title: Multi-Agency Operation - “Paris on Ice” - Leads to Multiple Federal and State Indictments for Trafficking Methamphetamine in West Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Nineteen people have been indicted and are facing state and federal charges for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme in West Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Neil Thompson, District Attorney General for the 24th District, announced the unsealing of the indictments today. The charges are the culmination of a two-year long investigation and takedown by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Huntingdon Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force. According to court documents, between May 2024 and February 2026, the defendants conspired, coordinated, and worked together and with others to distribute methamphetamine throughout West Tennessee. On March 16, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging seven individuals with Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Those individuals named in the federal indictment are: Ryan Shonte Sims, 35 - of Nashville, TN Katherine Foust, 37 - of Paris, TN Darryl Barnes, 60 - of Henry, TN Stacie Shoffner, 58 - of Henry, TN Marcus McClennan, 43 - of Clarksville, TN Jessica Hilliard, 38 , of Paris, TN Jason Hedges, 54 - of Jackson, TN On March 2, 2026, a Henry County Grand Jury returned indictments charging 12 additional individuals with various state violations. Those individuals charged are: Mark William Davis, 43 , of Waverly, TN - Criminal Responsibility for the Sale of Methamphetamine Michael Lamont Wilson, 51 , of Paris, TN - Criminal Responsibility for the Sale of Methamphetamine George E. Easley, 41 , of Henry, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Jerry Lynn Clark, 68 , of Paris, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine Brianna V. Holder, 32 , of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Timothy L. Vandyke, 40 , of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Mandy L. Shriner, 50 , of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Johnnie May Lee, 67 , of Paris, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine Amanda K. Seward, 47 , of McKenzie, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Jenia D. Singleton, 36 , of Buchanan, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Mark D. Noah, 58 , of Huntingdon, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine Anthony Dakota Walker, 26 , of Big Sandy, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "These indictments and takedown represent another great example of law enforcement working together to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that distribute poison in the Western District of Tennessee. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful operation, and we look forward to holding the perpetrators accountable in federal court." “Let this case serve as a warning to would-be drug traffickers seeking to poison our communities…the dedicated men and woman of the DEA will stop at nothing to terminate your operations and ensure that you face justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of the DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “For nearly two years, the DEA and our law enforcement partners were relentless in our efforts to shut down a drug pipeline into rural West Tennessee; and today, our tenacity paid off.” “Our agency remains firmly committed to investigating and disrupting organized drug trafficking in Tennessee. These arrests reflect the ongoing, coordinated enforcement efforts aimed at confronting the methamphetamine distribution that continues to impact this region. We will continue working tirelessly alongside our local, state, and federal partners to combat the violent crimes linked to methamphetamine and other illegal drugs being trafficked throughout our state, " said Director David B. Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “This is an example of a great collaborative effort from multiple agencies. We’re proud to be able to do our part to assist with prosecuting these cases," said District Attorney General Neil Thompson. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham and Assistant District Attorney Anthony Clark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. ### 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: Ohio Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Device-Making Equipment

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – An Ohio man was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in federal prison for illegally possessing credit card encoding devices. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 28, 2024, Sean Matthew Langston, Jr., 33, of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in Rankin County following a traffic stop wherein he and his co-defendant, John Carleton Johnson, Jr., were found to be in possession of approximately 322 gift cards, seventeen reencoded instruments containing stolen bank card data, and two magstripe encoding devices. Langston and Johnson could be seen on CCTV footage at various retail stores throughout the Jackson metropolitan area purchasing gift cards with known cloned instruments. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Langston and Jonson on February 20, 2025. Langston pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device-making equipment with intent to defraud on December 11, 2025. Johnson pleaded guilty to the same charge on June 30, 2025, and was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment on November 3, 2025. Both men were ordered to pay fines. United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Glaze, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement. The United States Secret Service, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Flowood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.


title: Former Tennessee Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crime

component: Criminal Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – A former Tennessee business owner pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to pay over employment taxes to the IRS on behalf of the company she owned and operated. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mari Alexander, 52, was the sole owner and president of a mental-health counseling center with multiple locations throughout Tennessee. Alexander controlled the counseling center’s financial affairs and was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from the wages of employees and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter, as well as filing quarterly employment tax returns with the IRS. From 2015 through 2020, however, Alexander willfully failed to pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes she collected from the counseling center’s employees, and willfully failed to file more than 20 quarterly employment tax returns with the IRS. In total, Alexander caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1 million. Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over employment taxes. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek of the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Curtis Weidler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah K. Bogni for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. ### 26-XXX


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Enticement of a Minor and Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for attempted enticement of a minor and advertising child pornography Ryan Edward Hine, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 30 years in federal prison without parole to be followed by 20 years supervised release for enticing a minor to produce child pornography and for advertising child pornography to other individuals over the internet. According to court documents, Hine began texting with a 15-year-old female in in July 2018. Hine regularly requested her to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Hine traveled across state lines on a monthly basis in 2019 to engage in sexual acts with the child victim, which he recorded with his cell phone to produce videos of child sexual abuse. This continued until 2020. Hine, posing as a minor female, continued to recruit minor victims to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Hine then posed as the minor female and advertised the CSAM for sale to adult buyers over the internet. Hine will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by HSI New Jersey, Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy and HSI Kansas City, Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Sabatini. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 63 Months for Trafficking Narcotics from H Street Storefront

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Pierre Black, 63, a resident of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for unlawful distribution of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Pierre Black operated a street-level fentanyl distribution scheme out of a storefront in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He sold the drug to an undercover officer on six occasions—an amount large enough to equal roughly 80,000 potentially lethal doses. He also kept a loaded firearm alongside his supply and conducted these activities in a neighborhood already reeling from a fatal overdose.” Black pleaded guilty on Jan. 13, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols to one count of unlawful distribution of fentanyl. In addition to the 63-month prison sentence, Judge Nichols ordered Black to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit $13,310. According to court papers, in early 2025, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division Overdose Section and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating drug sales in the 700 block of H Street NE following a suspected fatal fentanyl overdose in the area. Investigators identified Black as a street-level fentanyl trafficker operating out of a store in that block. As part of the investigation, an undercover officer conducted controlled purchases from Black. Over six purchases, the officer bought a total of 177 grams of fentanyl for more than $13,000. On Sept. 5, 2025, officers arrested Black and searched his residence. In a bedroom closet safe, they recovered a loaded Springfield Armory XD-9 9mm handgun with nine rounds of ammunition in a 10-round magazine. On top of a safe, officers found 55.3 grams of a substance containing fentanyl and heroin. In the kitchen, they found an additional 14.27 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin, and medetomidine, a sedative used by veterinarians. Black admitted that he possessed the firearm in connection with his drug trafficking. Black has eight prior convictions, including four for drug distribution or possession with intent to distribute. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel. The 53.90 grams of fentanyl purchased on July 28, 2025 (left), and the 55.13 grams of fentanyl purchased on Aug. 21, 2025 (right). Investigators recovered a loaded Springfield Armory XD-9 9mm handgun with nine rounds of ammunition in a 10-round magazine. 25cr290


title: Poplar man pleads guilty to sending obscene material to minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS - A Poplar man accused of sending obscene pictures and videos to a minor admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. The defendant, Benjamin George Walkingeagle, Sr., 40, pleaded guilty to one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor. Walkingeagle faces 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for August 12, 2026. Walkingeagle was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in October 2023, the FBI investigated Walkingeagle for transferring obscene material to a minor after a 14-year-old female, Jane Doe, reported he was sending her sexual messages. Doe was forensically interviewed and confirmed Walkingeagle sent her pictures and videos over Facebook. She no longer had the messages but provided law enforcement with screenshots. The messages show sexually explicit messages, including what appears to be a picture of male genitalia. The actual image was covered up by the victim, but it is consistent with an image of the genitalia of the photographer. In a 2025 interview with the FBI, Walkingeagle admitted he sent Jane Doe a picture of his genitalia that he took in his bedroom. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Glasgow Police Department conducted the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . XXX


title: Browning attorney fined $100,000 for making a false statement to federal law enforcement

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Browning lawyer who was found guilty by a jury of making a false statement to law enforcement was sentenced today to serve four years of probation and to pay a $100,000 fine, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Nathan Nicholas Johnson St. Goddard, 45, was convicted by a jury in December 2025 of making a false statement in a sexual abuse investigation. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on September 10, 2024, St. Goddard was interviewed by law enforcement about an allegation of sexual assault that occurred in June 2024. Law enforcement told him about the investigation and said he matched the description of the man and vehicle that dropped off the alleged victim. In a recorded interview, St. Goddard provided what he represented was a full narrative of his interactions with the alleged victim that night and claimed he only gave a ride to an intoxicated girl, which was a false representation because he knew at that time he had sexual contact with her. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Second defendant linked to drug trafficking in notorious “Jungle” homeless camp sentenced to prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 43-year-old Seattle man as sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 75 months in prison for his years long activity dealing meth and fentanyl in Seattle’s homeless encampments and International District, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Khampheth Keodara sold fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine to people residing in “The Jungle” a homeless encampment under I-5 near Seattle’s International District. At today’s sentencing hearing Judge Tana Lin said, “You were dealing fentanyl, meth, and cocaine – drugs that cause great harm in our community. Your actions added to all that suffering.” “On three separate King County cases, Keodara got a break from judges, and a reduced sentence for his crimes, by agreeing to undergo drug treatment. All three times he washed out of the drug treatment program,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Even as he was pretending to be in drug treatment, he was dealing poisons to vulnerable unhoused people. This sentence is the result of such predatory behavior.” According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in November 2023, with the Seattle Police, FBI, and DEA focusing on a drug trafficking organization dealing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the homeless encampments of Seattle and in drug trafficking areas of the International District at locations such as 12 th and Jackson. Some of the defendants were arrested with firearms. Using a court authorized wiretap, investigators gathered evidence of the drug trafficking and made arrests and seizures over the course of the investigation. Law enforcement heard intimations of violence on the calls and worked to intervene without tipping off the targets of the investigation. In one call involving Keodara he discussed providing a pound of methamphetamine to the contact, indicating he was not a small-time dealer. During the arrest operation in January 2025, law enforcement seized 17 firearms and various quantities of controlled substances. On January 21, 2026, Keodara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In asking for a 90-month sentence, assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Conzatti wrote to the court, “Keodara continued to commit crimes while in his 30s. He received his third DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative) sentence in 2022 after committing numerous felony offenses, including identity theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, witness tampering, and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. This DOSA, like his first two, was revoked… While in the community, ostensibly engaging in drug treatment, Keodara was engaged in drug distribution.” “Mr. Keodara has had multiple chances to become a law-abiding citizen,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. “Instead, he chose to contribute to the fentanyl crisis plaguing our communities by preying on those made vulnerable by their addictions. We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to remove dangerous drugs and those who peddle them from our communities, along with the violent crime they bring.” Keodara is the second defendant to be sentenced in the case. Theodore Nation, 36, of Seattle was sentenced in February 2026 to 30 months in prison. Tommy Pham, 38, of Newcastle, Donfeuy Saephan, 55, of Seattle, and Sang Tran, 55, of Kent, Washington, have each pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing in July. The investigation was led by the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with significant assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Investigators also worked with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Tukwila Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne. This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.


title: Roundup man sentenced to 10 years in prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in Thailand

body_text: BILLINGS – A Roundup man who was teaching in Thailand and groomed one of his students to produce sexually explicit material was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Billie Lee Walker, 61, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in May 2024 the father of John Doe, then a 15-year-old boy, disclosed to law enforcement that Walker, who was a teacher at a school in Thailand, had inappropriate communications with John Doe while John Doe was a student at the school. Walker, a United States citizen, began teaching John Doe around August 2021 and was dismissed from the school around May 2024. John Doe’s electronic media was analyzed. Images of child pornography were recovered, including of John Doe, as well as communications between Doe and Walker. John Doe was forensically interviewed and confirmed several images found on his electronic media. He also outlined how he communicated with individuals he knew online only by their first names and how Walker sent him money for various images John Doe created, including about $30 for a video of Doe masturbating. On or about May 28, 2024, Walker was interviewed when he entered the United States. He admitted he communicated with John Doe online and had “only seen a few images” of John Doe naked. He also noted that, at least on one occasion, he did pay John Doe for images. Finally, Walker acknowledged creating online personas to communicate with John Doe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . XXX


title: Prior felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Robert L. Robinson, 50, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the plea agreement, on June 7, 2024, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Robinson’s Sterling Avenue residence, during which approximately 125 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, two firearms, ammunition, and $35,869.00 in cash were seized. Robinson was taken into custody following the search warrant execution. Robinson was previously convicted of felony crimes in 2003 and 2011 and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia. Sentencing is scheduled for August 21, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Roanoke Woman Sentenced to 600 Months in Prison For Sexual Exploitation of Children and Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Annamarie Fleischman, 36 years old, formerly of Roanoke, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children and Receipt of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Fleischman was sentenced to 600 months in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Restitution will be imposed at a later date. According to documents in the case, between April 2023 and August 2023, Fleischman used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. On or about June 2023, Fleischman also received images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. “This Defendant will spend the next fifty years in prison for choosing to not only violate a child, but also to document it! This was nothing short of deplorable, and prison is the only appropriate response to this behavior. The Northern District of Indiana is safer thanks to the hard, professional work and partnership between federal and local law enforcement, particularly the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Police Department, and the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office led by Prosecutor Jeremy Nix and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Theresa Searles. Those that predate on children in this way need to be put away where they cannot harm more kids,” Mildred said. “Annamarie Fleischman’s heinous actions deserve every day of her 50-year sentence. HSI will continue to utilize every resource at our disposal to protect children from those who seek to exploit and do them harm,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Police Department, and the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery. The case was 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 .


title: Justice Department Reveals the Biden Administration’s Weaponization of Federal Law Against Pro-Life Americans

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group published a report detailing the Biden Administration’s weaponization of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Based on a review of over 700,000 internal records, the report not only details specific ways the Biden Justice Department weaponized federal law, but also outlines the corrective action taken by the current Justice Department to make right the wrongs of the prior administration. “This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.” President Trump promised to end the weaponization of the federal government. To many Americans, prosecutions under the FACE Act have been the prototypical example of this weaponization. The Justice Department conducted a thorough review of internal discussions, case files, and prosecutorial decisions under the Act and concludes that the Biden DOJ weaponized the FACE Act in several ways. The Biden DOJ closely collaborated with pro-abortion groups to track pro-life activists’ First Amendment activity. Pro-abortion groups—especially the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood, and Feminist Majority Foundation—capitalized on their relationship with the Biden DOJ to gain internal information and push targets for enforcement. These groups compiled evidence and dossiers that ultimately gave rise to search warrants and charges. The Biden DOJ affirmatively asked pro-abortion groups about pro-life individuals’ travel and constitutionally protected advocacy. The Biden DOJ and career attorneys monitored pro-life activists for years before charging them. The Biden DOJ’s prosecutors engaged in inappropriate conduct and comments. Prosecutors knowingly withheld evidence that defense counsel requested to prepare an affirmative defense, tried to screen out jurors based on religion, and authorized aggressive arrest tactics instead of allowing pro-life defendants to self-surrender. The Biden DOJ helped a pro-abortion group secure funding. The lead prosecutor on each FACE Act prosecution served as a reference on the National Abortion Federation’s application for a private grant. We found no record of ethics approval for the attorney to take an interest in the financial outcome of a party having business before the Biden DOJ. The Biden DOJ pursued significantly harsher sentences for pro-life defendants than violent pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ requested an average sentence of 26.8 months for pro-life defendants, compared to 12.3 months for pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ violated the rights of Americans through its biased enforcement of the FACE Act. Though the Act was supposed to protect both pro-choice and pro-life facilities, the Biden DOJ provided extensive support to abortion clinics, while ignoring and downplaying vandalism and attacks against pregnancy resource centers. The Biden DOJ’s actions were wrong. The Trump Administration and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche are committed to rectifying these wrongs by taking the following actions. On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued full and unconditional pardons to many of the pro-life Christians unfairly targeted by the Biden DOJ. DOJ has settled civil cases to address the injustices and took personnel action against those responsible. DOJ leadership has dismissed, with prejudice, three civil lawsuits against pro-life activists: United States v. Connolly , No. 2:24-cv-04467 (E.D. Penn.); United States v. Zastrow, et al. , No. 2:24-cv-00576 (M.D. Fla.); United States v. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society , et al. , No. 1:24-cv-00893 (N.D. Ohio). The Trump DOJ issued a directive that, moving forward, DOJ prosecutors may only bring abortion-related civil actions and prosecutions under the FACE Act in extraordinary circumstances or in cases presenting significant aggravating factors. To prepare this report, DOJ reviewed approximately 700,000 internal records. Acting Attorney General Blanche has approved a limited waiver of privileged information to provide the public the opportunity to review the underlying materials. “The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful,” said Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows, Office of Legal Policy. “Lawyers who should have known better withheld evidence, worked to keep committed religious people off juries, and generally allowed the Department of Justice to be used as the enforcement arm of pro-abortion special interests.” DOJ is committed to prosecuting crime in a manner that is consistent with its mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. Should other affected individuals have concerns, DOJ will assess their allegations without fear or favor. You can find the report and over 800 pages of exhibits here .


title: Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Justin Luis Ruiz, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the threats our kids face online from sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize them. Parents must be made aware of these emergent threats to their children, so that they can closely monitor their kids’ access to and use of online platforms to keep them safe. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these predators for their disgusting crimes as we do our part to keep our kids safe online.” Court documents reflect that a 2024 investigation by the Rapid City (South Dakota) Police Department uncovered that Ruiz had solicited a minor to send him nude photographs depicting child pornography. Further investigation, including law enforcement’s search of a Tallahassee residence, identified Ruiz communicated online with known and unknown persons, many of them apparently minors, and exchanged child pornography with those individuals. Ruiz faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment for production of child pornography, a mandatory minimum term of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography. Upon release from prison, he will serve a minimum mandatory term of 5 years on supervised release, and up to a lifetime of supervision. Sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Rapid City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Tallahassee Man Indicted for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Cocaine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Tedrick Childs, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Childs appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 5, 2026 at 8:30 am, before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida. Childs faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the distribution of cocaine count and not less than 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to Life imprisonment, on the distribution of methamphetamine count. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced in Federal Court

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for fentanyl and methamphetamine offenses in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Courtney Stewart, 30, of Piedmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Stewart worked with Nelson Anthony Zambito to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl in Mineral County and elsewhere. Zambito was Stewart’s drug supplier. Zambito’s home was searched, and officers seized nearly 29 grams of meth and nearly 1 gram of fentanyl. Zambito pled guilty in October 2025. He will be sentenced at a later date. In a separate case, Crystal Lyn Lewis, 36, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Lewis worked with Delano Butler and others to sell fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Eastern Panhandle. The drug operation investigation yielded 30,000 to 40,000 press fentanyl pills, along with 14 firearms, and other illegal drugs. Butler pled guilty on April 10, 2026. He is awaiting sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Potomac Highlands Drug task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Lobbying firm and its owner ordered to pay $400,000 for fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Iseman & Associates LLC, a lobbying firm located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and its owner Vicki Iseman, to pay $408,730.44 after finding that they submitted fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In March 2025, the United States filed a Complaint against Iseman & Associates and Iseman alleging that they had violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by submitting false documents and falsely certifying eligibility for two PPP loans. Businesses primarily engaged in lobbying or political activities were categorically ineligible to obtain PPP loans. According to the government’s complaint, Iseman & Associates and Iseman had submitted falsified tax documents and made false certifications as part of their PPP loan applications. The District Court found that the United States had shown it was entitled to judgment on the FCA and FIRREA claims asserted against the defendants and, accordingly, awarded the United States summary judgment, and entered judgment that included treble damages and penalties under the FCA. The outcome in this case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel, Litigation Unit, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Beerbower, assisted by Forensic Auditor Peter Melaragni. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia . Case records may be found on PACER under case number 1:25-cv-450-MSN-LRV.


title: Charlottesville Man Sentenced for Promoting Commercial Sex Ring

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Charlottesville, Virginia man, who posted hundreds of online advertisements for commercial sex, booked hotel rooms and transported women for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, was sentenced yesterday to 8 years in federal prison. Brian Lamont Turner, 45, pled guilty in November 2025 to one count of promoting, managing, establishing and facilitating prostitution and one count of transporting for purpose of prostitution. According to court documents, on multiple occasions throughout 2023 and 2024, Turner caused multiple adult victims to travel from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the States of North Carolina and South Carolina for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and other sexual activity. To facilitate these activities, Turner posted commercial sex advertisements online, booked hotel rooms where the women stayed and engaged in commercial sex, and communicated with customers to set-up commercial sex “dates.” Turner received some, if not all, of the commercial sex proceeds. In addition, Turned posted hundreds of commercial sex advertisements for the eight identified adult victims in this case between October 2018 and January 2024, for which he financially profited. Additionally, all the identified victims in this case suffered from some form of drug addiction, an addiction that was fueled by drugs supplied by Turner. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Keith Parrella prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: FBI Arrests Two Men on Child Exploitation Charges

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, FBI special agents arrested two men on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct. A federal grand jury indicted Elid Jesuel Pizarro-Morales on April 9, 2026, with six counts of sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child exploitation material, and possession of child exploitation material. According to court documents, Pizarro-Morales, 22, from Carolina, created and used an internet based social application account to communicate with male minors and solicited the male minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct to obtain sexually explicit images and videos. In November 2025, the defendant induced, enticed and coerced four male minors, two 14 year old minors, a 12 year old minor, and a 13 year old minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. From August 2023 through February 2026, Pizarro-Morales knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view material containing images of child pornography, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, using an Apple iPad. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In a separate case, Miguel Ángel Marquez-Rosario, a 43 year old man from San Juan, was arrested today by FBI agents for child exploitation. On April 9, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Marquez-Rosario with two counts of transportation of child exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material. According to the indictment, from February 2026 through March 2026, the defendant knowingly used electronic devices for possession and access with intent to view images of child exploitation material, including of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. If convicted, Marquez-Rosario faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from those who seek to exploit or harm them,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing our joint efforts with our state, local, and federal partners to locate these offenders and ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “Crimes against children are among the most serious violations we investigate,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The consumption of child sexual abuse material feeds a despicable industry that exploits innocent children. Every child deserves safety, and we won’t rest until every offender faces the full weight of federal law.” The FBI is investigating the cases. AUSA Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting both cases. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Raleigh Career Criminal Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl and a Gun

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Jeremy Hinton to 12 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl in Raleigh. On April 4, 2025, Inmate Hinton pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl. “Fentanyl poisons our communities, killing our kids and neighbors. This dope dealer has 8 felony convictions for violent crimes in state court before facing federal justice for profiting off the pain and desperation of addicts, ruining their families. The only thing more deadly than fentanyl is fentanyl and guns—and that’s what this defendant was selling. Let this sentence warn anyone pushing this poison. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) and ATF conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Inmate Hinton. During the second controlled purchase, Inmate Hinton also sold a Glock 36 handgun. When law enforcement ultimately tried to pull Inmate Hinton over to arrest him, he sped off in a car chase, ultimately evading them. Later that day, law enforcement again tried to pull Inmate Hinton over, and he fled again, driving over 80 miles per hour. Inmate Hinton got sentenced as a career offender because of his egregious criminal history, which includes felony convictions for breaking and entering, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, selling cocaine, possessing drugs with the intent to sell them, and shooting a gun into occupied home. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. RPD and ATF investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Casey L. Peaden prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-365-M-RJ.


title: High Museum of Art’s former chief operating officer charged with embezzlement

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art, was arraigned today on a federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Lum allegedly used his position at the High Museum to steal more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases. “While entrusted to run the High Museum, Lum allegedly used the museum’s money as his personal slush fund and thereby betrayed one of Atlanta’s civic crown jewels,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will move with swift precision to prosecute individuals who abuse positions of power and trust to enrich themselves at the expense of non-profit institutions.” “We expect officials of one of our communities’ historic institutions to serve as stewards — not to loot it,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The High Museum of Art is an iconic cornerstone of Atlanta’s cultural identity, featuring a collection of more than 20,000 works of art, a dynamic schedule of special exhibitions, and engaging community-focused programs. Lum served as the High Museum’s chief operating officer from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025. As COO, he was responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling the High Museum’s operational and financial activities. During his tenure as COO, Lum repeatedly purchased non-business items and services for himself, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking equipment, through direct supplier invoicing and through the High Museum’s corporate credit card reimbursement process. Lum concealed the nature of his transactions in several ways, including by submitting altered invoices, using his position to exercise delegated expense approval authority, and using accounting adjustments to spread his expenses across different cost centers so that they would not be readily identified. For example, in one instance, on or about November 29, 2024, Lum submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the High Museum’s online expense processing platform. While the submitted invoice showed a $9,147.87 purchase of equipment that appeared to be for the museum’s benefit, the original version of the invoice was for a guitar and accessories. Over the course of his scheme, Lum stole more than $600,000 from the High Museum. Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher C. Bly. Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges until he is proven guilty or admits guilt in a court of law. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: New Jersey Company Agrees to Repay $3.25 Million in CARES Act Funding

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A civil settlement was unsealed showing that a New Jersey company agreed to pay back $3.25 million after receiving too much funding from the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program it was ineligible to receive, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. In 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly known as the “CARES Act.” Qualifying businesses were authorized to obtain a forgivable disaster loan to preserve jobs in industries impacted by COVID-19. When the CARES Act was amended, applicants were allowed to seek a second round of disaster relief funding, with restrictions on funding for single corporations. Additionally, corporations seeking a second disbursement could not employ more than 300 employees. Under the Federal False Claims Act, private individuals act as qui tam, “whistleblowers,” and may bring lawsuits against entities that have committed fraud against the government. A qui tam Civil Complaint was filed by GNGH2, Inc. in March 2024, alleging that Eurecat U.S. Incorporated (Eurecat) violated the False Claims Act. Court documents show that Eurecat allegedly employed more than 9,000 people and is a subsidiary of a large publicly traded company, Albemarle Corporation. Eurecat is a New Jersey business corporation with its principal place of business in Houston, Texas. They also operate a chemical plant in McAlester, Oklahoma. Court documents allege that Eurecat applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the Small Business Administration in May 2020 and received $2,736,400, which was forgiven. In February 2021, Eurecat applied for a second PPP loan and received an additional $2,000,000. After receiving the funds, they sought loan forgiveness a second time, and it was granted in August 2021. In the Settlement Agreement, Eurecat admitted to exceeding the employee threshold to be eligible for a second-draw PPP loan. They agreed to pay the United States $3,250,000, of which $2,068,44.44 is restitution. After the restitution is paid, the United States will pay GNGH2, Inc. $325,000 as its statutory share under the False Claims Act for bringing the suit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Cooper represented the Northern District of Oklahoma, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel assisted in the litigation of this case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud .


title: Cleveland Income Tax Preparer Charged with Filing False Returns

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old woman has been arrested for her role in preparing and filing false federal income tax returns on behalf of her clients. Sherita Booker, of Cleveland, was charged by criminal complaint on April 9 for Aiding or Assisting in the Preparation of False and Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns. According to court documents, she learned to prepare returns while working at a national tax return preparation company from about June 2016 to April 2017. Thereafter, she started her own tax return preparation business under different entity names, as well as her own name. During the investigation, agents discovered that when Booker prepared tax returns for clients, she allegedly attached fraudulent Schedule C documents (used to indicate business profit and losses) to clients’ Form 1040—even though the clients did not own businesses. Booker also employed other schemes to avoid tax due and owing to the IRS by her clients. If convicted, Booker faces up to three years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Services-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna L. Fasko and Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. About IRS-CI IRS Criminal Investigation is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.


title: Hanahan City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem  Arrested for Possession, Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — According to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant unsealed today, Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth, 48, City of Hanahan Mayor Pro Tem and member of City Council, has been charged with possession and production of child sexual abuse material.* According to the charging document, which was authorized by United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker, an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Hedgpeth as a member of a forum on social media that was facilitating the sale of child sexual abuse material. Further investigation revealed that Hedgpeth has paid numerous minors who have been identified as likely victims of child sex abuse in CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. From December 2021 to present, Hedgpeth’s Cash App and PayPal accounts paid 47 accounts that were either associated with minors or suspected of selling content. The accounts Hedgpeth paid include minors in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Further investigation revealed that videos and images depicting child sexual abuse were stored in an iCloud account registered to Hedgpeth’s personal e-mail address, his cellular phone, and his home address, and that the account had been accessed frequently from his home internet router. Hedgpeth used his iCloud account and social media to communicate with children, to direct them to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos, and to send these videos to him in exchange for money. One victim was 12 years old when the communication began. Hedgpeth paid that minor for child sex abuse videos, and he pressured that minor to produce content with the minor’s 15-year-old brother. At times, Hedgpeth pretended to be a minor, and at others, he distributed child sexual abuse videos to minors to entice them to produce and sell similar content to him. Hedgpeth faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison, a maximum of 30 years, lifetime supervision by the U.S. Probation Office, plus sex offender registration requirements. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . Investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify possible victims. If you have relevant information to report, please contact HSI at Charleston_exploitationtips@hsi.dhs.gov , by telephone at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423), or through the online tip form at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean H. Secor and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case. All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.


title: Illegal Alien Who Unlawfully Used A Social Security Number and Assaulted Agents Sentenced to 15 Months in Custody

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Julio Cesar Garcia-Espinoza, 29, a citizen of Mexico living illegally in the United States, was sentenced to 15 months in custody for the offenses of falsely claiming lawful permanent resident status, using a Social Security number not assigned to him in order to obtain employment, and assaulting and inflicting bodily injury on Homeland Security Investigations agents who were attempting to arrest him. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “I consider this to be a serious case. All too often, our law enforcement officers are injured while doing the job we ask them to do. When most of us go to work each day, we don’t have to seriously worry about being attacked. They do. These officers deserve the respect and gratitude of all of us, and they will always receive the full support of my office when they are endangered while doing their jobs.” After entering the United States illegally in 2022, Garcia-Espinoza procured and used a false permanent resident card and a false Social Security card to obtain employment at Riedstra Dairy, Ltd., in Mendon, Michigan. After he was indicted by a federal grand jury for such offenses, HSI Special Agents attempted to serve him with a court-ordered arrest warrant on September 24, 2025. He forcibly resisted being taken into custody by kicking, biting, spitting, yelling, and cursing. One of the officers was bitten on the chest; the bite broke the skin and he required medical treatment. On January 7, 2026, Garcia-Espinoza entered a plea of guilty to all counts. Upon the completion of his sentence, Garcia-Espinoza will be subject to removal proceedings to deport him to his native Mexico. “There are serious consequences for those who commit fraud and resort to violence against law enforcement,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Our special agents put themselves at risk every day to uphold the law and protect our communities. HSI remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the integrity of our immigration system and ensure the safety of our officers and the public.” The Grand Rapids office of Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Daniels prosecuted it. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Scranton Man Sentenced To 120 Months’ Imprisonment For Distributing Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Isaiah Postell-Jones, age 25, of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Postell-Jones previously admitted that on March 13, 2024, he knowingly sold over 100 grams of methamphetamine in a parking lot in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for $900. Postell-Jones further admitted that on two other occasions he sold “sham” methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office announces results of “Operation Big Muddy”

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced today the results of a warrant enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service and its task force law enforcement partners. The warrant enforcement operation targeted violent fugitives with felony warrants and identified gang members in the southern counties of the Southern District of Illinois. The coordinated effort was executed over three days by law enforcement officials with the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Illinois Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The operation resulted in 21 arrests and seized 4 firearms and 12 grams of narcotics. “The U.S. Marshals led this successful operation to remove dangerous fugitives from our local communities,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This operation highlights law enforcement at its best. Thanks to the strong leadership of the U.S. Marshals this coordinated operation ensures that these violent fugitives will be brought to justice, all while strengthening partnerships and public safety throughout the Southern District of Illinois.” Building on its successful “ Operation Safe Christmas ”, this operation resulted in the arrests of dangerous fugitives. One fugitive, arrested in Edwardsville, Illinois, is charged with three counts of aggravated murder and three counts of murder related to a 1992 fire in Napoleon, Ohio. Another fugitive, arrested in Creal Springs, Illinois, is charged with Crimes Against Persons in Williamson County, Illinois. “Operation Big Muddy, though executed over just two working days, showcased the precision and effectiveness of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in the Southern District of Illinois. The operation strategically targeted the most dangerous offenders, including those wanted for homicide, major drug trafficking, weapons violations, and other violent crimes. Its success underscores not only the task force’s commitment to public safety, but also the strength of its partnerships—without the dedication and collaboration of our law enforcement partners, these results would not have been possible” said U.S. Marshal David C. Davis. The U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Illinois Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force consists of participating agencies from the Illinois State Police, Belleville Police Department, Granite City Police Department, Alton Police Department, ATF Chicago, Homeland Security Investigations, Illinois Department of Corrections – Parole, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department.


title: Illegal Alien from El Salvador Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: mendoza_hernandez_complaint.pdf SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Eric Grant announced that a federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, with assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon. According to court documents, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 6:50 a.m., four federal law enforcement officers conducted an operation in the city of Patterson, California, to locate and arrest Mendoza Hernandez because he is illegally present in the United States. Officers stopped Mendoza Hernandez near an onramp to Interstate 5 by activating their emergency lights. Mendoza Hernandez pulled over on the right shoulder. During the stop, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself and an agent informed Mendoza Hernandez that he was being detained and instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Despite repeated requests, Mendoza Hernandez kept his car running and did not comply with agent requests. Mendoza Hernandez eventually drove forward and hit an agent with his vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez then quickly shifted the vehicle in reverse and abruptly accelerated in a rapid backward motion. While in reverse, Mendoza Hernandez violently collided with the front of a law enforcement vehicle parked behind Mendoza Hernandez. After striking the front of the agents’ vehicle, Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle then directly faced two of the agents assisting in the stop. After a brief pause, Mendoza Hernandez accelerated forward toward the agents. One of the agents was in the direct path of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Mendoza Hernandez jumped the center median and drove the wrong way against traffic toward the freeway. He then crossed the median, stopping his car on the side of the road. During this incident, and in response to the vehicle’s movements, agents discharged their firearms at the vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez was hit several times. Agents rendered medical aid at the scene and Mendoza Hernandez was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Mendoza Hernandez was medically cleared and taken into FBI custody on Monday, April 13, 2026. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helped secure the scene and provided substantial public safety assistance while Mendoza Hernandez recovered in the hospital. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support following the incident. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case. The defendant’s custody status will be determined during his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. If convicted, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charge in the Criminal Complaint is only an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Vermillion Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Vermillion, South Dakota, who was convicted of Attempting to Produce Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Receipt and Transportation of Child Pornography following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls this past January. The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026. Nicholas Keitges, age 34, was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,000, as well as a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $400. Upon release from federal prison, Keitges must register as a sex offender. Keitges was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. A thorough investigation by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, identified Keitges as an online predator. The investigation discovered that Keitges had started collecting and trafficking in child pornography online, then progressed to playing out his pedophilic fantasies with others online before he was able to befriend and groom a young girl from the Sioux Falls area. In the Spring of 2022, Keitges used the online platforms Omegle and Snapchat to befriend the 14-year-old girl. He then sexually groomed her and attempted to coerce her into sending him sexually explicit images of her genitalia. When Keitges arrived at her home to meet up for sexual relations, the minor got scared and law enforcement was called. The following year, law enforcement received a CyberTip that discovered Keitges had been using online platforms such as Dropbox and Google to transport files containing child pornography. The investigation culminated in a jury trial in which Keitges was convicted of one count of attempting to produce child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and two counts of transportation of child pornography. This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, South Dakota DCI, South Dakota ICAC Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Keitges was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Hampton felon sentenced to over three years in prison for latest firearm conviction

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on Aug. 8, 2024, law enforcement observed Tre’Vonte Jermel Hunter, 27, leave a residence with a camouflage backpack and enter a vehicle. At that time, Hunter was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant. When officers stopped the vehicle, Hunter fled on foot. Officers pursued and ultimately apprehended Hunter. Investigators recovered a handgun from the backpack. The handgun was loaded with a 30-round extended magazine, and investigators recovered an additional 17-round magazine. Hunter previously was convicted of, among other crimes, evading and eluding, hit and run, reckless driving, failure to appear, forgery of a bank note, disregarding law enforcement commands, driving on a suspended license, driving on a revoked license, driving without a license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a convicted felon, Hunter cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division – Norfolk District Office; and the Hampton Police Division investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-58.


title: Baltimore Felon Sentenced for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a federal-prison sentence for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Reginald Dargan, 34, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a loaded firearm after a prior felony conviction and for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to court documents, on November 8, 2024, BPD responded to a call for an aggravated assault at an East Baltimore residence. Upon arrival, BPD officers met with the victim who indicated that Dargan assaulted her. She also stated that he possessed a handgun. While speaking with officers, the victim received a text message from Dargan asking her to let him in the back door. The officers then went to the back of the house and arrested Dargan. Then law enforcement recovered a Polymer 80, aka a “ghost gun,” .40 caliber pistol bearing no serial number, and one high-capacity magazine loaded with 13 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition from Dargan’s waistband. Dargan was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; conspiracy to brandish, use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and interference with commerce by robbery. Dargan was on federal supervised release as a result of this offense when he unlawfully possessed the firearm and ammunition, in violation of his release conditions. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Safe Home. These programs bring 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. Project Safe Home is an initiative under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to reduce domestic violence and prevent escalation to lethal violence by targeting offenders who use or possess handguns with a history of Domestic Violence. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Man Sentenced for Stalking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALFRED HUMBLES (“HUMBLES”) , age 55, a former resident of Gretna, Louisiana, was sentenced on April 8, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to Stalking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A(2)(B), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, from November 2018 until January 28, 2019, HUMBLES sent harassing and intimidating communications to a former girlfriend living in Texas. On November 29, 2018, the former girlfriend sent an email to HUMBLES indicating to him that the relationship was over, to stop having contact with her and that law enforcement had been notified. Approximately 25 texts and emails were quoted in the Indictment. Among them, on January 9, 2019, HUMBLES emailed the victim and stated “I can’t think of one reason why you should be walking around breathing.” On January 23, 2019, HUMBLES emailed the victim and stated “…you don’t know what I’m capable of and you’re not untouchable.” U.S. District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon sentenced HUMBLES to time served which amounted to forty-seven (47) months in custody and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachal Cassagne were charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Drug dealer known as ‘Panda’ sentenced to more than 11 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Patricia Flesch, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 135 months in prison for conspiring to traffic bulk amounts of narcotics. According to court documents, Flesch, who is also known as “Panda,” was a well-known mid-level drug dealer in central Ohio. Between September 2020 and June 2023, she distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to local users and other dealers in the Columbus area. As part of her narcotics conspiracy, Flesch used houses and motels throughout the region to store drugs and facilitate drug transactions. She ran several drug premises and, at one time, was coordinating the delivery of 10 to 15 pounds of methamphetamine weekly from a source in Texas, according to her Facebook account. Some of the drug premises included Flesch’s apartment on Hilton Avenue and other residences on Franshire Drive, East 14 th Avenue and Helen Street. Law enforcement observed Flesch travel to different motels in Columbus and back to Helen Street nearly 440 times between March 16 and April 6, 2023. Flesch was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, and the Columbus and Pickerington police departments also coordinated throughout the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Grand jury indicts Dayton man for robbing local bank

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man arrested three hours after he allegedly robbed a local bank has been indicted by a federal grand jury. John Donald Butler, 62, was originally charged by federal criminal complaint on April 1. His indictment was returned today. According to charging documents, on March 30, Butler entered the Key Bank on Miamisburg Centerville Road in Dayton at approximately 2:45pm. Butler was dressed as a construction worker. He allegedly passed a note to the bank teller, telling the individual to get everything out of the top drawer and not to include any dye packs. Butler received more than $9,000 in cash and fled the scene. Law enforcement obtained security images of Butler, who was not wearing any sort of face covering. Officials also used license plate readers to track Butler’s vehicle before and after the robbery. Approximately three hours after the robbery, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Butler and arrested him. Cash, drugs and the robbery note were all subsequently located on Butler or in his vehicle. The defendant has previously been convicted of more than 20 other bank robberies in prior federal cases in Florida and Georgia. Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Butler has remained in custody since his arrest. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormick is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced to Over Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Voluminous Child Pornography

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Daniel Reginald Hanna, II, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to twelve and a half years in federal prison on charges related to receipt and possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material are heinous crimes that have the effect of re-victimizing the innocent children who were sexually exploited every time the horrific images and videos of their abuse are shared. This sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute predators like this defendant to ensure we achieve justice for the victims of child sexual abuse and, ultimately, prevent future victimization from occurring.” Court documents reflect that the defendant maintained a significant and disturbing collection of child pornography. While executing a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in March 2025, law enforcement located numerous electronic devices that contained child sex abuse material, including 163 videos in a folder entitled “Kids,” and over 2,500 images of child pornography on two cell phones. Following his release from prison, Hanna will be on supervised release for 12 years and is required to register as a sex offender. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that crimes involving the exploitation of children will be met with unwavering accountability,” said Chief Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “I want to commend the investigators, prosecutors, and partnering agencies whose dedication and persistence ensured that this individual was brought to justice. Protecting children remains one of our highest priorities. We will continue to use every resource available to identify offenders, support victims, and prevent these crimes from occurring.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. 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: Three men, including illegal alien, sentenced to federal prison for illegal gun possession

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced to substantial prison terms in separate cases for illegally possessing firearms. The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Benjamin Greene , 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $1,500. Greene was convicted at trial in January on a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Greene’s possession in February 2024 after he stole a car at a gas station and crashed while running from police. Greene has a substantial history of felony criminal convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Yeiker Luis Arevalo-Hernandez , 21, a Venezuelan national illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to be deported after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. In June 2025, Savannah Airport Police officers were called for assistance at a hotel near the airport. A dispute among several men caused a disturbance at the hotel, and police officers reviewing security footage determined Arevalo-Hernandez possessed two pistols and hid them behind the hotel’s dumpsters before officers arrived. Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms. Arkeem Myers , 36, of Savannah, was sentenced to 77 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In December 2024, Savannah police officers arrested Myers, a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation, after determining he was in possession of a pistol found under his seat. Myers has a record of repeated felony convictions, including gun charges, and is prohibited from possessing firearms. “Previously convicted felons and illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing guns – period,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are in lockstep with our law enforcement partners in making our communities safer by taking these gun-carrying criminals off our streets.” The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Savannah Police Department, and the Savannah Airport Police, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Darron J. Hubbard, Timothy P. Dean, and Ryan E. Bondura.


title: Chinese National Servicemember Indicted for Conspiring and Attempting to Obstruct an Investigation

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Yuan Li, 35, a Chinese national residing in the United States, for conspiracy to obstruct justice. The indictment alleges that Li joined the United States Navy in January 2022 after previously being discharged from the Army. During his time in the Navy, Li completed an Application for Naturalization to apply for U.S. citizenship. Li did not answer whether he had been discharged other than honorable from the military and listed a fraudulent address in San Fransico as his current residence. During an investigation into housing allowance fraud and assault, investigators discovered Li communicated with a foreign national on the Chinese social media app Red Note. The foreign national sought to purchase information from Li in his capacity as a service member. When Li learned he was under investigation, he instructed an accomplice to delete various messaging apps from his phone and restore his electronic devices to their factory settings, which would have resulted in the destruction of all records and content of Li’s contact with the foreign national. Li faces a maximum penalty of five years for the conspiracy charge and 20 years for the obstruction charge. He is currently detained pending trial. He was arrested in Florida on March 6 and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker for arraignment on the indictment on April 13. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###