title: Three Plead Guilty in Kidnapping, Violent Armed Robbery of Two Female Victims Lured for a ‘Babysitting’ Job

body_text: WASHINGTON – Cierra Charity Lee, 20 and Kayvon Edwards, 21, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the Oct. 20, 2025, kidnapping and armed robbery of two female victims in Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Lee and Edwards pleaded guilty to kidnapping and armed robbery before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Co-defendant Robynn Danielle Bynum, 18, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty on Apr. 16, 2026, to the same counts. Judge Cooper scheduled Lee’s sentencing for August 4; Edwards for September 10. A date for Bynum’s sentencing is pending. “They lured these women with the promise of a babysitting job, but instead subjected them to a terrifying kidnapping and armed robbery involving a knife and duct tape,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This was a calculated effort, directed by Edwards from jail, to intimidate and silence a witness connected to a rape case. Such conduct shows a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others. Our office will continue to hold accountable those who resort to violence and coercion to obstruct justice.” According to court documents, a U.S. Park Police officer responded on Oct. 20, 2025, at about 11:45 p.m. for a report of a stabbing in the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue SE. The officer found two victims. One had been stabbed several times in her back. The second had knife wounds on her right wrist. Investigators determined that the victims were attacked earlier that night at a residence near Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road SE. The victims went to the residence for a “babysitting job” when two individuals escorted them into a basement and attacked them. Bynum stabbed Victim 1 multiple times in the back and injured Victim 2 during the assault. Lee and Bynum then forced both victims into a bathroom where they bound them with duct tape. While the victims were restrained, Lee questioned Victim 1 about a rape case pending against Edwards in Prince George's County. Lee and Bynum then searched the victims' pockets and stole their phones and car keys. Lee and Bynum then led the victims to a car and told them they were being driven to Pennsylvania. A flat tire scuttled those plans. The assailants abandoned the car and the victims, who were able to escape and seek help. MPD officers later found the victims' car parked in the 3200 block of M Street SE. Officers noted blood stains and pieces of duct tape on the back seat and observed that the front passenger tire was flat. Investigators determined that Edwards, who was awaiting trial for rape at the time and held in Prince George's County, orchestrated the attack through a series of monitored phone calls. On those calls, Edwards asked Bynum about her driving abilities, warned her about getting caught by the police, and pleaded with Bynum to not let him down. Additionally, Edwards directed Lee to restrain Victim 1, ensure she could not flee, and silence her as a witness. Lee assured Edwards that Victim 1 would drop the charges and not appear in court. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 26cr58


title: Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act Violation in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Puerto Rico Man was charged and pleaded guilty today for violating the Clean Water Act for construction and filling activities on a property in the las Mareas area of Salinas, Puerto Rico. According to court documents, Orlando Rivera-Alejandro placed fill material in Mar Negro, within the waters of the United States, and within the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR). Between January 2020 and March 2022, Rivera-Alejandro built multiple structures on top of the filled area, including a gazebo and a concrete boat ramp. He also constructed a dock and numerous concrete-filled PVC poles within Mar Negro, discharging concrete directly into Mar Negro during the construction. Rivera-Alejandro did not seek or receive approval to fill the area or to engage in construction within Mar Negro. At no point was Rivera-Alejandro permitted to do so. As a part of the plea agreement, Rivera-Alejandro has agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and remove all structures and alterations to the property and to engage in remediation of the environmental harm, damage, and changes that altered the property from its natural state. Rivera-Alejandro is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2026. The photographs below depict the property in May 2019 and in March 2022, demonstrating the illegal construction. The JBNERR was designated as a reserve in 1981 to protect the wetlands and study the biological and societal impacts of estuarine habitat, as well as provide recreation and educational opportunities to local communities. The reserve is home to the endangered brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill turtle and West Indian manatee. Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972 to protect and maintain the integrity of the waters of the United States. It prohibits the discharge of any pollutant and fill material into waters of the United States except when a permit is obtained from the United States. This case is part of an ongoing investigation into the destruction of wetlands in Puerto Rico. Previously convicted individuals include Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Sánchez, sentenced in June 2024; Awildo Jiménez-Mercado, Rafael Carballo-Diaz, and Nathaniel Hernandez-Claudio, sentenced in September 2024; and Pedro Luis Bones-Torres, sentenced in March 2025. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow made the announcement. The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI which participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico. -###-


title: GoodFellas Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Drive-By Shooting

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATLANTA - Tahj Rankine, a member of the GoodFellas criminal street gang, was sentenced to ten years in prison for his participation in a February 2021 drive-by shooting that injured an innocent bystander. “Tahj Rankine drove a vehicle while fellow gang members shot out of it, maiming an innocent bystander,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our Homeland Security Task Force will continue to target gangsters who disregard public safety and drive violence in our community.” “Gang shootings in public places are all too common,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant and his gang terrorized customers at a gas station, unleashing more than 30 rounds, endangering innocent victims and even hitting a car containing children. Violent gang activity that imperils innocent lives has no place in our communities. It must be rooted out entirely.” “Drive-by shootings endanger entire communities, not just intended targets,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Rankine’s actions—driving armed gang members into a public space and enabling gunfire—show a blatant disregard for human life that left an innocent bystander injured. The FBI, alongside our partners on the Homeland Security Task Force, will continue to prioritize dismantling violent gangs like GoodFellas and holding those who fuel this kind of reckless violence accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The GoodFellas is an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods as well as jails and prisons within Georgia. The gang generates money through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang protects its operation, turf, and reputation through violence and threats of violence. On February 2, 2021, Rankine drove himself and other armed GoodFellas gang members to a gas station in southwest Atlanta. A second vehicle filled with armed GoodFellas members accompanied Rankine’s vehicle. After Rankine drove through the gas station parking lot, occupants of the two vehicles discharged dozens of rounds towards the gas station’s storefront in an attempt to target members of another gang. An innocent bystander was hit by gunfire and suffered an injury to his foot. On April 29, 2026, Tahj Rankine, a/k/a Biggz, 27, of Tucker, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Rankine was convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence on January 12, 2026, after he pled guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections; Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; and the Atlanta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud and Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga


title: Federal Law Enforcement To Host Virtual Webinar on How To Keep Kids Safe Online

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is hosting a virtual webinar on May 7, 2026 on how to keep children safe online. Topics will include social media, gaming, sextortion, extremist threats and the rise of generative artificial intelligence. The event will feature presentations from subject matter experts, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations; Homeland Security Investigations; and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There will also be live Q&A with participants and resources for further education. Registration is required for the event please find link below. The webinar will not be recorded: Topic: Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online Date and time: Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 6:30 PM (EST) Registration: https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r3e7ec6dd39529e1d1509dc763f5668f8 Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office in advance at USAMA.Media@usdoj.gov . Media representatives are welcome to observe the event and report on the presentations and resources shared; however, out of respect for participants, media should not identify, approach, or interview attendees or quote questions posed by participants during the event. If you are unable to attend the scheduled webinar but interested in attending other similar presentations in the future, please email USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov to be put on our mailing list. Interested in promoting the event in your community? A media kit and additional resources can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/project-safe-childhood/project-safe-childhood-resources


title: Previously convicted armed robber found guilty again

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Richmond man yesterday on charges of armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 12, 2025, Monte Decarlos Winston, 56, committed an armed robbery of a Valero gas station in Henrico County. On Feb. 18, 2025, Winston committed a second armed robbery at The Beauty Zone, a beauty supply company, in Chesterfield County. In 2003, Winston was convicted of the same crimes, as well as possession of cocaine, and was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison. In 2016 and twice in 2018, Winston was found guilty of violating the terms of his supervised release. Winston faces a mandatory minimum 50 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on July 30. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Henrico Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Miller and Janet Jin Ah Lee are 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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. 3:25-cr-117.


title: Transnational Email Fraud Scheme Nets Prison Terms for Four Defendants

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Four defendants have been sentenced for their roles in a transnational business email compromise (BEC) scheme that stole more than $38 million from victims across the U.S. and abroad. Kelvin Owusu Nkwantabisa, also known as “Kevin Brown” and “KO,” 33, of Georgia, and John Jouissance, 33, of Ohio, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, while Leshea Moore, also known as “Deborah Green,” 29, of Georgia, and Justice Amoh, “Samuel Andrews,” 37, of New York, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court records, beginning at least in August 2022, the defendants were members of a transnational criminal organization (TCO) that carried out a sophisticated BEC fraud targeting individuals and businesses. The group gained unauthorized access to victims’ email accounts, monitored communications involving legitimate financial transactions, and then impersonated trusted business partners to redirect payments to bank accounts controlled by the TCO. The stolen funds were then moved through multiple accounts to conceal their origin and avoid detection. “This was organized international fraud carried out through deception, stolen trust, and financial manipulation,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants infiltrated legitimate business communications, diverted millions of dollars, and laundered the proceeds through shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to conceal their crimes. Business email compromise schemes can devastate companies and individuals in a matter of hours. Today’s sentences send a clear message: if you use our financial system to steal and launder money, we will find you, follow the money, and hold you accountable.” Nkwantabisa led the U.S.-based operation. He coordinated with overseas co-conspirators, directed the creation of bank accounts across multiple states to receive victim funds, tracked incoming payments, and instructed others on how to launder the proceeds. Nkwantabisa was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Moore established shell companies, opened bank accounts using fictitious identities, and conducted financial transactions to launder fraud proceeds. She also managed others involved in creating false identities and communicated with financial institutions about victim payments. Moore was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. Amoh opened bank accounts using fictitious identities to receive victim funds and carried out financial transactions at Nkwantabisa’s direction to launder proceeds. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Jouissance established shell companies, opened bank accounts to receive victim funds, and conducted financial transactions to launder the proceeds. He was sentenced to four years in prison. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Fort Lauderdale investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quin Landon prosecuted the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon handled asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60061. ###


title: Athens Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A sex offender has been sentenced for distributing and possessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Hunter William Bell, also known as “amWoos,” 29, of Athens, Alabama, to 216 months in prison followed by a 20-year term of supervised release. In December 2025, Bell pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography. “This sentence ensures yet another child predator has been removed from our community and can no longer pose a threat to our children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “We are grateful for the dedicated work of our federal and state law enforcement partners in bringing this defendant to justice.” “This sentencing underscores the FBI’s dedication to seeking justice for our children,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Birmingham. “Along with our partners, we have ensured that one less predator is able to victimize the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community. We will continue to devote every available resource to identifying and stopping those who exploit our children.” According to the plea agreement, on August 16, 2024, FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office (FBI OC) executed a federal search warrant at an individual’s residence. During the search, the individual’s electronic devices were seized. A review of the electronic devices revealed child pornography being exchanged via the Kik messenger application between the individual and Bell. In October 2024, the FBI OC sent an investigative lead to the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office. A search warrant was obtained for Bell’s Kik account revealing his account was used to distribute pornography. On January 14, 2025, FBI agents arrested Bell at his home. Agents seized an Apple iPhone containing more than 600 images of child pornography. If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org . The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. 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 and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The FBI along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Sara M. Judah prosecuted the case.


title: Madison County Woman Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Soliciting Bribes

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Madison County woman has been sentenced for bribery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Megan Nicole Tillery, 39, of Meridianville, Alabama, to 28 months in prison. In October 2025, Tillery pleaded guilty to use of interstate commerce facility in aid of racketeering. According to the plea agreement, Tillery was employed with the Community Action Partnership in the second quarter of 2022 as the Community Intake Specialist. Tillery used her position to solicit bribes from individuals in exchange for applying Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to their accounts when they did not qualify for funding under the program. Tillery also solicited money from an individual who was qualified for LIHEAP funds. Tillery told the individual that he needed to pay her to reduce the utility bill. The individual was not required to pay a fee to Tillery or Community Action Partnership to receive funds because he qualified for LIHEAP benefits. Between July 2022 and December 2023, Tillery received more than $15,000 in bribes. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance in the form of a grant to eligible households to reduce their energy costs. Alabama has designated the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) as the entity responsible for receiving these federal funds and administering the LIHEAP program to the state. In Madison and Limestone Counties, ADECA has partnered with Community Action Partnership for that purpose. “This defendant was afforded a position of trust, and she used it to enrich herself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “We will continue to hold people accountable who exploit taxpayer-funded programs intended to benefit struggling Americans for their own personal gain.” “Abusing one’s position for personal gain, especially during a time of crisis, shows a blatant disregard for the oath that every government official takes,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division. “Federal assistance programs are created to support individuals, families, and businesses that have experienced significant loss. FBI Birmingham along with our partners are dedicated to protecting these programs from fraud to ensure that honest citizens can receive the assistance they need most during difficult times. Anyone who commits fraud against the government will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The FBI, Tennessee Valley Authority – Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.


title: Thorsby, Alabama Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones announced the sentencing of a Thorsby, Alabama man for producing child sexual abuse material. On April 30, 2026, a federal judge ordered 36-year-old Matthew Louis Hourany to serve 360 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Hourany remain on supervised release for life following his prison term and to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. “Children deserve to grow up safe from harm and protecting them remains one of law enforcement’s highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s conduct and emphasizes our commitment to stopping predators who target children. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are held fully accountable.” “The FBI remains unwavering in our mission to identify, locate, and apprehend those who exploit our most vulnerable, our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “We will work tirelessly to keep our community’s children safe and to bring justice to these victims.” According to Hourany’s plea agreement and other court records, in September 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the upload of child sexual abuse materials to a cloud storage drive. NCMEC provided the tip to the FBI. Agents reviewed files on the drive and found numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material. The investigation ultimately revealed Hourany as the owner of the account. Agents arrested Hourany on March 23, 2025. Hourany pleaded guilty to production of child pornography on January 8, 2026. During his plea hearing, Hourany specifically admitted to enticing or coercing minors to produce child sexual abuse videos or images on at least six separate occasions with different victims each time. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, John J. Geer III, and Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Career Offender Who Distributed Methamphetamine and Cocaine Sentenced to Over 15 years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who distributed over 50 grams of ice methamphetamine was sentenced April 28, 2026, to more than 15 years in federal prison. Burrell Marquis Jackson, age 35, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 6, 2025, guilty plea to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between July 2024 and August 2024, law enforcement officers conducted multiple controlled buys of methamphetamine and, on one occasion, cocaine from Jackson. On August 20, 2024, officers searched Jackson’s home and located over 45 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and a digital scale. That same day, officers stopped Jackson, searched him, and located over $10,000 in cash. Jackson was considered a career offender because he had least two prior felony convictions that are crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses. Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Jackson was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jackson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Iowa DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-43. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Jury Finds Sioux City Man Guilty to Meth Charges

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury April 29, 2026, after a 2-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Shelton Lapointe, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting another to do so. The verdict was returned following roughly three hours of jury deliberations. Lapointe had been convicted twice previously in Woodbury County Iowa District Court for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, in 2018 and again in 2022. The evidence at trial showed that on July 17, 2024, agents were conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino during which a vehicle was observed traveling away from the casino over the speed limit. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which took off at speeds ranging from 100 to 140 mph, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. During the flight, two packages of methamphetamine were thrown out the passenger window. The methamphetamine thrown from the car, approximately ½ pound, was located and seized by law enforcement. Lapointe, who was driving the vehicle, handed his co-conspirator the methamphetamine and instructed him to throw it out the window in an attempt to avoid apprehension with the methamphetamine in their possession. Five co-conspirators also testified to their involvement with Lapointe in multiple-pound methamphetamine trafficking for several months from about 2022 through July 2024. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lapointe was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Lapointe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde, Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4078. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register

body_text: WASHINGTON – Gary Saleem Price, 46, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to failing to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Judge Dabney L. Friedrich scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2026. According to court documents, in 2017, Price was convicted of first-degree child sexual abuse and required to register as a sex offender. Following his incarceration in that case, Price was required to remain in a transitional living placement in Baltimore, Maryland. In November 2024, Price absconded from that placement. Price ultimately settled in Washington, D.C. In March 2026, law enforcement found Price living at an address in the District. Since absconding from the transitional living placement, Price was not registered as a sex offender in the District of Columbia, even though he was required to do so due to his prior conviction. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 26cr73


title: Leading Dark Web Marketplace Creator and Operator Extradited from Colombia to the United States

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A German national living in Colombia was extradited to the United States on charges that he owned and operated “The Versus Project,” an online dark web marketplace that enabled its over 380,000 registered users to buy and sell illegal goods. The Versus Project, also known as Versus, was a leading dark web marketplace that enabled users to buy and sell illegal goods, including heroin and other illicit drugs, stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit currency, malware, and hacking tools. Versus operated from about November 2019 through about May 2022. During that time, Versus had over 380,000 registered users, offered over 32,000 product listings and facilitated over 300,000 completed orders, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions. According to court documents, Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, was a cofounder of Versus and handled the day-to-day management, such as responding to user tickets for assistance with issues on the platform, reviewing vendor applications, and resolving disputes between vendors and customers. Over time, Schmitz recruited and supervised staff who worked on Versus and reported to him. Schmitz also promoted Versus on the dark web, recruited vendors, and developed strategies to monetize Versus. Schmitz received a portion of the profits generated and his virtual currency wallets transacted in cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars. “This extradition demonstrates the strength of the Justice Department’s international partnerships, and our ability to identify dark web criminals running platforms engaging in such widespread and varied illegal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Versus Project allowed thousands of criminals to endanger the American people with heroin, illegal drugs, and tools for fraud and hacking. Although Versus hid on the dark web, today’s announcement demonstrates that Versus was not beyond the reach of the Justice Department and its international partners. Illegal online criminal marketplaces, no matter where they are located, will be targeted and brought down.” “The indictment makes clear that law enforcement will shine a bright light on criminal conduct on the dark web,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “We will investigate and prosecute those who seek to use the anonymity of the dark web to profit from the sale of illegal goods. No matter how many monikers a user hides behind or where in the world they are, we will use all legal means to find them and bring them to justice.” “HSI Newark’s unwavering efforts led to the identification, arrest, and extradition of a key international cybercriminal, significantly disrupting a major illicit online marketplace,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Field Office. “This action underscores the dedication of HSI and our partners to combating cyber-enabled crime and ensuring individuals who exploit the internet for illegal activities are held accountable.” Versus was modeled after an e-commerce website. Users could choose a username and password to create a free account to access Versus. Users could then search for products by keyword or scroll through listings by category. The categories of products on Versus included “drugs,” “fraud,” “digital items,” “services,” and “software & malware.” Versus required its users to transact in digital currencies, including Bitcoin and Monero, and did not allow for transactions in fiat currencies. Versus and its users were therefore able to bypass traditional financial systems, which collect information about their customers and maintain anti-money laundering and fraud programs. Versus generated revenue through multiple methods, including by keeping a percentage of each completed transaction as a commission and vendors were required to pay penalties if they were found to have violated Versus’ rules. In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance, was arraigned, and was ordered detained pending trial. Schmitz is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of controlled substances by means of the internet, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of use of a communications facility, which carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully transfer an identification document, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The investigation was led by HSI Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. Valuable support was provided by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile, and the IRS- Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan. The Justice Department’s Office of the Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia, and the Policía Nacional de Colombia provided valuable assistance concerning Schmitz’s provisional arrest and extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service also provided valuable assistance in securing Schmitz’s arrest and extradition. Trial Attorneys Jorge Gonzalez and Stefanie Schwartz of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting this case. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This is also the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts (Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement) to address the growing number of illicit vendors operating on the darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Americans Who Attacked Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware Sentenced to Prison

body_text: Two American cybersecurity professionals were sentenced today to four years each in prison for their role in a conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023. Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, and Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, were sentenced. According to court documents, they and another co-conspirator, Angelo Martino, 41, of Florida, successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the United States. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means. According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom. “The court’s sentences today reflect the damage that these defendants inflicted during their cyberattacks on victim companies throughout the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They harmed important firms who were providing medical and engineering services. They played hardball with them, going so far as to cause the leak of patient data from a doctor’s office victim. They also split the ransoms they were paid, and laundered the illicit proceeds. These were supposed to be cybersecurity specialists who did good and helped businesses and people. Instead, they used their high-level cyber skills to feed their greed. Ransomware attackers like this should be punished and removed from society to serve their lawful sentences so they cannot harm others.” “These defendants exploited specialized cybersecurity knowledge not to protect victims, but to extort them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They used ransomware to lock down critical systems, steal sensitive data, and pressure American businesses into paying to regain access to their own information. Today’s sentence of four years reflects not only the scale of this scheme, but the real harm inflicted on businesses, employees, and victims whose private information was weaponized for profit. In this District, cybercriminals will face federal prison and forfeit the proceeds of their crimes.” “Today’s sentencings show that ransomware criminals can operate anywhere, including right here in the United States, and that the FBI is actively working to track them down and dismantle their networks — wherever they exist,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Goldberg and Martin leveraged their technical skills and cyber security knowledge to extort millions from victims across the U.S., but the FBI’s global reach ensured that they ultimately faced justice. When Goldberg sought to flee abroad and escape prosecution, the FBI tracked him through 10 countries, demonstrating the lengths we will go to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect victims. The FBI thanks our DOJ partners for their help securing today’s outcome.” Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat. In December 2025, Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In April 2026, co-conspirator Angelo Martino also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In addition to conspiring with Goldberg and Martin to attack victims with ransomware, Martino also abused his role as a negotiator for victims of ransomware by sharing confidential victim information with threat actors to increase the value of the ransom paid. His sentencing is set for July 9. The FBI Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service. Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México. Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office. If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program . Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required): he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.


title: Guatemalan National Convicted by Jury of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession of Cocaine

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a federal jury in Lincoln, Nebraska, returned a guilty verdict on April 29, 2026, against Jose Garcia Jimenez, 35, of Grand Island, Nebraska. Garcia Jimenez was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine. Garcia Jimenez, a legal permanent resident originally from Guatemala, faces a potential prison term of up to 40 years and a minimum of five years for each count. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis, who presided over the trial, set sentencing for August 6, 2026. The evidence at trial established that between at least June 2024 and November 25, 2024, Garcia Jimenez and another individual were working together to sell cocaine out of their residence in Grand Island. In late November 2024, law enforcement intercepted a package in transit to Garcia Jimenez’s home that contained two kilograms of cocaine. After that seizure, a search warrant was applied for and granted for the residence. During the search of the residence and throughout the course of the investigation, investigators seized multiple cell phones, three firearms, a large amount of ammunition, scales, drug paraphernalia, psilocyn mushrooms, cash, and an additional half kilogram of cocaine. Garcia Jimenez and the other individual’s cell phones were downloaded, and they revealed communication consistent with drug transactions. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol Commercial Interdiction Unit in Omaha Nebraska and the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which are made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brandon Lee Woodrum, 31, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Woodrum admitted to possessing a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm pistol on March 19, 2024, in Charleston. Woodrum further admitted to knowing that the firearm was reported stolen prior to its recovery by law enforcement. Woodrum also admitted to selling the stolen pistol and a second firearm he knew was stolen, a Springfield Armory Saint Victor AR-15 rifle, on October 18, 2024. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Woodrum knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for wanton endangerment with a firearm on March 16, 2015, and January 24, 2019, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court. Woodrum’s criminal history also includes prior convictions for assault and battery. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-171. ###


title: Jury Convicts Kansas City Man for Role in PCP Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in an extensive drug trafficking organization. Russell L. Spencer Jr., 47, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of phencyclidine (PCP). In October of 2021, investigators with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing PCP in the Kansas City area. From May to September 2023, investigators conducted a Title III wiretap on telephones used by members of the drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted phone calls between Spencer and his co-conspirators, arranging for the purchase and sale of PCP. Throughout the conspiracy, Spencer traveled out of state to procure PCP for distribution in Kansas City. Despite owning several of his own vehicles, Spencer spent more than $27,000 dollars on rental vehicles and drove more than 80,000 miles in those rental vehicles over a 19-month period during which he reported zero income to the Internal Revenue Service. Spencer was the final remaining defendant of 16, the other 15 co-defendants previously having pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Under federal statutes, Spencer, Jr. is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole and up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Oct. 1, 2026. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated for an hour and a half before returning a guilty verdict to Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began Monday, April 27. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Gibson and Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. Homeland Security Task Force This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Enouch Jairus Kermue, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2024, Kermue sold approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked outside a Parkersburg business. Kermue is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2026 and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Born in Liberia, Kermue is subject to a pending final removal order and will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative custody upon the conclusion of his criminal case. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus, Ohio, Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-17. ###


title: Former Fairbanks teacher indicted, arrested on child exploitation charges

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A former Fairbanks teacher was arrested yesterday after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with sexually exploiting a child to produce and possess child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). According to court documents, beginning on an unknown date and continuing until Aug. 25, 2023, Skyler Evans, 34, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intention of producing visuals of that conduct. The indictment also alleges that beginning on an unknown date and continuing until March 25, 2025, Evans possessed and attempted to possess CSAM. Evans is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on May 4, 2026, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 15 and 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fairbanks Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. 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 Justice.gov/PSC . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: The Justice Department Files Complaint Challenging New Jersey Laws Providing In-State Tuition and Financial Assistance for Illegal Aliens

component: Civil Division

body_text: Today, the United States announced that it is challenging New Jersey laws providing in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens. These laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. “Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that.” “This is a simple matter of federal law: in New Jersey and nationwide, colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.” The Department of Justice’s complaint is filed in the District of New Jersey, against the State of New Jersey, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the Acting Secretary of Higher Education Margo Chaly, the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund, and the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education seeking to enjoin the State from enforcing the unconstitutional New Jersey laws and bring them into compliance with federal requirements. In the complaint, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of New Jersey laws that requires colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain New Jersey residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Additionally, the complaint seeks to enjoin New Jersey from enforcing state laws which afford financial assistance and scholarships to illegal aliens. This is the 9th lawsuit in a series of actions the department has filed to fulfill President Trump’s commitment to ensure that illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. These efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as three similar lawsuits in Texas , Kentucky , and Oklahoma have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional analogous laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens. Lawsuits against other states that similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the country in Illinois , Minnesota , Virginia , Nebraska , and California .


title: Convicted Felon Charged for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned a superseding indictment charging an alleged child sex offender for receiving sexually explicit images of a child. According to the allegations in court documents, Brennan Christopher Bennett, 41, of Salt Lake City, was initially indicted in November 2025 after agents located and seized multiple firearms and associated ammunition during the execution of a search warrant in October 2025. Bennett, a convicted felon, is restricted from possessing firearms and ammunition. During the investigation, it was further discovered that on a date unknown, continuing through October 28, 2025, Bennett received sexually explicit images of a child. Bennett is charged with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and receipt of child pornography. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 5,2026 at 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. First Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . 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: Cheshire Nurse Who Illegally Distributed Controlled Substances is Sentenced

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELE RENE MUZYKA, 61, of Cheshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for illegally distributing controlled substances. Judge Bolden also ordered Muzyka to pay a $25,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement began investigating Muzyka, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), after pharmacists in New Britain and Middletown made complaints that Muzyka was prescribing high doses of benzodiazepines and amphetamines to clusters of patients who appeared to know each other or were related, and at times were picking up each other’s prescriptions. At least one pharmacist stopped filling prescriptions written by Muzyka because the pharmacist was concerned that the prescriptions were unlawfully written or were fraudulent. An undercover investigation subsequently determined that, between January 2024 and June 2025, Muzyka unlawfully distributed amphetamines, such as Adderall, and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and alprazolam, to individuals who did not have a legitimate medical need. During office visits, Muzyka did not conduct medical examinations of certain patients and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Muzyka charged patients $200 in cash for the office visits in which she prescribed the controlled substances, including to an undercover agent who posed as a Medicaid beneficiary. Although she was enrolled as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, Muzyka declined to accept the undercover agent’s Medicaid plan and instead charged her $200 cash fee. Medicaid paid $287.58 for the unlawful prescriptions written for the undercover agent. The investigation also determined that between February 2020 and June 2023, five individuals to whom Muzyka prescribed amphetamines and benzodiazepines died of overdoses due to the combined effects of fentanyl, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and other drugs. Muzyka was arrested on June 23, 2025. On January 21, 2026, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, distribution of, and dispensing of controlled substances. Muzyka has surrendered her controlled substance licenses and her APRN license. This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Coercing and Enticing a Minor

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joseph Gallina, 34, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to coercing and enticing a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Gallina pleaded guilty before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24, 2026. The charge of coercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. “This case is a stark reminder of the grave harm caused by those who exploit and manipulate minors for their own purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The defendant’s actions were calculated, predatory, and deeply damaging. My office remains committed to holding offenders accountable and to protecting vulnerable children from abuse, coercion, and exploitation in all forms.” According to court documents, in July 2024 Gallina communicated with a minor child using text messages and several different mobile applications. During these conversations, Gallina instructed the minor child to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of herself. The minor child produced those images and sent them to Gallina. Gallina discussed meeting the minor child in person and told her that her family could not know about their relationship. Gallina told the minor child, “[b]eing a minor, I could get into a lot of trouble for doing that. You would have to stop contact with ypur (sic) family.” Gallina then posted a solicitation on a fetish website which included sexually explicit images of the minor child and sought to arrange sexual encounters between the minor child and adult men in the D.C. area. Several men responded to Gallina’s post and one of the men met the minor child in the District of Columbia and had sex with her. Gallina told the minor child that he wanted to see a video of her sexual encounter with the adult man and gave her specific instructions for what he wanted her to say and do during the sexual encounter. When the minor child was not able to record her sexual encounter with the stranger, Gallina told her that he was “disappointed.” Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen Shinskie. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 24cr529 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: The Fraud Division Launches West Coast Strike Force to Target Health Care Fraud Schemes Across Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. “Silicon Valley has become ground zero for technology-driven health care fraud schemes that seek to cheat taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare,” said Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The Health Care Strike Force announced today is a powerful partnership that brings together the resources and expertise needed to detect and dismantle even the most sophisticated fraud schemes.” “Driven by data showing a significant and accelerating increase in health care fraud across all three districts, the Strike Force builds on a foundation of recent landmark prosecutions — including the successful prosecution of digital health technology executives in the Northern District of California and the dismantling of Medicaid, sober home, and wound care fraud schemes in the District of Arizona,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to bringing that same relentless, data-driven prosecutorial force to bear across every corner of this region, making unmistakably clear that no scheme is too sophisticated, no network too large or small, and no fraudster too distant to escape federal accountability.” “Defrauding the government steals from Americans who need help the most. In Arizona alone, federal law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office have disrupted fraud schemes worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money,” said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Our mission as part of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is to ensure Americans who need critical services are not used as pawns to make bad actors rich. Through excellent investigations, trial work, and seizures of ill-gotten gains, the District of Arizona will continue safeguarding those services.” “The dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and professional staff in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with our partners at the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies to unravel fraud schemes and to hold criminals fully accountable,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “With each indictment and conviction, we are achieving justice for victims who were taken advantage of by these fraudsters. We are proud to be part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force and we are committed to bringing our skill and expertise to the Justice Department’s fight against fraud.” This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care technology hubs in the Northern District of California and what data analytics show is the migration of fraud schemes to Arizona and Nevada. Late last year in San Francisco, the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of a digital technology company were convicted for an over $100 million scheme to commit health care fraud and distribute over Adderall over the internet, resulting in addiction and patient harm. These convictions followed other recent high-impact prosecutions that were jointly prosecuted by the Strike Force and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices prosecutors: United States v. Gehrke and King (DAZ) : Two wound graft company owners pled guilty and were sentenced to 15.5 and 14 years in prison for a $1.2 billion wound graft fraud scheme targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The Government seized $126 million in assets, including cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars, related to this case. United States v. Ali (DAZ) : The owner of a Pakistan-based medical billing company was indicted in June 2025 for an alleged scheme involving the exploitation of substance abuse patients at over 41 substance abuse treatment clinics that fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid over $650 million. The defendant is a Pakistani national and fugitive from justice. United States v. Schena (NDCA) : The president of a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company was convicted at trial and sentenced to eight years in prison in the first criminal securities fraud case related to COVID-19 charged by the Justice Department, the first criminal COVID-19 health care fraud case brought to trial, and a significant prosecution delineating the scope of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act. United States v. Schena , No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. 2025). As part of the expansion, Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to establish the Strike Force. The Strike Force will work in partnership with the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement partners, reflecting the Department’s determination that the need for coordinated, aggressive action in this region is urgent and undeniable. Health care fraud in these districts imposes an enormous and growing burden on American taxpayers and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The victims are real: elderly patients denied access to legitimate care, disabled individuals whose benefits are stolen by criminal networks, and low-income families who rely on these programs for basic medical services. The Strike Force’s west coast expansion makes clear that the Fraud Division will use every available legal tool to identify, investigate, and prosecute these offenses. Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing in the health care industry, and the new Department-wide corporate enforcement policy for criminal matters creates incentives for companies to voluntarily disclose when misconduct occurs. “DEA’s involvement in the West Coast Fraud Task Force demonstrates our continued commitment to work across government to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Our message to health care professionals who profit their patients’ pain is clear: if you use your license to harm the public, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, DEA Diversion Control Division. “Whether you are a medical professional who diverts controlled substances, like Adderall or Xanax, or a criminal enterprise that defrauds federal health care programs and private insurers, DEA will continue its pursuit of those who exploit our health care system and poison our communities.” “The FBI is proud of the work we do to combat health care fraud, and we are eager to continue investigating those who illegally abuse our systems,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This Strike Force allows for further joint actions that will prevent more criminals from lining their pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer. We look forward to playing our part in this whole-of-government approach to combating these schemes.” “Strike Force partnerships between HHS-OIG, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, and the DEA are a proven force multiplier that utilizes a coordinated and data-driven approach to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “Recent enforcement actions across Arizona, Nevada, and California have revealed emerging threats targeting billions of taxpayer dollars from federal health care programs. Many of these schemes are driven by sham operations designed to appear legitimate while exploiting patients and inflating claims through increasingly sophisticated methods. The expansion of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force ensures that HHS OIG can apply our investigative tools and coordinated enforcement capabilities to identify these threats earlier and act with strategic precision.” The establishment of the West Coast Strike Force builds on the recent expansion of the Strike Force program to the District of Massachusetts and a record-setting year for health care enforcement in 2025 —leading the largest ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging more than $15 billion in alleged loss, forfeiting and returning to the public fisc more than $560 million, and bringing four corporate matters. A third-party consulting group analyzed return on investment and showed that the average return on investment (FY21-24) from funding the Health Care Fraud Section by year 10 is $106.76 per $1 spent, and over $4.5 billion in projected savings. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Two Men Who Attacked Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware Sentenced to Prison

body_text: MIAMI – Two cybersecurity professionals were sentenced today to four years each in prison for their role in a conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023. Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, and Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, were sentenced. According to court documents, they and another co-conspirator, Angelo Martino, 41, of Land O’Lakes, successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the U.S. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means. According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom. “The court’s sentences today reflect the damage that these defendants inflicted during their cyberattacks on victim companies throughout the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They harmed important firms who were providing medical and engineering services. They played hardball with them, going so far as to cause the leak of patient data from a doctor’s office victim. They also split the ransoms they were paid, and laundered the illicit proceeds. These were supposed to be cybersecurity specialists who did good and helped businesses and people. Instead, they used their high-level cyber skills to feed their greed. Ransomware attackers like this should be punished and removed from society to serve their lawful sentences so they cannot harm others.” “These defendants exploited specialized cybersecurity knowledge not to protect victims, but to extort them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They used ransomware to lock down critical systems, steal sensitive data, and pressure American businesses into paying to regain access to their own information. Today’s sentence of four years reflects not only the scale of this scheme, but the real harm inflicted on businesses, employees, and victims whose private information was weaponized for profit. In this District, cybercriminals will face federal prison and forfeit the proceeds of their crimes.” “Today’s sentencings show that ransomware criminals can operate anywhere, including right here in the United States, and that the FBI is actively working to track them down and dismantle their networks — wherever they exist,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Goldberg and Martin leveraged their technical skills and cyber security knowledge to extort millions from victims across the U.S., but the FBI’s global reach ensured that they ultimately faced justice. When Goldberg sought to flee abroad and escape prosecution, the FBI tracked him through 10 countries, demonstrating the lengths we will go to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect victims. The FBI thanks our DOJ partners for their help securing today’s outcome.” Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat. In December 2025, Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In April 2026, co-conspirator Angelo Martino also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion. In addition to conspiring with Goldberg and Martin to attack victims with ransomware, Martino also abused his role as a negotiator for victims of ransomware by sharing confidential victim information with threat actors to increase the value of the ransom paid. His sentencing is set for July 9. The FBI Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México. Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office. If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program . Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required): he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20443. ###


title: Second Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Selling Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl Resulting in Fatal Overdose

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a person. According to court documents, on September 2, 2023, Izaiah Flood and his co-defendant Davon Johnson sold pills, which they represented as ecstasy, to an individual on the Las Vegas Strip. The victim immediately ingested one pill. Within two hours, the victim lost consciousness; within six hours after the drug sale, the victim suffered cardiac arrest. The victim was later declared brain dead and pronounced deceased. “Fentanyl is a scourge to our communities and in this instance, a person’s life was lost,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The defendant disregarded and endangered the victim by selling counterfeit pills that were made with fentanyl. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to prosecuting drug dealers who are plaguing our communities with dangerous and deadly drugs like fentanyl and ensuring justice is served for the victim and their loved ones.” Flood pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He was sentenced today to 156 months in prison. The government recommended a 188-month term of imprisonment. Co-defendant Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced Monday to 156 months in prison. The government recommended a 210-month term of imprisonment. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenna Bush prosecuted the cases. ###


title: An Aloha Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft and Drug Trafficking

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An Aloha, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today for pointing a laser at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter landing at the Hillsboro, Oregon, airport and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Brian K. Kapileo Nepaial, 38, pleaded guilty to aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on October 3, 2025, a CBP helicopter was struck by a green laser, causing it to abort its planned landing. The flight crew observed an individual walking near a residence and disappearing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the residence and, on October 10, 2025, executed a federal search warrant at the residence. FBI special agents seized a laser from the bedroom of Kapileo Nepaial and found over 100 grams of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking. On December 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Kapileo Nepaial with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kapileo Nepaial faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for Count One. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release for Count Two. Kapileo Nepaial will be sentenced on July 28, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.


title: Eight Charged with Trafficking Narcotics Across the United States from Mexico

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—Eight individuals have been charged for their role in a transnational criminal organization (TCO) transporting narcotics into California from Mexico and distributing it across the United States including Oregon. The following individuals have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl: Tania Argueta, 47, residing in Las Vegas, Nevada; Patsy Escobar, 25, residing in Los Angeles, California; Angel Lopez, 25, residing in Los Angeles; Rene Cazares, 39, residing in Salem, Oregon; Julia Dorfler, 32, residing in Springfield, Oregon; Matthew Medieros, 38, residing in Coos Bay, Oregon; Patrick Newport, 28, residing in Corvallis, Oregon; and Felicia Waite, 40, residing in Eugene, Oregon. According to court documents, the TCO transported drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl into California from Mexico before distributing it across the United States, including Oregon, through shipping carriers, sometimes hidden in children’s toys or cereal boxes, and vehicles. Argueta was a drug and money courier for the TCO traveling all over the United States to pick up drug proceeds. Cazares operated a stash house in Salem receiving large amounts of controlled substances from couriers that he distributed at the direction of a co-conspirator to local Oregon customers. Escobar and Lopez operated a stash house in Corona, California, where they distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl across the United States. Dorfler, Newport, Waite, and Medieros were all local distributors for the TCO. During the course of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 56 pounds of fentanyl, 116 pounds of methamphetamine, more than $300,000, and 20 firearms from members of the TCO. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team, Linn Conty Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Corvallis Police Department, Corona Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case, with assistance from the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.


title: Owners of Local Real Estate Investment Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—The owners of a local real estate investment company were sentenced to federal prison today for their role in a $17 million fraud scheme. Robert D. Christensen, 56, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release and Anthony M. Matic, 56, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents, from January 2019 through June 2023, as part of their scheme, Christensen and Matic told individual investors that they would use their investments to purchase and renovate undervalued residential real estate properties. Christensen and Matic also claimed they would rent the properties to generate income and refinance the properties to extract any increased value from the renovations. The pair further misled investors into believing they would be repaid their full principal investment along with interest as high as 8 to 15 percent and a large lump sum payout, all within periods as short as 30 to 90 days. Christensen and Matic used new investments to repay earlier investors to keep their business afloat. When they were unable to raise enough money from new investors, Christensen and Matic began submitting loan applications with false financial information to different commercial lenders and based on their misrepresentations, received millions of dollars in loans. In total, Christensen and Matic’s two schemes defrauded individual investors out of more than $10 million and commercial lenders out of more than $7 million. This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto.