title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Vehicle Purchase Scheme

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KENNETH RICHMOND (“RICHMOND”) , age 65, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 14, 2025, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. According to court documents, in 2022, RICHMOND, and his daughter Kendra Walker (“Walker”), conspired to use fake and stolen personal identifying information to make fraudulent vehicle purchases from a local car dealership. The vehicle purchases were financed through a bank, and several of the loans went into default. This fraud caused a loss of approximately $124,031.41 to the dealership. As part of this scheme, RICHMOND knowingly used a real person’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number, without permission, to purchase a Dodge Challenger in July of 2022. The Honorable United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced RICHMOND to serve four (4) years of imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release. Judge Ashe also ordered that RICHMOND pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $58,852.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200. At the time that RICHMOND committed this scheme, he was on federal supervised release for a prior fraud conviction. On August 13, 2025, United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance revoked RICHMOND’s term of supervised release and sentenced him to two years in prison. RICHMOND has been ordered to serve his two terms of imprisonment consecutively, for a total of six years. The Honorable Barry W. Ashe set the sentencing for RICHMOND’s codefendant, Kendra Walker, for September 25, 2025. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of the United States Secret Service, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than 21 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiring To Distribute And Distributing Cocaine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jose Pabon (45, Tampa) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit that offense. Pabon pleaded guilty in February 2025. According to court documents, in July 2023, an undercover officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office began purchasing cocaine from Pabon’s co-defendant, Joseph White. The investigation revealed that Pabon and Daniel Vega Cabrera, another co-defendant, were White’s sources of supply. Law enforcement officers ordered cocaine from White and observed Pabon deliver the cocaine to White. In total, Pabon delivered over a kilogram of cocaine to White. Pabon was subject to an enhanced penalty in this case because he had two prior drug trafficking convictions. This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Martel Scott, 35 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Scott was sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Scott sold methamphetamine to buyers in South Bend and Mishawaka on four occasions from July 2024 to October 2024. On the date of his arrest, investigators found approximately five pounds of methamphetamine in his residence and currency exceeding $200,000 in his storage unit. “Martel Scott distributed substantial quantities of methamphetamine—a drug that has caused grave harm throughout northern Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Due to the dogged efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, Scott was brought to justice. His case shows that those who enrich themselves by distributing harmful drugs will suffer serious consequences.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the South Bend Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.


title: Former Silicon Valley CEO Charged with Fraud and Obstruction of Justice

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Northern District of California returned an indictment charging a Hawaii man with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction in connection with a scheme to defraud investors of $170 million as the CEO and Founder of the social media company Get Together, a privately held social media startup known as “IRL”. According to court documents, Abraham Shafi, 38, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, allegedly committed fraud in connection with Get Together’s 2021 “Series C” funding round, which raised $170 million at a valuation of over $1 billion. In seeking investment, Shafi told potential investors that IRL was spending only $50,000 a month in paid advertising and that user signups “were not incentivized or paid.” However, Shafi had spent millions of dollars on paid advertising in the form of incentive advertising, a form of advertising in which users are provided a reward in a third-party app if they download IRL. In the lead up to Series C, Shafi asked his vendor for a “big burst” of ads for “a few days” to drive more installs of the IRL app. During the Series C process, investors specifically asked about paid advertising, and Shafi falsely responded that “[u]nlike other apps that spend aggressively to acquire new users, we spend very little.” Shafi concealed IRL’s spending on incentive ads by having them invoiced to a third-party firm, ensuring that the nature and amount of the expense did not appear on IRL’s ledger. Shafi continued to conceal the amount that IRL was spending in incentive ads after the Series C closed, instructing an IRL employee to create false invoices that listed the ad spending as being related to infrastructure, or “infra costs,” and falsely telling his investors that the money spent on incentive ads had instead been used for other forms of advertising. When the SEC opened an investigation into IRL, Shafi restored his cell phone to a previously saved backup, resulting in the deletion of records, and instructed other IRL employees to lie about his involvement in the scheme. Shafi is charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI San Francisco Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Acting Assistant Chief Attorney Laura Connelly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja Paidipaty and Evan Mateer for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mississippi Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – AVERY FREEL (“FREEL”) , age 23, of Ocean Springs, MS, was sentenced on August 21, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, after previously pleading guilty to the Attempted Receipt of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, the case against FREEL stemmed from an online investigation by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“HSI”) special agent. On July 19, 2023, within the Eastern District of Louisiana, FREEL was contacted by an individual on an online messaging application. The individual told FREEL that she was 14 years old. FREEL disclosed to the individual, he believed to be a minor, that he was 21 years old and lived in Ocean Springs, MS. FREEL suggested the two of them communicate via another online messaging application. The individual he believed to be a minor received a friend request from FREEL. FREEL and the individual he believed to be a minor communicated on the online messaging application for several days. In their communications on July 25-26, 2023, FREEL asked the individual, he believed to be a minor, to take sexually explicit images of herself and send them to FREEL . On July 27, 2023, FREEL traveled from Ocean Springs, MS to Hammond, LA where he was arrested by HSI special agents. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced FREEL to sixty (60) months in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by (8) eight years of supervised release, a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, and a requirement to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hammond Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: St. Louis Felon Caught with Three Guns Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon from St. Louis who was caught by police with three guns to 12 years in prison. Derrick Lamar Rodgers, 34, pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being caught with three guns on May 24, 2024, when he was arrested by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team. Rodgers, who was being sought on multiple warrants, had a 9mm handgun and plastic baggies with synthetic cannabinoid in a cross-body satchel. Officers also found a shotgun and a stolen Hi-Point 9mm handgun. Rodgers is a felon and is thus barred from possession of a firearm. In court Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lake said Rodgers has an “atrocious” criminal history filled with violent acts, particularly against women. Per an agreement between both sides, Judge Autrey ran Rodgers’ sentence concurrent with pending cases in St. Louis Circuit Court. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lake prosecuted the case.


title: Fredericktown Man Charged with Attempting to Purchase Firearm While Charged with Felonies

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Fredericktown, Mo., man was arraigned in federal court yesterday following an indictment by a federal grand jury for attempting to buy a firearm while he had pending felony charges. William Bruce Branum, 64, was charged in a single count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025. The indictment alleges that on April 26, 2025, Branum, submitted a false written statement to a Federal Firearms Licensee in Alton, Mo., in an attempt to acquire a firearm. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Branum is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Brown It was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Lawton Couple Sentenced to Serve More Than 45 Years Collectively in Federal Prison for Their Roles in Child Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Defendants Ordered to Pay Nearly $480,000 in Restitution OKLAHOMA CITY – JACKIE DUNCAN , 35, and NIA HALL , 30, both of Lawton, have been sentenced to serve more than 45 years collectively in federal prison and ordered to pay $479,832.97 in restitution for engaging in sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, in May 2024, two juveniles ran away from a juvenile group home in Lawton, Oklahoma, and were entered into law enforcement databases as missing juveniles. One of the juveniles was located by officers with the Plano Police Department on July 16, 2024, at a motel in Collin County, Texas, where she disclosed that she and the other missing juvenile had been sex-trafficked. The victim told officers that after she and the other juvenile had fled the group home, they were approached by two people, later identified as Duncan and Hall, at a gas station. The juveniles began living with Duncan and Hall, who soon after drove the girls to various Texas cities, where they performed sex acts for cash, which Duncan and Hall kept. In return, Duncan and Hall gave the girls food and shelter. The juvenile told authorities she had recently escaped Duncan and Hall’s vehicle in the Dallas area. On September 30, 2024, the second juvenile was found and recovered in San Antonio, Texas. She recounted a similar account of being sex-trafficked by Duncan and Hall. During the investigation, local and federal law enforcement reviewed sex advertisements associated with Hall, which contained photos of the victims. Duncan and Hall were arrested on December 16, 2024. On January 21, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Duncan with sex trafficking of children and Hall with a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. On April 30, 2025, Duncan pleaded guilty, and admitted he knowingly recruited two minors under the age of 18 to cause them to engage in commercial sex acts and that he aided and abetted Hall to do the same. Hall pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025, and admitted she knowingly worked with Duncan to recruit and transport the juveniles for purposes of commercial sex acts. At sentencing hearings this week, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Duncan to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life, and Hall to serve 188 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. Judge Palk also ordered Duncan and Hall to pay restitution in the amount of $479,832.97. In announcing his sentences, Judge Palk noted the depraved nature of the offenses, the need to protect the public, and the need for the sentences to send a “shockwave” through the community of individuals who would consider engaging in this kind of conduct. “The sexual exploitation and trafficking of children is among the most vile and heartbreaking crimes in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “These sentences stand as a powerful reminder that those who prey on children will be held fully accountable under the law. Through the tireless and unified efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we have ensured that these predators have been stopped from harming any other children. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect the most vulnerable among us and to pursue those who target them.” “The exploitation of vulnerable youth is among the most reprehensible crimes we confront,” said Richard “Glen” Melville, Director of Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. “This case underscores the critical importance of collaboration across jurisdictions to protect children and hold traffickers accountable. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts in bringing justice to the victims and ensuring those responsible face the full weight of the law.” “Two child sex traffickers have received significant sentences, underscoring the seriousness of their crimes and serving as a reminder that the FBI will identify and arrest child predators,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We are proud to have worked closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue these defendants who preyed on our society’s most vulnerable members.” This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, FBI, Lawton Police Department, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs Control, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas State Police, San Antonio Police Department, Plano Police Department, and Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Ganz and Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Timber Lake Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison  for Abusive Sexual Contact

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Timber Lake, South Dakota, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact without Consent. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025. Jaren Loren Lane Mellette, age 27, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Mellette was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Mellette was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025. During the summer of 2023, Mellette groped a 13-year-old girl without her consent. The incident occurred in Corson County, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was also 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. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Mellette was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Former Steuben County Sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stuart J. McHenry, 35, of Hornellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, which carries a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that McHenry knowingly possessed digital images of child pornography. At least one of the images depicted prepubescent minors under 12-years-old. The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the instant messaging application Kik, which stated that Kik user “acman990,” uploaded approximately 24 files of suspected child pornography. A review found that approximately 22 of the files constituted child pornography. Subsequent investigation traced the account to the defendant and revealed messages between the defendant and other users in which the defendant sought, received, and distributed child pornography. Some of the videos and images possessed by McHenry contained violent conduct, and one of the images depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant. At the time of the offense, McHenry was working as a deputy for Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jim Allard. Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2026, at 10 a.m. before Judge Siragusa. # # # #


title: Madera Man Arrested on Gun Charges and for Possessing Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Keys

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Brian Hindman, 49, of Madera, was arrested today on criminal complaint for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court records, on July 25, 2025, as Hindman pulled into a casino parking lot, law enforcement officers arrested him for an outstanding state warrant for burglary. Hindman was found with a loaded 9 mm Ruger pistol that he was prohibited from possessing due to several prior felony convictions for which he spent over four years in state prison. Hindman was also found with six counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys that are commonly used by thieves to steal mail, and several driver’s licenses and debit cards in other people’s names. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Hindman faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison for the gun charge and 10 years in prison for the possession of counterfeit USPS keys charge. He also faces up to 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 charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Georgia man pleads guilty to his role in fraud conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ameer Clark, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum of 30 years, and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Sasha Mascarenhas, who are handling the case, stated that between January and September 2022, Clark, along with co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones, Quentavious Price, and Montez White, and others, conspired to defraud financial institutions. Members of the conspiracy would travel from Atlanta, Georgia, to the Western District of New York, and steal genuine checks from businesses. Using those checks, they would create fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of the businesses. Members of the conspiracy then recruited individuals to cash the fraudulent checks, buy clothes for the individuals to make them appear to be construction workers or laborers, and then drive them to area financial institutions and direct them to cash the fraudulent checks. If the checks were successfully cashed, the individuals received a small payment. Specifically: in January 2022, Price, Jones, and two others flew from Atlanta to Buffalo and drove an individual to various KeyBank branches to cash or attempt to cash fraudulent checks drawn on the KeyBank accounts of a business based in Elma, NY, and a second business based in Tonawanda, NY. in March 2022, Price and two others came to Buffalo from Atlanta and drove three individuals to M&T Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches to cash, or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of businesses based in Tonawanda, Clarence, NY, and Sanborn, NY. in September 2022, Clark, Price, Jones and White flew from Atlanta to Rochester, NY, and drove six individuals to M&T Bank branches, KeyBank branches, Northwest Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches, to cash or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of two businesses based in Rochester, and one based in Alden, NY. The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, Is $64,979.67. Co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones and Quentavious Price were previously convicted. Charges remain pending against Montez White. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Palmetto Man On Federal Supervised Release For Distributing Fentanyl Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Traveous Anderson (39, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture. Anderson faces an enhanced minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison due to his prior conviction. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, between April and May 2024, a DEA confidential source conducted multiple fentanyl transactions with Anderson, who conspired with others to distribute the fentanyl. During the course of the conspiracy, Anderson possessed with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture. At the time of the offense, Anderson was serving a term of federal supervised release in connection with a prior conviction for distributing fentanyl. Anderson’s co-defendant, Alexis Soto Escalante, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 5 years and 10 months’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Supplying Firearms to the Sinaloa Cartel

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

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Texas man was sentenced in federal court today to 78 months in prison for his role in a scheme to supply military-grade weapons to the Sinaloa Cartel. According to court documents, Edgar Raul Moreno, 50, purchased approximately 10 firearms in 2020 and 2021 that were known to be highly desirable to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO). Additionally, Mexican law enforcement in Sinaloa, Mexico, recovered a belt-fed rifle that had been purchased by Moreno. In August 2021, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents observed Moreno arriving at a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer in San Antonio, where he completed the transfer and took custody of an M249S belt-fed rifle. Moreno was pulled over by the San Antonio Police Department shortly thereafter. During the investigation, Moreno stated that he had purchased around 20 firearms for the Sinaloa cartel within a year in exchange for $1,000-$1,400 per firearm purchased. The ATF determined that Moreno bought approximately 20 belt-fed rifles, six other rifles, five handguns, and two shotguns. To date, three rifles purchased by Moreno have been recovered in Mexico, and one pistol was recovered in California. Moreno was arrested Aug. 23, 2021, and charged in a nine-count indictment Sept. 15, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 28, 2025, to one count of making a false statement during purchase of a firearm. “Funneling high-powered weapons to Mexican drug cartels threatens our national security and is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Firearms trafficking fuels violence on both sides of the border and empowers the cartels that poison our communities. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute people who ‘lie and buy’ on behalf of cartels or anyone else.” “This sentence underscores the serious consequences that come with illegally trafficking firearms, especially when those weapons are destined for violent criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel for the ATF Houston Field Division. “Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime—it fuels cartel violence, endangers communities on both sides of the border, and threatens national security. This case is a testament to the relentless efforts of our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, who worked together to dismantle this dangerous pipeline and bring those responsible to justice.” ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ###


title: Evansville Trio Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking Operation

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Three Evansville locals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking operation. Patrick L. Adams, 60, has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jorden Ott, 36, was sentenced in March 2023 to 10 years, 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Amanda Lamm, 35, was sentenced in January of this year, to five years, three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Patrick Adams was the leader of a drug trafficking operation, selling methamphetamine to Ott for distribution. Lamm stored and transported the methamphetamine for distribution. Between January and April of 2021, the Adams drug trafficking organization distributed at least 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine ice in Evansville. In May of 2021, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Adams’ home and located 1,518 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a roll of carpet and rubber-banded bundles of cash hidden in an air vent and the closet of a child’s bedroom. Adams has a lengthy criminal history, including previous felony convictions for dealing cocaine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. “Drug traffickers like Patrick Adams and his co-conspirators fuel addiction and violence in our communities,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, these defendants have been held accountable. This office will continue to pursue those who profit from spreading dangerous and highly addictive methamphetamine in Evansville and across Southern Indiana.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Police Department investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Evansville Vanderburg County Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case.


title: MS-13 Gang Associate Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for the Murder of 17-Year-Old Victim in Kissena Park in Queens

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Juan Amaya-Ramirez, also known as “Cadaver,” an associate of the La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as “MS-13,” a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced yesterday, in federal court in Brooklyn, by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 45 years in prison for his role in the April 23, 2018 murder of 17-year-old Andy Peralta in Kissena Park in Queens, New York. Amaya-Ramirez and co-defendant Oscar Flores-Mejia, also known as “Chamuco,” who is also an associate of the MS-13 gang, pleaded guilty to the murder in September 2024. Flores-Mejia is awaiting sentencing. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI) announced the sentence. “The senselessness of this murder is matched only by its brutality,” said United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants lured Andy Peralta to a secluded part of Kissena park where they beat him mercilessly before Amaya-Ramirez choked him to death and Flores-Mejia hacked him with a knife. The murder of this young victim is a chilling reminder of MS-13’s callous disregard for human life. Bringing those who commit violent crimes to justice is one of our Office’s highest priorities.” “Juan Amaya-Ramriez, an MS-13 associate, brutally attacked and murdered Andy Peralta out of senseless retaliation,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The defendant unjustly sentenced Peralta to a horrific death due to a false perception of his status as a rival. The FBI continues to make significant strides throughout Operation Summer Heat to hold accountable gang members maliciously acting as the judge, jury, and executioner to promote their operations.” “For far too long, senseless gang violence has plagued our neighborhoods and devastated families,” stated HSI Special Agent in Charge Patel. “Andy Peralta was viciously beaten, stabbed, and strangled to death by savages whose sentences now reflect the seriousness of their crimes. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI New York will not stand by as our streets are overrun by violent gang members. The eradication of gang violence on Long Island and throughout the state remains an utmost priority for HSI New York and our law enforcement partners.” As proved at a hearing in connection with codefendant Leyla Carranza’s sentencing, the defendants sought to murder Peralta because they believed he was associated with the 18th Street gang, an MS-13 rival. Flores-Mejia found a video online that depicted Peralta, who the defendants did not know, briefly flashing a sign associated with the 18th Street gang. This was enough in the defendants’ eyes to mark him for death. Flores-Mejia recruited a 16-year-old boy to help kill Peralta, and Amaya-Ramirez’s then-girlfriend Leyla Carranza was recruited to befriend Peralta and lure him to his death in the park. The day of the murder, Flores-Mejia bought black winter gloves to be used in the attack and carried a knife. Carranza messaged Peralta and then took him to a predetermined location in Kissena Park. Amaya-Ramirez, Flores-Mejia and their 16-year-old accomplice were waiting. Flores-Mejia gave a signal, and the men attacked Peralta. They beat Peralta until they were exhausted. Peralta got up, but Flores-Mejia kicked Peralta down. Amaya-Ramirez then began strangling Peralta while Flores-Mejia was stomping on his head. Peralta begged for his life and called out for his mother and father. Flores-Mejia put dirt in his mouth to silence him and Amaya-Ramirez choked him to death. Flores-Mejia then stabbed Peralta in the back and slashed his tattoo of his girlfriend’s name. The men then took a photograph of themselves posing over Peralta’s lifeless body and flashing MS-13 hand signs. They then stole Peralta’s money and dragged his body to a small body of water, where he was found the following day. Today’s sentencing is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of MS-13. MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including HSI and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime & Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia E. Moore, Jonathan Siegel, and Anna L. Karamigios are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant: JUAN AMAYA-RAMIREZ (also known as “Cadaver”) Age: 27 Fresh Meadows, Queens Defendant Awaiting Sentencing: OSCAR FLORES-MEJIA (also known as “Chamuco”) Age: 25 Elmhurst, Queens Defendant Previously Sentenced : LEYLA CARRANZA Age: 24 Richmond, Virginia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-228 (LDH)


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Roger Lee Cousins, 50, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 8, 2024, Cousins sold approximately 14.66 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant in Beckley. As part of his guilty plea, Cousins admitted to the transaction, to also selling approximately 27.2 grams of fentanyl during the transaction, and to receiving a total of $3,140 for both controlled substances. Cousins also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Cousins sold cocaine and fentanyl on October 21, 2024, cocaine on October 29, 2024, and fentanyl on December 6, 2024, each time to a confidential informant. Cousins is scheduled to be sentenced on January 2, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell have prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-42. ###


title: Holland Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Darian Howard, 25, of Holland, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. “My office takes very seriously its obligation to protect vulnerable victims, and children this young are among the most vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey. “Child exploitation is one of the most troubling crimes we prosecute and we work diligently to secure justice and appropriate sentences for predators.” In November 2024, a woman called 911 after learning that Howard had taken sexually explicit photographs of her three-year-old daughter. A police investigation revealed that Howard had taken sexually explicit images of two three-year-old girls, including a video that depicted him sexually assaulting one of the minor girls. Howard was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and pleaded guilty to one of the counts in May 2025. “One of the Holland Department of Public Safety’s primary goals is to make the Holland Community safe from criminal activity,” said Kris Haglund, Captain of Criminal Investigations for Holland Department of Public Safety. “By partnering with the FBI and Children’s Advocacy Center we are pleased with the conclusion of this case. Without these partnerships, this case would not have had the result it did. We hope that the families who were impacted by this incident can have a sense of closure because of this prosecution.” “The indictment of Darian Howard reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice against those alleged to exploit the most vulnerable members in our community,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged actions are disturbing and will not be tolerated. I want to thank the dedicated members of our FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, including the West Michigan-based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX), Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Holland Police Department for their diligent work. The FBI will remain steadfast in pursuing those who target our children and work to hold alleged predators accountable under federal law.” The Holland Department of Public Safety, Ottawa County Sherriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Doaa Al-Howaishy prosecuted it. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.


title: Fairbanks man indicted for distributing fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Fairbanks man with distributing fentanyl that resulted in a fatal overdose in March 2025. According to court documents, on March 3, 2025, Jacob Peter, 25, allegedly distributed fentanyl to another person in Fairbanks. On March 4, 2025, the victim died of an apparent overdose. Peter is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge David Reames of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Division Office made the announcement. The DEA Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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 and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 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: Ohio Brother and Sister Lose More Than $1M in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CLEVELAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of an investment scam. A victim in Trumbull County and his sister lost more than $1 million of their savings in the scheme. On Aug. 27, 2025, the United States filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against a total of 325,060 Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, valued at approximately $325,060. USDT are digital tokens that are circulated through the internet and tied to, or “tethered,” to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. The USDT amount in the complaint is valued at $325,060 at a 1:1 ratio to the dollar. According to court documents, on, or, about Nov. 24, 2024, an elderly male victim in Bristolville, Ohio, filed a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The fraud began when he received a text from an unknown number looking for someone named “Zach.” The victim responded and eventually became friendly with the person, who unbeknownst to him, was a scammer. The scammer suggested that they start communicating through the Telegram platform where she went by the username “Shaw Goddess.” The scammer established trust with the victim by painting herself as a successful investor and encouraged the victim to also invest in cryptocurrencies. At the scammer’s direction, the victim opened a new account with Crypto.com, a virtual currency exchange. Eventually, Crypto.com limited the amount of cryptocurrency that the victim could purchase. To get around that limit, the scammer instructed the victim to open a second account through another virtual currency exchange, Strike.com. The victim wired more than $1 million of his own money to the cryptocurrency accounts. The scammer then instructed the victim to transfer his cryptocurrency assets purchased through Crypto.com and Strike.com to a fake investment platform. The victim also convinced his sister to make investments of more than $600,000. When the victim tried to withdraw some of his alleged gains from the fake investment platform, he was told that his funds were locked up and could not be withdrawn. Around that same time, his sister also tried to withdraw funds but was told that a 10% tax must be paid upfront. That concerned the victim as he generally knew how taxation worked, and this was inconsistent with his understanding. It was after these two incidents when the victim realized that he was the target of a fraud scheme. Many virtual currencies publicly record all their transactions on what is known as a “blockchain.” The blockchain is essentially a distributed public ledger, run by the decentralized network of computers, containing an immutable and historical record of every transaction utilizing that blockchain’s technology. The blockchain records every virtual currency address that has ever received virtual currency. It also maintains records of every transaction and all known balances for each virtual currency address. Through several steps of “blockchain analysis,” federal investigators traced approximately $200,000 of the funds stolen from the victim to a cryptocurrency address on the Tron blockchain. As part of their forensic analysis, they determined that the stolen cryptocurrency was converted to Tether (USDT). On Dec. 31, 2024, the USDT tokens at the subject cryptocurrency address were frozen by Tether Limited, Inc. At the time of the freeze, the cryptocurrency address had a balance of 325,060 USDT (valued at approximately $325,060). Thereafter, pursuant to a federal seizure warrant issued on March 20, 2025, the 325,060 USDT tokens were transferred by Tether Limited, Inc., to a U.S. law enforcement-controlled virtual currency wallet. By the complaint in forfeiture filed Aug. 27, 2025, the United States seeks to forfeit the 325,060 USDT in cryptocurrency. In the complaint, the United States alleges that the additional cryptocurrency funds contained in the address, in excess of the victims’ traceable losses, are also subject to forfeiture as the proceeds of other fraudulent activities and are alleged to be involved in money laundering violations. The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. The United States must prove the claims by a preponderance of evidence. If successful in this forfeiture action, the United States would seek to return the stolen funds to the victims. The FBI Cleveland Division is actively investigating this case and related cryptocurrency fraud schemes perpetrated on victims throughout the United States. Assistant United States Attorney James L. Morford is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio. To report fraudulent conduct involving older adults, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to submit a report. Click here to view the complaint: complaint_in_forfeiture_8-27-25.pdf


title: Former US Forest Service law enforcement officer sentenced for fraud

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Thompson Falls man who falsified time and attendance records was sentenced today to 5 years of probation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,923.77. Nathan J. Snead, 48, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to theft of government money. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Snead was required to work 40 hours of regular time per week, and he was compensated for administratively uncontrollable overtime, which is premium pay designed to compensate law enforcement officers (LEOs) for irregular and unscheduled overtime duty. Snead documented his regular and overtime hours on his Time and Attendance Record for each pay period and signed the following certification: “I certify that the above information on hours worked, and leave used is true and accurate.” He also completed a record of overtime for each pay period in which he provided a case number and justification for the overtime and signed the following certification: “I certify that the official duties were performed as described above and were administratively uncontrollable.” On May 2, 2023, based on information Snead was not working his claimed hours, agents installed a GPS tracker on his government-issued patrol vehicle to monitor his movements. The tracker data showed Snead’s patrol vehicle was stationary at his house during hours he claimed to be working. On several occasions, Snead certified on his Time and Attendance Record he worked an 8-hour regular shift. However, his patrol vehicle remained stationary at his house for the entire 8 hours. Additionally, Snead claimed overtime hours when his patrol vehicle was stationary at his house for much of his regular shift and for the entire period of claimed overtime. Agents also evaluated Snead’s law enforcement statistics from 2021 through 2023. His productivity levels, measured via incident reports and the issuance of violation notices, were much lower than other similarly situated LEOs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Clarke prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Law Enforcement and Investigations, Office of Professional Responsibility. XXX


title: Kansas City Man Sentenced for Embezzling $612,000 from Employer

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for reimbursing himself $612,000 in fictitious business-related expenses from his employer. Jeremy M. Ubben, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 33 months in federal prison and 3 additional years of supervised release. The court ordered Ubben to pay $612,000 in restitution to his former employer, $127,589 to the Internal Revenue Service, and $27,038 to the State of Missouri. The court also ordered Ubben to forfeit to the government $40,000 in laundered stolen funds. On Feb. 5, 2025, Ubben pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of income tax evasion, and one count of money laundering. Ubben admitted that he embezzled $612,000 from his law firm employer between March 2023 and Aug. 2024. According to court documents, Ubben was employed as the firm’s business manager and had full administrator rights to the firm’s online payroll processing program. Beginning in March 2023, Ubben submitted and approved for himself reimbursement requests for fictious business expense expenditures totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Ubben also admitted that he laundered proceeds from his theft through his TD Ameritrade brokerage account. Ubben admitted that he failed to file a federal income tax return for tax year 2023. During that year, Ubben had taxable income of $262,000. The total federal tax loss for that year is $98,785.30. The total tax loss to the state of Missouri is $27,038. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Constance. It was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Robert Holder, 33 years old, of Markham, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Holder was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in the spring of 2024, Holder sold fentanyl to law enforcement on five occasions. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel L. Mathur.


title: Livingston man sentenced to 2 years in prison on drug charges

body_text: BILLINGS – A Livingston man who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Kyle Richard Lewellen, 43, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in March of 2020, law enforcement began investigating Lewellen and others for distributing methamphetamine in Livingston and elsewhere in Montana. Investigators obtained the data from the phones of Lewellen and his co-conspirators. There were text messages between them discussing methamphetamine trafficking as well as using the trunk lining in Lewellen’s vehicle as a place to hide drugs while transporting them. In those exchanges Lewellen offered to quickly flip any drugs a co-conspirator could front him. He also negotiated the price of ounces of methamphetamine in coming shipments. On September 20, 2022, a co-defendant was interviewed by law enforcement. He described how another co-defendant would use Lewellen’s car for meth trafficking and how Lewellen would wire them money for ounces of methamphetamine. On November 15, 2022, another co-defendant was interviewed and described “renting” Lewellen’s car for drug runs and that he would pay Lewellen an ounce of methamphetamine in exchange. The co-defendant said this happened approximately 10 times. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Park County Sheriff’s Office. XXX


title: Honduran man sentenced for illegal reentry

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Honduran man who was in the United States illegally was sentenced today to three months in prison, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Nahun Esau Suazo-Varela, 48, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to illegal reentry. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on May 22, 2025, law enforcement identified a vehicle in Havre, Montana registered to an individual who had overstayed the terms of admission into the United States. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and identified the defendant, Nahun Esau Suazo-Varela, as the passenger in the vehicle. He presented his Honduran passport and acknowledged he had no immigration documents allowing him to legally be in the United States. Suazo-Varela was transported to the Havre Border Patrol Station, where he acknowledged he had illegally crossed into the United States after his deportation near McAllen, Texas, in October 2010. Between 2006 and 2010, Suazo-Varela had numerous law enforcement contacts in Ohio for traffic-related offenses. He was ordered removed from the United States on September 30, 2010. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the United States Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Jamaican National Charged with Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully in the Country

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Michael Wilson, 24, of Kingston, Jamaica, has been charged by criminal complaint in federal court with possession of a firearm while being an alien unlawfully present in the United States. On August 26, 2025, Wilson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Wilson be detained pending trial. According to court records, at approximately 11:44 a.m. on June 28, 2025, near Dorset Street in South Burlington, Wilson shot an individual with whom he had a dispute stemming from the previous night at a bar. Wilson shot his victim in the shoulder. After the shooting, Wilson fled Vermont to Connecticut, where he was eventually arrested. On June 30, 2025, the State of Vermont charged Wilson with attempted second-degree murder and reckless endangerment. On August 25, 2025, however, the State withdrew its request that Wilson be held without bail, resulting in Wilson’s release from State custody. According to the July 1, 2025, federal criminal complaint, Wilson faces federal prosecution because federal law enforcement determined that Wilson, a citizen of Jamaica, had arrived in the United States in June 2023 as a visitor but had overstayed his visa. Wilson thus had no legal status in the United States when he possessed the firearm he used in the shooting. Because a federal arrest warrant was issued at the time the federal complaint was filed, when Wilson was released from state custody, he was transferred to federal custody. “This federal prosecution is an example of the vigilance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, working closely with the United States Border Patrol, to protect the public by enforcing federal firearms laws that prohibit the possession of firearms by foreign nationals who are here unlawfully,” said Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Wilson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Wilson faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. In addition to ATF and Border Patrol, Acting United States Attorney Drescher also commended the investigatory efforts of the South Burlington Police Department, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and the Winooski Police Department. The Windsor Connecticut Police Department also provided valuable assistance in apprehending Wilson. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Michael Wilson is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles N. Curlett, Jr. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Federal Jury Convicts Former Kissimmee Police Officer For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Dariel Javier Quiles-Davila (27, Kissimmee) guilty of receiving child sexual abuse material. Quiles-Davila faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 16, 2025. According to the evidence presented at trial, Quiles-Davila was an officer with the Kissimmee Police Department in October 2023. At that time, Quiles-Davila met a child victim while on duty. After learning the child victim’s contact information, Quiles-Davila began to communicate directly with the child victim with his personal cellphone and over social media. He also sent the child victim money and solicited and received sexually explicit photographs and videos of the child victim. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kissimmee Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Steven Christopher Kelban, 50, of Catonsville, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for possessing child sexual abuse material as a recidivist offender. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). According to his guilty plea, Kelban has two prior child pornography convictions. In 2015, Kelban was convicted of possession of obscene matter of persons under 17 in Shelby County, Alabama. Then in 2016, he was convicted of distributing child pornography in Baltimore County, Maryland. On November 20, 2023, Kelban was released from prison in Alabama and then returned to Maryland. He registered as a sex offender in Maryland, as required, on November 21, 2023, listing a Baltimore County address. Then on November 28, BCPD conducted an online investigation of the BitTorrent network to find offenders sharing child pornography. Law enforcement found Kelban’s IP address associated with a torrent that contained more than 2,000 files, including at least one of suspected child sexual abuse material. The IP address matched the device connected to Kelban’s Baltimore County residence, the same address that Kelban used to register as a sex offender one week prior. Additionally, Kelban possessed approximately 150 images and 200 videos of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. This case is 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 Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Assistant Professor Admits Embezzling from Washington University

body_text: ST. LOUIS – An assistant professor of pathology and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine on Wednesday admitted embezzling $412,000 from his employer. Gary Grajales-Reyes, MD-PhD, who maintained an office and research laboratory at the School of Medicine (WashU Medicine), pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three counts of wire fraud. The scheme involved Grajales-Reyes submitting false requisition requests to WashU Medicine for internal and external hard drives and graphics cards falsely claiming that the computer equipment was for his WashU Medicine research laboratory. Relying upon the false requisition requests, WashU Medicine purchased the requested computer equipment from its vendor, which then shipped the computer equipment directly to Grajales-Reyes’ research laboratory. WashU Medicine then paid for the computer equipment. After Grajales-Reyes received the falsely obtained computer equipment he sold the equipment by two different methods, without the knowledge or authority of WashU Medicine. He sold some of the computer equipment through his personal eBay site, and he also sold some of the computer equipment to an Amazon based third-party seller. He used the money obtained by selling the computer equipment for his own personal expenses unrelated to the work and operations of WashU Medicine, and without the knowledge or authority of WashU Medicine. Over the period of his scheme, Grajales-Reyes submitted 73 false requisition requests to WashU Medicine for internal and external hard drives and graphics cards, which included approximately 761 different computer parts. As a result of his scheme, WashU Medicine and Washington University paid approximately $412,163 for the computer parts, which Grajales-Reyes then sold for money which he used for his own personal expenses, unrelated to the work and operations of WashU Medicine. Federal law enforcement seized a substantial quantity of collectible trading cards from Grajales-Reyes’ laboratory. He had purchased the cards with some of the funds he obtained from selling the computer parts. Grajales-Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine. The FBI investigated the case, with the cooperation and assistance of Washington University. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.


title: Lakeland Couple Arrested After Committing String Of Armed Robberies

body_text: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest and filing of criminal complaints charging Andres Correa (39, Lakeland) and Cassandra Kerr (46, Lakeland) with Hobbs Act robbery. The complaint alleges that Correa committed a series of armed robberies in August 2025. Kerr aided and abetted Correa in committing the robberies on August 5 and August 7, 2025. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each charge. According to the complaints, on August 5, 2025, Correa and Kerr robbed a gas station in Tampa. Correa brandished a pistol and demanded money. Correa pressed the firearm into one of the victim’s stomachs until he received money from the business. Kerr acted as a lookout for Correa in her vehicle outside the store. Two days later, Correa and Kerr robbed a food mart in Tampa. During the robbery, Correa entered the business, produced a pistol, and demanded money. Correa held one of the store clerks at gunpoint until receiving the money from the register. Kerr again acted a lookout for Correa during this robbery. On August 19, 2025, Correa robbed a smoke shop in Seffner. After pulling a pistol from his chest area, Correa grabbed a customer and moved him back towards the counter. Correa pointed the firearm at the back of the victim’s head and neck as he demanded cash from the clerk. The clerk complied by handing Correa the cash register drawer. On August 26,2025, FBI and ATF agents, along with detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants at two residences. In one of the residences, officers located clothing consistent with surveillance footage, a firearm consistent with the firearm used in the robberies, a stomach holster, and a ledger with a list of banks and smoke shops and directions on how to get to those businesses. These arrests were the result of joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: California Man Sentenced to 15 Months’ Imprisonment for Assaulting a Federal Officer by Putting Him in a Choke Hold

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A California man convicted by a federal jury in April 2025 for assaulting a federal officer was sentenced today to 15 months’ imprisonment by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart. Gabriel Omar Gigena, 42, of Valley Springs, California, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on May 4, 2024, two task force officers with the United States Marshal Service (USMS) were tasked with apprehending Gigena and safely securing his twin three-year-old daughters and keeping the public safe while at a park in Park City, Utah. However, security concerns hastened law enforcement’s approach, which resulted in officers charging at and tackling Gigena. During the tackle, one of the officers pushed Gigena’s hands away from the two young girls. As this officer and Gigena fell to the ground Gigena placed the officer in a choke hold and started to strangle him. See prior press release here: Federal Jury Convicts California Man of Assaulting a Federal Officer . “Gigena is a danger to the public and to law enforcement across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has zero tolerance to those who threaten public servants,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “Gigena engaged in very serious and violent conduct against a law enforcement officer, and that is unacceptable. No one is above the law, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute crimes of this nature.” “This case is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement faces every day in service to our community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Kelly of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Violence against civil servants will not be tolerated. The FBI is committed to ensuring justice is served.” The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Pead and J. Drew Yeates of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Ontario Surgery Staffers for Assaulting and Interfering with Lawful ICE Detention of Illegal Alien

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A federal grand jury today indicted two staff members at a surgery center in San Bernardino County, charging them with assaulting and interfering with United States immigration officers attempting to lawfully detain an illegal alien fleeing law enforcement last month. Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, and Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona, are charged with one felony count of assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer. An October 6 trial date is scheduled in this case. According to the superseding indictment and court documents previously filed in this case, on July 8, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted roving immigration-related operations as part of their duties in Ontario. The officers wore government-issued equipment, including law enforcement vests, and were in an unmarked government-operated vehicle. The officers were following a truck with three adult men when the truck made a quick turn into the parking lot of a surgery center in Ontario. Officers approached the men after the men had exited the truck, and two of the men ran away. One of the fleeing men – an illegal alien from Honduras – was partially detained near the surgery center’s front entrance before he resisted and pulled away, causing both him and the ICE officer to fall to the ground. Shortly afterward, a medical staffer helped the alien off the ground and helped pull him away from the officer. The alien proceeded inside the surgery center and was pursued by the ICE officer, who eventually stopped him. Ortega and Davila, both dressed in medical scrubs, impeded and interfered with the arrest – Davila by wedging herself in between the officer and the alien, pushing the officer, and shouting, “Let him go!” and “Get out!”; Ortega by grabbing the officer’s arm and then his vest. The officer called for assistance and another ICE officer arrived on scene and saw multiple staff members grabbing the first officer. The officers eventually detained and handcuffed the alien, then exited the surgery center with him. An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: George, Iowa, Man Sentenced to 130 Months in  Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine, distributed methamphetamine, and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced August 21, 2025, to more than 10 years in federal prison. John Rothkehl, Jr., 40, from George, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 11, 2025, guilty plea. Evidence at plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2022, through October 2024, Rothkehl and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In September 2024 Rothkehl distributed methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle with Rothkehl as a passenger. A K-9 indicated the presence of controlled substances. A search of the vehicle revealed over 35 grams of pure methamphetamine in the backseat with Rothkehl. Rothkehl admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to another person or persons. Rothkehl was arrested and admitted that he had a fentanyl pill hidden in his underwear. Evidence further showed that Rothkehl made trips to Spencer, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska, to obtain methamphetamine to further distribute in the George, Iowa, area. Rothkehl was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rothkehl was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Rothkehl is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn Wehde and Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4091. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to  Methamphetamine-Related Crime

body_text: Cleveland Stephens, also known as “Schmitty,” age 63, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In a plea agreement, Stephens admitted that between August 2022 and June 2024, in the Northern District of Iowa, he agreed with another person to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Stephens remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Stephens faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-92. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: D.C. Consultant Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million Fraud of Covid-Era Loan Program

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jennifer May, 43, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to her role in a scheme that defrauded $1,500,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Government, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. May pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2025. Under the terms of the plea agreement, May must return the $1,500,000 to the United States. According to court documents, May was founder and owner of Next Level Partners LLC, a consulting firm specializing in assisting campaigns with complying with campaign finance regulations and managing their accounts payable functions. In October 2021, May applied for a second modification to an original EIDL application, requesting an additional $1,500,000 in EIDL funds for Next Level Partners. The EIDL was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in which the U.S. Small Business Administration offered small business owners low-interest, long-term loans. The funds were intended to be used for working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses, including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses, and to pay business debt. May falsely certified on loan applications that she would use all loan proceeds only for business-related purposes. Instead, she misappropriated the funds to speculate on cryptocurrency and to pay for unrelated business ventures and other personal expenditures. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the IRS-CI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. 25cr0211


title: Shipping Company Fined $2M for Maritime Pollution Offense

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: V.Ships Norway A.S. (V.SHIPS) pleaded guilty today to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was sentenced to pay a $2 million fine. V.Ships admitted that oily bilge water and oily waste was discharged from the Motor Tanker Swift Winchester ( M/T Swift Winchester ) and the discharges were omitted from the Oil Record Book. “Dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around our ports and coasts violates the law and poses an unnecessary health and environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The crew took pains to hide their illegal activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records. We will not turn a blind eye to this kind of irresponsible and fraudulent activity.” “The Gulf of America and the Texas ports are amazing places with great natural beauty. They are also vital to our economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharges polluting wastes, it threatens waters that are vital to the United States and the state of Texas. We will hold those responsible for polluting the Gulf of America accountable.” “The criminal prosecution of this case underlines our commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste from vessels poses a significant threat to our waters and marine life and by holding those accountable who violate these standards, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate actions that endanger our environment. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the maritime industry operates responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws.” “Coast Guard Marine Inspectors, Pollution Responders and Investigating Officers undergo rigorous and specialized training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes. This expertise alongside our federal partnerships was crucial to the successful prosecution of this violation,” said Capt. Jennifer Andrew, the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. “The Coast Guard maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive and thorough vessel inspection programs, and we will continue to leverage this robust capability to ensure strict compliance with domestic and international maritime laws.” Between February 2022 and August 2022, a hose was connected between the incinerator waste oil tank and the sewage holding tank on the M/T Swift Winchester . This allowed oily waste to transfer into the sewage holding tank and then to be discharged directly into the sea, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment. A low-ranking engine crewmember reported this to a Superintendent at V.Ships. The Superintendent investigated the matter and discovered what appeared to be oil in the sewage tank. V.Ships dismissed the Chief Engineer. In August 2022, the new Chief Engineer ordered the engine crew to clean the Oil Water Separator (OWS) filter. The engine crew took the filter onto the deck and hosed it down with a degreaser and the oily waste washed directly overboard through a scupper. Coast Guard members from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur conducted an examination, during which an engine room crewmember disclosed the discharges and provided photographic and video evidence documenting the illegal discharges. The M/T Swift Winchester entered Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Aug. 25, 2022, and Port Arthur, Texas, on Sept. 7, 2022, with a knowingly falsified Oil Record Book. Photo of OWS filter on deck before being unrolled. Photo is from United States v. V.Ships Norway, A.S., number 25-CR-00039 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Photo depicting oily waste draining into scupper. Photo is from United States v. V.Ships Norway, A.S., number 25-CR-00039 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Batte for the Eastern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Warner for the Middle District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.


title: Jury Finds Guatemalan National Guilty Of Using U.S. Citizen’s Information To Work Illegally In The United States

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury today found Sindi Yamileth Mejia Avila (22, Guatemala) guilty of aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number (SSN), and false claim of United States citizenship. Avila faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, Avila used a U.S. citizen’s personal identifying information to apply for a construction job in the Middle District of Florida. Avila obtained a fake North Carolina driver license in the U.S. citizen’s real name and date of birth but displaying Avila’s photo. She also obtained a fake Social Security card listing the U.S. citizen’s real name and SSN. Avila submitted these fake documents with her I-9 work authorization form when she applied for the construction job. On the I-9 form Avila falsely claimed that the U.S. citizen’s name, date of birth, and status as a United States citizen was her own. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karyna Valdes and Lindsey Schmidt.


title: Pleasant Grove couple sentenced for federal drug trafficking conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Pleasant Grove couple has received lengthy federal prison sentences for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Holly Candice Lopez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on August 27, 2025. Ricardo Ruiz, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 376 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on August 27, 2025. According to information presented in court, Ruiz and his wife, Lopez, were leaders in a drug trafficking organization in Pleasant Grove, distributing kilogram quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The couple used at least five stash houses in the area to store and distribute illegal narcotics that were imported into the United States from Mexico. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Lewisville Police Department, and Denton County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris. ###


title: Franklin County Woman Admits Using Stolen Mail to Commit Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A woman from Franklin County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted using stolen mail to commit bank and check fraud. Miranda Burgess, 30, pleaded guilty to all 13 counts that she faces: one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of possession of stolen mail and nine counts of bank fraud. As early as Feb. 1, 2022, Burgess obtained mail that had been stolen from a Missouri victim, including mail with information about the victim’s bank accounts. Burgess used that information to transfer funds from the victim’s bank to her own accounts with Acorns, Green Dot, M1 Finance, Square and Wave, her plea agreement says. Burgess initiated $76,270 in fraudulent electronic transfers, but $50,000 was later returned to the victim. Burgess also deposited counterfeit checks bearing the victim’s name, forged electronic signature and account number, costing the victim $1,200 Burgess is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3. Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million or both prison and fine and possession of stolen mail matter carries a penalty of up to five years and a $250,000 fine. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to the prison sentence for all other charges. She will also be ordered to repay the money. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Arnold Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.


title: Husband And Wife Indicted In $1.1 Million Wire Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Donna Johnson Waterman (51, Orlando) and Oliver Raymond Waterman (50, Orlando) with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies the Watermans that the United States intends to forfeit $1,142,595, the proceeds of conspiracy. According to the indictment, Donna Waterman was an office manager at a law firm in the Middle District of Florida (“VC”). As part of her duties, Donna Waterman maintained the finances of VC. Between October 2020 and March 2024, Donna Waterman fraudulently accessed VC’s PayPal Account and diverted more than $1.1 million of VC funds to accounts belonging to herself and her husband, Oliver Waterman. The Watermans used the fraudulently obtained funds on lavish vacations, gambling, and retail expenditures. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rockledge Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.


title: Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Covid-Relief Fraud

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a man to a year and half in prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain nearly $2 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In 2020, SAMUEL W. JACKSON engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Jackson submitted to lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration numerous applications on behalf of businesses he controlled. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported businesses’ employment figures, payroll costs, and operating expenses. The fraud scheme caused a loss to lenders and the SBA of more than $1.9 million. Jackson and others used the loan proceeds for their personal benefit, including $500,000 on luxury vehicles, nearly $230,000 at restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and $116,000 on rent. Jackson, 45, formerly of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. On Aug. 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Jackson to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay approximately $1.9 million in restitution. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General. “Defendant was the hub of a fraudulent scheme,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher K. Veatch and Branka Cimesa argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant abused a federal program funded by taxpayer money and designed to help those in need.”