title: Jamestown man going to prison for his role in narcotics conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jacob Snow, 39, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between January and May 24, 2021, Snow conspired with Alisha A. Klinger and others to sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Jamestown area. Snow sold drugs and collected payments on behalf of Klinger. On May 24, 2021, an individual was kidnapped at gunpoint and driven to a wooded area, where the individual was then hit multiple times, including by Snow. This incident involved approximately $10,000 worth of heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine that the individual had taken from Snow a day prior. Asked if the individual should be killed, Snow responded, “no, I think we should give her the opportunity to pay that back.” Charges remain pending against Klinger. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. # # # #


title: Southern Tier man pleads guilty to distribution of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David J. Johnston, 56, of Olean, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that prior to February 19, 2024, Johnston was in a relationship with co-defendant Kayla R. Kio. During the relationship, he requested that Kio take naked videos of a 5-year-old child that they both had access to. On February 19, 2024, Kio took a sexually explicit video of the minor victim using her cell phone and then sent it to Johnston via text message. He took a screen shot from the video, which constituted child pornography, and sent it back to Kio and to other individuals. During this time, Johnson also sent Kio a different image of child pornography via text message. On March 13, 2024, during the execution of a search warrant at Johnston’s residence, law enforcement seized three cell telephones. A review of the cell phones recovered approximately 11 images and one video of child pornography. Kio was previously convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and is awaiting sentencing. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler. Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Prior felon sentenced on new child pornography charge

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Marcobrien S. Volcy, 28, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under the laws of New York State relating to the possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that in August 2023, Volcy pleaded guilty in Monroe County Court to Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age and was sentenced to one to three years in prison. On January 19, 2024, while on New York State probation for his 2023 conviction, Volcy possessed a cell phone that contained images and videos of child pornography. In total, Volcy possessed more than 650 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. # # # #


title: Big Island Man Sentenced to 4 Months and Ordered to Pay Over Half a Million Dollars in Restitution for Filing False Tax Return

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Douglas Mycko, 61, of Kurtistown, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District J. Michael Seabright to four months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for making and subscribing a false tax return. Mycko was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $561,587.91. He pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in August 2025. As part of his guilty plea, Mycko admitted to filing false tax returns for calendar years 2016 through 2020 in which he underreported his business income, resulting in losses to the federal government in the amount of $244,121.00 and to the State of Hawaii in the amount of $280,308.91. Mycko further admitted that despite working and continuing to operate his business from 2020 through 2023, he applied for and obtained unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program by making false and fraudulent representations regarding his unemployment status and absence of income. As a result of this fraudulent conduct, Mycko received $37,158.00 in PUA funds that he was not entitled to receive. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at 866-720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case.


title: Oregon City Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— An Oregon City, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for selling drugs after an investigation into an overdose death led to his prosecution. Toren Paul Flom, 32, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this crime. This defendant is a career offender with prior felony drug convictions and was on post-prison supervision when he sold drugs to the victim here,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Drug crimes are not victimless – they tear families apart and weaken our communities as a whole, creating wounds that endure long after the crime itself.” “Driven by greed, this drug dealer chose to put deadly drugs into our community with no regard for the lives and families harmed,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Flom’s sentence means he can no longer contribute to overdoses or cause more heartbreak for victims and their loved ones. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that profit from this suffering and to protect the safety of our neighborhoods.” “I’m grateful for the continued collaboration among law enforcement agencies to hold dangerous drug traffickers accountable,” said Portland Police Chief Bob Day. “Cases such as this help reduce the amount of dangerous drugs in our city and the devastating impact they have on so many lives.” According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, law enforcement responded to an emergency call regarding a deceased victim who had overdosed on multiple controlled substances. The investigation revealed that Flom had distributed multiple controlled substances to the victim prior to his overdose death. Ultimately, investigators were not able to conclusively establish that Flom was the sole source of drugs that caused the victim’s overdose death. Nonetheless, investigators pursued a criminal investigation into Flom’s drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Flom’s residence in July 2024 and seized approximately 7.2 gross kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, 1.29 gross kilograms of ketamine, 1.2 gross kilograms of cocaine, 607 gross grams of MDMA, and 102 grams of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). On July 23, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Flom with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. On September 10, 2025, Flom pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. HSI and the Portland Police Bureau – Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady A. Adams prosecuted the case. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.


title: Mesa Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Setting Fire to Tesla Dealership

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced Jan. 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 60 months of imprisonment, the mandatory minimum, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for setting fire to a Tesla vehicle and a Tesla dealership in Mesa, Arizona, on April 28, 2025. Restitution will be determined at a hearing set for April 13, 2026. A federal grand jury in Phoenix previously returned a five-count indictment charging Moses with maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire, and Moses pleaded guilty to all charges on Oct. 27, 2025. “Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.” “This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest—it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.” According to court documents, surveillance cameras showed Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla dealership parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter. Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location. “Arson is a violent crime, that not only endangers members of our community, but our first responders as well,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Stallo. “Our certified fire investigators, supported by the National Fire Research Laboratory, enables ATF to work with our local, state, and federal agencies to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.” “The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to the Mesa Police Department,” said Chief Dan Butler. "We do not tolerate violence or malicious actions that can lead to injury or death to members of the public or first responders. We are pleased with the swift justice delivered in this case. We appreciate the strong work of the Maricopa County and U.S. Attorneys’ offices.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI Phoenix Field Office, Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo and Maricopa Deputy County Attorney Luke Coyne prosecuted the case. Coyne also acts as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. CASE NUMBER: CR25-0657-PHX-DJH RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-005_Moses # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Warm Springs Man Charged with Eluding Police Officers and Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man has been charged with possessing multiple firearms as a felon and eluding police officers after a high-speed chase. Edward Francis Jones, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with felon in possession of a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. “Running from justice puts lives at risk and threatens the safety of everyone around us,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I am grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their commitment to protecting the community by locating and removing this dangerous fugitive from our streets.” “The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is thankful to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police for arresting Jones,” said Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon Pete W. Cajigal. “The unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and steadfast diligence of these agencies stand as a powerful testament to the exceptional caliber of law enforcement that safeguards and serves our communities.” “Our community is safer because of our partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies, said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Shark. “Those partnerships allowed us to take both weapons, and a felon in possession of those weapons, off our streets.” According to court documents, on November 6, 2025, Warm Springs Police officers were patrolling on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation when they observed a Hyundai sedan that matched the description of a stolen car. As the officer checked the license plate, the driver placed the car into drive and drove at a high speed into a field. As the officer activated his overhead lights and sirens, the car came to a sudden stop after hitting something. A male, identified as Jones, exited the car and began running. Officers attempted to chase Jones but lost sight of him. Inside the stolen car, officers found a loaded 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number sitting on the driver’s seat. Officers also found alcohol, fireworks, a backpack containing a bag believed to contain methamphetamine, a baggie of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 94 rounds of ammunition. A second backpack was found inside the vehicle with mail belonging to Jones. On January 7, 2026, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed a female known to be affiliated with Jones in a Chrysler 300. Officers initiated a traffic stop for an expired registration. The vehicle did not stop and continued traveling through Madras, Oregon, at extremely high speeds, passing vehicles and driving into oncoming traffic. The car ultimately lost control and crashed. A male exited the driver’s seat and fled on foot. Drone operators from the Prineville Police Department located the fleeing suspect approximately 100 yards east. Officers contacted the suspect, identified as Jones, and took him into custody. Inside the car, officers observed a handgun lying on the driver’s side floorboard. An additional blue pistol belonging to the female occupant was also found on the driver’s side floorboard. Jones has been wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service since May 29, 2025, for two separate supervised release violation cases with underlying felon in possession charges. Law enforcement has attempted to arrest Jones multiple times. The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Warm Springs Police Department, Hood River Police Department, and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office participated in the search for Jones. Jones made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Dun & Bradstreet to Pay $5.7M to Resolve Alleged Violations of Federal Trade Commission Order

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department, acting on referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order resolving a case against Dun & Bradstreet Inc., doing business as D&B. Under the court’s order, Dun & Bradstreet will pay a $2,063,000 civil penalty and $2,785,786 in customer refunds, in addition to $924,590 of refunds it has already issued, to resolve allegations that it violated an FTC order. The FTC entered an administrative order against Dun & Bradstreet in 2022 based on alleged unfair or deceptive business practices prohibited by the FTC Act. According to a complaint filed in the Middle District of Florida, Dun & Bradstreet violated provisions of that order requiring it to (1) accurately notify customers of the automatic renewal prices of its products; (2) not misrepresent its products; and (3) create and maintain records of its compliance with the order. The complaint alleges that in connection with its sale of credit-related services to small businesses, Dun & Bradstreet sent many of its customers inaccurate pricing notices, omitted or misrepresented certain facts about its products during sales calls, and failed to retain all of the call recordings required by the order. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that American small businesses receive accurate information about the products and services they purchase,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will continue to work with the FTC to enforce its orders and hold violators accountable.” “Our signed orders are not suggestions,” said Director Christopher Mufarrige of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This settlement is another example of the Bureau’s effort to reinvigorate its fraud program and protect small businesses from deceptive and unlawful conduct.” The United States is represented in this action by Senior Trial Attorney Sarah Williams and Assistant Director Zachary A. Dietert from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lacy R. Harwell, Jr. for the Middle District of Florida provided assistance. Christopher J. Erickson and Taylor H. Bates represent the FTC. For more information about the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, visit www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch .


title: Cedar Rapids Felon Involved in a Shooting Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who shot at another person was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison. Anthony Isiah Pennell, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 30, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Information from the sentencing hearing showed that, on October 9, 2024, in a mall parking lot in Cedar Rapids, Pennell fired a gun. Following an argument between an individual who was with Pennell and another person, Pennell grabbed a gun out of a purse belonging to a woman who he was also with, and he began shooting at the other person. Pennell’s gunfire hit the back of the other person’s car, and it also hit another car that was parked in the parking lot. As officers were responding to the shooting, they saw Pennell running from the area. Pennell threw the gun into a storm drain as he was running. Pennell was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior assault-related felony conviction from 2018. Pennell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Pennell was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. 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. Pennell is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-10. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Eight defendants plead guilty to, sentenced for illegal re-entry

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that eight defendants pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to illegal re-entry. Each defendant was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The eight defendants are: Mario Dario Cao-Tzul, 38, a native and citizen of Guatemala. Jorge Luis Gonzalez-Roman, 40, a native and citizen of Mexico. Jose Clemente Trujillo-Mejia, 42, a native and citizen of Mexico. Marciano Gonzalez-Avila, 33, a native and citizen of Guatemala. Diego Ignacio Sohom-Tambriz, 40, a native and citizen of Guatemala. Douglas Noel Barahona-Martinez, 37, a native and citizen of El Salvador. Jose Mardoqueo Guevara-Pereira, 38, a native and citizen of El Salvador. Eleo Francisco Lemus-Moreno, 40, a native and citizen of Honduras. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald, who handled the cases, stated that the defendants were previously physically removed from the United States, some on multiple occasions, and were later found in the Western District of New York. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The pleas and sentencings are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato. # # # #


title: Schenectady Man Sentenced to 330 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes and for Violating Supervised Release Conditions

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jabree Jones, a.k.a. “Breezy,” age 33, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced on January 9, 2026, to 300 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms crimes, including a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Jones, who was on federal supervised release at the time of his offense, was sentenced to an additional 30 months in prison, to be served consecutively, for violations of his release conditions, including for false statements to U.S. Probation. Jones will serve a total term of 330 months in prison. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division (NYED), and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Jones admitted to his participation in a drug conspiracy from January to May 2023, that included eleven instances of drug distribution between January and May 2023, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine on May 23, 2023, after the ATF and DEA searched a property on Western Avenue in Albany where they found one of Jones’ coconspirators, Brandon Bartley, with 34 firearms, including an illegal machinegun, as well as more than 400 grams of fentanyl pills, more than 7,000 grams of pills containing methamphetamine, and more than 700 grams of cocaine. That same day, the DEA and ATF also search a property in Halfmoon, New York, where they found another one of Jones’ coconspirators, Anthony Luizzi, along with about 11 kilograms of fentanyl pills and five firearms, including a defaced shotgun. Another suspect in the investigation, Anthony Zaremski, was fatally shot during the execution of a federal search warrant at his apartment in Clifton Park, New York on May 23, 2023, after Zaremski opened fire and wounded two officers. Acting United States Attorney John Sarcone stated, “Jabree Jones was a major driver of drug trafficking and gun violence in this region. While on federal supervision, he chose to flood our communities with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine and to use firearms, including machineguns. This sentence removes an extraordinarily dangerous individual from our streets for decades. Let this case send a clear message: those who combine deadly drugs with illegal guns will face relentless prosecution and severe consequences. Thank you to the brave men and women from DEA and ATF who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and rid them of the scourge of violent criminals.” “Today’s sentencing is a true reflection of the dedicated work the DEA New York Enforcement Division and our law enforcement partners have when targeting those individuals who jeopardize the safety of our communities when trafficking illicit narcotics and firearms” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Mr. Jones’ threat and terror to our communities ends today. The DEA has and remains committed to safeguarding our neighborhoods and strive for a fentanyl-free America.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo stated, “Mr. Jones’ crimes caused a devastating impact on our community by engaging in firearms trafficking and drug distribution. He helped fuel addiction, death and violence. ATF remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt these dangerous networks, to seizing illegal firearms before they reach the streets, and to protecting the safety of the public. We applaud all of the partners involved in making our community safer.” United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a supervised release term of five years, to begin after he finishes his prison term. Jones was also ordered to pay restitution to the State of California and the State of Georgia for fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance from those states in 2020 and 2021. The following defendants were also charged in connection with this investigation: Anthony Luizzi pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of the guns found at the Western Avenue property and Halfmoon property. Luizzi was sentenced to 210 months in prison and a $10,000 fine on October 1, 2024 . Brandon Bartley also pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a $5,000 fine . Devon Newsome pled guilty to transferring 29 firearms to Jones that were ultimately found at the Western Avenue property. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison . The DEA and the ATF investigated the case, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), the Rotterdam Police Department, and the Henry County, Georgia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . ###


title: New Jersey Woman and Colombian Man Charged with Wire Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jael Watts, age 44, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Luis Pino-Copete, age 41, of Bogota, Colombia, were indicted on December 4, 2025, on a wire fraud conspiracy charge related to their operation of a transportation company called Pearl Transit. Watts was separately charged with ten counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Northeastern Region, and State of New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli made the announcement. According to the superseding indictment, Watts and Pino Copete operated a non-profit company called Pearl Transit Corporation that claimed to provide transportation services to elderly and disabled persons in New York and several other States. Watts applied for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Section 5310 program, which was awarded and managed by New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT). Between September 2024 and July 2025, Watts submitted vouchers to New York State for reimbursement of operational costs associated with providing transportation to eligible riders and, with Pino-Copete’s help, provided false supporting documentation in support of their requests. Watts and Pino-Copete fraudulently sought payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, including Section 5310 funds, by falsely representing to New York State that Pearl Transit had transported disabled and elderly residents. However, Pearl Transit never provided any transportation nor employed a single driver. The indictment further alleges that on or about March 20, 2022, Watts used the name of an attorney on an FTA grant application without that attorney's knowledge or consent. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Watts, working with her husband Pino-Copete, perpetrated a massive fraudulent scheme against the Department of Transportation in New York. She submitted requests for reimbursement for services that were made up out of thin air. Those funds were meant to help transport some of our most vulnerable—the elderly and disabled. These charges show that these crimes will only transport you to prison, as Watts and Pino-Copete now face the prospect of many years in prison.” DOT-OIG Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Gallagher stated: “Today’s indictment illustrates the depth of the alleged fraud committed by Watts and Pino-Copete. The DOT-OIG takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud and attempt to steal from government funds. We’re committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of federally funded programs.” New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli stated: “Watts and Pino-Copete allegedly conspired to scam the State of New York out of more than $1 million dollars meant to transport deserving New Yorkers for needed care and services. Thanks to the work of my office, this fraud was detected before any payment was made. My office will continue to aggressively root out fraud and partner with law enforcement to hold offenders responsible. I thank Acting United States Attorney Sarcone and the United States DOT Inspector General for their work with my office in protecting public funds.” Watts was originally arrested on July 21, 2025, on a criminal complaint. On August 19, 2025, following several detention hearings, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart ordered Watts detained pending a trial before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. She was previously indicted on October 16, 2025, on ten counts of wire fraud. Pino-Copete was arrested on December 9, 2025, in New Jersey, at which time he was ordered detained pending trial. Pino-Copete was arraigned on the superseding indictment on December 29, 2025, in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. Pino-Copete faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Watts faces at least 2 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. DOT-OIG, the New York State Comptroller’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case. ###


title: McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearms

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Larry Douglas Martin, age 54, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged Martin with possessing a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Martin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.


title: Individual Indicted and Arrested for Carjacking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On January 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jeremy Ruiz-Rosario, 22 years of age, of Trujillo Alto, with two carjackings, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Both carjackings were conducted at the same time, in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Ruiz-Rosario and others, brandishing firearms, carjacked two adult females. On January 12, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Ruiz-Rosario. According to the Government’s allegations, on August 30, 2021, in the District of Puerto Rico, Jeremy Ruiz-Rosario, while carrying and brandishing a firearm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a white, 2020 Toyota RAV4 that had been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of an adult female, by force, violence and intimidation. On that same date, Ruiz-Rosario is also charged with the armed carjacking of a white 2011 Nissan Rogue from an adult female by force, violence and intimidation. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julian N. Radzinschi of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison for the carjackings and up to life in prison for the firearms charges. 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: Federal Authorities Seize Two Website Domains Used to Import Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices and Silencers from China

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Federal authorities in Boston seized two internet domains and two cryptocurrency accounts that were allegedly used for the illegal importation of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) from China. MCDs commonly known as “switches” or “sears” are parts designed to convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of these items and their importation from certain countries, including China, are prohibited under the National Firearms Act (NFA). In addition, during the course of this investigation, 3,093 machine gun conversion devices (switches and auto sears) were seized along with 282 firearms; 124 silencers; and over 12,000 rounds of ammunition. According to the court documents, beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2025, federal authorities began targeting multiple websites, businesses and individuals selling, offering for sale, importing and exporting machinegun conversion devices. Through undercover purchases from the website domains and MCD vendors promoting the sale of NFA-prohibited items – it was confirmed that the domains were being used to sell MCDs. Cryptocurrency accounts used by the MCD vendors to facilitate their sales were also later identified. To conceal the alleged illegal importation, the contraband items sold from the domains were allegedly smuggled inside air cargo shipments from China to government-controlled mailboxes in the United States. The MCDs were packaged with other goods and were never properly declared with United States Customs. It is further alleged that the website domains trafficked counterfeit goods and unlawfully used the Glock, Inc. trademark by offering purported “Glock” switches for sale. In reality however, Glock, Inc. has never manufactured switches. Federal authorities ultimately established probable cause to seize for forfeiture the internet domains and funds within the cryptocurrency wallets which were used in connection with the scheme to import MCDs. Visitors to the websites will now be directed to a landing page indicating that the domain has been seized: To date, the operation led by the District of Massachusetts targeting MCD vendors, has led to the seizure of approximately 360 internet domains and over 3,000 MCDs, 282 firearms, 124 silencers, over 12,000 rounds ammunition and approximately 125 investigative referrals. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Boston Field Office and National Targeting Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit and Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit obtained the seizure warrants in this case. 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: North Carolina Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register Under SORNA

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – Joseph Rimero Rutherford, 34, of North Carolina, was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failing to register as a sex offender in Virginia, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), after he began living in Bristol, Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about 2020 through in or about July 2022, Rutherford habitually resided in an apartment in Bristol, Virginia. Rutherford failed to register in Virginia or update his registration in North Carolina as required by SORNA. Rutherford is required to register as a sex offender and comply with SORNA because of his 2015 federal convictions for the possession and distribution of child pornography out of the District Court for the District of Columbia. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. The United States Marshals Service and the Bristol, Virginia Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Macon prosecuted the case.


title: CONVICTED FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Isaiah Markeis Sims, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America continues to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that our communities would be made safer by unleashing the full power of the Department of Justice to crack down on the perpetrators of violent crime. I am very proud of the excellent work by Sheriff Chip Simmons and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, to remove this dangerous felon from our streets, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with successful prosecutions.” Court documents reflect that on August 25, 2025, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, and the defendant was a passenger in the vehicle. The defendant fled on foot from the deputies and when he fell to the ground, deputies located a loaded Glock handgun beside him on the ground. The defendant is a convicted felon. Sims faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment. The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2026, at 10:00am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. 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, human and drug trafficking. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Plymouth Man Charged with Sexually Exploiting Minors in the Philippines

body_text: BOSTON – A Plymouth, Mass. man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting two minor victims from the Philippines. Robert Meserve, 38, is charged by criminal complaint with two counts of sexual exploitation of children. Meserve was arrested this morning in New Jersey and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to charging documents, in June 2025, law enforcement in Bergen County, New Jersey were notified of an individual – allegedly later identified as Meserve – engaging in communications, negotiating payment and directing the sexual abuse of children by their trusted adults on live streams, which Meserve screen recorded. It is alleged that an initial forensic examination of Meserve’s devices revealed files consistent with child sexual abuse material and numerous communications and corresponding payments, which detail the sexual abuse of these two minors in the Philippines – ages six and eight – including a non-verbal minor with disabilities. The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, NJ, the United States Marshals Service, the Bergen County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Plymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, of the Major Crimes Unit and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: MEXICAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR AND IMMIGRATION OFFENSE

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Noe Zamudio Hernandez, 43, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempted enticement of a minor and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, this previously deported illegal alien was stopped before he could sexually victimize a child. My office will continue to back up this great work by our law enforcement partners with successful prosecutions, and this criminal alien sexual predator will find himself in federal prison before being swiftly deported from this country.” Court documents reflect that the defendant came under investigation in 2024 during an operation aimed at identifying individuals targeting children for sexual exploitation. During the operation, the defendant communicated with an individual he believed was a minor to arrange for a sexual transaction. When the defendant was arrested, law enforcement learned he was unlawfully present in the United States and had been previously removed to Mexico. Zamudio Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment up to life in prison. The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. 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, human and drug trafficking. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Goose Creek Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Thefts from Vulnerable Nursing Home Residents

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Courtney Jeanine Brown, 49, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for thefts from nursing home residents. Brown worked as the business office manager for Riverside Health and Rehabilitation, a nursing home in North Charleston. Over more than three years, Brown stole approximately $146,000 from 132 residents in that facility, most of whom were physically and/or mentally incapacitated. Brown exploited her position of private trust by writing checks to cash from personal funds that belonged to the residents. Brown then deposited the checks into her personal account and used the funds for personal expenses. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendrickssentenced Brown to 33 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court ordered Brown to pay $160,300.69. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse prosecuted the case. ###


title: Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Over Six Kilograms of Methamphetamine Intended for Distribution

body_text: BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced on Jan. 7, 2026 in federal court in Boston for drug possession and distribution charges. Star Sirikhom, 39, of R.I., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025 , Sirikhom pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 along with five alleged co-conspirators. In 2019, an investigation began into a Colombia-based money laundering organization that was laundering drug proceeds on behalf of multiple drug trafficking organizations. During surveillance of a residence identified as a possible drug stash location, multiple people were observed entering the location with weighted bags or boxes and exiting with large trash bags, weighted bags, and five-gallon buckets which were placed in vehicles before departing the residence. In June 2021, Sirikhom was observed entering the stash house carrying a black backpack and exiting six minutes later with the same black backpack, which appeared to be weighted. During a subsequent traffic stop of Sirikhom’s vehicle, the backpack was seized from the trunk and found to contain over six kilograms of orange pills containing methamphetamine. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. 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: Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of distributing and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Marissa Lynn Segal, 31, pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026, to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on July 14, 2025, Segal distributed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor—including photographs and videos of infant victims and victims engaged in acts of bestiality—via a mobile application. Additionally, Segal possessed child sexual abuse material including images and videos depicting prepubescent minors. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court ordered Segal detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Segal.


title: Repeat offender sentenced to 60 months for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Gabriel Rodriguez-Martinez pleaded guilty March 28, 2025. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Rodriguez-Martinez to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Rodriguez-Martinez has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as multiple driving while intoxicated offenses. He was first removed from the United States in September 2014 and returned illegally again. Rodriguez-Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Denver Man Convicted on Federal Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Juan Sertuche, age 43, of Denver, Colorado, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Fentanyl, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on January 8, 2026. “We may never know the true depths of the devastation, suffering, and loss inflicted on our communities by the methamphetamine, fentanyl, and automatic weapons trafficked and sold by this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “But we will do our best to hold this profiteer of misery fully accountable and ensure he receives a federal prison sentence that will put him out of that business for a long time.” The two charges for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance each carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years up to life supervised release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum of five years up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sertuche was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. Between 2002 and September 2023, Juan Sertuche led a drug distribution conspiracy and provided hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills to multiple sub-distributors to be further distributed in the Rapid City and Pine Ridge areas of South Dakota. On one occasion, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of couriers who Sertuche had directed to travel from Denver to the Rapid City area. During the traffic stop, law enforcement discovered 19 pounds of methamphetamine intended to be further distributed in the Rapid City area. In September 2023, Sertuche was arrested following a traffic stop in Jackson County where he was found to be in possession of approximately 1500 fentanyl pills that he intended to be further distributed. Following his arrest, Sertuche, continued to try to get others he was conspiring with to continue the drug distribution efforts, including by collecting money and making trips to Denver to pick up methamphetamine and fentanyl. Sertuche also directed another person on several occasions to collect numerous firearms that were part of his drug dealing to Denver to be traded for methamphetamine. Law enforcement was able to recover those firearms, including two fully automatic machine guns, before they could be taken and used as currency for drugs. This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Wyoming State Highway Patrol, and the North Metro Denver Drug Task Force. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation will be ordered, and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JIMMY ARCE, also known as “Boe,” “Slim,” and “Jimbo,” 42, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl in southwestern Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Arce as a distributor of fentanyl in southwestern Connecticut. During the investigation, investigators regularly observed Arce supplying Omar Parra with fentanyl for redistribution, and made controlled purchases of the drug from Parra. Arce was arrested on May 14, 2024. Related searches of Arce’s residence and vehicle revealed a quantity of fentanyl, scales with narcotics residue, and a bulletproof vest. On October 21, 2025, Arce pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Arce, who is released on a $200,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 12. Parra, also known as “D” and “Dee,” of Stamford, has pleaded guilty and is detained while awaiting sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone.


title: Former New York City Official Charged With Bribery And Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Jocelyn E. Strauber, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANTHONY HERBERT—the former Citywide Public Housing Liaison at the New York City Mayor’s Office—with committing bribery, kickback, and fraud offenses. HERBERT was arrested this morning and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. “New Yorkers deserve honest and competent public officials,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, at a time when Anthony Herbert was serving as City Hall’s liaison to the City’s public housing residents, he engaged in blatant pay-to-play schemes to enrich himself. The women and men of the Southern District of New York are committed to holding accountable government officials who abuse their positions of trust to benefit themselves.” “It’s alleged Anthony Herbert used his position in the NYC Mayor’s Office to create a side hustle of bribery and fraud,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. “He allegedly took advantage of his role to line his pockets by offering unfair advantages to certain businesses. Today’s indictment is the result of the incredible partnership between IRS-CI special agents and SDNY investigators, and now Herbert will face justice for his alleged criminal acts.” “This former Mayor’s Office official was responsible for engaging with members of the community on behalf of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, first as the Brooklyn Borough Director and then as the liaison between residents and leadership of public housing, and City Hall,” said DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber. “He allegedly exploited this position of trust and influence to enrich himself, accepting $16,000 in bribes and kickbacks in return for favors, including pressuring other government officials to give City contracts to one company, and steering publicly-funded financial assistance payments to a second business, according to the indictment. As charged, he allegedly filed false financial disclosures with the City omitting the payments he received to conceal his criminal conduct. I thank the IRS and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership on this investigation and for their commitment to hold accountable City employees who abuse their position for their own gain.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] From in or about February 2022 through in or about September 2025, HERBERT worked for the Office of the New York City Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (“Community Affairs”) within City Hall. In that capacity, HERBERT first functioned as the Brooklyn Borough Director for Community Affairs from in or about February 2022 through in or about February 2023, and then as the Citywide Public Housing Liaison until in or about September 2025. In the latter role, HERBERT was responsible for engaging with residents and leadership of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) on behalf of City Hall. HERBERT abused his position repeatedly and flagrantly by soliciting and receiving bribes and kickbacks in exchange for HERBERT’s agreement to advise and pressure other City officials to take actions benefiting those who paid HERBERT bribes and kickbacks, in two distinct schemes. In the first scheme, HERBERT solicited and received from a particular individual (the “Security Company Executive”) thousands of dollars in cash payments in exchange for HERBERT advising and pressuring other City officials to award the Security Company Executive’s security guard company with City contracts, including for providing services at NYCHA developments. In the second scheme, HERBERT advised, pressured, and fraudulently induced other City officials to approve payments to a director of a particular funeral home (the “Funeral Home Director”) under a financial assistance program for burial services for low-income families, in exchange for thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the proceeds of those reimbursement payments from the Funeral Home Director. Finally, in or about April 2021, HERBERT submitted a fraudulent loan application—on behalf of a fictitious baked goods company he claimed to operate—to induce a bank to issue HERBERT a $20,418 loan pursuant to the federal Paycheck Protection Program that was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. * * * HERBERT, 61, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with two counts of bribery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of federal program fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI, DOI, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Ghosh and Daniel H. Wolf are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Federal Jury finds Memphis Man Guilty of Four Armed Robberies of United States Postal Carriers and Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – On January 9, 2026, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of Marshun Lewis, 25 , who was charged with committing a series of armed robberies of United States postal carriers in August 2023 and October, November, and December of 2024 in the Western District of Tennessee. Lewis faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 28 years in federal prison based upon brandishing a firearm during each of the robberies. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today. According to information presented in court, Lewis conducted a series of armed robberies of United States postal carriers as a masked gunman for the purpose of obtaining keys to unlock blue collection mailboxes throughout the city of Memphis. He used the keys to steal checks and money orders from the mail for use in committing bank fraud. He would alter the payee information on the checks and money orders for deposit into third party accounts for withdrawal. Investigators located his vehicle on surveillance video at the scene of the robberies. Postal Inspectors served a search warrant at his home and located stolen mail and the keychain for one of the stolen keys. Text messages located on his phone linked him to each of the robberies and several co-conspirators in the bank fraud scheme. Inspectors determined the total amount of stolen checks and money orders exceeded $940,000. After a four-day trial, Lewis was convicted as charged of four counts of robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of possession of stolen mail. Sentencing is set on April 10, 2026, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This office takes very seriously our duty to protect the safety of United States Postal Service employees and the sanctity and security of the U.S. Mail. Armed robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant consequences. This dangerous offender has sown violence and greed, and as a result of this guilty verdict, he will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct." “As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety of our employees,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “Make no mistake. We will use every resource available when our postal carriers are robbed. Postal carriers are an integral part of our communities, and the Inspection Service is committed to ensuring their safety, protecting the sanctity of the U.S. Mail, and safeguarding the public’s trust in the Postal Service by holding those that commit violent crimes and theft accountable for their actions. We extend our appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their support in this case.” This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Memphis Police Department (MPD). Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and William Bateman prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Court of Appeals affirms 40-year prison sentence for convicted sex trafficker

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 40-year prison sentence imposed against a Cincinnati man convicted at trial of sex trafficking and exploiting two teenagers. Following a six-day jury trial, Kelly Richards, 44, was found guilty on all five counts of sex trafficking minors, sexually exploiting children and illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Richards was sentenced in October 2024 to 480 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Richards drugged, raped, abused, photographed and sold two teenage girls. He held them for days in a one-bedroom apartment the appeals court called “a house of horrors.” Richards provided the minors with cocaine before sexually assaulting them and forcing them to have sex with other men. On appeal, Richards challenged his convictions and argued that his sentence was substantively unreasonable. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions and sentence, noting his “horrific crimes against multiple victims” and failure to show “a scintilla of remorse for his actions.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis J. Zouhary represented the United States on appeal. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle J. Healey and was investigated by the FBI and other members of the FBI’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force. # # #


title: Taos Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Brutal 2019 Double Homicide

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Taos man was sentenced to life in prison for the June 2019 killings of two members of the Taos Pueblo. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Joshua Gonzales , 39, a non-Indian, murdered John Doe 1 and his father, John Doe 2, both enrolled members of the Taos Pueblo, inside John Doe 1’s residence. The evidence established that Gonzales repeatedly bludgeoned both victims with a wooden table leg, causing catastrophic head injuries and multiple skull fractures. After killing the men, Gonzales dragged their bodies, stacked them on top of one another inside the residence, and concealed them beneath rolled wire fencing. The victims were not discovered until two days later, after family members reported them missing. Surveillance video, forensic evidence, and cell phone records established a clear timeline of the murders and Gonzales ’s actions afterward. Video footage showed John Doe 2 arriving at the residence shortly before the killings. Minutes later, surveillance captured John Doe 2’s pickup truck being driven erratically around the property before crashing into trees nearby, consistent with Gonzales ’s attempted flight from the scene. The truck was later found abandoned. Inside and around the residence, investigators documented extensive blood evidence, vehicle tracks, damaged fencing, and bone fragments. Cell phone records further established Gonzales ’s involvement, showing that he possessed and used one of the victim’s phones the morning after the murders and began using a new phone shortly thereafter. Witness testimony further tied Gonzales to the crimes. A family member testified that Gonzales was the last person seen with John Doe 1, possessed the spare key to the residence, attempted to fabricate an alibi, and later threatened her with death to prevent her from speaking to authorities. Additional witnesses testified to Gonzales providing key admissions about his role in the killings, describing in detail how he beat both victims and concealed their bodies with details closely matching the physical evidence. Nearly six years after the murders, a federal jury in June 2025 convicted Gonzales of two counts of second-degree murder following an eight-day trial. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Espanola Police Department, Taos Police Department, Taos County Sheriff’s Department, and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Samuel A. Hurtado are prosecuting the case.


title: TWICE-DEPORTED SALVADORAN MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jose Neftali Monge-Guevara, 38, of El Salvador, was sentenced yesterday to nearly two months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The criminal alien has repeatedly shown complete disregard for our nation’s immigration laws, and now he’ll spend time in federal prison before being deported for the third – and hopefully final – time. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Operation Take Back America to repel the invasion of illegal immigration that persisted unchecked for the past several years, and my office will continue to fulfill that mission with successful prosecutions like this one.” According to court records, Monge-Guevara was discovered to be illegally in the United States after he was encountered by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop in Wakulla County, Florida, on October 26, 2025. Law enforcement determined that Monge-Guevara was a citizen and national of El Salvador who had been previously deported or removed from the United States in 2013 and 2014. Thereafter, Monge-Guevara had not applied for nor obtained permission from the United States Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reenter the United States. An ICE detainer has been lodged against Monge-Guevara, and deportation proceedings against him will commence soon. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. 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, human and drug trafficking. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Alupress to pay $2.2 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations related to improper receipt of PPP loans

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alupress LLC, a manufacturer of automotive die casting components, agreed to pay approximately $2.2 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations of improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for which the manufacturer was not eligible to receive. In March 2020, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program to provide emergency financial assistance to American small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA provided they met various eligibility requirements. One such requirement limited the total number of employees an applicant company could employ, which included employees associated with the applicant company’s foreign affiliates. The United States contends, in 2021, that Alupress obtained a forgiven loan that it was not eligible for because it exceeded the size requirement. When Alupress obtained the loan, it was a wholly owned subsidiary of Alupress Group, which in turn was wholly owned by Technicon, a company based in Italy with multiple subsidiaries worldwide. Technicon and its affiliates, including Alupress Group and Alupress LLC, had over 300 employees at the time Alupress applied for the loan, thereby exceeding the total number of employees the company could have. “The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to support small business during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “This office continues to work tirelessly to recover taxpayer dollars that were improperly obtained when large companies, like Alupress, received loans by skirting the eligibility rules.” This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Coriell and USAO Investigator Margaret McFarland, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. Individuals with information about allegations involving fraud, waste and abuse associated with COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. # # # #


title: Sex Offender Living Near School Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A sex offender living near a school in Tulsa was sentenced today for failing to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Mark Joseph Vossler, 53, to 27 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, in 1994, Vossler was convicted of sexual battery after he forced a 19-year-old woman to have sex with him while he held the victim down. After pleading guilty, Vossler was sentenced to a five-year deferred sentence and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service. After violating the conditions of probation, Vossler was ordered to serve five years in the Department of Corrections. In a second sexual assault incident in 2013, Vossler grabbed the victim by the hair while he was driving. He told the victim he had a gun, was a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, and said that he would blow the victim's head off if she did not have sex with him. Vossler pulled the vehicle over and sexually assaulted the victim. He pled guilty to sexual battery in 2015, was ordered to serve five years, and was required to register as a sex offender. Court records show that Vossler was previously convicted in 2006, 2016, 2020, and 2023 for failing to register as a sex offender. He was federally indicted in August 2025 for failing to register as a sex offender from March through July 2025. Records obtained by the U.S. Marshals show that Vossler was using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and reported that he was homeless. However, after further investigation, marshals located Vossler living in a prohibited apartment in Tulsa near a school. Vossler will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.


title: Atlantic Biologicals Corporation Enters into Deferred Prosecution Agreement in Opioid Distribution Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Atlantic Biologicals Corporation, a pharmaceutical wholesaler based in Miami, has entered into a two-year deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department in connection with a criminal information filed in the Southern District of Florida charging it with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Atlantic Biologicals admitted that its business unit National Apothecary Solutions (NAS), through its employees and agents, sold opioid pills to certain Houston area pill mill pharmacies, knowing and intending that the pharmacies would dispense the pills outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. NAS will commence cessation of operations in or about January 2026, after selling over 14 million doses of opioids and opioid potentiators to pill mill pharmacies in the diversion “hot zone” of Houston, Texas. “Atlantic Biologicals abused its trusted position in the pharmaceutical supply chain when it supplied Houston-area pill mill pharmacies with powerful, addictive opioids and other commonly abused controlled substances solely for its own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Yesterday’s resolution demonstrates the Criminal Division’s longstanding commitment to holding corporations accountable when they fuel the opioid crisis. This resolution sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will not stop at prosecuting individuals but will also hold to account corporate criminal actors.” “Atlantic Biologicals did not make a mistake, it made a choice,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. “A choice to put millions of opioid pills into the hands of Houston-area pill mills, knowing full well those drugs would be diverted, abused, and used to exploit vulnerable communities. When companies inside the pharmaceutical supply chain abandon their duty and chase profit over patients, they become part of the opioid crisis, not a cure for it. This case makes one point absolutely clear: if you knowingly fuel addiction and criminal diversion, no boardroom, badge, or business model will shield you from accountability. DEA will hold every registrant to the standards of the law — and the standards the American people deserve. " “Atlantic Biologicals helped flood communities with addictive opioids, ignoring safeguards meant to protect patients and federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “To the companies fueling the opioid crisis: we will find you, we will expose you, and we will hold you accountable.” Joshua Weinstein, the former president of NAS, Atlantic Biologicals’ business unit that sold pharmaceutical opioids, other controlled and non-controlled drugs, and medical goods to independent pharmacies; Derrick Chad Atkinson, a former independent sales representative contracted by NAS; and Jason Smith, the former owner of Proven Rx Sales LLC (Proven), a consulting company that worked with NAS, each previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances. Joseph Pesserillo and Cassandra Rivera, former employes of Proven, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a communications facility to further commission of a felony controlled substance offense. According to court documents and admissions, from 2017 through May 2023, NAS sold Houston-area pill mill pharmacies millions of highly-addictive opioids, specifically oxycodone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone pills (“Commonly Abused Opioids”), as well as other controlled substances such as carisoprodol and alprazolam (known as “potentiators”) that are used to enhance the high users sought from the opioids (collectively, “Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs”). The pill mills diverted the drugs into the black market in the Houston area. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Atlantic Biologicals acknowledged its responsibility for the conspiracy and admitted that NAS realized gross proceeds of at least $2,508,735. 85 from sales to certain specifically-identified Houston area pill mill pharmacies, knowing and intending that the pharmacies would dispense the pills outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance, “except as authorized”. Manufacturers, distributors, and other individuals appropriately licensed and registered with the DEA — commonly called registrants — are authorized under the CSA to conduct controlled-substance transactions within the legitimate distribution chain. However, it is unlawful for a registrant to distribute opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone when the registrant knows or intends they are being sought for an illegitimate purpose. Pharmacies operate legitimately only when they dispense these drugs pursuant to valid prescriptions issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a doctor or other practitioner acting in the usual course of professional practice. According to court documents and admissions, NAS sold the Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs to pill mill pharmacies at a large markup. NAS also employed purported compliance measures that were circumvented in order to further the unlawful sales, such as requiring pharmacies to order controlled drugs in a specific ratio to their non-controlled purchases and setting monthly ordering quantities for pharmacies’controlled drug purchases. Many of NAS’s pharmacy customers exhibited red flags for diversion that included rarely ordering any controlled drug, in any strength, other than the Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs; almost always ordering as many of these drugs as NAS would sell them per month; expressing strong preferences for certain pill colors and shapes; ordering non-controlled drugs in suspicious patterns, including almost always ordering large quantities and limited varieties in exactly the quantities necessary to meet their NAS-imposed ordering ratio; a willingness to pay well-over-market prices to acquire both the Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs and the non-controlled drugs required to meet NAS’s ratio; maintaining hours of operation inconsistent with those of a legitimate pharmacy; and submitting photos as part of NAS’s due diligence process that depicted locations in strip malls with bars on the windows and doors and nothing for sale in customer areas. The deferred prosecution agreement requires Atlantic Biologicals to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Justice Department, implement a compliance and ethics program to prevent violations of the CSA, and report to the Justice Department regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures. As part of the agreement, Atlantic Biologicals agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $450,000. This penalty has been adjusted based on Atlantic Biologicals’ ability to pay. The government reached this resolution with Atlantic Biologicals based on a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, and that the company in May 2023 voluntarily ceased selling controlled substances to independently-owned pharmacies and later voluntarily agreed to close the NAS business line responsible for the offense conduct. Atlantic Biologicals did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the Justice Department but did receive credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which included providing factual presentations to the government, collecting and organizing voluminous evidence and information, including financial information, and working with the government to expeditiously review potentially privileged documents seized pursuant to a search warrant and identify non-privileged documents for release to the government. The criminal case is being investigated by DEA, the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General-Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Trial Attorneys Miriam L. Glaser Dauermann and Drew Pennebaker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www. justice. gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.