title: Mexican National Facing Drug and Immigration Charges

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A Mexican national, in the United States illegally, appeared in court today after he was charged with drug and immigration crimes. Juan Alexis Castanon-Chavez, 27, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was initially charged by complaint on March 3, 2025. A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment March 12, 2025. According to court documents, agents with the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force began an investigation into Castanon-Chavez and other co-conspirators of a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing large quantities of narcotics into the United States. On March 2, 2025, agents arranged a controlled delivery of narcotics from Castanon-Chavez to an informant. Agents observed Castanon-Chavez drive to and away from the location of the controlled delivery in a Volkswagen Golf. Law enforcement conducted a stop of the vehicle for a traffic violation and a K9 officer alerted positive for narcotics. Castanon-Chavez was taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, agents seized approximately 7,930 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine. Castanon-Chavez is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and illegal re-entry of a previously removed alien. His initial appearance on the indictment was March 13, 2025 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. A two-day jury trial is scheduled for May 16, 2025. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF), consisting of the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotic Strike Force (DMNSF). Assistant United States Attorney Vernon G. Stejskal of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Three Men Indicted, Nearly 1,400 Pounds of Methamphetamine Seized, and Two Methamphetamine Labs Dismantled

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 3-count superseding indictment today against three defendants, charging them with a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Alfredo Alvarez Sanchez, 37, and Raul Munoz Navarro, 54, both of Mexico, were arrested on December 11, 2024, during a coordinated law enforcement operation. Inosencio Cruz, 35, of Visalia, was arrested on March 11, 2025. According to court documents, coordinated searches conducted on May 17, 2023, led to the seizure of nearly 1,000 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 14 firearms. The operation involved the search of five properties in Tulare, Earlimart, and Corcoran. During the searches, law enforcement discovered and dismantled two active methamphetamine conversion laboratories. These labs contained numerous 55-gallon drums filled with liquid methamphetamine in various stages of conversion to crystal methamphetamine. In addition to the seizures described above, law enforcement conducted a series of enforcement actions resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of methamphetamine, firearms, and other contraband destined for distribution in California’s Central Valley and beyond, including: Nov. 30, 2023 : 150 pounds of methamphetamine seized. Feb. 24, 2024 : 200 pounds of methamphetamine confiscated. March 20, 2024 : 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of marijuana seized. Additionally, law enforcement recovered 11 firearms from an individual who attempted to conceal them following the seizure of methamphetamine on March 20, 2024. Nov. 30, 2023 seizure of 150 pounds of methamphetamine. Feb. 24, 2024 seizure of 200 pounds of methamphetamine. March 20, 2024, seizure of 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of marijuana. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Area Intelligence/Narcotics Task Force (SAINT), Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET), Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Major Crimes Task Force, Fresno Police Department, Clovis Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Tulare County Tactical-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (TNT-HIDTA), U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Oakland Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Yasmin Charisse Millett, 22, pleaded guilty today to one count of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, from June 2023 through September 2024, Millett and coconspirators committed at least 10 bank note robberies across a string of California cities, including Sacramento, Vallejo, Suisun City, Benicia, Concord, and Antioch. As part of the conspiracy, Millett would recruit and instruct others to enter banks or credit unions with sunglasses, a purse, and a threatening demand note. Generally, the demand notes would instruct the bank employees to provide money or “I will kill everyone in here.” On July 17, 2023, Millett and two coconspirators used a stolen white Audi A7 with dark tinted windows to commit a bank robbery at a credit union located in Suisun City. Millett provided one of the coconspirators with instructions on how to commit the robbery. Millett waited in the vehicle while the coconspirator entered the bank and handed the threatening demand note to the credit union employee. The note demanded money and threatened to shoot the employee if the employee did not comply with the demand. After reading the note, the credit union employee gave the coconspirator money. After the coconspirator received money from the credit union employee, she returned to the waiting getaway vehicle. Millett and the coconspirators each took a portion of the stolen money. The next day, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the stolen white Audi A7. Millett was the driver of the stolen car. During the traffic stop, law enforcement found bait money on Millett from the bank robbery that occurred the day prior in Suisun City, California. Law enforcement also found a crumpled post-it demand note on the driver’s seat that stated, “Don’t Make eye contact Don’t look suspicious Don’t Push emergency Button Put smile on your face or I will shoot.” Charges remain pending against codefendants Dontae Jones Jr., 20, residing in Northern California with no fixed address, and JoMya Mauriyne Futch, 21, of Richmond. Those charges are only allegations, and Jones and Futch are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the product of an investigation by FBI field offices in San Francisco and Sacramento, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department, Vacaville Police Department, Suisun City Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Antioch Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Benicia Police Department, Concord Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Hayward Police Department, and Fremont Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case. Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley is scheduled to sentence Millett on June 26, 2025. Millett faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Three Men Indicted for Conspiring to Distribute 150,000 Fentanyl Pills in Madera County

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jesus Valdez Castaneda, 28, of San Bernardino; Carlos German Fierro, 29, of Caruthers; and Alejandro Soto Mares, 43, of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, the defendants conspired with other individuals to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. The men arranged to sell 150,000 fentanyl pills in a strip mall parking lot in Madera on Feb. 21, 2025. Castaneda and Soto Mares arrived first and met with a co-conspirator who had agreed to buy the pills. After agreeing on price, Fierro and two other co-conspirators arrived with the pills in a second car. Before completing the deal, the men went into a nearby Panda Express restaurant to order food. Nearby officers then converged on the men and arrested them. Officers seized 150,000 pills and two firearms. Fentanyl pills and firearms seized on Feb. 21, 2025 in Madera This case is the product of an investigation by the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Arin C. Heinz and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case. All defendants were detained and are in custody awaiting trial. If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug charge. Fierro faces an additional minimum statutory penalty of five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Muldrow Resident Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Dean Bledsoe, age 32, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country. The Indictment alleged that between January 1, 2024, and September 24, 2024, Bledsoe willfully and maliciously harmed, failed to protect, and tortured three children in his care by restraining them, covering their mouths, and punishing them with cold water and by withholding food. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muldrow Police Department. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Bledsoe will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: Guatemalan Fugitive Living In The United States Illegally Under Fake Identity Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Gun Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Ricardo Fermin Sune-Giron (34) to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic in firearms, gun trafficking, dealing in firearms without a license, and possessing firearms as an illegal alien. The court also ordered Sune-Giron to forfeit all the firearms and ammunition seized from his residence. Sune-Giron pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024. According to the plea agreement, between 2023 and April 2024, Sune-Giron was a member of a large-scale firearms trafficking operation. He recruited individuals, known as “straw purchasers,” to illegally buy firearms—including Glocks, rifles and AK-47s—from licensed federal firearms dealers across Florida. After obtaining the firearms, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators smuggled them overseas, shipping them to countries including the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Between 2023 and 2024, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators trafficked more than 1,000 firearms. Several of these firearms were later recovered at crime scenes. On April 18, 2024, ATF and HSI agents in Tampa and Orlando executed three coordinated search warrants at three residences in the Orlando area, including Sune-Giron’s residence. Agents recovered approximately 57 firearms, 30 empty gun boxes, approximately $16,000 in cash, ammunition, and money counters. At the time of the search, Sune-Giron was living in the United States illegally under an assumed name. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes and Noah P. Dorman. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty To Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donovan Tyler Ray, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender. The Indictment alleged that Ray received a felony conviction of Rape—Second Degree from the State of Oklahoma in 2020 and was required to register as a sex offender. From November 21, 2024, until January 3, 2025, Ray failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ray will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry After Six Prior Removals, a Federal Firearms Conviction, and Three Illegal Reentry Felony Convictions

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU, Hawaii – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Navor Salas Cruz, 52, of Mexico, charging him with being an illegal alien present in the United States after having been previously convicted of a felony and removed from the United States. According to a previously filed criminal complaint, Salas Cruz has been removed to Mexico at least six times and has three felony convictions for illegally reentering the United States. In 2018, he was convicted in the District of Hawaii for illegal reentry and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. After serving his sentence, he was removed to Mexico in March 2020. He later reentered the United States illegally and was arrested on Kauai in February 2025. If convicted of the charged offense, Salas Cruz would face up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching.


title: Mexican National with Multiple Drug Felonies Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Illegal Reentry After Being Deported Four Times

body_text: HONOLULU, Hawaii – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Enrique Gonzalez Jacobo, 59, of Mexico, charging him with attempting to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being an illegal alien present in the United States after having been previously convicted of a felony and removed from the United States. According to information presented in court, Gonzalez Jacobo has been removed to Mexico at least four times and has three prior felony convictions related to drug trafficking. In July 2024, Gonzalez Jacobo was located in Hilo, Hawaii, after having been removed from the United States, and was arrested while attempting to take possession of a package containing over five pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a stuffed animal. If convicted of the charged offenses, Gonzalez Jacobo faces up to life in prison, a mandatory minimum term of ten years, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Nakamura.


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Failure To Register As A Sex Offender

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Thomas Edwards, age 44, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender. The Indictment alleged that Edwards received felony convictions from the State of Oklahoma for Lewd Molestation on September 20, 2011, for Indecent Exhibition of Child Pornography on November 15, 2001, and for Lewd Molestation on January 28, 2015, and was required to register as a sex offender. From June 4, 2024, until September 21, 2024, Edwards failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Muskogee Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Edwards will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Foreign National Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing A Firearm

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salvador Diaz-Hermosillo, age 38, entered a guilty plea to one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment charged Diaz-Hermosillo, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, and who knew of his status, with knowingly possessing a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. According to investigators, Diaz-Hermosillo was found in possession of the firearm during the course of being investigated and arrested by the Sallisaw Police Department for Driving Under the Influence. Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5). The charge arose from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Sallisaw Police Department. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Diaz-Hermosillo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sterling Ross IV, age 31, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. The Indictment charged Ross with knowingly possessing 12 rounds of 9mm Lugar ammunition on April 29, 2024, after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ross will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dacario Larome Stancle, age 26, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Indictment alleged that on October 26, 2024, Stancle knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Muskogee Police Department. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Stancle will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Tulsa Resident Pleads Guilty To Robbery

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilmer Medardo Guerrero, age 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Robbery in Indian Country. The Indictment alleged that on December 18, 2020, Guerrero took and attempted to take items of value from the person and presence of another by force, violence, and intimidation. The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ada Police Department, and the District 22 Task Force. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Guerrero will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm And Child Sex Abuse Materials Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chayse Anthony Beard, age 24, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The Information alleged that on July 17, 2024, Beard knowingly possessed one Remington, model SPR100, 20ga, with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length, and one Aero Precision, model X15, 300 Blackout caliber, with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length and an overall length less than 26 inches, which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Additionally, the Information alleged that on July 17, 2024, Beard knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view, visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Durant Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Beard was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: According to court documents, Kenny Fernando Castillo, 29, was arrested by Foley Police Department on December 14, 2024, for drunken driving. Foley Police suspected that Castillo was not a United States citizen, so they contacted law enforcement personnel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE was able to determine that Castillo had previously been removed from the United States in 2018. Castillo had also previously been convicted of DUI in 2017. At sentencing, Judge Moorer imposed the 12-month sentence of incarceration and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Castillo is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Castillo was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and Foley Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 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: Norfolk payroll manager pleads guilty for embezzling over $400,000 from her employer

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A former payroll manager pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud for embezzling $419,210 from her employer. According to court documents, from 2022 until 2023, Courtney Johnson-Gregory, 47, was employed by a security services company in Norfolk. Her position gave her access to the company’s bank accounts and permitted her to alter the payment information for employees in the company’s systems. In February 2023, a review of the payroll system revealed multiple gaps in the sequence of company checks. Through a review of banking records, the company discovered hundreds of additional checks that had not been recorded in the payroll system and that had been paid to inactive former employees of the company. Further review of the system logs associated with the company’s payroll system reflected that the routing number and account numbers where funds were sent via direct deposit had also been changed for various former employees. Those logs showed that, using the login information assigned to her, Johnson-Gregory had accessed the system, reactivated employee profiles, and, after payments were made to those former employees, deleted the records of the payments. From February 2022 through February 2023, Johnson-Gregory made over one hundred transfers from the company’s accounts to her own personal bank account, as well as hundreds of other unauthorized automated clearing house (AHC) transfers. In total, $136,145.68 was taken from the company using physical checks and another $283,064.62 was taken from the company’s accounts using unauthorized electronic transfers. Johnson-Gregory is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5, 2025. She faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-14.


title: Virginia Beach man sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempting to coerce children to send child sexual abuse material

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted production of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and distribution of CSAM. According to court documents, on March 10, 2024, Andrew Joseph Fernandez, 33, a married Machinist’s Mate in the U.S. Navy, contacted a victim, identified as Minor Victim 1 (MV1), by private message on TikTok and later continued to engage with her by text messages. The victim told Fernandez that she was 10 years old and Fernandez told her that he was under 13 years old, that his name was Levi, and that he previously attended her school before he moved to another state. Fernandez’s text messages quickly turned sexual, sending a sexually graphic message within one minute of his first text and a video exposing himself two minutes later. Fernandez continued to engage the child in sexual conversations and sending graphic images, even after the victim declined his offers to send more. He also made the victim promise to keep their conversations a secret. On March 14, 2024, a school bus driver overheard MV1 describing sexually explicit subjects and alerted the school principal, who contacted MV1’s parent. Law enforcement began an investigation and learned that MV1 was actually nine years old. An FBI agent assumed the victim’s identity and continued to engage with Fernandez, who continued to send sexually explicit images, which he directed the victim to delete. Fernandez attempted to persuade MV1 to produce CSAM depicting herself by telling her that the images would lead to a lucrative modeling audition. On Oct. 3, 2023, Fernandez engaged Minor Victim 2 (MV2), a 14-year-old girl, in text and WhatsApp messages, introducing himself as 13-year-old “Levi.” Less than four minutes after his first text message to MV2, Fernandez sent her a video of himself engaged in a sexual act. MV2 reacted negatively, and no messages were exchanged for about two months. When their messages resumed, Fernandez offered to send more sexual images of himself, which the victim declined. On Dec. 3, 2023, Fernandez asked MV2 to produce CSAM, and she declined. When MV2 expressed concern after Fernandez threatened to end their relationship, Fernandez took the opportunity to again send sexually graphic images of himself and pressured her to provide CSAM. On July 13, 2023, Fernandez began engaging in text messages with Minor Victim 3 (MV3), a friend of MV1 who was eight years old, but told Fernandez that she was 10. Fernandez told MV3 that his name was Levi and that he attended her school. Less than one minute after his first message, Fernandez asked MV3 whether she was dating anyone and if she wanted “to go out.” Then, after asking MV3 if she could keep a secret, Fernandez began sending sexually graphic messages. On Aug. 19, 2023, after asking her age again, Fernandez sent to MV3 a video depicting himself in a sexual act, then became angry that she did not want to see images of that type of content. He nonetheless sent similar images and videos and requested that MV3 send him CSAM. Messages found on Fernandez cellphone show that he engaged in similar conduct with several other victims, including sending sexually explicit images of himself, sending CSAM, and requesting CSAM from the victims, some of whom acquiesced to his requests. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. The FBI New York Field Office and Dutchess County (New York) Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Dutchess Child Advocacy Center provided valuable assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony C. Marek prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-55.


title: State Prisoner Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Kill Federal Judge

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Marcus Pratt (39, Crestview) has pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications and one count of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official. Pratt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Pratt was in Live Oak serving a state sentence when he placed a threatening handwritten letter through the U.S. Mail. The letter was addressed to a judge and the federal courthouse in Miami threatening that his associates would kill a certain U.S. District Judge and place bombs outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Pratt sent another hand-written letter on September 27, 2023, addressed to the same federal judge that threatened that Pratt’s associates were going to kill the judge and whoever was at his house when they got there. Finally, Pratt sent a handwritten letter dated October 10, 2023, to the same federal judge telling the judge that the Pratt’s associates would kill him very soon, and that he was planning an attack on the U.S. Courthouse and U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami. All letters were signed by Pratt and threatened to kill the judge due to the performance of his official duties and with the intent to retaliate against the judge on the performance of his official duties. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Kirwinn Mike.


title: Tarpon Springs Felon Previously Convicted For Attempted Murder Of A Police Officer Sentenced To Over Twelve Years In Prison For Possessing Ammunition Loaded Into Ar-15 Ghost Gun

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle has sentenced James Patrick Sychowski (48, Tarpon Springs) to 12 years and 6 months in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. A federal jury found Sychowski guilty on December 6, 2024. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 7, 2023, at his mother’s residence in Tarpon Springs, Sychowski armed himself with a loaded AR-15 “ghost gun” that he had built himself over the course of several months. Sychowski threatened to kill his mother and her husband and threatened to shoot at any police officers responding to the scene. When officers from the Tarpon Springs Police Department arrived, Sychowski fled and was later arrested in Clearwater. Officers discovered the AR-15 ghost gun on Sychowski’s bed in his room along with the construction materials and accessories Sychowski used to build the AR-15. Further investigation revealed that Sychowski had purchased the AR-15 components online and shipped them to the Tarpon Springs residence. Bank statements, financial documents, and electronic evidence presented at trial corroborated Sychowski’s purchase of the ghost gun components and his purchase of PMC 5.56mm ammunition and a magazine from a local firearms store. Below is a photograph of the AR-15 ghost gun recovered from Sychowski’s phone. Over the last 20 years, Sychowski was convicted in Florida of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, carjacking, various sex crimes involving children, and bank robbery. Sychowski had been released from the Florida Department of Corrections for fewer than 5 months when he began planning to assemble his “ghost gun” and load it with ammunition. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and David J. Pardo. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Birmingham Woman Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Arson

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham woman has been sentenced for placing an incendiary device outside of an apartment, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Nashville Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz. U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Kimberly Lanetta Blackmon, 39, to 135 months in prison. In July 2024, Blackmon pleaded guilty to arson. According to the plea agreement, in the early morning of October 18, 2022, Blackmon forced her way into the lobby of an apartment complex in the Lakeview District of Birmingham. Blackmon then took the elevator to an apartment on the fourth floor that she believed belonged to an individual that was romantically linked to her ex-boyfriend. When she arrived at the apartment, Blackmon leaned an improvised incendiary device against the apartment door and fled down a nearby stairwell. Moments later, the device exploded—creating a fireball that caused moderate damage to the door and the interior threshold of the apartment. Although the interior sprinkler system extinguished the fire before it could spread or cause injury, the device set by Blackmon caused nearly $470,000 in property damage. ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer prosecuted the case.


title: Florida Businessman Patrick Walsh and Affiliated Companies Agree to $20M Consent Judgment to Settle False Claims Act Liability Relating to Fraudulent Pandemic Relief Loans

component: Civil Division

body_text: Patrick Walsh and 10 companies he owned or operated have agreed to enter into a consent judgment totaling $20,074,458.70 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications. The 10 companies for which Walsh obtained fraudulent loans include American Blimp Company LLC; Walsh Family Land Corp.; Airsign Inc.; Airsign Airship Group LLC; Airsign Group LLC; Airsign Airships Latin America LLC; Airsign Airships Asia Pacific LLC; Airsign Airships Repair Station LLC; Aero Capital LLC; and Eagle Ridge Management Group LLC doing business as Shiloh Oil Company. Congress created the PPP loan program and expanded access to the EIDL program in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was designed to provide low-interest, forgivable loans to applicants to help fund certain permissible expenses for qualifying businesses amidst the COVID‑19 pandemic, which included payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The EIDL program, also administered by the SBA, provides low-interest loans to small businesses in regions affected by declared disasters. PPP loans were guaranteed by the SBA, and EIDL loans were direct loans made by the SBA. To qualify under either program, a corporate representative submitted a loan application that, among other things, stated the number of the entity’s employees and certified that the borrower was an operating business that would use loan proceeds for eligible business expenses. In this case, Walsh entered into a civil settlement in which he admitted to submitting PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of the companies listed above that provided false information about the companies’ employee rosters and payrolls. Some of the entities for which Walsh submitted loan applications were dormant or inactive. Walsh submitted additional EIDL applications in his wife’s name on behalf of certain corporations. In total, Walsh received approximately $7.8 million in fraudulent loans on behalf of various corporate entities. Walsh used those loan proceeds for impermissible personal purposes, including the purchase of a private island, investment in Texas oil interests, and paying off personal debts. When Walsh defaulted on the PPP loans, the SBA paid the lenders in full pursuant to its guarantee obligations. The SBA also paid for certain interest and processing fee expenses incurred by the lenders related to the loans. Under the terms of the consent judgment, Walsh and the companies he owned or operated have agreed to the entry of judgments against them totaling $20,074,458.70. In January 2023, Walsh pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with the fraudulent loans and was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison, which he is currently serving. The court also ordered him to pay $7.8 million in restitution and entered a forfeiture order in the same amount. “PPP and EIDL loans were intended to help small businesses during the pandemic,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to holding accountable those who undermined the purpose of these programs by knowingly obtaining and retaining loan proceeds for which they were not eligible.” “Today’s civil resolution and the previously imposed 66-month period of incarceration should serve as a significant deterrent to others like the defendant who would attempt to steal millions of dollars from the American people and exploit Federal relief programs,” said Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven for the Northern District of Florida. “The Northern District of Florida is committed to protecting government programs from fraud, and we will hold those accountable who steal from the American taxpayers.” “This settlement is a victory over bad actors seeking to exploit taxpayer-funded programs,” said Wendell Davis, General Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration. “SBA is committed to vigorously protecting the hard-earned money of the American people and ensuring that those who fraudulently obtain those funds are held accountable.” The civil settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2020 by Andrew Hersh, who performed information technology services for Walsh. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Andrew Hersh v. Patrick Walsh et al. , No. 1:20‑cv‑231 (N.D. Fla.). The amount that Mr. Hersh will receive as a share of the recovery has not yet been determined. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, except for the matters admitted in Walsh’s guilty plea.


title: DIRECTOR AT CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION CHARGED WITH SCHEME TO  FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN DISASTER AID AND LYING TO FEDERAL AGENTS

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging the Director of United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering with engaging in a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and lying to federal agents, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced. Beck was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Daniel Altman, Executive Director of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Serina Baker-Hill, 55, of Detroit, is a career employee of CBP. Following a series of floods in the Detroit area in August of 2023, Michigan’s request for a federal disaster declaration was approved, which allowed residents to apply for FEMA assistance. Baker-Hill applied for FEMA assistance for flood damage and a FEMA inspector determined there was damage to the basement in Baker-Hill’s home. During the inspection, Baker-Hill informed the inspector she was not able to live safely in the home while the repairs were being made. Consequently, FEMA approved benefits for Baker Hill to assist with home repairs and for two months of rental assistance. The approval letter from FEMA indicated that the rental assistance money was to be used solely to help Baker-Hill pay rent and essential utility costs while she was in temporary housing. According to Baker-Hill’s bank records, none of the FEMA money was used for rental, hotel, or utility expenses. Video surveillance at the home showed that Baker-Hill and her husband continued to live in the home after receiving the rental assistance funds from FEMA. Additionally, records for the home do not show a significant drop in utilities consistent with the property being unoccupied during this time. Baker-Hill was later interviewed by FBI and CBP-OPR agents and informed them that she has never committed illegal activity of any kind and had never defrauded the U.S. government. A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment. The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Border Corruption Task Force and CBP-OPR. Investigative assistance was also provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.


title: Seven Detroit Men Charged for Drug Distribution, Illegal Possession of Weapons,  and Money Laundering

body_text: DETROIT – Seven men have been charged in a forty-three-count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, weapons charges, and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced. Beck was joined in the announcement by Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Detroit Field Office, and Charles E. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Detroit Field Office. Tary Holcomb (age 52), Maurice Hill (56), James Thomas (47), Curtis Weathers (52), Jason Ford, Conrad Taylor (48), and Shantonio Brooks (49), all of Detroit, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a myriad of controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each of the men faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years. Holcomb and Thomas each face additional charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, while Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for money laundering activities dating back to January 2023. This case is assigned to Judge Edmunds of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. “This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds. This activity puts far too many at risk, and it will not be tolerated in our district,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said. “The indictment of seven men, accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, illegally possess firearms, and engage in money laundering, was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation. This operation underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of Michigan’s communities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is unwavering in its mission to investigate and hold accountable those who threaten the well-being and security of our residents, ensuring a safer Michigan for all.” “Federal laws that regulate the reporting of financial transactions are in place to detect and stop illegal activities, such as the drug trafficking and money laundering charges levied today,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “CI is committed to enforcing these laws and following the money, wherever it leads.” This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was investigated by agents from FBI’s Detroit Organized Crime Squad and IRS-CI along with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy.


title: THE DETROIT CLUB OWNERS AND OPERATORS SETTLE FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS FOR $357,669

body_text: DETROIT – Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today that the owners and operators of The Detroit Club agreed to pay $357,669 to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act. The settling parties are Detroit Management Corporation, Lynn Kassotis, Citi Investment Group Corporation, and Emre Uralli (collectively, Defendants). Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP was administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), but the loans were issued by private lenders, with the SBA guaranteeing the loans. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans to cover expenses like payroll and lease payments. To obtain a PPP loan, an organization submitted an application, which required the applicant to certify, among other things, that it was eligible for the loan and that it would use the proceeds for eligible purposes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Defendants applied for two PPP loans related to the operation of The Detroit Club – a hotel, social club, and restaurant in Downtown Detroit. Under the program rules, PPP loans were forgivable if the proceeds were spent on eligible expenses during a period of up to 24 weeks after the loan was issued. Here, the first draw loan, which was applied for on April 4, 2020, was for $348,400. The second draw loan, which was applied for on February 16, 2021, was for $410,546. Defendants certified that all their PPP loan proceeds were spent on eligible expenses and, as a result, both loans were fully forgiven. The United States contends that Defendants did not spend all their PPP funds on expenses that were eligible for forgiveness. Specifically, the United States contends that Defendants obtained forgiveness of $167,040 for building lease expenses that were not eligible for forgiveness under the applicable rules. “The False Claims Act is an important tool to deter and hold accountable those who defraud the government,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Entities who took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to commit fraud against the government will be vigorously investigated by our office.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private party may file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblower will receive $71,533.96 from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Decker v. Detroit Club Management Corporation, et al., case no. 23-cv-10209 (E.D. Mich.). The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney John Postulka from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Charge Convicted Felon with Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A convicted felon has been charged with unlawful possession of firearms after law enforcement discovered multiple guns during a search warrant execution at his Albuquerque residence. According to court documents, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Albuquerque as part of an ongoing fraud and identity theft investigation. During the operation, one of the residents, Ryan John Leach , 46, attempted to flee by exiting the rear of the house. When law enforcement prevented him from doing so, Leach returned to the residence and allegedly started a fire in his bedroom to burn evidence of his alleged crimes. After containing the fire, law enforcement discovered suspected methamphetamine, four firearms and ammunition in Leach 's bedroom. Leach , who was previously convicted of trafficking a controlled substance, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Leach will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Leach faces 15 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Glen Henderson, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case. View the Complaint (Leach).pdf 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: Career Criminal Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Liquor Store Armed Robbery

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— George Sisk., 47, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 26, 2020, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responded to the Community Spirits Liquor Store located on MLK Street, after a robbery had been reported. The robber, who was later identified as George Sisk, walked into the store, grabbed alcohol, and attempted to leave without paying. When one of the store employees noticed Sisk was stealing, he locked the store’s doors to prohibit Sisk from exiting. Once Sisk realized that he was locked in the store, he went behind the counter and demanded the employee open the door. He then pulled a gun from his pants and fired one shot, striking the employee in the leg at close range. The employee opened the door and Sisk escaped, taking a bottle of Patron tequila with him. Sisk also fired a second shot before leaving. That evening, Sisk was arrested, and a warrant was obtained to search the home where he lived with his mother. During the search, IMPD officers located a gun under Sisk’s mattress and the clothing that he was wearing during the robbery. Sisk had been previously convicted of multiple felonies including two separate convictions for Dealing in Narcotic Drugs. These felony convictions prohibit him from ever legally possessing a firearm again. “We repeat this notion time after time; everyone deserves to feel safe at their place of work,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Sisk felt it was necessary to shoot an innocent victim standing in the way of just one bottle of alcohol. This kind of reckless behavior with no regard for the safety of human life is a threat to our entire community and deserves the serious federal prison sentence imposed today.” "The defendant’s actions created fear and endangerment in a place where people should feel safe. His actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the law and the community,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring public safety and holding career criminals accountable for their violent actions.” The Federal Bureau of Investigations and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Blackett and Corbin Houston, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: California Man Arrested for Sex Trafficking a Minor

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A California man has been arrested and charged for allegedly sex trafficking a 17-year-old minor victim who had previously been reported missing. Ibrahim Abdul-Alim Bin Hajj Yahya Abdul-Malik, 37, of San Jose, Calif., was charged with sex trafficking a minor. Malik was arrested on March 10, 2025 in California and made his initial appearance in the Northern District of California. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, on Dec. 11, 2024, law enforcement received information that a 17-year-old minor victim was being advertised for commercial sex acts online in the Boston area. The minor victim had previously been reported missing from her home in Ohio in August 2024. Investigators identified advertisements containing photographs of the minor victim and a phone number used to use to arrange commercial sex encounters with the minor victim. Law enforcement responded to the advertisement in an undercover capacity and the responding telephone number arranged for a commercial sex date at a hotel in Cambridge. There, law enforcement recovered the minor victim and seized her iPhone as evidence. A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that, in or around Nov. 13, 2024, Malik began trafficking the minor victim in other states, posting commercial sex advertisements for the minor victim on various websites. In order to avoid law enforcement detection, it is alleged that Malik raised the minor victim’s listed age on those websites to falsely indicate that she was 20 years old. During a search of the minor victim’s phone, law enforcement allegedly located messages from Malik about the minor victim engaging in commercial sex acts with sex buyers. On multiple occasions, it is alleged that Malik directed the minor victim to have sex buyer payments sent to a Zelle account he controlled. After the sex buyer sent the payment, it is alleged that Malik would confirm receipt of the money and keep all of the profits. It is further alleged that Malik fled the Boston area immediately following the Dec. 11, 2024 undercover operation – purchasing an airline ticket to fly from Boston to San Jose, Calif. on a flight that departed at 6 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2024. The charge of sex trafficking of children carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $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. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in San Jose, Calif. and the Arlington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights 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: David Metcalf Appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – David Metcalf has been appointed and sworn in as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with the White House also announcing yesterday that President Trump has nominated Mr. Metcalf to be the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the term of four years Mr. Metcalf most recently served as Amazon’s corporate counsel for government and regulatory litigation. Mr. Metcalf previously served as a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney for this office and the District of Maryland, where he also served as Deputy Chief of Appeals and won an award for Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime. He also served as a senior DOJ official as Senior Counsel to the United States Deputy Attorney General and Counselor to the United States Attorney General. Before his DOJ career, Mr. Metcalf was an associate at Covington & Burling LLP and clerked for the Honorable Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Metcalf is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Princeton University. “I’m pleased to once again serve the people of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues here to uphold the rule of law and prosecute criminals who threaten our communities.” For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, visit our website and follow us on social media .


title: Memphis Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Possession of a Machine Gun

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Actavious Ellis , 31 , of Memphis, to 87 months in federal prison for possession of a machine gun. Reagan Taylor Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to the information presented in court, on August 17, 2023, detectives with the Memphis Police Department executed search warrants at two locations and discovered that Ellis was in possession of multiple stolen firearms, including a 9mm Glock pistol with a conversion device (“switch”) attached, making the firearm fully automatic. He was also in possession of multiple large-capacity magazines and pill presses used to manufacture pills containing illegal substances. Following Ellis’s arrest, he attempted to bribe a person to commit perjury by claiming ownership of the illegal substances found in the homes. In November 2024, Ellis pled guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun. On March 11, 2025, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Ellis to 87 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by detectives with the Memphis Police Department Drug Response Team and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force. Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Investors in $2 Million Green Energy Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Euclid, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court on March 11, 2025, to 30 months of prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Kevin Carney, 63. According to information presented to the Court, Carney and his co-conspirators, Robert Irey (deceased) and Jonathan Freeze, owned and ran a company called Alternative Energy Holdings, LLC (AEH). The co-conspirators informed victims that AEH was going to build a plant that would convert biodegradable waste into green energy and offered the victims an opportunity to invest in AEH. Specifically, the co-conspirators solicited short-term loans that offered high interest rates and, in some cases, an ownership interest in AEH. Carney and his co-conspirators told victims that their funds would be used for costs associated with building the plant and other business expenses. Instead, the co-conspirators often split the victims’ funds three ways and used it for their personal benefit, including for gambling, high-end clothing, and restaurants. Despite the promise of a short-term repayment, the co-conspirators did not repay the victims. From approximately June 2016 until April 2018, the co-conspirators defrauded over 20 victims out of approximately $2 million. Both Irey and Freeze also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, with Freeze currently scheduled for sentencing in May 2025. Assistant United States Attorneys Lee J. Karl and Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Postal Inspection Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Carney.


title: Oakmont Woman Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Quarter of a Million Dollars from Employer Over Five-Year Period

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Oakmont, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on March 11, 2025, to 34 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on her conviction of bank fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Christy Myers, 64. According to information presented to the Court, Myers, through a variety of methods, embezzled approximately $250,400 from her employer between April 2016 and June 2021. Myers had been previously convicted and sentenced to a term in federal prison in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme in 2007. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Myers.


title: Four Individuals Sanctioned for Forging Bankruptcy Petitions for a Dead Person in Scheme to Obtain Real Property

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained sanctions against four individuals connected to the filing of fraudulent bankruptcy petitions bearing forged signatures of a dead person in a scheme to stall a foreclosure and gain possession of real property. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the U.S. Trustee’s motion for sanctions against Emanuel Clark, Charles Freeman Jr., Patrick Iverson and Jacquelyn Duffy. Based on evidence presented by the U.S. Trustee’s Atlanta office, the court found that the four individuals presented or were responsible for presenting four forged bankruptcy petitions in the name of a person who had died more than a year earlier. Each of the four successive petitions halted a scheduled foreclosure sale on the dead person’s property, which had been fraudulently deeded postmortem to a company controlled by Clark. The court further found that the four individuals knowingly engaged in a fraud on the court and entered an order prohibiting them from presenting further bankruptcy petitions to the court unless they are the named debtor or the named debtor’s attorney. In its order, the bankruptcy court also credited the U.S. Trustee with identifying “a system of fraud and abuse” in the four cases as well as several other petitions presented for filing by Clark, Freeman, Iverson, and Duffy. The four individuals “intentionally engaged in a pattern and practice of filing forged or suspicious property deeds and presenting skeletal pro se petitions to the court for improper purposes, often in the name of deceased persons.” Additionally, the order noted that Clark and Freeman were serial abusive filers of bankruptcy petitions in their own names. “These four swindlers abused the bankruptcy system in an attempt to fraudulently obtain property in the wake of the owner’s death and to obstruct a creditor from exercising its rights,” said Mary Ida Townson, U.S. Trustee for Region 21, which includes the Northern District of Georgia. “We will aggressively pursue bad-faith actors such as these to preserve the system for Americans who legitimately need relief.” The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Colorado Springs Woman Pleads Guilty To Charge Related To Hate Crime Hoax

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Deanna West, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of maliciously conveying false information about a threat by means of fire: a burning cross in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur. According to the plea agreement, West and two other defendants, Derrick Bernard Jr., and Ashley Blackcloud, participated in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about the threat. The 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral run-off election involved Candidate 1, who was Black, and Candidate 2, who was white. After the initial election but before the run-off, one defendant sent a message in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother.” He also sent messages referencing a desire to prevent “the klan” from gaining political control of the city. Bernard then worked with Blackcloud and West to stage, at an intersection in the City of Colorado Springs in the early hours of April 23, 2023, a cross burning in front of a campaign sign for Candidate 1 defaced with a racial slur. The three then allegedly spread false information about the event through an email from an anonymous source to various news and civic organizations. United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the hearing. West will be sentenced on June 13, 2025. The other two defendants are awaiting trial. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Rebecca Weber. Case Number: 1:24-cr-00320-RMR


title: Montgomery County Man Charged With Distribution and Attempted Distribution of Child Pornography

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Douglas Penglase, 37, of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with one count of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography. The defendant was arrested this morning and made his initial appearance before the Honorable Lynne A. Sitarski. As detailed in the criminal complaint, on May 27, 2024, the social media platform Kik reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one of its users was transmitting files depicting child pornography (hereafter referred to as Child Sex Abuse Material or CSAM). NCMEC flagged 50 files as CSAM, specifically, depictions of prepubescent female minor children between the approximate ages of 8-12 years engaged in sexual activities with adults. The contents of the Kik account were obtained by law enforcement via a search warrant, and review of the contents revealed almost 300 files containing CSAM. The search warrant return also included more than 1,100 messages between that target and other Kik users. The criminal complaint alleges that the defendant was one of the other users involved in chatting about, and trading, CSAM, with the original Kik user and the defendant distributing nine CSAM videos each. The complaint further alleges that law enforcement also obtained the contents of the Kik account belonging to the defendant. A review of the account revealed approximately 780 files containing CSAM. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Carissimi. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Shirley Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: BOSTON – A Shirley man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiring to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Noel Haro, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; aiding and abetting. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for June 5, 2025. In April 2023 , Noel Haro was indicted along with his brother Marcos Haro. Noel Haro is a member and influential leader of the “Border Brothers” gang – a large-scale international gang known to be heavily involved in drug, weapon and human trafficking in Southern Arizona with a presence in Nogales, Mexico and the Arizona prison system. Noel Haro is currently serving a life sentence at a Massachusetts Department of Correction facility in connection with convictions in Arizona for drug distribution, conspiracy and money laundering. Noel Haro was previously serving his sentence at a facility in Arizona but was transferred to serve his sentence in Massachusetts upon being deemed a security concern due to his alleged influence over other inmates and repeated introduction of cell phones and narcotics into Arizona facilities. Beginning in or about April 2019, and investigation began into Noel Haro’s attempts to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics to Massachusetts during his inmate phone calls. Specifically, during his inmate calls, Noel Haro attempted to solicit friends and family members to transport narcotics from Arizona to Massachusetts on his behalf. In April 2022, recorded inmate calls indicated that Noel Haro worked with his brother, Marcos Haro, to allegedly arrange drug deals outside of prison. In June 2022, Marcos Haro allegedly agreed to supply an individual with samples of multiple narcotics – including fentanyl and methamphetamine. It is alleged that Marcos Haro later mailed the narcotics to the individual concealed in a purple teddy bear inside a postal package. It is alleged that, on July 13, 2022, the package was retrieved and found to contain fentanyl, five fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and approximately 3 grams of black tar heroin. On July 25, 2022, during a recorded inmate call, Noel Haro and Marcos Haro allegedly discussed selling one pound of methamphetamine to the same individual and agreed on a sale price of $5,000. It is alleged that, on July 27, 2022, a package sent from Marcos Haro was retrieved and found to contain approximately 446.6 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine. During a recorded inmate call on Aug. 10, 2022, Noel Haro allegedly directed Marcos Haro to arrange the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine to the individual. Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, two packages allegedly sent from Marcos Haro were retrieved and each found to contain approximately 892.3 grams of 86% pure methamphetamine and approximately 1,320.2 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine. Marcos Haro is scheduled to plead guilty on March 19, 2025. The charge conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; aiding and abetting provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Shawn Jenkins, Commissioner of the Department of Correction’s made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Clewiston Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Ignacio Carrizalez III (27, Clewiston) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Carrizalez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on April 12, 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at a residence in Clewiston and found Carrizalez in possession of a Canik pistol and assorted ammunition. At the time, Carrizalez had multiple prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey. 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 out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Daytona Beach Man Sentenced To Prison For Theft Of Government Money And Making False Statements To A Federal Agency

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Richard Sauls (64, Daytona Beach) to nine months in federal prison for theft of government property and making false statements to a federal agency. As part of his sentence, Sauls must also pay restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sauls entered a guilty plea on November 21, 2024. According to court documents, Sauls was receiving Social Security benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under his original Social Security number. He then used a second Social Security number that had been issued to him to apply for a second set of Social Security and SNAP benefits, to which he was not entitled. In his applications, Sauls made several false statements about his income and resources, including denying that he was already receiving Social Security and SNAP benefits. As a result of his fraudulent applications, Sauls received a second set of SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled. He did not receive a second set of Social Security benefits because the Social Security Administration discovered the fraud before any payments were issued to him. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.


title: Lakeland Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possessing Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Solomon Smith (22, Lakeland) to 30 months in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Smith entered a guilty plea on November 7, 2024. According to court documents, on July 2, 2024, officers with the Lakeland Police Department were surveilling a residence to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Smith. The officers observed Smith with a handgun, equipped with an extended magazine, tucked in his waistband. After Smith was arrested on the warrant, officers obtained a warrant and searched the residence. Officers located the handgun hidden in an air vent. The firearm was not marked with a serial number and was loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. Photographs of Smith in possession of the same handgun were posted on social media. At the time, Smith had been convicted of prior felony offenses, including carrying a concealed firearm and possession of cannabis resin. As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lakeland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Three Defendants Face Federal Charges of Bilking and Attempting to Defraud FEMA with Fraudulent Claims for Wildfire Disaster Benefits

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Three defendants have been charged in recent days with fraudulently seeking federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires when in fact they did not have an interest in the affected property or the property was not affected by either fire, the Justice Department announced today. Three defendants – two in Southern California and one in Texas – were arrested this week after being charged with defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “These defendants allegedly made false and fraudulent claims to FEMA for emergency benefits related to wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County two months ago,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “These false claims resulted in badly needed disaster-relief money being denied to actual wildfire victims while these defendants allegedly used property information to illegally line their own pockets.” “The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, along with our law enforcement partners, including HSI, SBA OIG, FEMA fraud investigations and Inspections Division, IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to investigate anyone who attempts to defraud FEMA in order to protect the integrity of government assistance programs, and to ensure FEMA funds are accessible to those who truly need them,” said Matthew Brackett, Special Agent in Charge of DHS OIG, Los Angeles Field Office. “Criminals will seize every opportunity to defraud the government, even at the expense of those who have lost everything,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “We strongly urge the public to report any suspicious activity related to disaster relief claims to the HSI Los Angeles’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force and our law enforcement partners.” “These suspects are accused of attempting to defraud the U.S. Government out of disaster relief funds carved out to help those who lost loved ones, pets, and homes…as well as those whose properties were damaged instead of destroyed,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation stands proudly with our law enforcement partners to prevent and deter this sort of fraud to ensure relief funds exist for those in need as Los Angeles rebuilds our communities.” The allegedly false claims were made in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires that started on January 7. Together, the wildfires burned nearly 60,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and resulted in the deaths of 29 people. As a result, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted FEMA to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims. FEMA offered various forms of relief, a one-time payment of $750, up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance, and housing assistance for up to 18 months. Homeowners are also potentially eligible for additional relief of up to $43,600 for home repair. The fraud alleged in the three cases include payment of “other needs assistance” based on false claims of damage to personal property, lost vehicles, and medical and relocation expenses. The cases announced today were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and HSI’s El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. United States v. Turner Joyce Turner, 55, of Rosharon, Texas, was arrested Tuesday after being charged Friday in a criminal complaint with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits. Turner allegedly submitted an application claiming her home had been destroyed in the Eaton fire, but she appears never to have lived in California and in fact had no connection to the address she claimed was destroyed in the fire. Instead, she allegedly forged a lease making it look like she lived there, and she received more than $25,000 from FEMA because of the fraudulent submissions. “Turner submitted at least ten other applications to FEMA for disaster relief (so eleven total) related to seven other federally declared disasters, e.g., Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Isaac (2012), Hurricane Harvey (2017), and Hurricane Beryl (2024), and otherwise has a criminal history showing previous arrests and convictions for fraud offenses,” the affidavit states. Turner is scheduled to make her initial appearance today in United States District Court in the Southern District of Texas and is expected to appear in the Central District of California in the coming weeks. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section. United States v. Barnes Tyrone D. Barnes Jr., 38, of Paramount, was arrested Tuesday after being named in an indictment charging him with making false claims that was returned by a federal grand jury on February 21. The indictment alleges that Barnes submitted a disaster relief claim to FEMA for an Altadena property owned by other individuals who did not know Barnes. The true owners of the property contacted FEMA about potential assistance, which is when they learned another person had already submitted an application in relation to their property. Barnes is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section. United States v. Robertson Hedeshia Robertson, 36, of Lakewood, was arrested on Tuesday after being charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday. Robertson allegedly filed a fraudulent application for FEMA benefits on January 28, seeking benefits related to a damaged residence in the Pacific Palisades that she did not own, did not rent, and in which she did not reside or work. As a result of her fraudulent application, Robertson obtained approximately $24,899 in FEMA benefits to which she was not entitled. At the time of her arrest, Robertson also allegedly attempted to obtain additional FEMA benefits for a purported property lease in San Francisco. She is due to make an initial appearance in court this afternoon. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Paetty and Roger Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section. Complaints and indictments contain allegations of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The charge of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The charge of false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the United States carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. To report fraud related to FEMA disaster-relief public assistance, please contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) hotline at (800) 323-8603. Homeland Security's tip line may be contacted at (866) 347-2423.