title: Hays man sentenced to 4 years in prison on gun charges

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

body_text: BILLINGS – A Hays man who possessed illegal firearms was sentenced today to 48 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Wylon Alfred Plainfeather, 54, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of possession of an unregistered silencer. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on December 27, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a Billings residence to search for a probationer. The probationer was not present, but officers searched the house and found three firearms in the basement. As law enforcement was preparing to leave the residence following the search, Plainfeather pulled into the driveway. He admitted owning all three guns and acknowledged one was a sawed-off shotgun and another, a .22 caliber rifle, had a tube on it. Plainfeather said he fired the gun with the tube and claimed it was not very effective at making it quieter. He said he got all the firearms from the reservation and that he traded for them. Law enforcement officers confirmed the firearms were in operable condition but not registered to Plainfeather (or anyone else) in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Probation and Parole. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Honduran National Sentenced For Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, DARWIN XAVIER GONZALEZ-MUNOZ (“GONZALEZ-MUNOZ”) , age 30, was sentenced on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk, after previously pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). GONZALEZ-MUNOZ was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be served consecutively. According to court records, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ re-entered the United States after being previously deported on or about June 24, 2024. 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. Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson praisedthe work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement Removal Operations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Albuquerque Man Charged in Series of Armed Bank Robberies Across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with carrying out five armed bank robberies across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho between January 2024 and July 2025. According to court documents, between January 2024 and July 2025, federal investigators linked Daniel Ray Guliford , 39, to a series of five armed bank robberies in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. In each robbery, Guliford allegedly entered a bank wearing dark clothing and a mask, brandished a handgun, and stole large sums of cash, totaling more than $140,000. January 4, 2024 – U.S. Bank (Albuquerque): Approximately $9,250 stolen. Guliford ’s fingerprints were later found on a note left at the bank. March 21, 2024 – U.S. Bank (Albuquerque): Approximately $26,650 stolen. A witness saw the suspect flee in a black BMW tied to Guliford . July 3, 2024 – Bank of Albuquerque (Albuquerque): Approximately $1,500 stolen. July 5, 2024 – New Mexico Bank & Trust (Rio Rancho): Approximately $72,043 stolen. The suspect fled in a black BMW matching Guliford ’s vehicle. July 24, 2025 – First Financial Credit Union (Albuquerque): Approximately $31,261 stolen. Surveillance footage showed a dark blue BMW matching Guliford ’s car near the scene. Still photo of Guliford with gun Still photo of Guliford pointing gun Still photo from July 24, 2025 robbery Guliford is charged with bank robbery. He will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for August 1, 2025. If convicted of the current charges, Guliford faces up to 25 years in prison for each charge. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Sandia Pueblo Police Department and Pueblo of Isleta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Carjacking and Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on July 22, 2025, XAVIER JOHNSON (JOHNSON) , age 24, pled guilty to Counts One and Three of an indictment charging him with carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2119(2) and felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). As to Count One, JOHNSON faces up to 25 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. As to Count Three, JOHNSON faces up to ten years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. JOHNSON ’s sentencing is set for October 14, 2025. On January 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers responded to a residence in the 1400 block of Laharpe Street in New Orleans regarding an armed robbery and shooting. Officers found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound to the leg. The victim advised he was exiting his vehicle when two unknown black males approached him, with dark clothing covering their faces. Both perpetrators were armed with guns and ordered the victim and his girlfriend out of the vehicle. The victim heard a gunshot, pulled his own weapon, and shot at the perpetrators. The perpetrator on the driver’s side, later identified as JOHNSON , then shot the victim. Both perpetrators fled on foot. Officers located the victim’s firearm in the residence. Officers also located a weapon on the sidewalk next to the victim’s car. The victim told officers he believed he shot the perpetrator on the driver’s side. While on-scene, NOPD officers learned that an individual, JOHNSON , had arrived at University Medical Center to seek treatment for gunshot wounds. JOHNSON was in surgery when officers arrived, but they seized his property. Officers also conducted a gunshot residue test on JOHNSON , which returned a presumptive positive result. Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers developed JOHNSON as a suspect. NOPD arrested JOHNSON and he was subsequently transported from the hospital to the Orleans Justice Complex. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Mexican National Sentenced For Re-Entry of a Removed Alien

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that LUIS A. GAMA (“GAMA”) , age 38, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on July 23, 2025, for re-entry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, GAMA , a Mexican national, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on or around April 10, 2025. GAMA had previously been deported to Mexico on September 10, 2019. At the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, sentenced GAMA to twelve months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. * * *


title: Tangipahoa Parish Man Guilty Of Fentanyl Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL PENN (“PENN”) , age 24, a resident of Tangipahoa Parish, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2025, to three counts of distributing fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1); 841(b)(1)(A); and 841(b)(1)(B), before United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown. As to Count One, PENN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release. As to Counts Two and Three, PENN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release. According to court records, on February 2, April 4, and April 18, 2024, PENN distributed large quantities of fentanyl pills, with net weights of 259.86 grams, 516.2 grams and 541.2 grams, respectively, in the Eastern District of Louisiana. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit. * * *


title: Laplace Man Charged With  Bank Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ERNEST X. TAYLOR, JR. (“TAYLOR”) , age 40, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged on July 30, 2025 in a superseding bill of information with Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2). According to court documents, between 2019 and 2022, TAYLOR applied for over $400,000 in loans from credit unions and falsely claimed that the funds would be utilized to purchase vehicles. TAYLOR fraudulently applied for loans under other people’s names and did not disclose to the credit unions that the loan proceeds would go to TAYLOR . In furtherance of his scheme, TAYLOR presented materially false documentation to the credit unions, including fraudulent vehicle titles and falsified pay stubs. After receiving the loan proceeds, TAYLOR defaulted on the loans. If convicted, TAYLOR faces up to thirty years imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the superseding bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit are handling the prosecution.


title: Guatemalan National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry into The United States

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA , age 49, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty and was sentenced on July 15, 2025, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court records, RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA illegally re-entered the United States sometime prior to March 23, 2025, after having been previously removed on or about September 30, 2014. RUBEN URIZAR-BETETA was sentenced to 30 months unsupervised probation and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Illegal Alien Indicted for Two Death Penalty Eligible Offenses after Attempted Carjacking

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2025-128_Aguirre Indictment

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – This afternoon, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a five-count indictment against Julio Cesar Aguirre, 42, of Mexico, for Attempted Carjacking Resulting in Death, Use or Carrying of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence Causing Death, Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien, Reentry of a Removed Alien, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The first two counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison or death. According to court filings, Aguirre shot and killed a male driver with a 9mm caliber handgun, while attempting to carjack the victim’s Toyota Tundra on the morning of June 30, in Tucson, Arizona. Shortly after the attempted carjacking, Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers found Aguirre hiding in a nearby shed. Aguirre, a Mexican citizen, who was previously removed from the United States in 2013, was living in the country illegally at the time of the shooting. When he was arrested, TPD officers discovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol within Aguirre’s reach. As a convicted felon and as an illegal alien, Aguirre was prohibited from possessing a firearm. “The focus in this case should be on the senseless loss of the victim and the pain that loss creates for his family and friends. Our criminal laws exist to protect our community, and the United States has an obligation to enforce those laws,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “The alleged series of crimes in the indictment, starting with illegal immigration, escalating to prohibited possession of a firearm, and culminating in the death of an innocent individual, is why the United States Attorney’s Office takes this matter so seriously.” “This indictment represents a meaningful step toward accountability and justice for the victim, their loved ones, and all those affected by the tragic events in early July,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The allegations in this case involve a senseless act of violence that claimed an innocent life and deeply impacted our community. Carjacking resulting in death is a serious federal offense. The FBI, in partnership with the Tucson Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains dedicated to pursuing justice and ensuring public safety.” A conviction for Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm or Felon in Possession of a Firearm each carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison. A conviction for Illegal Reentry carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The federal prosecution of this case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). TPD and the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: CR-25-3393-TUC-RM-MAA RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-128_Aguirre Indictment # # # 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: Man Charged With Arson Of U.S. Post Office In San Jose

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Richard Tillman with the federal crime of malicious destruction by fire of a U.S. post office in San Jose. Tillman made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose today. According to the criminal complaint, in the early hours of July 20, 2025, Tillman, 44, set fire to the Almaden Valley United States Post Office located on Crown Boulevard in San Jose. Tillman allegedly purchased “instalogs” and lighter fluid and drove to the U.S. post office. The complaint describes that Tillman then placed the instalogs throughout his vehicle, poured lighter fluid over the instalogs, backed his vehicle into the lobby of the U.S. post office, exited the vehicle, and lit the vehicle on fire with a match. Tillman then allegedly began spray painting the words “Viva La Me” on the outside of the building after starting the fire, but did not finish the graffiti because the heat from the fire was too intense. The Almaden Valley United States Post Office was partially destroyed by the fire, as depicted below: The San Jose Fire Department and the San Jose Police Department responded to the fire. Tillman allegedly told law enforcement officers that he set the fire to make a statement to the U.S. government and that he livestreamed the event on YouTube using his phone. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Tillman is currently in federal custody. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 6, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins. A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of malicious destruction of government property by fire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1). 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 Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Tillman Complaint


title: Federal Jury Convicts Texas Man of Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Jorge Luis Guerrero, of Socorro, Texas, was found guilty by a federal jury in Pittsburgh of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The jury returned its verdict on July 29, 2025, after deliberating for five-and-a-half hours following a six-day trial. Guerrero, 39, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. The evidence presented at trial established that Guerrero transported five kilograms of cocaine to the Western District of Pennsylvania hidden in a secret compartment in the bumper of a vehicle registered to his wife. Accessing the cocaine required removing the bumper cover and bumper of the vehicle and then additional metal plates that concealed the compartment housing the cocaine. Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for December 10, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert C. Schupansky and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Agents and task force officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as personnel from the Socorro Police Department, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted in the trial.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Jordan Bowers, 20 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Bowers was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on January 23, 2024, Bowers possessed a firearm equipped with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock switch,” which is capable of firing multiple bullets instantaneously. Bowers used the Glock with the attached Glock switch in an exchange of fire with another individual driving a car. “Jordan Bowers illegally possessed and used a Glock switch,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This District is committed to seizing these devices and prosecuting those who illegally possess them. I commend the law enforcement team that brought this case.” This case was investigated by the Office Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: United States Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Event During National Night Out

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 , Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced today. During this year’s National Night Out, the office will participate in the community event scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Orchard Manor in Charleston . Additional National Night Out events are scheduled throughout the Southern District of West Virginia, including in Beckley, Dunbar, Huntington, Parkersburg, and Ravenswood. “National Night Out is a great way to connect with the communities we serve,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “We make our streets safer when we build trust, strengthen relationships, and foster cooperation.” National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Court Sentences Mobile County Man to 110 months  Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – On July 25, 2025, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Brandon Demetrius Pettaway to 110 months imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon. Documents filed with the Court established that on November 22, 2023, the Mobile Police Department (MPD) Homicide Unit, sent out an all-police lookout for Pettaway, who was wanted for questioning in reference to a recent homicide. Pettaway also had three active arrest warrants for his arrest. On the same day an officer with the U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force advised that he had visual confirmation that Pettaway was inside a Hardee's restaurant located on Highway 90 in Theodore. MPD units responded to the area to apprehend Pettaway on the active warrants. Pettaway exited the restaurant and entered a vehicle. At this time, members of the MPD entered the parking lot in marked police vehicles surrounding Pettaway’s vehicle. Instead of stopping, Pettaway put his vehicle in drive and rammed one of the police vehicle’s head-on with significant force. Unable to force his way out by going forward, Pettaway placed his vehicle in reverse as another officer came forward to close the gap and the vehicles collided. Pettaway, at this point, was successfully boxed-in and was unable to get past the police patrol vehicles. However, Pettaway then fled from his vehicle on foot. One of the officers gave chase on foot behind Pettaway and gave him numerous verbal commands to stop running and get on the ground. Pettaway refused to obey commands, and the officer drew his Taser and fired it twice at Pettaway. One of the probes made contact but to no avail as Pettaway continued fleeing on foot through the parking lot of a pawn shop. Pettaway attempted to jump over a wooden fence topped with barbed wire. At this point the officer caught up with the defendant and grabbed hold of both of his legs in an attempt to remove him from the fence to take him into custody. Pettaway resisted arrest and continued to keep his grip on the barbed wire until another officer arrived to assist. The officers had to use physical force to remove Pettaway from the fence and break his grip on the barbed wire and he was subsequently detained. A later search of Pettaway’s vehicle revealed a Glock, Model 20, 10mm handgun in the vehicle along with a magazine extender and a magazine designed to insert into the extender. Officers also found three small baggies of marijuana, a small baggie of crack cocaine, a small baggie of crystal methamphetamine and two digital scales in the vehicle. Pettaway had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses, prior to possessing the firearm: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, on January 18, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama; Burglary Third Degree, on November 10, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, and Robbery First Degree on September 12, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Mobile, County, Alabama. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Mobile Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.


title: United States Attorney's Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night Out

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events on August 5, 2025, across the district. “National Night Out is a perfect opportunity for neighbors to join with their law enforcement and community partners to demonstrate that crime does not rule the night,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “Keeping our neighborhoods safe is a true team effort. National Night Out allows us to acknowledge the accomplishments of our neighborhood organizations that keep communities safe, and to thank our law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line for us.” National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ . Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former SEPTA Officer Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Brian Zenszer, 44, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III to 144 months’ imprisonment, seven years of supervised release, and $32,000 restitution for child pornography offenses. The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2024, and, in April, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. At the time of his arrest, Zenszer was employed as a SEPTA police officer. As presented in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, on or about July 21, 2024, Zenszer knowingly distributed a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and, on or about November 6, 2024, possessed a Samsung cellular phone containing visual depictions of minors, including one or more prepubescent minors who had not attained 12 years of age, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The charges arose from two CyberTips reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding two accounts on the Kik messaging app that had uploaded suspected files of child pornography. Investigators determined both accounts belonged to Zenszer. “Brian Zenszer broke the law while sworn to uphold it, and the nature of his crimes is truly abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Those who trade images of children being sexually abused perpetuate the victimization of the vulnerable, and, like Zenszer, they must be held accountable.” “Crimes like these are among the most egregious offenses the FBI investigates, and protecting the vulnerable remains one of our top priorities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This sentencing is a testament to the diligent and unceasing work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in pursuing justice. We will continue to hold offenders accountable for their crimes and safeguard the innocent from predators.” “The sentencing of Brian Zenszer sends a clear message that those who engage in the abhorrent act of child pornography will be held accountable,” said Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. “We are committed to working with our federal partners, like the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to relentlessly pursue and prosecute individuals who exploit children, ensuring justice for victims and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the FBI and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maureen McCartney.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More Than 35 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Children, Recording and Sharing Images of the Abuse, and Related Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Joshua Lang, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 430 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for extensive child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses. The defendant was also ordered to pay $23,545 in restitution and $14,300 in special assessments. As detailed in court filings, the crimes of Lang and his partner, co-defendant Kenneth Miller, came to light after the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims Unit (PPD SVU) began investigating a lead from the Tampa (Fla.) Police Department in July 2023 that Lang had purchased child pornography from a 13-year-old girl on Instagram in December 2022. On July 19, 2023, PPD SVU and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia executed a state search warrant at Lang and Miller’s Mayfair residence based on this information. As the search unfolded, law enforcement learned that Lang and Miller’s child sexual abuse and exploitation activities extended far beyond Lang’s online activities, to include hands-on sexual abuse of children, and their scheme to manufacture, trade, and collect videos and images of one of their victims, his siblings, and his friends. Lang and Miller were arrested the same day and charged in Philadelphia County with numerous sexual offenses. They remained in Philadelphia County custody until they were charged in federal court via complaint and warrant in September 2023. On February 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Lang and Miller, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture child pornography and six counts of manufacture and aiding and abetting the manufacture of child pornography. Lang was also charged with three additional counts of manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography and three additional counts of receipt of child pornography. Miller, who pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, was sentenced in September of last year to 400 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The investigation showed, and the defendants subsequently admitted, that over the course of approximately three years, they sexually abused Minor 1 when he was between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, recording videos of the acts to forever memorialize the child’s abuse. The pair also installed hidden cameras in their bathroom and surreptitiously produced and attempted to produce sexually explicit images of at least five children, ages nine to 17, using the bathroom and showering at their residence. Throughout this three-year period, on a near-daily basis, Lang and Miller discussed with each other their sexual interest in children, strategized ways to groom minor children for sexual abuse and exploitation, and carried out these tactics to gain the child victims’ trust and further increase their access to these children. The defendants also regularly traded and discussed the images and videos of child sexual abuse material that they created of the children. On his own, Lang also engaged in and recorded hands-on sexual abuse of Minor 2 when she was between the ages of eight and nine years old, sharing the videos with Miller. Lang was also well immersed in the online world of child exploitation, amassing a collection of more than 13,000 unique files of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) on his iPhone, including the images purchased online from a 13-year-old girl that kicked off PPD SVU’s investigation. “The crimes Lang committed are stomach-turning,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He sexually abused two children, documented that exploitation, and violated the privacy and trust of other children for his and his partner’s gratification. Together, they strategized ways to sexually groom minors to whom they had access. Our community is emphatically safer with these predators in prison, and today’s sentence ensures Lang will remain behind bars where he can’t harm another innocent child.” “Today’s sentencing brings a just end to the depravity of two grown men, Joshua Lang and Kenneth Miller, who conspired to sexually exploit and abuse innocent children over an extended period of time. Their actions were not only reprehensible but meticulously planned and executed,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “The collaborative efforts of HSI Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania were crucial in uncovering the full extent of their vile actions and bringing them to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to relentlessly pursuing those who engage in such abhorrent crimes and safeguarding our communities from such predators.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Amanda McCool.


title: Allegheny County Agrees to Pay $629,043 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations That It Failed to Properly Support AmeriCorps Program Expenditures

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $629,043 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to contribute the required percentage of resources in exchange for AmeriCorps funds the county received. Allegheny County agreed to meet a certain cost-sharing threshold to receive federal funding for its AmeriCorps program. For the 2018 to 2020 grant years, Allegheny County claimed it contributed “in-kind” resources to meet this threshold, including classroom and office space, and salaries of teachers and administrative staff who worked on the AmeriCorps program. However, Allegheny County could not provide supporting documentation for $314,521 of the in-kind contributions it claimed. This settlement resolves claims that Allegheny misrepresented its in-kind contribution. Allegheny County agreed to pay $629,043, of which $314,521 was restitution. “When receiving federal funds, grantees must meet the terms of the agreements tied to those funds,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “This settlement is a reminder that organizations receiving federal grant funds must adhere to grant compliance requirements.” “AmeriCorps programs often require grantees to contribute some of their own resources to ensure the programs are successful,“ said Acting AmeriCorps Inspector General Stephen Ravas. “The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General will continue our work with our law enforcement partners to pursue organizations that do not hold up their end of the bargain.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled this investigation with the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony St. Joseph of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the investigation and settlement. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: MEXICAN MAN CHARGED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN GULF BREEZE

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez, 34, of the country of Mexico, has been charged in federal court with Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. The charges were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Court documents allege that, on July 15, 2025, Gulf Breeze Police Department responded to the Pensacola Bay Bridge in reference to a pickup truck stopped in the emergency lane with an unconscious male in the driver’s seat. The driver was identified as Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez and was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal possession of a firearm. The case involved an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Gulf Breeze Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp. 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island will join their law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities in National Night Out events in multiple cities and towns across Rhode Island on National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. “Each August this Office proudly joins in support of National Night Out, a great opportunity to for law enforcement and the community to gather together and to continue to foster good relationships,” said Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. “We urge all Rhode Islanders to take the opportunity to share a few minutes with your local law enforcement agency at this year’s events.” National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/


title: Houston Man Sentenced to 120 months in Federal Prison for “Jugging” Robbery of ATM Technician

body_text: A Houston, Texas man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to the “jugging” robbery of an ATM technician, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson. A “jugging” robbery is a type of theft where thieves follow a victim as they service or withdraw cash from ATMs or banks and then rob them. Houston resident Johnny Juwan Clark, 33, and three others were charged in a superseding indictment in December 2024, with conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery that occurred on July 3, 2024. Corey Dashun Holloway, Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg and Roosevelt Ford Valentine, all of Houston, Texas, were also charged in the December 2024 superseding indictment. Clark pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the felony charge of interference with commerce by robbery. At the time Clark committed this robbery, he was on supervised release after serving a federal prison term for a prior robbery conviction. Today, U.S. Chief District Judge David Godbey sentenced Clark to 96 months for the current robbery conviction and a consecutive sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment as a revocation sentence in Clark’s prior robbery case, totaling 120 months in federal prison. Clark, Brandyberg, Holloway, and Valentine have been linked to a Houston-based criminal organization called the “Hiram Clarke Money Team.” HCMT members are known to routinely travel to areas outside of Houston and engage in “jugging” style robberies and other forms of theft. During his guilty plea hearing in April, Clark stipulated that during the early morning hours of July 3, 2024, he traveled from Houston, Texas to the Dallas metroplex in a rental car with the intent to commit robbery. Clark admitted that after arriving in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he followed an ATM technician to multiple stops as the technician repaired ATMs in Irving, Grand Prairie, Arlington, and ultimately, Midlothian, Texas. Clark admitted that, at approximately 5:35 p.m. on July 3, 2024, he approached the ATM technician as he was servicing an ATM at a Chase Bank located in Midlothian, Texas. Clark was wearing a hoodie and face covering to disguise his appearance. Clark approached the technician from behind and forced him to the ground. Clark kept his fist to the back of the victim’s head as cannisters containing United States currency were removed from the ATM by codefendants Holloway and Valentine. Approximately $248,000 in United States currency was taken during the robbery. During his court proceeding, Clark admitted that he was the individual forcing the technician to the ground in the photograph below. Court documents reflect that, after the robbery, Clark and two of his codefendants fled from the Chase Bank in the rental car and met codefendant Tierra Tonisha Brandyberg at an apartment complex in close proximity to the bank. The stolen money was loaded into a Range Rover and driven back to Houston, Texas. After arriving in Houston, Clark and Brandyberg used some of the stolen money to purchase a S-Class Mercedes Benz and jewelry. Codefendant Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg entered a guilty plea on July 8, 2025 and is awaiting sentencing. Cory Holloway has filed documents advising the court of his intention to plead guilty and is set for re-arraignment in August 2025. Codefendant Roosevelt Valentine is set for jury trial in September 2025. The FBI (Dallas Division) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.


title: PERRY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – David Alan Miles, 31, of Perry, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the state, local, and federal partners to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who put others at risk, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting criminals with the full force of the law.” Court documents reflect that Miles was arrested on February 7, 2025, after initially fleeing from police in a high-speed pursuit, eluding officers on foot, and then pretending to have been the victim of a carjacking. A canine team from Taylor Correctional Institution responded to help track the “carjacker,” leading officers to Miles’ mothers’ house. Miles eventually admitted to officers that he had fled from the traffic stop because he had a rifle in the vehicle with him and knew he was not allowed to possess firearms. Miles is a seven-time convicted felon, who had previously been to federal prison for possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun and sale of a firearm to a convicted felon. Miles faces imprisonment for up to 15 years. The case involved an investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Perry Police Department and the Florida Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2025 at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Dominican National Admits to Illegally Re-Entry; Faces Third Deportation

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national faces deportation for a 3rd time after pleading guilty today in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Celso Herrera-De Los Santos, 49, who was deported in 2011 and in 2017, is currently detained at ACI on Rhode Island state charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver 1oz to 1 kilo of cocaine. Herrera came to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement a week after his May 22, 2025, arrest during a routine screening at the ACI. Herrera is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A deportation detainer has been lodged in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan. The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Possessing A Pistol

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Terrence Jennings (47, Jacksonville) to 18 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jennings pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025. According to court records, on May 28, 2024, Jennings was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for failure to pay child support. The officers first encountered Jennings sleeping on a couch. When the officers woke Jennings, they observed a firearm in his waistband. Jennings was handcuffed and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol was removed from his waistband. When the officers checked Jennings’s criminal history, they discovered he had previous felony convictions, including fleeing to elude a police officer, possession of cocaine, and possession of a firearm on school grounds. As a convicted felon, Jennings is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced To 21 Months In Federal Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul Byron has sentenced Jorge Mendez-Bamaca (33, Guatemala) to 21 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Mendez-Bamaca entered a guilty plea on April 21, 2025. According to court records, Mendez-Bamaca, a citizen of Guatemala, was convicted in Florida state court of fleeing or attempting to elude siren lights on November 24, 2015, possession of cocaine on May 1, 2018, and lewd and lascivious molestation on November 15, 2018. As a result of his conviction of lewd and lascivious molestation, Mendez-Bamaca was required to register as a sex offender. Mendez-Bamaca was deported from the United States on February 26, 2019. Mendez-Bamaca was arrested on January 16, 2025, by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a valid license and giving false identification to law enforcement. After his arrest, law enforcement learned that Mendez-Bamaca was present in the United States illegally and that he had not registered as a sex offender in Florida. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.


title: Oklahoma Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm

body_text: Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Andre Dominique Barnes (35, Lehigh Acres) to three years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Barnes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he possessed during the offense. Barnes pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025. According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, Barnes was stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol in Lee County for speeding. He was identified by his Oklahoma identification card and had a suspended driver license. Upon search of his vehicle, troopers located a loaded pistol. Court records show that Barnes was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses in Oklahoma. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: New Castle Felon Sentenced to Six Years of Prison for Narcotics and Firearm Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to violations of federal drug and firearm laws and was sentenced to six years of imprisonment on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Michael Rodich, 41, on July 28, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, on September 29, 2023, Rodich was arrested by the New Brighton Police Department. At the time of his arrest, Rodich, who was wanted by the Hermitage Police Department on an open arrest warrant, had a loaded firearm in his waistband as well as drug paraphernalia, crack, fentanyl pills, and $2,380 on his person. In his backpack, Rodich also had two baggies of crack, a bag of powder cocaine, a glass container of powder cocaine, stamp bags of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, a loaded magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition, and 27 rounds of loose ammunition. Rodich was previously convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. In connection with his plea, Rodich admitted to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime, and to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. In imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that, among other things, “third-party deterrence is very important to this Court” and that perhaps those who are considering committing similar crimes will realize that there are “very significant consequences” if they are caught and will “think differently” before they act. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jacqueline C. Brown prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Hermitage Police Department, New Brighton Police Department, and Ellwood City Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rodich.


title: Aliquippa Felon Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 45 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of federal supervised release, on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Tyland Witherspoon, 28, on July 28, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, on or about June 19, 2024, Witherspoon was found to be in possession of a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol along with Smith & Wesson .40 caliber ammunition. Witherspoon previously was convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Upon imposing the sentence, Judge Stickman noted the danger that illegal firearms present to our community and the seriousness of Witherspoon’s offense. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Witherspoon.


title: Following Fatal Hit-and-Run, Mexico Resident Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry into U.S.

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – On July 28, 2025, a resident of Mexico pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Saul Ramirez-Rivera, 26. According to information presented to the Court, on September 21, 2024, Ramirez-Rivera was involved in a deadly hit-and-run in Dormont, Pennsylvania, for which he was charged, later pleaded guilty, and was sentenced for homicide by vehicle, accident involving death or injury while not licensed, reckless driving, driving without a license, and failure to stop at a red signal. Through this encounter with law enforcement, immigration authorities determined that Ramirez-Rivera was illegally present in the United States and had not received permission to enter the country after having been previously removed on February 13, 2019, following a conviction in federal court in Arizona for illegal entry. After serving his sentence, Ramirez-Rivera will be returned to immigration custody pending his removal from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations as well as the Allegheny County Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ramirez-Rivera. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Hollidaysburg Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Forging U.S. District Judge’s Signature

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 25, 2025, to violating federal forgery laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Michael Brandon Cohen, 41, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines to two counts of forging the signature of a United States District Judge. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in 2022, Cohen was licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Cohen was retained to represent a victim in a civil lawsuit against a healthcare company, and informed the victim that he filed the lawsuit on the victim’s behalf in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; however, Cohen never filed the lawsuit. On May 18, 2022, and October 13, 2022, Cohen sent the victim fake court orders purportedly issued by Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Matthew W. Brann in the victim’s favor against the healthcare company. The orders awarded the victim monetary sanctions and fees and bore the electronic signature of the Chief Judge. Chief Judge Brann never issued the orders and, therefore, did not authorize his electronic signature on the orders. Rather, Cohen forged Chief Judge Brann’s signature on the fake orders in an effort to authenticate their legitimacy to his victim client. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for November 18, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Carl J. Spindler and Mark V. Gurzo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cohen.


title: Violent Career Criminal Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Setting Fire to IndyGo Bus and Bus Station

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Demarcus McCloud, 46, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of malicious damage to property receiving federal funds and one count of malicious damage to federal property. McCloud has also been ordered to pay $1,790,685.23 in restitution. According to court documents, on April 24, 2024, around 7 am, Indianapolis Fire Department and IMPD officers responded to a report of a fire at the IndyGo bus stop at 38 th and North Meridian Streets. When first responders arrived, the inside of the bus and front half of the exterior were completely engulfed in flames. Bus cameras captured McCloud boarding Bus #1993 at the Julia Carson Transit Center with a jug of liquid and two butane lighters. The bus was actively operating and transporting passengers along the Red Line at the time. After boarding, he sat in the back, lit a cigarette while hiding under a blanket, discarded it on the floor, then lit and extinguished a piece of paper before relocating to another seat. As the bus neared Meridian and 38th Streets, he poured liquid down the center aisle, left the jug on its side, and began to exit the bus as the liquid continued to flow out. As he approached the bus door, he lit another piece of paper and threw it on the floor. The puddle ignited immediately, and McCloud ran from the bus. IMPD officers located McCloud in a nearby McDonald’s parking lot holding two butane lighters in his hand. During this incident, a passenger who had been on the bus exited to help direct traffic. While assisting, the wind direction suddenly changed, causing a large plume of smoke to envelope the victim. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. During the investigation, officers learned that four days earlier, on April 20, 2024, McCloud walked onto the IndyGo Red Line Virginia Avenue and New Jersey Street bus depot and set a fire inside the trash can. He watched it burn for nearly a minute before walking away. The fire grew inside of the trash can until IFD arrived. IndyGo operates their public transportation buses under the Federal Transit Administration. The bus depot and trash can were funded in part by federal financial assistance, specifically federal grant monies. The bus was destroyed by the fire and the depot was damaged, causing approximately $1,790,685 in damages. McCloud has a 25-year history of violent crime, including multiple felony convictions for crimes including battery causing serious injury, firearm possession by a violent felon, burglary, attempted auto theft, drug offenses, trespassing offenses, and intimidation. He has threatened to kill police and their families, assaulted officers, attacked a woman with a broken pavement piece after she refused him money at a stop light, threatened to rob, rape, and murder another woman, and even violently assaulted his own mother. “This defendant’s reckless actions endangered innocent lives, destroyed public property, and wasted nearly $2 million in taxpayer-funded resources,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Federal dollars are invested in our communities to serve and protect the public, not to be torched by a violent repeat offender with no regard for human life. Thanks to the swift response of first responders and the dedication of our federal and local law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable for his dangerous and destructive conduct.” “As the lead investigative agency in this tragic arson incident, the ATF was proud to work alongside our state and local partners to bring justice to the victims and the community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Smerglia. “This successful collaboration ensured that McCloud was held accountable and received the sentence his actions warranted.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Manchester Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 3 Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine in the Manchester area, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Zachary Austin, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 84 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 25, 2025, Austin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Austin’s co-defendant, Joseph Coffey, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. “Distributing three pounds of methamphetamine is a serious crime with serious consequences,” said Acting United States Attorney Jay McCormack. “This seven-year sentence reflects the harm these drugs inflict on our communities and the commitment of law enforcement to hold drug traffickers accountable.” “DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Austin accountable for his crimes but should serve as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in New England and across the United States. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The DEA is dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.” According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Austin and Coffey operated a methamphetamine distribution business out of their shared Manchester apartment. Between July and September 2024, Austin and Coffey sold methamphetamine to law enforcement on five occasions. Searches of their apartment and vehicle later uncovered additional methamphetamine. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 1.66 kilograms, or 3.66 pounds, of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former New Orleans Attorney Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison For Commodity Exchange Act Violation

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MICHAEL BRIAN DEPETRILLO, (“DEPETRILLO”) , age 43, from New Orleans, was sentenced on July 23, 2025 for violating the Commodity Exchange Act, in violation of Title 7, United States Code, Section 13(a). According to court documents, DEPETRILLO was not properly registered as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) or an Associated Person (“AP”) of a CPO with the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). DEPETRILLO , through various companies including, Meteor, LLC; NOLA FX Capital Management, LLC; ELC Enterprise Solutions, LLC; and Argosapolis, LLC, acted as a CPO and AP of a CPO and embezzled client funds in violation of federal law. DEPETRILLO , while acting as an AP of unregistered CPOs, represented to victim investors that their funds would be pooled and invested in the NOLA FX FUND, that, in turn, would be used to trade foreign currency pairs on a leveraged, margined, or financed basis (“retail forex”). DEPETRILLO lured investors by claiming he was investing their funds by trading in the foreign currency exchange, gold futures options, stocks, and cryptocurrency. Instead of trading as promised, DEPETRILLO misappropriated pool funds. DEPETRILLO then used these misappropriated pool funds to pay approximately $3,700,000 in “returns” to prior investors; approximately $575,000 on his own personal investments; approximately $425,000 on rent; approximately $200,000 on private air travel; and approximately $300,000 on online gambling, among other personal expenses. To conceal DEPETRILLO’s misappropriation, he created and issued fictitious account statements in the names NOLA FX FUND and NOLA FX CAPITAL. The fictitious account statements purported to show that: (1) DEPETRILLO had traded forex using pool participant funds, and (2) the NOLA FX FUND and NOLA FX CAPITAL had achieved significant trading returns for pool participants because of his profitable forex trading. In fact, DEPETRILLO never deposited pool participant funds into trading accounts belonging to NOLA FX FUND or NOLA FX CAPITAL, and he never achieved the trading returns represented on the false account statements. DEPETRILLO also did not set up the forex pool in the manner required by the regulations, did not receive pool participant funds in the name of the forex pool, and commingled pool participant funds with his own funds. DEPETRILLO took in approximately $9.2 million in investor funds from approximately 55 victim investors during a seven-year period. United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced DEPETRILLO to 108 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $6,748,412.79, and a $100 court special assessment fee. The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn McHugh of the Financial Crimes Unit and Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Justice Department Announces Successful Completion of Agreement on Custodial Informant Reforms with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced the successful completion of the Justice Department’s Jan. 17, Agreement for the Sustainability of Custodial Informant Reforms with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) in California to sustain reforms addressing OCSD’s prior pattern or practice of using custodial informants in a manner that violated the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Under the Agreement, OCSD implemented enhancement and sustainability measures with respect to its policies, training, information systems, and auditing procedures and the information it makes publicly available related to its use of custodial informants. These measures adequately ensure that OCSD’s reforms to prevent the use of custodial informants in an unconstitutional manner are durable and robust. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has demonstrated an enduring commitment to protecting the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of those in its jurisdiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We commend the Sheriff and his staff for their efforts in doing their part to ensure the integrity of criminal prosecutions.” To read the original press release announcing the findings of the investigation, click here . To read the report of the investigation, click here . To read the original OCSD Settlement Agreement, click here . To read the Validation Assessment Report, click here . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt .


title: Sedalia Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with unlawfully possessing a firearm following an investigation into a shooting in downtown Springfield on July 20, 2025. Kenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 23, was charged in a criminal complaint that was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025. The complaint was unsealed and made public today following Grant Jr.’s arrest and initial court appearance. Grant Jr. remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing on Aug. 1, 2025. The federal criminal complaint alleges that Grant Jr. possessed a Fort Barnes Armory pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Grant Jr. has prior felony convictions for harassment, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Springfield Police Department officers heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. near midnight on July 20, 2025. When officers arrived on scene they located a Fort Barnes Armory pistol under a nearby car. Officers located surveillance footage of the area depicting who appeared to be Grant Jr. placing the firearm under the vehicle following the shooting. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison In Connection With Shooting Of Five-Year-Old Girl

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that AUSTIN MORRISHOW was sentenced today to 15 years in prison—the maximum sentence prescribed by statute—for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a June 30, 2023, shooting in which MORRISHOW fired multiple shots at fleeing vehicles on a residential street in the Bronx, striking and seriously injuring a five-year-old girl. MORRISHOW previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska, who imposed today’s sentence, as well as the sentence of MORRISHOW’s co-defendant, CURTIS WHITE, on July 9, 2025. “On June 30, 2023, Austin Morrishow and his co-defendant, Curtis White, fired several shots while attending a sidewalk vigil for someone who, in a sad twist of irony, was killed in a shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Morrishow’s brazen acts left a bullet in a five-year-old child’s chest. Instead of accepting responsibility, Morrishow remained a fugitive for eight months. Today’s sentence sends an important message: if you threaten the lives of innocent New Yorkers through senseless gun violence, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” According to the allegations in the Complaint and Indictment, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings: On June 30, 2023, MORRISHOW, WHITE, and several others were gathered on a residential sidewalk in the Bronx, attending a vigil for an individual who had been killed by gunfire just the day before. As three cars idled nearby, one of the cars backfired, causing the group attending the vigil to drop to the ground and scatter. MORRISHOW took cover behind a parked vehicle for a few seconds before aiming a .40 caliber pistol at the three nearby cars while draped over the roof of the parked vehicle, assuming a shooting stance, and emptying his .40 caliber pistol at the three nearby cars. Shortly after MORRISHOW began shooting, WHITE sprinted after the three fleeing cars, firing his .380 caliber pistol wildly. The shots fired by MORRISHOW and WHITE left at least seven .40 caliber shell casings and two .380 caliber shell casings in the street, and bullet fragments, bullet holes, and shattered windows in nearby parked cars. One of the shots fired by MORRISHOW hit a five-year-old girl sitting in the backseat of one of the cars in the chest, narrowly missing her vital organs. Photographs of MORRISHOW firing his handgun at the fleeing vehicles and the back of the vehicle in which the five-year-old girl was sitting, with bullet holes circled in red, are below. MORRISHOW and WHITE fled immediately after the shooting. Although WHITE was apprehended shortly after the shooting in July 2023, MORRISHOW evaded law enforcement until February 2024. MORRISHOW was not permitted to possess ammunition because of, among other felony convictions, a prior federal conviction for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy, for which he was sentenced to 60 months in prison. At the time of the shooting, MORRISHOW was also serving a term of supervised release in connection with his previous federal conviction. WHITE was not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition because of his prior state conviction for attempted first-degree assault with intent to cause serious injury with a weapon. * * * In addition to the prison term, MORRISHOW, 27, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the victim of the shooting. WHITE, 28, of the Bronx, New York, was previously sentenced to 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim of the shooting. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance with the investigation and apprehension of the defendants. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Appeals Court Upholds Denaturalization of Human Rights Violator and Former Bosnian Soldier Convicted of War Crimes

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon that revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of a convicted Bosnian war criminal. Sammy Yetisen hid from immigration officials that she had engaged in human rights violations and war crimes in Bosnia, including the deaths of several civilians and prisoners of war. Yetisen was born in a town in the former Yugoslavia. When the Yugoslav republics began seceding in the 1990s, Yetisen joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was formed by the newly independent Bosnian state, as part of a special forces detachment known as the Zulfikar Unit. The unit was renowned as elite and was particularly cruel, often beating, sexually assaulting, burning, and cutting prisoners. As a member of the Zulfikar Unit, Yetisen participated in the Trusina Massacre, a horrific attack on April 13, 1993, in which Yetisen and others lined up six unarmed Croat prisoners of war and civilians and executed them by firing squad. “The United States is not a safe haven for individuals who commit war crimes and human rights abuses around the globe,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “If you come to this country and hide those acts in your past to become a U.S. citizen, the Justice Department will discover the truth and come after you.” In 1996, Yetisen came to the United States as a refugee, after alleging she had been persecuted as a Muslim, and in 2001, Yetisen applied for naturalization. Throughout her immigration proceedings Yetisen omitted her service in the Zulfikar Unit and participation in extrajudicial killings. She became a U.S. citizen in 2002. In 2009, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Yetisen’s arrest, alleging that she had committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war. The United States extradited Yetisen to Bosnia in 2011 where Yetisen pleaded guilty to committing war crimes and was sentenced in 2012 to five-and-a-half-years in prison. After completing her sentence, Yetisen returned to the United States. In 2018, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon seeking Yetisen’s denaturalization based on her crimes and failure to disclose them. In 2023, the court entered an order revoking Yetisen’s citizenship. On July 21, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the District of Oregon’s revocation of Yetisen’s U.S. citizenship. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Center and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Office of Chief Counsel, Western Law Division. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance to secure the 2011 extradition of Yetisen to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The case was jointly prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsels Devin Barrett and Steven Platt, and Trial Attorney Nancy Pham with review from Senior Litigation Counsel Max Weintraub of OIL ‒ General Litigation and Appeals Section, Affirmative Litigation Unit and support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Schweiner for the District of Oregon.


title: Stamford Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARIUS GAMBLE, also known as “Rell,” 39, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Gamble as a large-scale fentanyl distributor. Between April and September 2024, investigators made four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Gamble. Gamble was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 12, 2024. On that date, a search of his Nobile Street residence revealed approximately 42 grams of fentanyl, a kilogram press machine, a respirator mask, additional items used to process and package narcotics, and approximately $31,307 in cash. A search of Gamble’s vehicle revealed approximately six grams of fentanyl. Gamble has been detained since his arrest. On January 13, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.


title: Somerset County Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Stealing Over $600,000 in Program Benefits

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey man was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $691,465.44 in benefits from various programs and institutions, including the Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Defense, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Steven Jones, 66, of Somerset, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to an Information charging him with Theft of Public Money. Judge Kirsch imposed the sentence on July 25, 2025, in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Steven Jones’ father received several federal retirement benefits before he died in October 2004. After Jones’s father died, Jones intentionally falsified his father’s death certificate so that the federal agencies would continue to issue the retirement benefits. On two occasions, Jones had a person impersonate his father to a federal agency so that the agency would think his father was still alive and continue payments. The investigation revealed that Jones unlawfully collected these payments for nearly 20 years, from October 2004 to December 2023. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kirsch sentenced Jones to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $691,465.44 in restitution. Acting U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, with the investigation leading to this sentence. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Zuckier of the Bank Integrity and Money Laundering Recovery Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Steven Altman, Esq.


title: Belle Vernon Woman Ordered to Pay $116,000 in Restitution for Social Security Fraud

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $116,758 on her convictions of social security fraud and theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Teresa Sabolek, 68. According to information presented to the Court, in May 2009, Sabolek applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSI is a monthly, needs-based payment benefit that is afforded to people with disabilities and elderly who have little or no income. Applicants are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements, which are considered by the agency in determining eligibility for SSI. In her application, Sabolek alleged that her husband did not live with her at their Belle Vernon home and, in June 2022, submitted a signed statement in which she declared under penalty of perjury that her husband had not lived with her since she first applied for SSI in May 2009. Also in 2022, Sabolek applied for spousal benefits on her husband’s Social Security benefits. When the SSA clerk pulled the husband’s file, the clerk recognized that the file contained a sworn statement from the husband indicating that he shared a residence with his wife in Belle Vernon. A subsequent investigation by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General determined that the husband’s driver’s license, mailing address, and registered vehicles all related to the same address where Sabolek represented to the SSA that she lived alone for over 13 years. In December 2024, agents visited the Sabolek home, where the husband answered the door and it was determined that the husband indeed had a room in the house and paid the home’s mortgage and utilities. Had Sabolek informed the SSA that her husband also lived at the residence, she would not have received any SSI benefits. Sabolek received $116,758 in SSI benefits for which she was not eligible between May 2009 and August 2022. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Sabolek.


title: Prince George’s County Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Roddrick Navara Shelby, 48, of Laurel, Maryland, to 70 months in federal prison for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). According to the guilty plea, in November 2024, the DEA and MCPD began investigating Shelby in connection with suspected fentanyl trafficking. During their investigation, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases where Shelby sold a confidential source approximately 500 pills. The pills were blue in color and imprinted with “M30” – mimicking the markings on legitimate pills that one would receive from a manufacturer containing oxycodone hydrochloride. As confirmed by laboratory analysis, the blue “M30” pills contained fentanyl. In total, Shelby sold approximately 1,471 fentanyl pills, or more than 150 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, to the confidential source. On the morning of March 20, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Shelby’s residence and vehicle in Laurel, Maryland. In a kitchen drawer, and other places in the residence, law enforcement identified assorted ammunition, one loaded magazine, two empty .357 caliber Glock magazines, and one empty .45 caliber Glock magazine. Law enforcement also found approximately 63 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, in a kitchen drawer, law enforcement found three digital scales with white residue and three small-knotted baggies containing what seizing officers suspected was cocaine. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright, who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #