title: Rhode Island Fire Marshal Arrested for Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The Fire Marshal for the town of Lincoln, R.I., has been arrested and charged for allegedly receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sending or attempting to send obscene material to minors. The defendant also allegedly engaged in sexually explicit chats with purported minors. Jeffrey Almond, 41, of Lincoln, R.I., was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court in Providence this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the indictment, from on or about Feb. 12, 2024, through Nov. 28, 2024, Almond used various online platforms to receive CSAM and to engage in sexually explicit chat communications with undercover law enforcement posing as purported minors. In these communications, it is alleged that Almond discussed the exploitation of children, with the purpose of obtaining CSAM or soliciting a child for sex. It is further alleged that, on two separate occasions, Almond knowingly transferred or attempted to transfer obscene matter to a minor on Aug. 7, 2024, and on Nov. 28, 2024. According to court filings documents, in August 2024, Almond used a social media app to communicate with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl. In the communications, it is alleged that Almond asked the purported 15-year-old minor to produce and share CSAM with him and discussed meeting in person. Almond allegedly stated, “I guess I could do an air bnb to get more privacy,” before sending an explicit image of his genitalia to the purported minor. It is further alleged that, in October and November 2024, Almond used another social media app to communicate with a different undercover law enforcement officer, who was posing as a “bad parent” of a purported 12-year-old minor female in Florida. In the communications, it is alleged that Almond discussed wanting to have sex with the purported minor, often using explicit detail. Almond also allegedly discussed travelling to Florida to sexually exploit the purported minor. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Portsmouth Rhode Island Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Latin Music Conglomerate CEO Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Doing Business with Drug Cartel-Linked Concert Promoter

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The CEO of a Latin music conglomerate was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for conspiring to violate the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by conducting business with a Guadalajara-based concert promoter with ties to Mexican drug cartels. José Ángel Del Villar, 45, of Huntington Beach, the CEO of Del Records and its related talent agency Del Entertainment Inc., was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also fined Del Villar $2 million. Judge Frimpong today also sentenced co-defendant Del Entertainment to three years of probation and fined the company $1.8 million. At the conclusion of a nine-day trial, a federal jury on March 27 found Del Villar and Del Entertainment guilty of one count of conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers in violation of the Kingpin Act and 10 counts of violating the Kingpin Act. In April 2018, the defendants did business with Jesús Pérez Alvear, a.k.a. “Chucho,” of Guadalajara, Mexico, a music promoter who controlled Gallistica Diamante, a.k.a. Ticket Premier. Pérez promoted concerts for Del Entertainment in Mexico until March 2019. The U.S. Treasury Department listed Pérez and his company as “specially designated narcotics traffickers” under the Kingpin Act on April 6, 2018, after concluding he facilitated money laundering for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization. The Kingpin Act prevents people in the United States from conducting business with sanctioned persons and entities. Even though Del Villar and Del Entertainment were aware that it was illegal to engage in transactions or dealings with Pérez, they willfully did business with him by continuing to have a Del Entertainment musical artist perform at concerts in which Pérez and Del Entertainment had a financial interest. For example, on April 19, 2018, FBI agents approached a well-known musician and explicitly told him about Pérez’s designation under the Kingpin Act and how that prohibited him from conducting business with Pérez and performing concerts that Pérez promoted. On April 28, 2018, the musician performed at a concert that Pérez organized. Del Villar’s credit card was used to pay for a private jet that brought the musician from Van Nuys Airport to the performance in Aguascalientes, Mexico. On multiple other occasions in 2018 and 2019, Pérez and Del Villar continued to do business by arranging for the musician to perform at concerts throughout Mexico – including Mexicali and San José Iturbide, Guanajuato. “Far from being an unwitting participant in a ‘gotcha’ crime, [Del Villar] orchestrated a sophisticated criminal scheme sustained over a lengthy period of time and involving myriad unlawful transactions,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. Co-defendant Luca Scalisi, 59, of West Hollywood, pleaded guilty on May 23 to one count of conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers in violation of the Kingpin Act. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 22. Co-defendant Pérez, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers, was murdered in Mexico in December 2024. Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department listed another recording artist affiliated with Del Villar’s music businesses as a “specially designated narcotics trafficker” under the Kingpin Act. “Narco-rapper” Ricardo Hernández Medrano, known by his stage names “El Makabelico” or “Comando Exclusivo,” was added to the sanctions list based on the Treasury Department’s determination that he used concerts and royalties to launder funds for the Cartel del Noreste, formerly known as Los Zetas. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control provided significant assistance in this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Benedetto L. Balding of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, are prosecuting this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case is part of an OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Ohio Man to Spend More than a Decade in Prison for Violent Armed Bank Robbery

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of robbing an ATM by terrorizing a service technician at gunpoint in broad daylight. Joel Alonte Travis, 21, was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after a federal jury found him guilty in April of armed bank robbery and using and carrying a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence. Travis was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $112,440 in restitution. Judge Nugent imposed the sentence Aug. 14. According to court documents, on Oct. 16, 2024, just before noon, a technician was on official duty servicing a freestanding drive-thru ATM at a Chase Bank is South Euclid, Ohio, when two masked men jumped out of a Hyundai Sonata and ambushed him. One of the masked men grabbed the victim and pressed a gun to the back of his head. Under threat of violent force, the robbers then demanded that the tech remove the cassettes which contained cash to refill the ATM. In all, five cassettes with approximately $112,440 worth of cash were stolen by the perpetrators who then quickly fled the scene in the vehicle. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio Officers conducting the investigation learned that Travis was on probation for an unrelated crime and was on electronic monitoring at the time of the offense. They were able link him to the time and place of the bank robbery using location data and other information. During a search warrant execution of the defendant’s apartment, three firearms were recovered, including a pistol that looked similar to the one seen on the bank’s surveillance video. Investigators also found photos of Travis depicting himself holding large sums of fanned out money which he posted on social media. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Heights Police Department, and South Euclid Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle M. Baeppler and Kristen Rolph for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Jury Finds Polacca Woman Guilty of Driving Under the Influence with Her Children, Killing One of Them

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – On August 13, a federal jury found Marian Marsha Josytewa, 40, of Polacca, Arizona, guilty of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Child Abuse, and one count of Driving Under the Influence. The guilty verdict followed a six-day trial before United States District Court Judge Steven P. Logan. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2025. On December 10, 2021, Josytewa consumed several beers before picking up her two children from school in Flagstaff, Arizona. While traveling back to the Hopi Tribe homeland on a highway on the Navajo Nation, Josytewa rolled her car. One of her sons was ejected from the vehicle and died because of the crash. Josytewa’s blood was drawn and tested at a crime lab, which showed a BAC level of .113. A conviction for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. Involuntary Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release. The remaining three convictions include additional penalties that could amount to more than seven years in prison. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and Navajo Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08083-PCT-SPL RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-135_Josytewa # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending August 15, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 32 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 9 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 22 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 46 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for armed robbery, arson, drug trafficking and illegal reentry. The District of New Mexico reported significant enforcement actions this week. An Albuquerque couple was indicted for conspiring to harbor illegal aliens and laundering proceeds from human smuggling through real estate. In Deming, a teenager was charged with firearms and drug trafficking offenses following an undercover purchase that included an ounce of cocaine, a handgun, and a Glock switch conversion device, as well as a high-speed flight from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. Additionally, three criminal complaints were filed against separate defendants for possession with intent to distribute cocaine after seizures at the I-25 Border Patrol checkpoint on August 12 and 13. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Darin D. Smith Appointed to Serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming

component: Office of Public Affairs

body_text: CHEYENNE, WY – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Darin D. Smith has taken the oath of office—administered by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin on Monday—to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Mr. Smith to serve as interim U.S. Attorney. The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make Wyoming communities safer including Project Safe Childhood , Operation Take Back America, and the Victim Witness Program dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. Mr. Smith was elected to represent District 6 in the Wyoming State Senate in November 2024. He has practice law in Wyoming since 2000 and is the founding member of the Smith Group Law Office. Smith has also worked with major non-profit organizations like the Family Research Council during that time. Smith received a B.S. from the University of Wyoming in 1996 and J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2000. He earned Honorable Mention Academic All-American honors while a member of the University of Wyoming wrestling team. “I am honored to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming and thank Attorney General Bondi for placing her trust in me. It is a privilege to lead this great office, and I look forward to working with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public and defend the interests of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Darin D. Smith.


title: Federal Inmate Convicted Of First-Degree Murder

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the conviction of DANIEL V. SMITH of first-degree murder. SMITH was convicted by a jury following a trial before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern and will be sentenced on December 4, 2025. SMITH faces a mandatory life sentence. “Daniel V. Smith murdered a fellow inmate in cold blood at FCI Otisville by brutally beating him in the head with a lock tied to a belt,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Thanks to the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for his heinous crime.” According to the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in court: On October 26, 2021, SMITH was incarcerated at FCI Otisville, where he was serving a sentence related to a prior assault he committed in 2013 while incarcerated. To obtain a transfer to a different housing unit, SMITH, without provocation, brutally attacked another inmate—housed in the cell next to his own—by swinging a lock tied to a belt and striking his victim in the head repeatedly, cracking open the victim’s skull. The inmate suffered traumatic brain injury, fell into a vegetative state, and died from his injuries. * * * SMITH, 65, of Otisville, New York, was convicted of one count of murder in the first degree, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Mr. Clayton thanked the staff of FCI Otisville for their assistance and praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Brooke, Shaun E. Werbelow, Benjamin D. Klein, Jeffrey C. Coffman, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Jackie Fleury, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Man Sentenced to More than Ten Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms

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

body_text: ROCKFORD — A man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford and violating the terms of his court-supervised release. STEVEN BAXTER, 40, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of illegal firearm possession and violating the terms of supervised release. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Baxter to 104 months in federal prison on the firearms charge, and an additional 22 months for violating his supervised release, for a total sentence of 126 months in prison. Baxter admitted in a plea declaration that while visiting Rockford in 2022 he entered a local Wing Stop restaurant while in possession of a handgun. Baxter became agitated about his order and threatened multiple store employees. He displayed the gun and held it at his hip before exiting the restaurant. During a later traffic stop, Baxter admitted to driving a vehicle on Interstate 90 in Kane County, Ill., while in possession of a loaded firearm and an additional pistol. As a previously convicted felon, Baxter was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. At the time of his arrest, Baxter was serving a term of supervised release following his imprisonment for an unrelated federal firearms conviction, the terms of which prohibited him from committing additional federal, state, or local crimes. Baxter’s illegal possession of the firearms violated the terms of the court supervision. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Rockford Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation. “It is highly concerning to the government that defendant has shown a pattern of not only illegal possession of firearms as a felon, but a pattern of brandishing and threatening people with firearms in moments of anger or rage,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora A. Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s history shows a disrespect for the law, for the safety of the community, and a disregard for court orders.”


title: Leader of third cell of Aryan prison gang drug distribution ring sentenced to 14 years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – The leader of a drug distribution cell tied to Aryan prison gangs was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 14 years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Yehoshua Kilp, 39, was indicted in connection with a two-year investigation of drug trafficking organizations connected to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “The amount of controlled substances we are talking about are mind-boggling… There were discussions about particularly potent batches of fentanyl that was possibly leading to overdoses and yet you kept going.” “This defendant has been involved with the criminal justice system since age 14 and has caused significant harm,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The wiretap investigation revealed that even when he was jailed on state charges, he continued to direct drug distribution activities.” According to records filed in the case, Kilp bought and distributed hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, large quantities of heroin, and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills. In August 2022, law enforcement seized more than 44 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 4 kilograms of fentanyl laced pills, cocaine, and heroin from an Airbnb where Kilp had been staying. When Kilp was arrested on state charges he continued to direct the drug activities of co-defendant Sara Thompson. Thompson was sentenced to seven years in prison in January 2025. Thompson served as Kilp’s proxy for major narcotics deals. Kilp was actively distributing fentanyl pills even when he was informed the pills were too strong and were causing overdoses. Instead of stopping distribution of those pills, Kilp and his co-conspirators discussed how to make the fentanyl less pure. They also schemed to wrap the fentanyl in more layers to protect the people they used to smuggle the fentanyl in their bodies. Kilp was also indicted in the District of Arizona for his role in laundering drug money back to a source of his drug supply in Mexico. On March 12, 2025, Kilp pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Today’s sentencing resolves the Arizona and Washington cases. Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms. The top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, was sentenced in July to 17.5 years in prison. Kilp was judged to be just slightly below Bailey in the drug ring, so prosecutors recommended a 15-year sentence, with five years of supervised release to follow. Prosecutors wrote to the court, “Kilp was the leader of a large network of drug redistributors responsible for moving hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills.” Chief Judge Estudillo ordered Kilp to be on five years of supervised release following his prison term. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.


title: Two Pittsburgh Residents Charged with Coercing a Minor to Engage in Sexually Explicit Conduct

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa – Two residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The six-count sealed Indictment was returned last month, and named Karen R. Allen, 37, and James Clark, 38. The Indictment has since been unsealed, and both defendants appeared for arraignment in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Kezia O. L. Taylor. According to the Indictment, on multiple occasions in August of 2024, Allen and Clark coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of this conduct. The law provides for a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Florida Man Convicted for Sex Trafficking and Other Offenses in New York State

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York convicted Joel David Forney, 42, of Kissimmee, Florida, today on two counts of sex trafficking and related charges for his conduct in trafficking two women to work in commercial sex in New York, including at an open-air sex trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn known as the Penn Track, as well as the defendant’s transportation of a woman from New York to multiple other states, including Connecticut and Wisconsin, with the intent that she engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Forney was also found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor for having sexual intercourse with a teenager when he was 31 years old. “The defendant used violence and threats to force victims into commercial sex for his profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such inhumane conduct has no place in a civilized society. The Justice Department is committed to combating human trafficking and securing justice for its victims.” “The jury found that Forney used violence and threats to compel women to engage in commercial sex acts at the Penn Track for his own profit, and enticed a vulnerable minor into having sex with him,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our office will relentlessly pursue those, like the defendant, who engage in sex trafficking, and I commend the survivors of Forney’s depraved conduct who bravely assisted law enforcement in bringing him to justice.” “Joel Forney’s actions inflicted lasting harm on his victims through violence, coercion and manipulation,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting everyone in our communities, and we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to the victims.” Evidence at trial showed that Forney used false promises to lure women into his trafficking network. The defendant then compelled these women to have sex with multiple men per day for money, while keeping the proceeds for himself. If the women refused to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit, the defendant subjected them to physical abuse and threatened to hurt or kill them if they did not comply. The evidence also showed that the defendant lured a third victim to his home by sending her romantic and sexual text messages. Once in his house, the defendant had sex with the victim, even though he was 31 years old at the time and she knew no more than 15. Forney then sent the victim text messages that implied he was recruiting her for commercial sex. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Forney faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the FBI NYPD Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Elbert and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Violent Retail Robbery Spree

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for committing a series of armed robberies that targeted retail stores across the city in 2023. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between July 11 and September 16, 2023, Demetrius Antonnie Bailey , 41, and an accomplice committed a series of armed robberies at Harbor Freight Tools, multiple Metro by T-Mobile locations, a T-Mobile store, a Verizon store, and a JC Penney. During the robberies, they brandished a BB gun, a toy gun, and, in one instance, a real handgun to threaten employees and security while stealing electronics, cell phones, cash, and clothing valued at tens of thousands of dollars. At the time of his arrest on September 28, 2023, Bailey , a repeat violent offender with prior armed robbery convictions, was in possession of a stolen firearm. Bailey pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Upon his release from prison, Bailey will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.


title: Massachusetts Man Arrested After Numerous “Ghost Guns” Discovered

body_text: BOSTON – A Somerville, Mass. man was arrested today and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. During a search of the defendant’s residence today, it is alleged that numerous privately made firearms (PMF’s) otherwise known as, “ghost guns;” firearm suppressors; 3D printers; and ammunition in varying calibers were found. Robert Butland, 38, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Butland appeared in federal court in Boston today for an initial appearance. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 20, 2025. According to the charging documents Butland had been purchasing 3D printers and firearm parts and accessories since 2022. During a search executed at Butland’s residence today, law enforcement forcibly opened a locked closet that allegedly contained suspected PMFs, known as “ghost guns.” In addition, the closet allegedly contained numerous solvent traps that are commonly used as illegal firearm suppressors. It is further alleged that additional suspected “ghost guns” were recovered in nightstands, backpacks and coffee table drawers in Butland’s bedroom. Firearm parts, accessories, 3D printers, a work bench and tools consistent with tools that would be required for the assembly and manufacture of firearms were also discovered. Lastly, it is alleged that ammunition varying in calibers was recovered, including 9mm luger ammunition, Frontier 5.56 Hornady ammunition and 7.62x39mm ammunition. Butland is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior state convictions in Lawrence District Court for assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and wanton destruction of property. According to court document’s Butland also has state convictions for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a Class B controlled substance and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The charge of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerville Police Department; the Boston Police Department; and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell and Former NOPD Officer Jeffrey Vappie Indicted for Fraud and Obstruction of Justice

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that LATOYA CANTRELL (“CANTRELL ”), age 53, and JEFFREY PAUL VAPPIE, II (“VAPPIE”) , age 52, both residents of New Orleans, were charged in a superseding indictment today on federal charges concerning wire fraud and obstruction of justice. CANTRELL and VAPPIE were both charged in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, as well as a conspiracy to obstruct justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(k). VAPPIE is also charged with twelve counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and CANTRELL is charged in six of those wire fraud counts. VAPPIE is charged with making a false statement to the FBI, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001. CANTRELL is charged in one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c)(1), and two counts of making a false declaration before a grand jury, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1623. According to the allegations contained in the superseding indictment, while CANTRELL was Mayor of New Orleans and VAPPIE was a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officer and member of her executive protection team, CANTRELL and VAPPIE developed a personal, intimate relationship as early as October of 2021. From that time until VAPPIE ’s retirement in June 2024, they embarked on a scheme to defraud the City of New Orleans and NOPD by exploiting VAPPIE ’s job and CANTRELL ’s authority as Mayor to have the City and NOPD pay VAPPIE ’s salary and expenses during times VAPPIE claimed to be on duty but when he was actually engaged in personal activities, often with CANTRELL . The allegations contained in the superseding indictment describe the many steps that CANTRELL and VAPPIE took to hide their scheme and perpetuate their continued fraud, including using a secure messaging platform, WhatsApp, to exchange over 15,000 messages, pictures, and audio clips in an eight-month period; intimidating subordinates; harassing a citizen; lying to colleagues and associates; deleting evidence; making false statements to FBI agents; giving the grand jury an affidavit signed under oath and penalty of perjury that contained numerous false statements; and, ultimately, committing perjury before a federal grand jury, all for the purpose of distracting and impeding inquiries and investigations, including a federal grand jury investigation. The superseding indictment alleges that CANTRELL and VAPPIE perpetuated their scheme both in New Orleans and during out-of-state trips. In both instances, VAPPIE ’s activities while claiming to be on duty were conspicuously different than any other member of the Executive Protection Unit. While in New Orleans, they treated a city-owned apartment in the Pontalba as their personal, shared residence and coordinated to spend time together there, engaging in personal activities, while VAPPIE claimed to be on duty for EPU and was paid to be doing his job. CANTRELL occasionally canceled scheduled work events to facilitate personal and intimate interactions with VAPPIE in the Pontalba apartment. The superseding indictment also alleges that CANTRELL and VAPPIE arranged for VAPPIE to accompany CANTRELL on at least 14 domestic and international trips to maximize their time together and engage in personal activities. In their private text messages, CANTRELL characterized trips with VAPPIE as “times when we are truly alone” and what “spoils me the most.” These trips included trips to San Francisco, which VAPPIE and CANTRELL decided to extend an extra day so they could visit a series of Napa Valley wineries. While VAPPIE was wine tasting, on April 9, 2022, he claimed to work, and was paid for working, a 15-hour day. In August 2022, CANTRELL said she would “make it happen” to have VAPPIE accompany her on a 3-day trip to Washington, D.C., a trip that they both agreed that they “needed.” Shortly after they retuned, VAPPIE described the trip to CANTRELL as “another leg on our journey” as he declared his love for her and their physical relationship. In total, the City of New Orleans paid over $70,000 for VAPPIE ’s travel on these trips. When asked about her reason for bringing members of the Executive Protection Unit with her on out-of-state trips, a practice CANTRELL began about five months after VAPPIE joined EPU, she justified it as a “pivot” due to COVID and a matter of “safety.” At the same time, however, she continued to take out-of-state trips without protection. In fact, on the same day she gave one such statement, she canceled a work trip to Miami, and traveled alone—by plane, then bus, and then ferry—to the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts to spend time with VAPPIE while he attended a conference paid for by the City of New Orleans related to his position on the HANO Board of Commissioners—a position to which CANTRELL appointed him a few months earlier. On other occasions, when VAPPIE was unavailable to accompany CANTRELL on a trip, CANTRELL decided not to take another member of Executive Protection. The superseding indictment alleges that both VAPPIE and CANTRELL were aware their conduct broke criminal laws. For instance, in April 2022, an associate told CANTRELL explicitly in multiple text messages that spending public funds and using public resources for her personal relationship was a “felony.” When CANTRELL and VAPPIE learned that the news media was investigating their time together in the Pontalba, they agreed to “be straight and together.” Days after the first news stories broke, in November 2022, VAPPIE conducted numerous online searches for New Orleans-area attorneys who specialize in the practice of criminal law, and he researched WhatsApp’s security features. But the defendants’ wire fraud scheme nevertheless continued until VAPPIE ’s retirement in June 2024. As alleged in the superseding indictment, in July 2023, the grand jury issued subpoenas to both VAPPIE and CANTRELL compelling the production of records. The FBI also interviewed VAPPIE . During the interview, VAPPIE lied about the nature and circumstances of his relationship. In response to the subpoena, CANTRELL produced a selection of responsive records, but none of the over 15,000 WhatsApp messages she exchanged with VAPPIE . CANTRELL also created an affidavit, sworn under oath, that she had activated a feature that automatically deleted messages in 2021. CANTRELL submitted a screen shot of her iPhone, showing that WhatsApp messages were set to delete in 24 hours. In fact, CANTRELL did not turn on that feature until December 26, 2022, roughly one month after the news media began speculating on her conduct, VAPPIE conducted online searches concerning WhatsApp and its security level, and by which time several people had warned VAPPIE and CANTRELL that their conduct was illegal. This “disappearing messages” feature, moreover, only applied to new messages. During roughly this same period, CANTRELL also manually deleted thousands of her prior WhatsApp messages with VAPPIE . As alleged, even at the time CANTRELL responded to the grand jury subpoena, she still possessed more than 50 pictures, including screen shots of correspondence with VAPPIE , that were responsive to the subpoena, but which she nevertheless concealed from the grand jury. The superseding indictment further alleges that VAPPIE and CANTRELL continued their pattern of obstruction through the rest of 2023 and 2024. This included improperly pressuring the Interim Superintendent of NOPD to overrule findings of an internal investigation into VAPPIE ’s conduct. When the Interim Superintendent did not heed that directive, CANTRELL ordered the Interim Superintendent to nevertheless reassign VAPPIE back to her protection detail. Months later, in a meeting VAPPIE attended, CANTRELL informed the Interim Superintendent that the Interim Superintendent would be replaced. Similarly, when a private citizen took pictures of CANTRELL and VAPPIE together in public, dining and consuming alcohol al fresco while VAPPIE reported to be on duty, CANTRELL obtained non-public information about the citizen, filed a police report, and sought a restraining order against the citizen. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If they are convicted of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud, CANTRELL and VAPPIE each faces up to five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For each count of wire fraud, CANTRELL and VAPPIE each faces up to twenty years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For the conspiracy to obstruct justice, CANTRELL and VAPPIE each faces up to twenty years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For the false statement to the FBI, VAPPIE faces up to five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For each obstruction of justice count, CANTRELL faces up to twenty years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For each count of making false statements to a grand jury, CANTRELL faces up to five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For each count, both defendants face a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Department of Justice’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Properties Section Cybercrime Lab, the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Illegal Alien Charged With Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Olvin Javier Gutierrez Ponce (44, Bradenton) with unlawful possession of a firearm. If convicted, Gutierrez Ponce faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Gutierrez Ponce that the United States intends to forfeit a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Springfield 9mm pistol, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. According to the indictment, in July 2025, Gutierrez Ponce, knowing he is an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, unlawfully possessed a firearm. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Bradenton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.


title: Armed Robber Found Guilty of Robbing His Former Employer

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Stephon Martin, 25, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday for, stemming from his April 15, 2025, attack on his former employer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On August 14, 2025, after a jury trial in Superior Court, Martin was convicted of one count each of robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and felony destruction of property. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for November 7, 2025. On October 18, 2024, Martin was employed as a cashier at the victim’s tobacco store in Northwest Washington, D.C. Faced with budgetary constraints, the store’s owner had to lay Martin off, and Martin reacted with extreme violence. Martin mercilessly beat the victim for several minutes before taking the cash out of the victim’s pocket and leaving the store. While the victim was still in shock, Martin returned to the store about 30 minutes later and entered using his employee key which he did not originally surrender. After entering the store the second time, Martin mercilessly beat the victim again. This time, Martin picked up a wooden board and smashed it over the victim’s head several times and forced the victim to surrender additional money from the cash register. Martin then picked up a shelving unit containing several thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise and left the store with it. Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case and Augustin Horner who investigated the case.


title: Felon Charged in November 2024 Daytime Shooting  of Over 15 Rounds in Southeast D.C.

body_text: WASHINGTON – Vance McIlwain, 32, and Kenneth Johnson, 32, both of Washington, D.C., were indicted Wednesday and arraigned today for the November 2024, firing of over 15 rounds of ammunition in a residential neighborhood and shooting of a man in southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. McIlwain and Johnson were indicted on August 13, 2025, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on charges of assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, endangerment with a firearm, and conspiracy. Johnson was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Both men were arraigned on today, August 15, 2025, at a hearing before the Honorable Judge Jason Park. They each face a maximum of thirty years in prison if convicted of the charges. According to the government’s evidence, on November 8, 2024, at about 3:50 p.m., McIlwain and Johnson were captured on CCTV conspiring to shoot the victim. Inside of an apartment building hallway, Johnson was captured on video passing a cross-body bag to McIlwain, which is believed to have contained a firearm. They both made their way to the apartment building’s entryway landing. McIlwain stepped out of the building and removed the firearm from the bag, but then returned to the entryway and handed the gun to Johnson. Johnson re-racked the firearm and gave it back to McIlwain. McIlwain walked down the alley, turned the corner, and began firing over 15 rounds of ammunition at the victim, who was sitting on a front porch. A stray bullet went into a neighbor’s house and another was found on the front porch. Following the attack, McIlwain ran back to the apartment building and handed the gun to Johnson. McIlwain then continued to run from the scene. Johnson entered one of the apartment units. Johnson was found inside the apartment unit and was arrested. McIlwain was arrested about an hour and a half later in the area. Investigators recovered 15 spent shell casings from the scene. Both have been in custody since their respective arrests. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rudolf. 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: Peruvian National Charged with Immigration Fraud Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Brian K. Wood, Special Agent in Charge, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, New England Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Boston/New York Field Division, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Northeastern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, today announced that FLOR CONSUELO DEL CARMEN CABALLERO BERNABE, 55, a citizen of Peru residing in Darien, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with immigration fraud offenses. Caballero Bernabe was arrested yesterday and is currently detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Caballero Bernabe traveled to the U.S. in 2000 on a non-immigrant visa and subsequently began using the identity and social security number (SSN) of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico to reside, work, and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License in Connecticut. Caballero Bernabe also used the fraudulent identity and SSN to apply for a U.S. passport in 2005, renew it in 2015, and use it to travel internationally. In 2021, the U.S. passport was renewed in the name of Byron Ruiz after Caballero Bernabe completed the Probate Court process for a name and gender change. Caballero Bernabe again traveled internationally using the renewed passport. It is further alleged that this investigation began after the individual whose identity Caballero Bernabe had originally stolen applied to the Social Security Administration seeking Social Security Disability benefits in 2022 and was informed that a person in Connecticut had been earning income using the same SSN. Caballero subsequently made multiple false statements to federal agents investigating this matter. The complaint charges Caballero Bernabe with passport application fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years; misuse of a passport, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years; making a false claim of U.S. citizenship, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years; misuse of a social security account number, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years; and making false statements, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Bar Argument Which Ended in a Shooting Yields Prison Time

body_text: WASHINGTON – Duarte Santos, 25, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on August 15, 2025, in Superior Court, to 13 years in prison, for assault and related firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Santos pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to aggravated assault while armed, possession of firearm during violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of home/business. The Honorable Judge Brandt Rainey, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, sentenced Santos to 13 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 11:30 p.m., on July 5, 2024, Santos open fired a handgun toward three victims in a bar and restaurant at 3521 14th St NW. Specifically, officers viewed the establishment’s surveillance video and observed the defendant sitting inside the establishment at the bar. He then proceeded up the stairs and appeared to have a verbal exchange with two individuals. A fight between one individual and Santos broke out. During the fight, Santos took a firearm from his waistband and discharged a single round, at which point a bar employee threatened to call the police. Santos left the bar but then returned a few minutes later and started shooting at the two men that he had been in a verbal dispute with earlier and the bar employee who told him to leave. One victim realized he was shot shortly after the shots were fired and was taken to a hospital. Santos was arrested on July 5, 2024 and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Pericak Ginsburg and Anthony Cocuzza, who prosecuted the case.


title: Blanchard Man who Shared ISIS Propaganda Online Sentenced to Serve a Decade in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography and Communicating a Threat to Bomb Synagogues

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – LANDON KYLE SWINFORD , age 20, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and communicating a threat, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on May 18, 2023, Swinford made contact with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) after posting Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) propaganda on social media. Swinford communicated with the UC through October 22, 2023, during which time he expressed a desire to travel overseas to fight with ISIS. Swinford also scouted out Gaylord Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma for a possible terror attack, and suggested a Walmart or the city of New Orleans be targeted for attack as well. Additionally, Swinford sent the UC a manifesto and an ISIS Bayat video in which he pledged his allegiance to ISIS and burned an Israeli flag. Through the course of the investigation, the FBI learned that Swinford had multiple social media accounts. On October 23, 2023, Swinford posted a public statement on Instagram that read “CAST FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF THE KUFFAR THIS HALLOWEEN Dress up as your favorite mujahideen and bomb a synagogue.” During the investigation, the FBI also learned that the known IP address and two accounts of Swinford were found to have accessed child pornography in April and July of 2023. Swinford later confessed to having possessed and shared child pornography. On July 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Swinford with possession of child pornography and with communicating a threat. “The egregious conduct of this defendant stands in direct violation of our core values and must be confronted with the full force of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The Justice Department remains unwavering in its commitment to protect children and defend our communities from the vile, hateful rhetoric exposed in this case. This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who exploit the internet to target the vulnerable and spread fear will face swift and severe consequences.” “In an apparent pledge of loyalty to ISIS, the defendant used his access to the internet to make threats of violence against innocent Americans,” said FBI Oklahoma City Acting Special Agent in Charge Sonia Garcia. “The sentence handed down today reflects the deliberate and calculated nature of his crimes, which also include viewing child pornography. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate this kind of egregious behavior, and we will continue to respond to all threats with the utmost urgency.” Swinford pleaded guilty on November 13, 2024, and admitted he knowingly possessed material containing child pornography, including images of prepubescent children, and that he knowingly transmitted a communication containing a threat to injure another person. At the sentencing hearing on August 14, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Swinford to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offenses, that Swinford had specifically targeted Synagogues and people of the Jewish faith, Swinford’s willingness to fight for ISIS, his distribution of child pornography, and that Swinford had direct contact with minors in which he had discussions and traded pictures of a sexual nature. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Edmond Police Department, the McClain County Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Police Department, the Norman Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City University Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the University of Oklahoma Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Dillon prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Jury Convicts District Man of Conspiracy and First-Degree Murder for Kenilworth Killing

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jajuan Gripper, 22, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on all charges for the December 20, 2022, murder of 34-year-old Rynell Bradford in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The jury deliberated for one day before finding Gripper guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence and first-degree premeditated murder while armed. Judge Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2025. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:40 p.m., on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Gripper and two co-conspirators, each armed with a handgun, followed Bradford out of an apartment building in the Kenilworth neighborhood of Northeast D.C., where Bradford lived with his fiancé and then four-month-old daughter. After a brief exchange of words, Gripper and his co-conspirators opened fire on Bradford as he ran away from them down a public street in the residential neighborhood. Gripper and his co-conspirators fired a total of at least 19 shots, striking Bradford once in the back of the head, killing him. Gripper was arrested in March 2023 and has been detained since his arrest. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Branch. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Charles R. Jones and Anthony Cocuzza, who prosecuted the case.


title: Two Men Sentenced for Role in International Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – Two men were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. Yanbing Chen, 30, a Chinese national unlawfully residing in Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Angel Kelley to 57 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2024 , Chen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Thong Nguyen, 31, of Everett, Mass., was sentenced by Judge Kelley to four months in prison, to be followed by one year of home detention, and two additional years of supervised release. In August 2024, Nguyen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. In May 2023, Chen and Nguyen were among 12 individuals from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and California charged in a superseding indictment for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization allegedly led by Jin Hua Zhang. According to the charging documents, Zhang’s organization was first detected in 2021 in the greater Boston area, throughout the United States and overseas. It was determined that for a fee, Zhang laundered bulk cash for drug dealers and laundered profits from other illegal businesses. In less than a year, Zhang and his organization allegedly laundered at least $25 million worth of drug proceeds and funds from other illegal businesses. Funds were allegedly traced and seized from the Zhang organization to Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations. In July 2022, on Zhang’s behalf, Chen delivered $50,000 in drug funds to undercover agents to be laundered. For a fee, Zhang converted these funds to Tether, a type of cryptocurrency, and laundered the funds back to criminal organizations who used his group’s services. Agents eventually traced funds from the Zhang organization to accounts in Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations. Law enforcement seized cash and cryptocurrency in accounts tied to Zhang at the conclusion of this investigation. In addition, in two separate meetings in August and September 2022, Zhang sent Chen from New York to meet with cooperating witnesses in Boston. Chen was recorded by law enforcement as he delivered five kilograms of cocaine at Zhang’s direction. For his part, in March and April 2022, Nguyen laundered or attempted to launder over $213,000 in profits from a marijuana trafficking organization. Nguyen delivered funds to Zhang’s organization, who converted them to Tether and laundered the funds back to the drug organization which used his group’s services. Jin Hua Zhang pleaded guilty in September 2023 and scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18, 2025. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Quincy Police Department also provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Sean Kingston and Mother Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1 Million Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Kisean Paul Anderson aka Sean Kingston, 35, was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz, following his conviction by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Anderson participated in a scheme to defraud luxury merchandise vendors of more than $1 million in property, including a bulletproof Escalade, high-end watches, and a 232-inch LED television. On July 23, Anderson’s mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, 62, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for her role in the scheme. According to evidence presented at trial, between April 2023 and March 2024, Anderson contacted victims through a social media platform to arrange the purchase of high-end merchandise. After negotiating deals, Anderson invited sellers to one or more of his luxury homes in Broward County. During these meetings, Anderson used his celebrity status to gain his victims’ trust—offering to feature their products on social media or name-dropping high profile celebrities as potential referral clients. When payment was due, Anderson or Turner sent the victims fake wire receipts, obtained by Turner, as purported proof of payment. In reality, no funds were ever transferred from legitimate accounts. Most victims were never paid; others received payment after filing lawsuits or involving law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement. USSS Miami and BSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Anton and Trevor Jones prosecuted the case. 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 24-cr-60126. ###


title: Oklahoma City Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – NATASHA ALLMON , 48, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. From January 2021 through December 2023, Allmon worked as a behavioral health counselor, and had an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to provide behavioral health counseling services. According to public records, during this period, Allmon either submitted or caused to be submitted thousands of false and fraudulent claims for behavioral health counseling sessions for family members to BCBS for reimbursement. Court records allege that Allmon routinely claimed to have provided 60-minute psychiatric treatment to family members nearly every day of a calendar year, and routinely claimed to have treated beneficiaries for more than 24 hours in a single day. In total during the period, Allmon submitted approximately $1.4 million in claims for services provided, for which she received close to $1.1 million in reimbursements from BCBS. On August 1, 2025, Allmon was charged by Information with health care fraud. Allmon pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025, and admitted she knowingly executed a scheme to defraud a healthcare benefit program. At sentencing, Allmon faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Meridian Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Meridian man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Steven Wright, 30, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Wright and found him to be in possession of a firearm. Wright has a previous felony conviction for armed robbery, and he was on state supervised release for that conviction at the time of this possession. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal and state law from possessing a firearm. Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025. He pled guilty to the federal charge on May 9, 2025. His supervised release with the state was also revoked as a result of this illegal possession, for which he received a state sentence of 11 years and 175 days imprisonment. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Former Salinas Construction Company Controller Charged With Stealing More Than $8 Million Dollars From Employer

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Monique Marie Dodson, the former controller of a Salinas construction company, was charged by information yesterday with six counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with the alleged theft of more than $8 million from her employer. According to the information, Dodson, 42, of Monterey County, was the controller of Company A, a civil contracting construction company headquartered in Salinas. Beginning around October 2021 until November 2023, Dodson allegedly conducted approximately 136 unauthorized wire transfers from Company A’s business account to her personal bank accounts that she falsely characterized as payments for materials for the company. The information alleges that Dodson used a variety of means to conceal the unauthorized transfers to avoid detection and facilitate future transfers, including by intercepting and destroying paper bank statements sent by Company A’s bank documenting the unauthorized wire transfers. Dodson also allegedly downloaded Company A’s bank statements, modified the electronic bank statements by removing her name from wire transfer descriptions, and saved the altered bank statements in Company A’s records. The information further alleges that Dodson concealed the unauthorized wire transfers by falsely listing them in Company A’s expense accounts in the accounting journal. Dodson is alleged to have conducted unauthorized wires totaling approximately $8,579,647.48. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen, and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement. Dodson is scheduled to appear in federal district court in San Jose on Aug. 19, 2025, for an initial appearance and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins. An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the count of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, and FDIC-OIG. Dodson Information


title: Mexican National With Prior Violent Felony Convictions Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being twice removed from the country. The defendant had prior violent convictions, including multiple robberies with a butcher knife and shooting three people. According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on March 16, 2021, Otoniel Lugo-Campos was found in the United States after he was previously deported on December 19, 2000, and October 21, 2014. In 2000, Lugo-Campos was deported for the first time following a felony drug conviction and multiple probation violations. He returned to the United States and, in 2008, robbed five convenience stores around Las Vegas using a large butcher knife. In two of the robberies, the store clerks working the cash registers were cut by him. After serving his prison sentence, Lugo-Campos was deported for a second time in 2014. Lugo-Campos again unlawfully returned to the United States. On March 8, 2021, Lugo-Campos entered his former girlfriend’s apartment and shot her, her new boyfriend, and a neighbor when one of the bullets went through the wall of the apartment. Two months prior to shooting his former girlfriend, he beat her with a pipe requiring staples to her head to close the wound. While he was in state custody, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents located him and determined he was not lawfully in the country. Lugo-Campos pleaded guilty to one-count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . ###


title: Hartford Man Convicted of Firearm Offenses

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport today found MORRIS CARTER III, also known as “Mo,” 36, of Hartford, guilty of firearm offenses. According to the evidence introduced during the trial, in the early morning of February 19, 2023, Carter was involved in a fight a convenience store in the south end of Hartford. Surveillance footage shows Carter possessing a firearm and beating a convenience store patron in the head with a firearm magazine, which ejected ammunition during the altercation. Carter then fled the store, drove toward Wethersfield, and threw two handguns out the car window. Wethersfield Police stopped the car on Nott Street and found a loaded magazine under the passenger seat. Later that morning, a Wethersfield resident called police after discovering one of the discarded guns at the end of her driveway. Officers responded and found both discarded firearms, a magazine, and ammunition in the area. Investigators also recovered the ammunition from the convenience store. Carter’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2013 for conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. The jury found Carter guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Carter, who was federal supervised release at this time of this offense, faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Carter has been detained since February 19, 2023. This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Department, and the Wethersfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Sean P. Mahard through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: District of Arizona Charges 161 Individuals with Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from August 9, 2025, through August 15, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 161 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 79 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 71 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 10 cases against 11 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Isidro Calleros-Sotelo : On August 11, Isidro Calleros-Sotelo was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Calleros-Sotelo had been previously removed from the United States in 2024 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain in the United States District Court, District of Arizona. In that case, Calleros-Sotelo was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. [Case Number: 25-MJ-08396] United States v. Mario Alberto Rodriguez-Herrera : On August 13, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Deputy performed a traffic stop on Mario Alberto Rodriguez-Herrera. Border Patrol Agents responded to the scene to conduct an immigration inspection and determined that the back seat passenger in the car was a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Rodriguez-Herrera initially claimed to be a Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident (LAPR), and later explained that he “shared” a LAPR card with a friend who has similar physical attributes. However, when agents found a LAPR card bearing the name “Mario Rodriguez" located inside Rodriguez-Herrera’s vehicle, they determined that it was a fraudulent document. Agents then confirmed that Rodriguez-Herrera was a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. Rodriguez-Herrera was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien and Fraud and Misuse of Visas, Permits and Other Documents. [Case Number: 25-MJ-08447] United States v. Ricardo Daniel Villalobos-Cardenas : On August 14, Ricardo Daniel Villalobos-Cardenas was charged with Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens, for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy that involved picking up aliens in southern Arizona and transporting them to a stash house in Phoenix. Villalobos-Cardenas was identified as both the caretaker of the stash house and someone who transported illegal aliens. [Case Number: 25-MJ-3060] These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-136_August 15 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Honduran National With Two Prior Deportations Charged For Illegally Reentering The United States

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Honduran national made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country. Rigoberto Osorio-Merlo, 49, is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Osorio-Merlo is a citizen and national of Honduras who was previously deported and removed from the United States on January 15, 2009, and November 14, 2018, and reentered the United States illegally. On July 22, 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Osorio-Merlo had been arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for Duty to Stop at Scene of Accident, Destroy/Conceal Evidence, and Reckless Driving Resulting in Death or Substantial Bodily Harm. A year later, on July 30, 2025, Osorio-Merlo was remanded to ICE custody from the Nevada Department of Corrections, based on an immigration detainer. Osorio-Merlo has two DUI convictions, one in 2011 and a second in 2016. Based on Osorio-Merlo’s July 22, 2024, arrest, he was convicted of Reckless Driving Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm or Death. If convicted, Osorio-Merlo faces the maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Three men arrested, charged in postal theft ring

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lamarious Bradley, Lucius Bradley, and Chad Brown, all of Rochester, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with mail theft, unlawful possession of USPS mailbox keys, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on November 28, 2023, U.S. Postal Service inspectors received notification that blue collection boxes were open in early morning hours in Irondequoit and Brighton, NY. A review of video in both areas identified a vehicle and three males. On December 4, 2023, inspectors once again received notification of that a blue collection box in Irondequoit had been opened. On this date however, mail was removed from the collection box. The same vehicle and three individuals were once again captured on video surveillance. On December 7, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a residence associated with the vehicle, as well as the vehicle and the Exclusive Snacks and Lounge that the three males went to after allegedly stealing the mail. At the residence, inspectors recovered approximately $1,400 in money orders, and numerous checks which were not in the names of any of the defendants. Inspectors spoke with several of the legitimate owners of the checks recovered and all victims stated they originally deposited the checks into blue collection boxes. Inspectors also recovered a handgun, ammunition, and a quantity of marijuana. During a review of video from the Exclusive Snacks and Lounge, four individuals were seen inside the location sorting what appears to be hundreds of pieces of mail. One of the individuals was identified as Lamarius Bradley. Subsequent investigation also recovered text messages discussing the theft between the defendants. The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen. Lamarious and Lucius Bradley were released on conditions. Chad Brown was detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ketty Larco Ward, Boston Division, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi, the Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Peters, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. # # # #


title: Defendant Convicted of Sex-Trafficking of Women at Notorious “Penn Track” in Brooklyn and the Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Joel David Forney, also known as “Sirbar,” on two counts of sex trafficking for using force, fraud and coercion to cause two women to work as prostitutes, including at an open-air sex trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York known as the Penn Track, as well as related charges for transporting a woman to and from New York and other states, including Connecticut and Wisconsin, with the intent that she engage in prostitution. Forney was also found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor with whom he had sexual intercourse in 2014 when he was 31 years old. The verdict was returned after a five-day trial before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. When sentenced, Forney faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in prison. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “The jury found that Forney used violence and threats to compel women to engage in commercial sex acts at the Penn Track for his own profit, and enticed a vulnerable minor into having sex with him” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will relentlessly pursue those, like the defendant, who engage in sex trafficking, and I commend the survivors of Forney’s depraved conduct who bravely assisted law enforcement in bringing him to justice." Mr. Nocella also expressed his thanks to the FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force for their outstanding investigative work on the case. “The defendant used violence and threats of violence to compel his victims to engage in commercial sex for his profit,” stated Assistant Attorney General Dhillon. “There is no place in a civilized society for the defendant’s inhumane conduct, and the Justice Department is committed to punishing human trafficking and achieving justice for its victims.” “Joel Forney lured and forced women into commercial sexual acts with multiple individuals for his own profit and personally sought out and sexually abused a minor. Forney mercilessly punished and threatened extreme violence to induce compliance from his trafficked victims. May today’s conviction empower survivors of sexual violence and emphasize the FBI’s intolerance of those who seek to profit from another’s abuse,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. As proven at trial, Forney used false promises to lure women into his trafficking business. Forney then compelled these women to engage in commercial sex with men while keeping their earnings for himself. If the women refused, Forney subjected them to physical abuse and threatened to hurt or kill them if they did not comply. Forney showed one victim an image on his cellphone of a dismembered woman and stated, “this is what happens to whores who don’t obey their pimps.” The evidence also showed that the defendant lured a third victim, a minor whom he met in June 2014 near his then-home in Queens, New York, by sending her romantic and sexual text messages. Forney and the minor victim discussed her life as a teenager, including her school and her relationship with her parents, and the defendant repeatedly offered her money. Once in his house, Forney had sex with the victim, even though he was 31 years old, and she was no more than 15 years old. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette N. Rangel, Lauren A. Bowman, and Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Chelsea Guzman and additional assistance from Victim Witness Coordinator Huda Abouchaer and Victim Witness Specialist Kristina Marius. The Defendant : JOEL DAVID FORNEY (also known as “Sirbar”) Age: 42 Kissimmee, Florida E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-146 (KAM)