title: Another Operation Sweet Silence Defendant Convicted at Trial

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – Fernando Brown, also known as “Nino,” 33 of Columbus, a repeat offender, was convicted today by a federal jury of distributing methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana while armed. A total of 30 defendants has now either been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty to drug charges resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in and around Columbus as part of Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice’s nationwide effort cracking down on criminal organizations and cartels. Following a four-day trial, the jury found Brown guilty of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 100 pounds of marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22. There is no parole in the federal system. “Although this case closes a significant chapter in Operation Sweet Silence, our commitment to dismantling armed drug trafficking organizations is unwavering,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Together, law enforcement and prosecutors will continue to pursue those who threaten the safety of the communities we serve and bring them to justice.” “This defendant was responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in the Columbus, Georgia, area,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His crimes fueled violence and harmed the community until federal, state, and local law enforcement worked together to dismantle this criminal organization. The Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting those who traffic dangerous drugs and threaten the safety of our communities.” “Criminal Street gangs were responsible for a wave of violent crime in and around Columbus,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Richard Bilson of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. “Columbus is a safer place now that the FBI and our partners have effectively dismantled this armed drug trafficking organization. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep our streets safe.” “This investigation represents the very best of law enforcement collaboration,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Federal, state, and local partners worked side by side for years to uncover the full scope of this criminal enterprise and ensuring every individual responsible face justice. With the conviction of this defendant, we are getting closer to holding all individuals involved accountable. Our communities are safer today because of the dedication and teamwork of the investigators and prosecutors, and we are committed to bringing this case to a successful conclusion.” "We won't stop until the criminal activity stops,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.” According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from August 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation in the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang involving armed drug trafficking. During this extensive investigation, agents discovered that Brown, who is not a member of the Zohannon organization, was working with others to dominate the illegal drug market in Columbus by supplying methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. Trial evidence revealed that Brown was captured on a wiretap discussing the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. During the execution of search warrants at Brown’s drug trap house on 10th Street and his residence on Rosewood Street, both in Columbus, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and seven firearms. Cocaine hidden under a sink and seized at trap house: Semi-automatic pistol and ammunition seized at trap house: Other defendants, all from Columbus unless otherwise indicated, were indicted across nine separate indictments and have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, with some already sentenced by the court. Operation Sweet Silence defendants are: Freddie Bowens , also known as Profit, 27, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machine gun. LaBrandon Brown , 31, was sentenced to four years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Jantzen Carter , 40, of Waverly Hall, GA, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Ulises Cervantes , 33, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Anthony Champion , 46, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Clemons , 48, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Dequindre Dawson , 33, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Nicholas Fitzpatrick , 30, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for drug conspiracy. Terry Gash , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Undrae Hayes , 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison for drug conspiracy. Roderick Hicks , 59, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison for drug conspiracy. Christopher Hill , 36, was sentenced to two years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Marquez Holloway , 32, was convicted at trial of drug conspiracy and drug distribution and is awaiting sentencing. Darius Jenkins , 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Jeffrey Kimbrough , 29, was sentenced to three years of probation for drug conspiracy. Hykeem Lomax , 33, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Quadarius Lusk , 30, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Aundray Morgan , 39, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Tommie Mullins, Jr. , also known as “TJ,” also known as “Bo,” also known as “Mini,” 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Javonta Paden , 25, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Adrian Palmer , also known as “AP,” 25, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Adrian Pleasants , 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Derrick Porter , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Dahvontay Richardson , 28, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Thomas , also known as “Bubble,” 25, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy. Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo , 41, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Corey Turner , also known as “Lito Red,” 33, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Jhy’Keith Williams , 24, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun. Malik Williams , 27, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. The final defendant was arrested today and is charged by federal indictment: Leonard Campbell, 37, of Columbus, is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is facing a maximum life in prison. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Muscogee County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Ofﬁce with critical assistance from the Harris County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew Mattis of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) are prosecuting the case.


title: Repeat Federal Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 18 Years for Distributing Kilograms of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A previously convicted federal drug trafficker was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for trafficking kilogram quantities of methamphetamine throughout Burke and Caldwell Counties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jeremy Donovan Dula, 38, of Hampton, Georgia, who previously lived in Caldwell County, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release. On October 22, 2025, Dula pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “Dula introduced an incredible amount of drugs into our community. Drug traffickers who bring dangerous drugs into the Western District should know this: you will be identified and prosecuted. We will not allow our communities to be turned into drug markets for poison peddlers,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. According to court documents, beginning in October 2023, investigators received information that Dula was trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and was using an apartment in Lenoir, North Carolina, as a stash house and to conduct drug sales. During the investigation, Dula sold methamphetamine multiple times to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Court records also show that, on November 6, 2023, an undercover agent posing as a drug courier for Dula transported four kilograms of methamphetamine from Georgia to Burke County in a box placed by Dula in the trunk of the undercover agent’s vehicle, while Dula followed closely in a separate car. When Dula and the undercover arrived in Burke County, investigators conducted a traffic stop on Dula. Investigators then met with the undercover agent and took possession of the methamphetamine. Inside the box, investigators found four plastic bags containing 3.821 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and one plastic bag containing 28.55 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also executed a search warrant at Dula’s apartment in Lenoir, where they seized a digital scale, multiple plastic bags containing 766.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, and $4,260 in U.S. currency. Over the course of the investigation, Dula was held responsible for trafficking at least 12 kilograms of methamphetamine. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lenoir Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville was in charge of the prosecution.


title: Texarkana, Texas man sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

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

body_text: TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana, Texas man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Timothy Brooks, 46, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 255 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III on April 15, 2026. According to information presented in court, a federal drug trafficking investigation led authorities to Brooks. A search of his Texarkana residence in May of 2024 revealed an ice chest containing 10.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. Also located at the residence was a firearm, marijuana and other drugs, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia such as digital scales. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Texarkana, Texas, Police Department; and Miller County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Richards. ###


title: Pownal, Vermont Woman Sentenced to 46 Months in Drug Conspiracy

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 15, 2026, Samantha Danforth, 36, of Pownal, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 46 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Danforth previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base and Fentanyl. According to court records, between February and July of 2022, Danforth conspired with William McLaughlin to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl in and around Bennington, Vermont. As part of the conspiracy, Danforth sold drugs for McLaughlin, acted as his driver, accompanied him to obtain drugs from New York, assisted in cooking crack and packaging drugs for sale, possessed firearms, and at times supported McLaughlin’s violence and acted as his enforcer. McLaughlin was particularly violent, and Danforth witnessed many of McLaughlin’s worst acts of violence, which included attempting to suffocate a woman by holding a plastic bag around her head. After McLaughlin was arrested for a stabbing, Danforth continued to sell drugs on McLaughlin’s behalf and assisted him in continuing his criminal activities from prison. Danforth also worked to obstruct the prosecution of McLaughlin for the stabbing by obtaining a false recantation of the victim’s accusation. McLaughlin, 47, of Hoosick Falls, New York, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base and Fentanyl on July 17, 2025. McLaughlin’s sentencing is currently scheduled for July 30, 2026. A third conspirator, Keahnard Rowell, 36, of New York, New York, received a 60-month sentence of imprisonment on November 19, 2025. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, the Rutland City Police Department, the Vermont State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne Smith and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf. Danforth was represented by Heather Ross, Esq. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Houston man sentenced to federal prison in ATM hook and chain crime spree involving Prosper bank

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Cody Williams, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on April 15, 2026. Williams was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $71,639. According to court documents, from June 2020 to June 2024, Williams was involved in a crime spree referred to as “Hook and Chain” burglaries, which involved stealing a truck, attaching hooks and chains to the vehicle, and using it to drag the door off an ATM to retrieve the cash currency from the machine. This crime spree involved several burglaries in Texas and Arizona, including the Texas Bank on South Preston Road in Prosper. The conspiracy resulted in a loss of over $400,000 in bank funds and damage to property. 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. This case was investigated by the FBI, Fort Worth Police Department, and Pottsboro Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Three Defendants Sentenced for Killing a Security Guard and Wounding Three Others During an Armed Robbery Of a Gambling Location in Brooklyn

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Charles Powell, also known as “Payback,” and Musah Coward, also known as “General Mecka,” “Red” and “General Red,” were sentenced by United States District Judge Eric Komitee for the firearm-related murder of Rodney Maxwell, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery. Powell and Coward were sentenced to 42 years’ imprisonment and 45 years’ imprisonment respectively. Co-defendant Brian Castro, also known as “Morenaje,” was previously sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment by Judge Komitee in December 2025. The defendants were convicted in January 2025 following a three-week trial. As part of their sentences, the defendants were also ordered to pay restitution, including in the amount of $26,730 to Maxwell’s daughter. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences. “This was a senseless, premediated, and brutal act of gun violence that took the life of a security guard who was simply doing his job,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentencings severely punish the defendants for this cold-blooded killing, and will protect the community from them for many years. It is my sincere hope these sentencings will bring some relief to the family of the victim.” "These defendants brutally murdered a security guard, a father of three children, during an armed robbery. May today’s significant sentences reflect the FBI Safe Streets Task Force’s commitment to working with our local law enforcement partners to crush violent crime and protect New Yorkers from senseless violence," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “The defendants in this case orchestrated an armed robbery that resulted in one man’s death and three other victims being shot,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “They showed a complete disregard for human life, and these sentencings reflect the severity and shocking brutality of their crimes. I thank the NYPD detectives, our partners at the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their hard work to deliver justice in this case.” As proven at trial, Powell, Castro and Coward planned and carried out an armed robbery of an illegal gambling location in Brownsville on October 7, 2020. Coward drove the co-defendants from New Jersey, and Powell and Castro entered the location while Coward waited outside in the car. During the robbery, Powell and Castro each shot Rodney Maxwell, the father of three children, who had been providing security for the location and was also a longtime employee at Bellevue Hospital. Castro shot Maxwell once at close range in the back with a 9-millimeter pistol and Powell also shot him once at close range in the chest with a .380 caliber pistol. Maxwell later died from his gunshot wounds. Powell also fired into a crowd of individuals at the location as they desperately attempted to escape the violence. Three additional victims were shot that evening, all of whom survived their wounds. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Palacio, Megan Larkin and Raffaela Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Intelligence Research Specialist Ashley Hinkson and former Paralegal Specialist Teddy Rader. The Defendants : CHARLES POWELL (also known as “Payback”) Age: 28 Newark, New Jersey BRIAN CASTRO (also known as “Morenaje”) Age: 25 Paterson, New Jersey MUSAH COWARD (also known as “General Mecka,” “Red” and “General Red”) Age: 34 Paterson, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-572 (EK)


title: Belton Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Belton, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for selling fentanyl to a confidential informant. Raimon Martez Gilliam, also known as “Ray Money,” “Money,” and “Money Mike,” 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, a Jackson County Drug Task Force confidential informant (“CI”) contacted Gilliam to purchase fentanyl. Gilliamdirected the CI to meet him at a location near Indiana Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. Upon arrival, Gilliam entered the front passenger seat of the CI’s vehicle. The CI handed Gilliam $5,400 and in exchange, Gilliam gave the CI one baggie of purple fentanyl and one baggie of white fentanyl. Once the transaction was completed, the CI left the area and met with detectives who took possession of the suspected fentanyl. Thereafter, the evidence was sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory for testing. Following analysis, a forensic scientist determined that both bags contained fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, with a combined weight of 73.02 grams. Under federal statutes, Gilliam is subject to a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 40 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 Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Michigan Gang Member Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy for Drug Trafficking and Over $500,000 in Fraud

body_text: A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Conspiracy. According to court documents, Jordan Gilmore, 27, of Detroit, is a member of a street gang known as the Purple Heart Vets (PHV) that uses violence, drug trafficking and fraud to enrich its members and fund the criminal enterprise. Gilmore is a self-described founder of PHV and used his rap career to promote the PHV through music and rap videos featuring other members and associates, firearms, cash, expensive cars and jewelry, and the gang’s territory. Gilmore and other PHV members and associates conspired to distribute marijuana, Percocet pills, and other controlled substances to further and fund the PHV enterprise. The gang used two houses in Detroit to store, prepare, and sell drugs and used members armed with firearms to protect the gang’s drug-trafficking conspiracy, drugs, and proceeds. In addition to drug trafficking, Gilmore and other PHV members fraudulently and illegally obtained pandemic relief grants, specifically Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits to which they were not entitled. PHV members fraudulently obtained approximately $520,709 in federally-funded state PUA benefits and filed more than 50 fraudulent PUA applications. Gilmore pleaded guilty to RICO Conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Asher and Matthew Roth for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican Citizen in the United States Illegally Sentenced to 18 years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A Mexican citizen who was illegally present in the United States was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Alejandro Orozco Ramirez, 26, was sentenced on April 13, 2026, by United States District Judge Sam A. Lindsay for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute approximately 14 kilograms of methamphetamine. Court records reveal that between May 9, 2024, and June 18, 2024, as part of the conspiracy, Orozco Ramirez agreed to provide co-defendant Santiago Prado-Gonzalez with approximately 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, which Prado-Gonzalez intended to distribute to another person. However, when Orozco Ramirez was on his way to deliver the methamphetamine to Prado-Gonzalez, he was intercepted by law enforcement agents and arrested. Court records included a photo of the seized methamphetamine: During sentencing, the government noted that Orozco Ramirez was illegally present in the United States and that when officers searched his residence, they found another 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, $5,340 in United States currency, a drug ledger, a drug scale, and four firearms. One of the firearms was an AK-47 capable of firing rounds continuously with a single press of the trigger, also referred to as “full-auto capable.” Co-defendant Santiago Prado Gonzalez’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2026. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation in conjunction with the Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA), the Richardson Police Department, the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s office in Sioux City, Iowa. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.


title: Final Young Mob Defendant Sentenced After Trial Conviction for Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: Three Memphis men have been sentenced following their convictions at trial on Nov. 12, 2025. A jury convicted Darius Moore, 39; Mervin Anderson, 40; and Mario Gardner, 49, all of Memphis, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Yesterday, the court sentenced Moore to 210 months in prison. Anderson and Gardner were previously sentenced to 150 months and 51 months in prison respectively. Moore was designated a career offender, having been twice convicted of the sale of hydromorphone in 2005 and 2008, and was on supervised release when he committed this crime. In 2019, Moore was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1000 feet of a playground and after serving his prison term was placed on supervised release. Moore was also sentenced yesterday to an additional 1 year in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members or associates of the Memphis street gang, Young Mob Military or Young Mob. One of the leaders of Young Mob, co-defendant Brian Lackland, was central to the running of the drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl within the Western District of Tennessee. Evidence presented during trial included seizures of thousands of fentanyl pills that were sent through the United States Postal Service addressed to Lackland’s residence. The fentanyl pills had been designed to mimic Oxycodone with pressed symbols on the blue pills. Members of the conspiracy would refer to the fentanyl pills as “blues” or “blues clues.” Fentanyl pills The surveillance caught members of the conspiracy exchanging large quantities of pills at gas stations, grocery stores, and other locations within feet of unsuspecting citizens of Memphis. “These three defendants mailed thousands of dangerous and potentially fatal fentanyl laced pills through the United States mail and openly sold them on the streets of Memphis, ultimately endangering end users,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dangerous opiates like fentanyl are a scourge to our communities, and leave a wake of death, ruined lives, and sorrow. Dedicated work by law enforcement took this drug trafficking organization down. We will continue to stand with our partners and remove dangerous drug dealers from the streets.” “Because illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, President Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD),” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Its lethality is significant, and those who traffic fentanyl must be severely punished and incapacitated. This sentence will ensure that this recidivist ‘not-so-young’ mob member will grow old in a federal prison.” “ATF will not tolerate violent gangs that fuel their criminality by distributing danger drugs like fentanyl on our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing underscores the collective efforts of our local, state, and federal partners and the unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety. Through persistent investigation, collaboration, and enforcement, we will continue to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the safety and security of our citizens.” While detained pending trial for the drug conspiracy, Anderson was charged and convicted at trial of possessing two sharpened, handmade knives, commonly referred to as “shanks” while at the Shelby County Detention Center. Video from the jail showed Anderson threatening another inmate while swinging and thrusting the knives. When the shanks were taken from Anderson, he stated, “God is on his side, I was about to kill that boy.” Anderson then continued to make threats against the other inmate, stating, “I’m going to kill that boy when I get out.” Anderson with shank Other alleged members of the drug conspiracy, including the leader of the Young Mob, are charged in separate indictment with racketeering conspiracy, as well as narcotics and firearm offenses. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) prosecuted the case. Brian P. Leaming of VCRS and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.


title: Former Slidell Resident Sentenced for False Statements and Theft of Over $350,000.00 in Covid-19 Benefits

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RACQUEL PICHON (“PICHON”) , age 42, formerly of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on April 14, 2026, for false statements and theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001 and 641, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to court documents, PICHON applied for multiple Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) loans under the business Exotica Beauty LLC (“Exotica”). PICHON was the registered agent for Exotica. On June 12, 2020, PICHON completed a Small Business Administration (SBA) backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application for Exotica. As a result of the PPP application, on June 19, 2020, PICHON received an SBA backed PPP loan of approximately $194,642.50. According to the indictment, on June 23, 2020, PICHON also completed and submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan application for Exotica. As a result, on June 25, 2020, PICHON received an EIDL advance grant of $10,000.00. Then, on June 29, 2020, PICHON received an EIDL loan of $149,900.00 as a business loan. On or about July 2, through July 7, 2020, PICHON spent, in total, $8,074.00 in EIDL loan proceeds at a high-end retail store in New Orleans. On July 15, 2020, PICHON spent $921.00 in EIDL loan proceeds for tickets to an amusement park in Florida. PICHON also spent $3,303.00 in EIDL loan proceeds at an additional high-end retail store in New Orleans. In total, PICHON received $354,542.50 in COVID-19 funds. United States District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced PICHON to 12 months home detention with electronic monitoring, probation for five years, $354,642.50 restitution, and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Seaside Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Seaside, Oregon, woman was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for submitting fraudulent pandemic unemployment applications, falsely claiming over two dozen employees, and causing the government to pay her over half a million dollars in benefits. Tamara Fulmer, 48, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $581,283 in restitution. “Fraudsters who steal benefits are not just stealing from the government – they are depriving other Oregonians who depend on those benefits to live,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Our office will continue to prioritize and prosecute theft of government funds.” “This case sends a clear message: those who attempt to defraud government programs will be held accountable. Tamara Fulmer stole nearly $600,000 from the unemployment insurance program at a time when Americans needed those funds most. The Office of Inspector General, together with local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the U.S. Department of Justice’s newly established National Fraud Enforcement Division, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who seek to exploit government benefit programs. No fraud is too large or too small,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. According to court documents, between May 2020 and October 2021, Fulmer used the personal information of 27 individuals she claimed to be her employees to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits (UI benefits). Based on Fulmer’s misrepresentations, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) paid out more than $567,000 in UI benefits. Fulmer deposited at least 236 UI checks totaling nearly $69,000 into her own personal account and cashed many of the UI checks at a gas station in Seaside without the applicants’ knowledge or permission. OED paid Fulmer an additional $13,353 after she submitted her own fraudulent UI application where she falsely claimed she had not applied for or received disability benefits, despite receiving disability payments since 2004. On February 19, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a one-count indictment charging Fulmer with theft of government property. On November 4, 2025, Fulmer pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman and Ethan G. Bodell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Two Illegal Aliens With Prior Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal Reentry After Multiple Deportations

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country. Jesus Guadalupe-Rosales and Daniel Augusto Lopez-Conchas are both charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for April 30, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Guadalupe-Rosales and Lopez-Conchas are both citizens and nationals of Mexico and were both previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally. On July 17, 2025, officers from the Henderson Police Department arrested Guadalupe-Rosales for four counts of Possess to Sell Controlled Substance; Trafficking Controlled Substance; three counts of Possess Controlled Substance; and Operate Place for Sale/Gift/Use of Controlled Substance. On April 8, 2026, after serving a 12-to-30-month sentence for Possession of Controlled substance with Intent to Sell, 2nd Offense, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Guadalupe-Rosales to U.S. Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Guadalupe-Rosales has been deported six times: May 22, 2012; July 13, 2012; June 19, 2014; August 25, 2015; November 24, 2015; and July 27, 2020. In addition to his most recent drug conviction, Guadalupe-Rosales was twice convicted for Drug Trafficking, the first time in 2013, and again in 2018. Guadalupe-Rosales also has a felony conviction for Fraud and misuse of Visas from 2015, and a 2020 felony conviction for Deported Alien Found Unlawfully in the United States, the same offense he is currently charged with. After serving prison time on each of his convictions, Guadalupe-Rosales was deported by ICE. On March 29, 2024, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Lopez-Conchas for Sell/Transport Controlled Substance, two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substances, and Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act. On April 3, 2026, after serving a 24-to-72-month sentence for Trafficking Controlled Substance, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Lopez-Conchas to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lopez-Conchas has been deported three times: March 24, 2011, March 1, 2015, and January 26, 2020. If convicted, Guadalupe-Rosales faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. If convicted, Lopez-Conchas faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Ruben Levya made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Egyptian National Sentenced for Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Egyptian national was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after pointing a handgun at a victim at a Las Cruces gas station. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the morning of May 12, 2025, Moustafa Mahmoud Abdelnabi Salem , 29, a citizen and national of Egypt, threatened an individual at a gas station by pulling a handgun, chambering a round, and pointing it at the victim. After the incident, the victim flagged down an officer from the Las Cruces Police Department and reported the assault. When the officer questioned Salem , who was still at the location, he alleged that the victim had assaulted him with a large knife and denied pointing a handgun at the victim. Salem refused to allow the officer to retrieve the handgun from his vehicle, leading the officer to believe that there was an issue with the firearm. Upon further investigation, the officer determined that Salem was an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying his visitor visa. The incident was captured by CCTV footage from the gas station in which Salem appears to be the aggressor. Salem pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to deportation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations Las Cruces. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.


title: Davis Picnic Day Shooter Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison in Separate Federal Firearm Case

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Joseph Allen Davis, 20, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, an investigation began into Joseph Allen Davis after determining that he was a shooter at the April 12, 2025, shooting incident at Rainbow City Park in Davis where three people were injured by gunfire. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of Joseph Allen Davis’s apartment and seized a short-barrel AR-15-style pistol that was loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition. Davis is prohibited from possessing any firearms and ammunition because he has previously been convicted of a felony gun possession offense. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Davis Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Illegal Alien from Dominican Republic Indicted for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lynn has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Yodenny Michael Baez-Cabrera, 41, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant is currently in state custody and will appear in federal court at a later date. According to the indictment, Baez-Cabrera was deported from the United States on July 18, 2017. It is alleged that sometime after his July 2018 removal, Baez-Cabrera illegally reentered the United States without permission. In 2015, Baez-Cabrera was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Florida Man Arrested After Traveling to Arizona to Pick Up $600,000 in Gold from Victim in Phantom Hacker Scheme

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gary Christopher, 59, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was arrested on April 10, and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to launder money for his role as a courier in a broader fraud scheme that targeted an elderly victim in Phoenix. Christopher made his initial appearance in federal court on April 13. According to the complaint, Christopher’s co-conspirators contacted the elderly victim, falsely claiming that she was the victim of identity theft. A co-conspirator, impersonating a former United States Attorney, instructed the victim to purchase gold with the funds in her account and turn it over for safekeeping. The victim transferred over $400,000 in assets to the co-conspirators before discovering she had been defrauded. Christopher, acting as a courier, then traveled to Arizona on April 9 to retrieve an additional $600,000 in gold bullion from the victim. Law enforcement intercepted Christopher when he arrived at the victim’s residence to collect the gold. Investigators recovered evidence that Christopher received instructions outlining the steps for picking up and transferring the gold from the victim to a co-conspirator. FBI’s Phoenix Division is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. Phantom hacker scams and government impersonation scams are increasingly prevalent and disproportionately affect elderly victims. Fraudsters in these schemes typically pose as government agents and pressure victims to act quickly to transfer their money to the perpetrators. The public is urged to remain vigilant, verify the identity of anyone requesting financial transactions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. The government will never call individuals to instruct them to transfer funds to the government without written documentation. The government will never instruct individuals to transfer assets into gold bullion. The government will never instruct an individual to deliver funds to a “courier” who comes to the individual’s residence. Educating potential victims and their families is a key component in preventing these crimes and minimizing financial harm. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. Victims can also report the fraud to the FBI by filing a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov/ by clicking the red “File A Complaint” button. Victims should be sure to include all available information about the scam. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-mj-6086 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-063_Christopher


title: Former Teacher Pleads Guilty in $51 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme in National Fraud Enforcement Division Prosecution

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Former teacher Jeanett Valenzuela Ayub pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she conspired with others to launder millions of dollars of health care fraud proceeds. In total, Valenzuela admitted that she and her co-conspirators billed Medicare nearly $51 million for bogus prescriptions and were paid approximately $20 million, ultimately laundering at least $14 million dollars of Medicare proceeds and paying $3.7 million in unlawful kickbacks. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs According to her plea agreement, Valenzuela and co-conspirators owned and operated multiple durable medical equipment (DME) companies, which sold orthotics – including back, wrist, and knee braces – to Medicare beneficiaries. Valenzuela admitted that in operating the DME companies, she and co-conspirators paid unlawful kickback payments to sham marketing companies who provided bogus prescriptions for DME. The prescriptions were signed by physicians who had no legitimate doctor-patient relationship with the beneficiary; had not conducted a legitimate medical evaluation of the beneficiary; and had not impartially determined that the beneficiary actually needed the DME. When agents interviewed Medicare beneficiaries during its investigation, the Medicare beneficiaries confirmed that they never spoke with a doctor, were never examined by a doctor related to the prescribed DME, and were not familiar with the prescribing doctor; never used nor even opened the packages containing the DME; and many of the Medicare beneficiaries still had the DME in their original unopened packages. Valenzuela further admitted that she used DME companies to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare. Once Valenzuela’s or her co-conspirator’s DME companies were suspended from billing Medicare, Valenzuela conspired to put DME companies in the names of nominee owners while she and her co-conspirators maintained control of the companies and the monies received from Medicare. Among Valenzuela’s co-conspirators was her brother, Fernando Valenzuela Ayub, who previously pleaded guilty to the same offense and is pending sentencing. When her brother was arrested on December 9, 2024, for his involvement in this conspiracy, Valenzuela absconded to Tijuana. Ultimately, Valenzuela was detained in August 2025 in the Dominican Republic after she left Mexico and traveled with family for a vacation. After being detained in the Dominican Republic, Valenzuela was removed to the United States through Miami, Florida, where she was then arrested by U.S. Marshals and ultimately transported to San Diego to face the pending charges against her. Valenzuela is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2026, at 9 a.m. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero of the Southern District of California. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie Chu contributed significantly to the case. DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2489-DMS Jeanett Valenzuela Ayub Age: 51 Chula Vista, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)


title: Grand jury indicts Lockport man on charges of enticement of a minor and production and possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an 11-count indictment charging Damon Singleton-Spencer, 33, of Lockport, NY, with enticement of a minor, three counts of production of child pornography, and seven counts of possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. According to the indictment, on June 30, 2019, Singleton-Spencer coerced a minor victim to engage in sexual activity. He is accused of coercing the minor victim on three more occasions, in November 2020, June 2021, and November 2022, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. In addition, on February 16, 2024, Singleton-Spencer possessed three hard drives, a desktop computer, an SD card, a gaming computer, and a cellular telephone that all contained images of child pornography. Singleton-Spencer was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy. The indictment is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Felicetti. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Rochester man arrested, charged with production and receipt of child pornography and enticement of a minor

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kenneth Tootle, 37, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and receipt of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life. According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, the Rochester Police Department received a report from a mother that she found disturbing messages between her seven-year-old daughter (minor victim) and Tootle on her daughter’s cell phone, including sexual photos and videos. A review of the minor victim’s phone confirmed that she was communicating with Tootle and sent him images and videos of herself that constitute child pornography. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed on Tootle’s cell phone. However, the complaint states that the images of child pornography sent by the minor victim to Tootle had been deleted. Tootle made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on April 20, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


title: Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to production and possession of child pornography

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dustin Coffelt, 36, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to two counts of production and one count of possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine. In July 2022, the Depew Police Department received a report that Coffelt sexually abused a 13-year-old girl (minor victim). Subsequent investigation determined that the alleged abuse may have been ongoing for several years and included communication over various social media applications and text messaging. On July 29, 2022, Coffelt provided a voluntary statement to detectives from the Depew and Cheektowaga Police Departments admitting to the sexual abuse and producing sexually explicit photographs of the minor victim. Coffelt also voluntarily provided his phone to the detectives and subsequent extraction of the device revealed numerous sexually explicit images of the minor victim, which constitute child pornography. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently arrested Coffelt on August 11, 2022. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeve E. Huggins and Sasha Mascarenhas. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Depew Police Department, under the direction of Chief James McNamara, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Buffalo man going to prison on gun and drug charges

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gilbert Santiago, 39, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. In August 2019, a search warrant was executed at Santiago’s residence in the City of Tonawanda. Investigators recovered a .22 semi-automatic rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition. In December 2013 and July 2014, Santiago was convicted in Erie County Court of felony crimes and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. In addition, in February 2020, Santiago was found in possession of approximately five grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Baker City Man Charged with Investment Fraud for Stealing from Investors for Almost Seventeen Years

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— A Baker City, Oregon, man has been charged with stealing his clients’ shares of stocks, selling them, and transferring the proceeds into his personal bank account for almost seventeen years. Jeffrey Thomas Higgins, 54, has been charged by information with investment fraud. According to court documents, from December 2007 through June 2024, Higgins worked as an investment adviser in Baker City. To entice investors, Higgins lied, falsely claiming he purchased stocks on their behalf at deep discounts when he actually purchased the stocks at market value. Higgins then sold the stocks without the investors’ knowledge and stole the proceeds from the sales – transferring the money to his personal bank account. To keep the scheme going, Higgins created fictitious annual statements that exaggerated profits. Statements reflecting the true costs of stock purchases were mailed directly to a post office box controlled by Higgins. As a result of Higgins’ scheme, victim investors suffered a financial loss totaling more than $1.6 million. Higgins made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was ordered released pending further court proceedings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Chinwuba and Andrew T. Ho are prosecuting the case. An information is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Helena brothers both sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on drug charges

body_text: GREAT FALLS – Two brothers from Helena who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl have been sentenced, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Austin Leon Timothy Hagman, 36, and Michael Wayne Hagman, 40, both pleaded guilty in November 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Austin Hagman was sentenced yesterday to 144 months of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. Michael Hagman was sentenced on March 11, 2026, to 136 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over both hearings. The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement officers were investigating the Hagmans for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl since November 2024. Law enforcement intercepted a package containing two pounds of methamphetamine destined for the Hagmans’ residence and developed information from two sources that allowed them to apply for a search warrant for the residence in Helena. Law enforcement located a large quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl, $39,704 in U.S. Currency, a Zastava Arms Mark X rifle, a Mossberg 464 rifle, an Israel Weapon Industries TAVOR TS12 shotgun, a Stag Arms STAG15 rifle, a Stoeger shotgun, a Winchester 1873 rifle, and miscellaneous ammunition and firearm accessories, including magazines, slings, scopes, and disassembled firearms and cases. Austin Hagman was interviewed after the search. He told law enforcement he sold fentanyl powder for $200 per gram, methamphetamine for $450 per ounce, and M30s for $10 each. Law enforcement also located $5,000 in U.S. Currency on his person. When asked about the $5,000, Hagman said it was all from that day. He estimated he had purchased approximately 20 ounces of fentanyl powder, 4-5 pounds of meth, and two boats (2000 pills) of fentanyl from his source of supply. He also admitted the package intercepted in December was intended for him. Michael Hagman was interviewed on March 20, 2025, and told law enforcement he received methamphetamine and fentanyl from a co-conspirator and distributed it in the Helena area. The co-conspirator would sometimes front Michael Hagman drugs to sell. He said he sold fentanyl powder for the same price he paid for it, but he would get a little from the co-conspirator for selling it. He would buy an ounce of methamphetamine for $300, grams of fentanyl powder for $200, and M30s for $5 each. He admitted he would make money from selling the methamphetamine at a higher price than he bought it from the co-conspirator. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Helena Police Department, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Jimcy McGirt Sentenced To 45 Months In Prison For Sorna Violation And Revocation Of Supervised Release

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimcy McGirt, age 77, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, and 12 consecutive months in prison on the revocation of his supervised release for his May 2024 conviction of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The Court also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release. The charge and revocation arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On June 24, 2025, McGirt pleaded guilty to failing to register and update a registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). According to investigators, on August 31, 2024, McGirt was discovered residing at an apartment located less than 2,000 feet from a playground despite having registered his residence in another county. Investigators also uncovered evidence that McGirt had been active on social media and the internet, a direct violation of the court-ordered terms and conditions of his supervised release imposed after his May 2, 2024, conviction in federal district court for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. McGirt, a registered sex offender, is required to notify local law enforcement of any changes of residence and is prohibited from residing within 2,000 feet of a playground or park. “This sentence sends the clear message that sex-offender registry compliance is not optional and that orders of the Court are to be obeyed,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “These requirements exist to protect our communities, and the United States will aggressively prosecute individuals who violate their SORNA obligations and restrictions.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McGirt will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: St. Croix Man Sentenced to 24 Months In Prison For Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI –U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Jahmar Frederick, 32, of St. Croix, was sentenced yesterday by visiting District Court Judge Timothy Savage to 24 months of imprisonment for being in possession of a firearm as a felon. Frederick was also placed on three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, on May 11, 2024, a Virgin Islands Police Department officer observed a Ford F-150 pickup truck with no license plate in the vicinity of the Frontline Bar and Grill. The F-150 fled from the officer before ultimately losing control and sliding off the roadway. The driver, later identified as Jahmar Frederick, pulled a ski mask over his face then continued to flee on foot, before falling and being apprehended. When apprehended, Frederick had a fanny pack over his chest that contained a black Glock model 22 Gen4 .40 caliber firearm with a 30-round magazine that contained 18 rounds of ammunition with one round chambered. Frederick is a convicted felon with three prior convictions. In 2018, he was convicted of forgery, and for failing to report firearms obtained outside or brought into the Virgin Islands, and in 2023 he was convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.


title: Final Defendant in Homeland Security Task Force Initiative Case Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine Distribution

body_text: Oxford, MS – Christopher Mack, 48, of Sardis, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for distribution of cocaine. His co-defendant, Irish Lee of Como, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to sixty months in a previous court proceeding. According to court documents, Mack pleaded guilty of sale and distribution of cocaine before the Honorable Michael P. Mills, Senior United States District Court Judge. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Scott F. Leary made the announcement. He stated, “This operation and conviction resulted from another FBI sponsored Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. For years our border was open, and drugs poured into our country unencumbered. As a consequence, many of our communities were decimated by drug trafficking and violent crime. HSTF is a response to this reality, establishing a multi-agency partnership dedicated to ending the drug cartel influence in our country. Drug trafficking is not limited to our cities, many smaller communities are also detrimentally affected. Through HSTF initiatives, the FBI directs resources to such damaged communities. Hopefully Sardis, Mississippi, will benefit from the FBI’s hard work.” Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office said, “Poisoning our communities and destroying lives will not be tolerated. Christopher Mack learned the hard way that those who choose to distribute illegal drugs will be held accountable. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue to identify, investigate, and bring to justice anyone who violates federal laws designed to protect our communities." Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad M. Doleac prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced for Attempted Production of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bryon Greco, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 16, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for attempted production of child pornography. United States District Court Judge Susan Bazis sentenced Greco to 420 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Greco’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. In November 2024, an online moderator for a Minecraft server reported a tip to the FBI National Threat Operations Center that Greco was involved in the sexual exploitation of a minor child using Discord. Investigators found that Greco began communicating with a minor child through Discord in 2023. Greco requested and encouraged the victim to take nude photos and videos of herself and send the sexually explicit content to Greco. Greco also sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the minor. Greco is a convicted sex offender out of Gage County, Nebraska. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Century Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Weapons & Explosives

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Joshua Dean Hardy, 27, of Century, Florida, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for two counts of possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon without a serial number and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the outstanding investigative work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, which led to this successful prosecution and federal prison sentence. We will continue to deliver justice under Operation Take Back America to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that we will stop at nothing to secure the safety of our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” Court records reflect that during the early morning hours on July 23, 2025, Hardy shot himself in the leg while patrolling his property in Century, Florida. At the time of the shooting, Hardy was already under investigation for possession of an unregistered silencer located during a November 2023 traffic stop. A search of Hardy’s residence uncovered an additional unregistered silencer, homemade explosives, and a firearm with the serial number removed. The case was investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Monticello Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Keagan Garrett Bohlinger, 26, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on eleven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Bohlinger appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Bohlinger faces a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on each production of child pornography count. Bohlinger also faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of child pornography count. The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Panama City Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Crimes

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Matthew Lee Keith, 41, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to seventeen years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our communities safe requires us to remove serial offenders, like this defendant, from our streets for extended periods of time. My office is up to the task, and this successful prosecution is yet another win under the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative. As President Donald J. Trump has made clear, the American people deserve safe, crime-free streets, and that is exactly what my office and our state and federal law enforcement partners will deliver with more cases like this.” Court documents reflect that in August 2024, as part of an ongoing drug investigation, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by the defendant in Panama City, Florida. During the traffic stop, a trained K-9 unit alerted to the presence of drugs within the vehicle, and a subsequent search yielded fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, alprazolam, a loaded handgun, as well as other items indicative of drug distribution. The defendant is a serial felon with numerous prior felony convictions for crimes including tampering with a witness, carrying a concealed weapon, battery, trafficking methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of heroin, and possession of cocaine. The case involved a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


body_text: Dominican Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Leading Drug Trafficking Organization that Amassed Over $200,000 in Profits CONCORD – Dominican national Raynerson Marcos De La Paz Matos, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty to five years in federal prison and one year of supervised release, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces. De La Paz Matos previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. “This defendant led a drug trafficking organization that distributed significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in Manchester and amassed over $200,000 in cash and jewelry from the criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “Yesterday’s sentence holds him accountable. My office will continue working with law enforcement to protect New Hampshire communities from those who earn money from addiction.” “This case highlights the relentless pursuit of those who profit from poisoning our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “This defendant led a sophisticated drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing dangerous quantities of fentanyl and cocaine—substances that continue to devastate families across our nation. This sentence sends a clear message: those who traffic deadly drugs and exploit others for profit will be brought to justice.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions in 2024, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of various quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine from the defendant and two others working for him as “runners” in Manchester. Following these transactions, on September 11, 2024, law enforcement conducted operations against the defendant and his two residences on Cilley Road and Dubuque Street in Manchester. The search of the Cilley Road residence yielded over 1,600 grams of fentanyl, 480 grams of cocaine, and $4,675 in drug proceeds, and the search of the Dubuque Street residence yielded $54,370 in drug proceeds and assorted jewelry with an estimated value of $161,675. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Harrisburg Drug Dealer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Trafficking Drugs And Possessing Guns

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bernard Johnson, age 48, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 14, 2026, to 15 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the case against Johnson arose from two separate incidents. In the early morning hours of November 23, 2017, police responded to Johnson’s apartment because of reports that burglars were in the apartment. When the police responded to the apartment, they did not find the burglars. Instead, they found cocaine, crack cocaine, and a firearm strewn about the apartment. When Johnson arrived at his apartment, they found more drugs in his car. While released by local authorities pending trial for that offense, local police were called to another incident involving Johnson. On August 17, 2018, police responded to a call that Johnson was at a Susquehanna Township home and was pointing a gun at someone. With police responding to scene, Johnson fled in his truck. A long vehicle chase through the streets of Harrisburg ensued. As law enforcement blocked off a street, Johnson threw out of the window of his vehicle a handgun with a silencer. Police arrested Johnson. They later searched his truck and found more cocaine for trafficking. On July 10, 2025, Johnson pled guilty to five charges: three counts of drug trafficking and two counts of possessing firearms as a felon. When imposing the sentence, Judge Wilson noted his long criminal history. That criminal history included convictions in state and federal court for drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The Judge expressed a significant risk of recidivism and a need to protect the public. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Shore Regional Police Department, the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, and the Susquehanna Township Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Consiglio, Steven Dukes, and Carlo Marchioli prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Lancaster Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Possession

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. - Travis Rashad Laney, 38, of Lancaster, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration identified Laney as an individual involved in trafficking significant quantities of narcotics in the Lancaster area. On three separate occasions between April and May 2024, Laney sold a combined total of more than 700 grams of methamphetamine to law enforcement. On May 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Laney’s residence in Lancaster. During the search, officers recovered approximately 1,000 grams of methamphetamine, 376 grams of cocaine, 560 grams of fentanyl, 282 grams of a fentanyl analogue, 953 grams of marijuana, 946 grams of codeine, and additional quantities of amphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, and alprazolam. Additionally, law enforcement recovered 11 loaded firearms, including one equipped with a Glock switch, along with a large sum of cash and materials used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Laney to 210 months in prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: Belen Man Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Belen man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for submitting 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance applications using stolen identities during the pandemic. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between June 18, 2020, to October 15, 2021, Joseph Anthony Martinez , 44, submitted 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance claim applications through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions using his own name, variations of his name, and the stolen identities of others. In addition to the 21 fraudulent applications, Martinez also modified and pursued a legitimate application that had been filed by another person, without that person’s knowledge. To this end, Martinez provided false employment information and opened bank accounts in other individuals' names without authorization to receive the fraudulent payments. As a result of his fraudulent activities, Martinez received more than $177,000. Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of theft of government property. Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to five years of supervised release.He was also ordered to pay $177,956 in restitution, complete community service, and pay $300 in special penalty assessments. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office. Deputy U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Two Brevard County Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Eric William Garvin (29, Palm Bay) and Anthony Lee Khan (40, Palm Bay) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Garvin was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months, and Khan was sentenced to 14 years and 8 months. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, between August and September 2025, Khan sold an ounce of fentanyl to a confidential source on three occasions. Garvin supplied the fentanyl to Khan for each of these deals. Search warrants were then executed at both of their residences, resulting in the recovery of an additional over 900 grams of cocaine, over 400 grams of methamphetamine, and over 350 grams of fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Palm Bay Police Department, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Española Man Charged with Assault by Strangulation

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Española man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault by strangulation left the victim with serious injuries. According to court documents, on April 3, 2026, Joseph Cata , 22, an enrolled member of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, allegedly assaulted the victim inside a residence in Española, New Mexico. During the assault, Cata allegedly struck the victim multiple times in the face with both open and closed hands and twice placed his hands around their neck, applying pressure so that they could not breathe or scream. The assault ended after a witness intervened. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered visible injuries, including a bruised right eye, scratches, redness, contusions, and swelling to their face, consistent with having been struck repeatedly. Cata is charged with assault by strangulation and suffocation and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Cata faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Clara Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Montpelier Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Child Exploitation Case

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 10, 2026, Jeffery Paul Coolidge, 61, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to a term of 240 months of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Coolidge previously pleaded guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). According to court records, Coolidge befriended a family who had recently immigrated to the United States. The family had two young children, including a 6-year-old boy. Coolidge invited the family to dinner, gave the children gifts, and asked to be able to play with the children. In March of 2023, Coolidge falsely told the children’s father that he had a medical exam to prepare for in order to gain access to the 6-year-old boy. Coolidge instead sexually abused the boy. In August of 2023, Coolidge again sexually abused the boy while babysitting him and took photographs of the abuse. Coolidge then distributed those photographs to a dark-web site he frequented. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Montpelier Police Department, the Australian Federal Police, and the Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne Smith and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Van de Graaf. Coolidge was represented by William Vasiliou, Esq. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Aiken Felon Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Gun Following Five Points Traffic Stop

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Devron Jakell Duncan, 33, of Aiken, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to statements made in court, on Feb. 15, 2023, an officer with the University of South Carolina Police Department was patrolling the Five Points area of Columbia. Around 2 a.m., the officer stopped a vehicle driven by Duncan. Duncan refused commands to stay in the vehicle, pushed the officer, and ran. After apprehending Duncan, USCPD officers searched the area and found a loaded 9 mm pistol that Duncan had tossed. Further investigation revealed that Duncan’s girlfriend was the purchaser of the gun and had previously told law enforcement that Duncan stole the gun from her residence. Duncan has prior convictions for domestic violence, illegally possessing a firearm, and kidnapping, among other offenses. These offenses prohibit Duncan from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Duncan faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Duncan is currently detained pending trial. 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. PSN is a violent crime reduction strategy based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University of South Carolina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Timmons is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###