled and the sister of Adham. Between September 10, 2021, and April 6, 2023, Khaled and Adham Abughanem conspired to transport the Victim from the Western District of New York to Cairo, Egypt, and then to Sanaa, Yemen, where they confined the Victim for approximately 16 months with the purpose of marrying her to a man not of her choosing. In addition, on March 14, 2023, Khaled Abughanem threatened to “slaughter[]” the Victim in retaliation for information she gave to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a federal offense. Khaled and Adham Abughanem were previously convicted by a federal jury at trial. Adham Abughanem is awaiting sentencing. Another co-defendant, Waleed Abughanem, also a brother of the Victim, was previously convicted following a guilty plea to misprision of felony and sentenced to serve 36 months in prison. “Khaled Abughanem, along with his sons and other family members, traveled internationally in an attempt to force his daughter and their sister into a forced marriage in Yemen,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “What this defendant and the others failed to recognize was holding someone against their will, so they can enter into a forced marriage, is a crime in the United States. Today’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct as he will now spend a significant period of time in prison.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI will aggressively pursue those who exploit family ties to commit violent crimes and deprive victims of their freedom,” said Philip Tejera, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to protecting victims and working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for crimes that cross international borders.” “The Diplomatic Security Service welcomes today’s sentencing of Khaled Abughanem for conspiring to kidnap his own daughter in New York and attempting to force her to marry in Yemen,” said DSS Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson. “Justice was served thanks to the unshakable courage of the victim in this case as well as the close collaboration between DSS, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Lackawanna Police Department,” Khaled Abughanem’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson. Additional assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and CPB in Boston, Massachusetts. # # # #


title: United States Files Forfeiture Action Against Two Anti-Submarine Warfare Crew Trainers En Route from South Africa to the Chinese Military

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: The Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint against two mission crew trainers (MCTs) that were interdicted in transit from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The MCTs are mobile classrooms intended to assist the PLA to train personnel on the use of airborne warning and control system and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. “TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to act decisively to preserve the U.S. military’s qualitative edge by preventing U.S. technology from falling into the hands of our adversaries." “This seizure demonstrates the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners continue to be steadfast in our commitment to use every lawful tool available to keep this critical technology out of the hands of our adversaries.” "The Test Flying Academy of South Africa illegally exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the purpose of training China’s military, jeopardizing U.S. national security and placing the lives of American service members at risk,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.” “TFASA’s continued attempts to leverage our nation's military expertise and software gravely threaten United States' national security interests and the lives of American service members around the globe," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “May today’s disruption reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from foreign adversaries.” “This successful interdiction highlights the critical role HSI plays in safeguarding U.S. national security and preventing sensitive technology from reaching adversarial military forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations New York. “By disrupting the transfer of advanced anti-submarine warfare training equipment to the Chinese military, HSI New York and our partners denied adversaries access to vital U.S. tactics and capabilities and, in turn, protected vital American interests. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement counterparts for their steadfast commitment to countering illicit procurement networks and defending the integrity of U.S. defense technology worldwide.” As described in the complaint, TFASA is a South Africa-based company that specialized in military flight testing and training through facilities in South Africa and China. TFASA was founded in 2003 with the support of the South African government to facilitate cooperation with China. According to its website, “TFASA Flight Test Services” trained Chinese military pilots for fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training standards. According to court documents, the MCTs and associated software were designed and manufactured, using U.S.-origin software and defense technical data, by TFASA. The purpose of the MCT project – dubbed “Project Elgar” by TFASA personnel – was to train PLA aviators on anti-submarine warfare techniques, expanding their capability to locate and track U.S. submarines working in the Pacific. The MCTs’ layout was modelled after the P-8 Poseidon, which is manufactured by Boeing and serves as the United States’ primary anti-submarine warfare maritime patrol aircraft. The MCTs were designed to run software specially designed by TFASA for Project Elgar. The software used a basic flight simulator program designed and marketed by a U.S. company, which TFASA software engineers then enhanced using technical data relating to Western anti-submarine warfare aircraft, including the P-8 Poseidon. Former NATO aviators with training in anti-submarine warfare techniques were part of TFASA’s Project Elgar team. This interdiction is the latest instance implicating TFASA in its role as a primary trainer of the PLA. In June 2023, the Department of Commerce added TFASA and numerous of its subsidiaries and affiliates in South Africa and elsewhere to the Entity List “for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources,” which the Department of Commerce noted was “contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.” This interdiction of the MCTs is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to stop the PLA and its enablers from further threatening U.S. national security. The forfeiture action comes as China, Russia, and Iran began a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters on Saturday, January 10. The FBI, HSI New York Field Offices, and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office are leading the investigation of TFASA and its activities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven B. Wasserman and Rick Blaylock, Jr. for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. MCT Inside Shipping Container Shipping Container Housing MCT Screenshots of Software Designed for MCTs


title: Chapin Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Engage in Illegal Gambling Business

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — James O. Helms, 73, of Chapin, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling business. Evidence presented to the court showed that Helms was a partner of a large-scale gambling organization in Lexington. The video poker operation at times made up to $100,000 per week, according to an indictment in the case. The operation was open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily and necessitated two shifts of workers to oversee the business. The illegal scheme was operated directly from codefendant Fred McCary’s home and other buildings on his property. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Helms to five years of probation. There is no parole in the federal system. McCary, 63, of Gaston, was previously sentenced to six months in prison and six months home confinement. This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case. ###


title: St. Charles County Bartender Admits Child Pornography Offense

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former bartender from St. Charles County, Missouri on Thursday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material and installing hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of a former residence. Anthony Thomas, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted possessing thousands of media files that contain child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he had downloaded and thousands more containing pornography where the age of those depicted is difficult to discern. Thomas also admitted installing hidden cameras in a bathroom and bedroom of a former residence. The bedroom camera was disguised as a smoke detector. The bathroom camera was disguised as an outlet extension plug. Both captured images of a 14-year-old girl. The investigation began in December 2024, when agents with Homeland Security Investigations learned that someone in St. Charles County was making CSAM available for download via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. They then conducted a court-approved search of Thomas’ home and seized multiple electronic devices that contained CSAM. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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: U.S. Files Forfeiture Action Against Two Anti-Submarine Warfare Crew Trainers En Route to the Chinese Military

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has filed a forfeiture complaint against two mission crew trainers that were interdicted in transit from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa to the People’s Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The mission crew trainers (MCTs) are mobile classrooms intended to assist the Chinese military to train personnel on the use of airborne warning and control system and antisubmarine warfare aircraft. “This seizure demonstrates the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners continue to be steadfast in our commitment to use every lawful tool available to keep this critical technology out of the hands of our adversaries.” “TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will continue to act decisively to preserve the U.S. military’s qualitative edge by preventing U.S. technology from falling into the hands of our adversaries.” “This successful interdiction highlights the critical role HSI plays in safeguarding U.S. national security and preventing sensitive technology from reaching adversarial military forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations New York. “By disrupting the transfer of advanced anti-submarine warfare training equipment to the Chinese military, HSI New York and our partners denied adversaries access to vital U.S. tactics and capabilities and, in turn, protected vital American interests. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement counterparts for their steadfast commitment to countering illicit procurement networks and defending the integrity of U.S. defense technology worldwide.” “The Test Flying Academy of South Africa illegally exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the purpose of training China’s military, jeopardizing U.S. national security and placing the lives of American service members at risk,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.” “TFASA’s continued attempts to leverage our nation's military expertise and software gravely threaten United States' national security interests and the lives of American service members around the globe," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “May today’s disruption reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from foreign adversaries.” According to court documents, the MCTs and associated software were designed and manufactured, using U.S.-origin software and defense technical data, by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA). The purpose of the MCT project – dubbed “Project Elgar” by TFASA personnel – was to train Chinese aviators in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on anti-submarine warfare techniques, expanding their capability to locate and track U.S. submarines working in the Pacific. The MCTs’ layout was modelled after the P-8 Poseidon, which is manufactured by Boeing and serves as the United States’ primary anti-submarine warfare maritime patrol aircraft. The MCTs were designed to run software specially designed by TFASA for Project Elgar. The software used a basic flight simulator program designed and marketed by a U.S. company, which TFASA software engineers then enhanced using technical data relating to Western anti-submarine warfare aircraft, including the P-8 Poseidon. Former NATO aviators with training in anti-submarine warfare techniques were part of TFASA’s Project Elgar team. This interdiction is the latest instance implicating TFASA in its role as a primary trainer of the PLA. In June 2023, the Department of Commerce added TFASA and numerous of its subsidiaries and affiliates in South Africa and elsewhere to the Entity List “for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources,” which the Department of Commerce noted was “contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.” This interdiction of the MCTs is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to stop the PLA and its enablers from further threatening U.S. national security. The forfeiture action comes as China, Russia, and Iran began a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters on Saturday, January 10. This case is being investigated by the FBI and HSI New York Field Offices and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office. The case is being litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven B. Wasserman and Rick Blaylock, Jr. for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Inside of one of the containers seized by the U.S. Government. Documented construction progress on the MCT showed the building and installation in the shipping containers of consoles closely mimicking those found in the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. tfasa_complaint_126-cv-00120_filed.pdf


title: St. Charles Man Admits $400,000 Embezzlement

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Charles, Missouri on Thursday admitted embezzling more than $400,000 from his employer. Talon Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of mail fraud. He admitted that from Oct. 21, 2019, to at least Feb. 19, 2025, he hatched the scheme while working as an accounts payable specialist at a medical business. Lewis routinely received lists of patients who were owed refunds and was supposed to upload that information so the company could generate and mail refund checks. Lewis added fake patients to the refund lists and then had refunds sent to him or to the homes of friends and acquaintances. Those friends and acquaintances then kicked back 30% of the money they fraudulently received to Lewis. He admitted stealing more than $400,000 in this manner. Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16. Mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both prison and a fine. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Georgia Man for Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – CLEVELAND DAVID HALL , II , 43, of Marietta, Georgia, has been convicted of possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On September 2, 2025, a federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Oklahoma charged Hall with being a prior convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On January 13, 2026, a federal jury found Hall guilty. Testimony at trial showed that on August 5, 2025, a deputy with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Hall on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a firearm. Public record reflects that Hall has a prior federal conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in case number 11-CR-270. At sentencing, Hall faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, and Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Drew E. Davis are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Ponca City Man Convicted of Possession of Unregistered Short-Barreled Shotgun

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – DOYLE GLEN WILSON , 59, of Ponca City, has been convicted by a federal jury of possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On October 7, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Wilson with possession of an unregistered firearm. Testimony presented earlier this week at trial showed that on July 11, 2025, officers with the Ponca City Police Department executed a search warrant at Wilson’s home while searching for a short-barreled shotgun used in an assault. Officers located the shotgun in a closet. Under federal law, possession of a short-barreled shotgun requires that the firearm be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Wilson had not registered the short-barreled shotgun found in his residence. On January 14, 2026, a federal jury found Wilson guilty of illegally possessing an unregistered firearm. At sentencing, Wilson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ponca City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Cole McFerren are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Auburn Man Sentenced to more than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Dark Web

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Ala. – On January 15, 2026, a federal judge sentenced a Lee County man to 292 months in prison for conspiracy to advertise child sexual abuse material. There is no parole in the federal system. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson made the announcement. According to court records, from July 2023 through September 2024, 49-year-old Jacob Parker, of Auburn, Alabama, was involved with a website located on the dark web that was dedicated to the uploading and sharing of child sexual abuse material. Parker specifically admitted in his plea agreement that, during that time, he made more than 500 posts, including numerous posts that contained links to images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Parker also admitted to serving as a moderator on the website. When law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his Auburn residence, they seized multiple devices that contained thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Parker received the 292-month sentence after pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge in September 2025. At the sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that Parker serve a term of supervised release for 10 years following his prison sentence and pay $32,500 in restitution to the known victims in the case. Parker will also be required to register as a sex offender. The FBI Mobile Field Office, FBI’s Child Exploitation Operations Unit, and Auburn Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb from the Middle District of Alabama and Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Detroit Man Charged With Drug Distribution in Vermont

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 15, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Terry Dawayne Catchings, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, with two counts of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and one count of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute it. Catchings entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on January 15, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Catchings be detained pending trial. According to court records, Catchings distributed cocaine and cocaine base on December 23, 2025, and December 30, 2025, at a location in Vermont. On January 7, 2026, Vermont State Police stopped Catchings for speeding on Interstate 89 in Randolph. A search of Catchings’s vehicle revealed approximately 114 grams of cocaine hidden in the fabric lining of the ceiling. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Catchings is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Catchings faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the three counts if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Morristown Police Department, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI, and the Vermont State Police. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. Catchings is represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.