title: Paroled Murderer Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marvin Mutch, 69, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, in May 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Mutch’s residence. Inside his residential office, officers seized various electronic devices containing tens of thousands of depictions of the sexual exploitation of children. Some of these images included depictions of the sexual abuse of children as young as 3 or 4 years old. Officers also seized a privately manufactured “ghost gun” containing eight rounds of ammunition from the center console of Mutch’s vehicle parked in the garage. Mutch is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon who was convicted in 1975 of murdering a 13-year-old girl. Press reports issued shortly after Riley’s murder indicated that her killer beat her and then drowned her in Alameda Creek in Union City, California. Mutch served approximately 40 years in the California state penal system for this crime before being paroled in 2016. The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation with assistance from the FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case. Mutch is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Aug. 28, 2026. Mutch faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his CSAM conviction and a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his felon in possession of ammunition conviction. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: South Hero Man Charged with Mail Theft, Attempted Mail Theft, and Possession of Stolen Mail

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on March 12, 2026 a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kevin Manning, 42, of South Hero, Vermont, with three counts of mail theft/attempted mail theft, and one count of possession of stolen mail. On March 26, 2026, Manning entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment before United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss had previously ordered Manning be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, the case arises out of an investigation into theft of mail from porches and mailboxes in and around Grand Isle County, Vermont. In mid-November 2025, residents of Grand Isle County began reporting to the Sheriff’s Office that packages that had been shipped to them never arrived, or packages that were shipped to them had been reported delivered, but when the recipients went to retrieve the packages from their porches or mailboxes, the packages were not there. On December 24, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Manning’s residence and recovered multiple items that had been contained in the stolen mail packages. Over an approximate three-month period from November of 2025 to February of 2026, it is alleged that Manning stole hundreds of mailed and shipped items worth thousands of dollars. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Manning is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Manning faces up to 5 years of incarceration on each of the four counts with which he is charged. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Flynn. Manning is represented by Federal Public Defender Alejandro Fernandez.


title: “Ghost preparer” pleads guilty for role in tax return scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A local woman has admitted to aiding or assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. From 2017 to 2023, Jamie Nevid Wallace owned Donahue Tax Service and operated as a “ghost preparer” to conceal her involvement in the scheme. As such, she made it seem that clients were filing their own returns without the assistance of anyone else. Wallace was required to obtain and use a Provider Tax Identification Number on any returns she prepared but instead concealed her role by creating accounts for her clients using tax preparation software. Wallace prepared false tax returns that included fraudulent Schedule A deductions and Schedule C business and education credits, which generated refunds her clients should not have received. She also charged fees for those returns. As part of her plea, she admitted to filing a false 2021 income tax return that included $68,453 in false Schedule A deductions, $36,852 in false Schedule C losses for a business that did not exist and a false education credit showing expenses supposedly paid to a local university. These false entries resulted in $18,075 in tax loss. Wallace has admitted responsibility for $244,824 in losses to the IRS and has agreed to pay that amount in restitution. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett will impose sentencing June 25. At that time, Wallace faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.


title: FCI Allenwood Inmate Indicted For Possessing Contraband In Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Josue Franco, age 30, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2026, on a charge of possessing contraband in prison. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on September 10, 2025, Franco possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Suburban Chicago Investment Advisor Sentenced to Six and a Half Years in Prison for Swindling Clients

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago investment advisor has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for inducing clients to invest in nonexistent business opportunities. RALPH ROGERS III held himself out as an entrepreneur and investment advisor. From 2021 to 2023, Rogers fraudulently obtained funds from multiple individuals by falsely promising to invest their money in purported business opportunities, including fiber optic cable installation, computer chip manufacturing for Tesla, and a fitness recovery studio. Instead of investing the funds as promised, Rogers used the money for his own personal benefit, including for travel, hotel rooms, jewelry, apparel, and gym fees. He also made Ponzi-type payments to lull earlier investors. Rogers carried out his scheme while on court-supervised release following a period of incarceration for a prior federal fraud conviction. Rogers, also known as “Tres Rogers,” 63, of Batavia, Ill., pleaded guilty in November 2025 to a federal wire fraud charge. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis imposed the 78-month prison term and ordered Rogers to pay $238,044.62 in restitution to his victims. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “Defendant is a serial fraudster who, through both sophisticated and unsophisticated means, pursues every opportunity to victimize any person who comes into his orbit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Pinkston argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant selects his victims from his immediate environment: his gym, the local bicycle store, the local smoothie shop, the hotel bar where he is a guest, the restaurant where he is dining, the relatives of his romantic partner. He will defraud anyone he can.”


title: Lycoming County Man Indicted On Drug And Firearms Offenses

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert E. Confer, Jr., age 37, of Lycoming County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment charges Confer with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on October 11, 2025. Confer is also charged with possession of firearms by a prohibited person and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The FBI, Bellefonte Police Department, Lock Haven City Police Department, and the Centre County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for the most significant offense is life imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Indictment Returned Against D.C. Man Who Assaulted Police Officers

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ian Zephyrin, 46, of Washington, D.C., was indicted this week on charges related to an attack on multiple Metropolitan Police Officers which occurred on June 24, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Zephyrin was indicted on nine counts, including one count assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A felony status conference is set for May 13, 2026. “Law enforcement officers put themselves on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We stand firmly behind the blue and will not hesitate to act when those sworn to protect our communities are targeted.” According to the government’s evidence, on June 24, 2025, Zephyrin entered a CVS store located at 2009 8th Street NW and began to fill a reusable bag with merchandise. Zephyrin took the bag, walked past all points of sale with the unpaid merchandise and left the store heading towards V Street NW. Before leaving, the defendant attempted to take the CVS manager’s cellphone from her hand. When the defendant left, the CVS manager contacted the Metropolitan Police Department to report the theft of the merchandise. After leaving the CVS, the defendant headed to the 600 block of Florida Avenue NW, when an MPD officers spotted the defendant and attempted to make contact with him. However, the defendant fled from officers, leading them on a brief foot chase. As officers attempted to detain the defendant, Zephyrin he pulled out a knife from his person and stabbed at one of the officers, striking him in the elbow and the forehead. The Officer suffered a large laceration to his forehead, requiring over 50 stitches. The defendant then brandished the knife at another officer who arrived later on scene before throwing the knife at a third officer. The defendant remains in custody pending trial. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Scholz. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025 CF1 007135


title: Three Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Henry and Carroll Counties

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Danny Trotter, 51 , Carla Stout, 38 , and Randi Black, 40 , have been sentenced for their roles in engaging in a monthslong conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Henry and Carroll counties. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today. Through the utilization of controlled purchases of methamphetamine, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Carla Stout was supplying Danny Trotter and Randi Black with hundreds of grams of methamphetamine for redistribution. All three defendants also have a history of committing crimes involving the distribution of methamphetamine. Following their guilty pleas to conspiring with each other to distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced the defendants as follows: Danny Trotter - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release Carla Stout - 168 months in prison and five years of supervised release Randi Black - 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our streets, our jails, our hospitals, our morgues, and our nurseries. Federal law applies in every square inch of this district, and criminal conspiracies that distribute harmful drugs in our rural communities can no longer hide.” This case was investigated by members of the 24 th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Local Physician Sentenced to 1 Year Imprisonment, a $60,000 fine, and Restitution of $349,272.79 for Adulterating and Misbranding Medical Devices with the Intent to Defraud

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington — On March 25, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Dr. Eric Edward Haeger, age 57, of Brewster, Washington, to one year and a day in federal prison followed by a one-year term of supervised release after Haeger pleaded guilty to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead. Judge Pennell also sentenced Haeger to pay a $60,000 fine and $349,272.79 in restitution. The Plea Agreement can be found here . In June 2021, Philips Respironics initiated a recall for certain CPAP and BiPAP devices due to potential health risks associated with the foam used in the devices for sound abatement. The recall was classified as a Class I recall because there was a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, the devices would cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The potential health risks identified at the time included inflammatory response, asthma, nausea or vomiting, and toxic or cancer-causing effects. Based on court documents, between July 2021 and July 2023, Haeger purchased over 500 used and recalled CPAP and BiPAP devices through online resellers, which were shipped to the Eastern District of Washington. Haeger, and others at his direction, including his own children, would then open the devices, attempt to remove the foam using screw drivers, hooks, and other tools, and then put the devices back together. This conduct occurred in locations that were not designed or operated as clean rooms for the purpose of manufacturing medical devices. Haeger and staff at his sleep clinic, Central Washington Medical Associates, under his control and supervision would then provide the used, recalled, and adulterated devices to Washington State Medicaid patients. Staff at the sleep clinic under Haeger’s direction and control would then bill the used, recalled devices to Medicaid with the false and fraudulent representation that they were new devices that were in good working order. At sentencing, the Court concluded that Defendant had adulterated and provided to patients 440 devices that were then billed to Medicaid for over $600,000, of which $439,272.79 was paid to Defendant. The United States contended that the number of devices and loss was even more extensive. The United States argued that each of these devices presented potential harm to the patients in the way they were adulterated, both because the adulteration exasperated the risk of inhaling harmful particulates and because the devices were altered from the carefully engineered and FDA approved design, which could cause additional problems with the devices such as overheating. In sentencing Haeger to just over 12 months imprisonment, Judge Pennell acknowledged Haeger’s conduct was ongoing and extensive and that he continued to blame others for his own decisions. Judge Pennell recognized Haeger’s conduct created potential harm for his patients by creating a significant concern of contamination. Judge Pennell also stressed how Haeger’s conduct served to undermine confidence in medical professionals and medical institutions, which can cause further anxiety and stress for those seeking medical treatment when they are not sure they can trust their own doctors. “Dr. Haeger violated the trust of his patients who were misled into believing Dr. Haeger was providing them with safe and reliable medical equipment,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “Instead, Dr. Haeger devised an extensive scheme to defraud his patients and Medicaid, prioritizing profit over patient health and safety. Conduct that puts profits over patients is egregious, and my office will continue to prosecute such cases.” “The FDA is committed to protecting patients from adulterated and misbranded medical devices that may compromise health and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. “This case demonstrates the serious consequences of altering recalled medical devices and misrepresenting them to patients and healthcare programs.” “Putting recalled and unsafe medical devices into the hands of vulnerable patients is an egregious violation of the trust our healthcare system relies on,” said Robb Breeden, Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Area Regional Office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Patients deserve to know that the equipment they depend on is safe and effective—not secretly refurbished, adulterated, or contaminated. Our investigation underscores a simple truth: when providers put profits ahead of patient safety, we will hold them accountable.” “The adulterations by Dr Haeger show a dangerous disregard for the safety of his patients,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said. “This is a win for patient safety, for protecting public dollars from fraud, and for ensuring citizens of Washington get necessary healthcare. This case exemplifies the great work our team is doing in collaboration with our federal partners to fight fraud and protect Washingtonians.” “As a physician, Dr. Haeger knew he had a responsibility to act in the best interest of patients who trusted him with their health,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Instead, he risked the safety of hundreds of Medicaid patients by issuing them recalled medical devices he had tampered with, then fraudulently billing Medicaid representing the machines as new. Even worse, these Medicaid patients had limited treatment options, and he took advantage of their vulnerability for his own gain. Together with our state and federal partners, the FBI will hold accountable fraudsters who choose greed over their patients’ health.” The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division, the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley.


title: Telemedicine Company Owner Pleads Guilty to $46M Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: The owner of a telemedicine company pleaded guilty today to organizing and leading a $46.2 million Medicare fraud conspiracy that spanned more than six years. According to court documents, Christopher Harwood, 43, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, admitted that he owned and operated a telemedicine company called TelevisitMD. Harwood and his co-conspirators targeted Medicare patients through aggressive telemarketing campaigns, inducing them to accept orthotic braces and genetic tests that they did not need. Harwood paid doctors to approve orders for these braces and genetic tests. These doctors did not follow Medicare’s rules for telemedicine visits, did not have real medical relationships with the Medicare patients, and often signed orders for orthotic braces and genetic tests without any meaningful interaction with the Medicare patients. Harwood then sold the signed doctors’ orders to durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies, laboratories, and marketers who were part of the scheme. Harwood also owned and operated multiple DME supply companies based in Florida that he used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for orthotic braces that Medicare patients did not want or need. In total, at least $46.2 million in false and fraudulent claims were submitted to Medicare as part of Harwood’s scheme. Medicare paid $17.9 million based on these claims, and Harwood personally received more than $10.4 million from the fraud scheme. Harwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Harwood faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: New Orleans Men Indicted for Fentanyl, Heroin Distribution Conspiracy and Drug Trafficking Firearms Possession

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – On March 19, 2026, YANCY MATIRNE (“MATIRNE”) and ERROL POINTS (“POINTS”) , both from New Orleans, were charged on Marchs 19, 2026 in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, MATIRNE and POINTS conspired and possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and marijuana in New Orleans in the Eastern District of Louisiana. MATIRNE was charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C) (b)(1)(D) and 846. In Count 2 MATIRNE was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), (b)(1)(D) and 846. Lastly, in Count 3 MATIRNE was charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). MATIRNE faces a mandatory minimum sentence for each of the violations in Counts 1, 2, and 3. The sentences imposed in Counts 1 and 2 may be run concurrently but must run consecutively to the §924(c) violation. POINTS was charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C) (b)(1)(D) and 846. In Count 2 POINTS was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), (b)(1)(D) and 846. Based on a prior conviction, POINTS is subject to a sentencing enhancement. POINTS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life as it relates to Counts 1and 2. U. S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 case is a part of the NOLA Safe initiative and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit. Operation NOLA Safe is a comprehensive, multi-pronged, and data driven law enforcement initiative designed to reduce violent crime in the Greater New Orleans area. This initiative brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to strategically align efforts and deploy targeted enforcement resources where they are most needed and effective.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Illegal Alien for Multiple Counts of Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted a Mexican national on four counts of trafficking cocaine into the U.S. from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 16, 2025, Eli Alejandro Hernandez Ledezma, 25, of Piedras Negras, was referred to secondary inspection at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately eight kgs of cocaine in an aftermarket compartment in Ledezma's vehicle. Testimony during the trial revealed Ledezma was in contact with an unindicted coconspirator who offered him “fast money” if he had a valid visa. Additionally, testimony and evidence in the trial noted Ledezma shared his GPS location with an unindicted coconspirator before he approached the Eagle Pass POE. In a trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez, a federal jury found Hernandez Ledezma guilty of one count of conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, and one count of importation of cocaine. Each count carries a penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison and up to a $10 million fine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and CBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh, Nallely Duarte and William Golden are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Alleged murderer and multiple repeat felons among those prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America efforts

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 439 new cases have been filed against 440 individuals in immigration and border security matters from March 20-26, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The Southern District of Texas filed 187 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 236 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felony convictions, including narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses and more. The cases also include charges against 12 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. The remaining cases involve other immigration crimes and firearms. Six of those charged were allegedly found in and around the McAllen area this week. According to one criminal complaint, authorities discovered Honduran national Jose Roberto Serrano-Miranda near Relampago even though he had been removed from the United States in September 2025. The charges allege he has prior convictions for domestic assault bodily injury and aggravated assault strangulation. Five others are all allegedly from Mexico. The criminal complaint alleges Ruben Davila-Trujillo and Daniel Eduardo Munoz-Najar were just removed in January and February, respectively, while Jose Manuel Gomez-Jimenez and Loreto Hernandez De Loera had both been ordered removed from the country in June 2025. With the exception of De Loera, who has multiple convictions for driving under the influence and a felony driving while intoxicated, each has prior convictions for various drug offenses, according to the allegations. Ricardo Josue Gutierrez had also allegedly been previously removed. His charges allege he has a prior conviction for transportation or harboring of illegal aliens. If convicted of illegal reentry, all six face up to 20 years in federal prison. In addition to the new cases, a man known as “ Two-Face ” was ordered to serve 180 months for being an illegal alien in possession of a weapon linked to the shooting death of a local woman. Savin Seng is an admitted gang member from Cambodia and illegally resided in Victoria. On Oct. 3, 2025, an incident occurred at a residence in the Telferner community outside Victoria, where authorities found a female victim deceased from a gunshot wound to the head. The shooter had left his cell phone and fled the scene. An image on the phone showed Seng holding a Glock pistol with an extended magazine. A witness had also identified him as the murder suspect. Law enforcement located Seng less than a mile from the scene of the shooting and took him into custody. At the time of his arrest, he had a loaded Glock 17, 9mm pistol in his shorts along with a loaded 31-round extended magazine. Seng had illegally entered the United States as a child from Cambodia and never held lawful immigration status in the country. Court documents allege he had been ordered removed as an aggravated felon in April 2016 but had not been physically removed. He has been in custody in California, Georgia and Louisiana, according to court records, and had an active arrest warrant from 2022 for another homicide in Los Angeles, California. Seng admitted he possessed many guns while remaining in the United States illegally. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are all part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Miami-Area Tax Return Preparers Preliminarily Enjoined from Preparing Returns for Others

component: Civil Division

body_text: Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction against Miami-area tax return preparer Christopher Brown and Brown’s tax return preparation business Superior Taxes LLC (Defendants). The court issued the injunction over the defendants’ opposition to the government’s motion, which presented evidence that showed the defendants engaged in a pattern and practice of preparing and filing false returns that understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities and claimed inflated tax refunds by: (1) claiming incorrect filing statutes, such as “head of household”; (2) fabricating or inflating business losses on Form 1040 Schedule C; (3) falsifying residential energy credits; and (4) fabricating or inflating education credits. Defendants used these schemes to reduce taxable income so that customers could claim the earned income tax credit despite knowing the customers weren’t eligible to claim these deductions and credits. In addition to finding strong proof that the defendants fabricated deductions and losses, the court determined that the government would face irreparable harm absent a preliminary injunction. The court found Brown’s explanation that he had made a “concerted effort to take more precautions when preparing tax returns” this current tax season was “unavailing” considering the number of “inaccurate returns prepared over several years.” The injunction bars Brown and Superior Taxes from preparing and filing tax returns for others, working for or having an ownership stake in any tax return preparation business, and advising anyone about the preparation of a tax return and requires Brown and Superior Taxes to post a copy of the preliminary injunction order at every location that they are currently operating for the current tax season. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Attorneys Rachel Iacangelo and Elizabeth Duncan of the Tax Litigation Branch handled this matter. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information. In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.


title: Milford Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BAILEY, 46, of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Elizabeth Jordan, after sustained pressure from Bailey, engaged in sexual activity with a minor and livestreamed the activity to Bailey using Facebook messenger. A subsequent search of Bailey’s phone revealed a series of screenshots of Jordan and the minor engaged in sexual activity. Bailey and Jordan have been detained since August 2024 when they were arrested for related state offenses. On November 3, 2025, they each pleaded guilty in federal court to enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Judge Nagala ordered Bailey to pay $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $10,000 pursuant to Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Jordan, 43, of West Haven, is awaiting sentencing. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Norfolk man convicted on federal drug trafficking and firearms charges

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

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Norfolk man today on charges of maintaining a drug-involved premises to distribute cocaine fentanyl, marijuana, and suboxone; possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 18, 2025, law enforcement conducting a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation searched the residence of Jamar Edward Gay, 36, in Norfolk. During the search, investigators located a container with crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, and suboxone strips in the kitchen. Inside the bedroom, investigators found a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), rendering the firearm capable of automatic fire. Investigators also recovered two other MCDs, marijuana, and Gay’s driver’s license, debit card, and United States Marine Corp identification. Investigators found another firearm in the living room. Gay has previous convictions for, among other crimes, unlawful wounding in March 2018 and malicious wounding in August 2022. As a previously convicted felon, Gay cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Gay faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on Aug. 2. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. On March 18, a federal jury convicted James Edward Sweat on charges of using a drug involved premises, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Sweat faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when sentenced on July 14. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Luke Bresnahan are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; and the Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk office investigated this case with assistance from the Chesapeake Police Department and the Norfolk Police Department. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-5.


title: Sharon Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Three Decades in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on his conviction of distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton (United States District Court for the District of Columbia) imposed the sentence on Laven Davis, 33. Judge Walton also ordered Davis to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Davis was convicted by a federal jury in October 2025 of distributing fentanyl on or about November 28, 2022, resulting in the serious bodily injury and death of a 43-year-old Hermitage woman. According to information presented to the Court, Davis distributed the fentanyl to the woman despite a request to him earlier that day in which she stated “don’t ever give me any more drugs I’m done with everything.” The woman died early the next morning in her family’s home. Davis was on state parole at the time he distributed the drugs, following his release only months before from a state prison sentence for aggravated assault. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office, Mercer County Coroner’s Office, Hermitage Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Davis.


title: Burlington, Vermont Man Sentenced to 15 Years of Imprisonment for Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 27, 2026, Brendan Sullivan, 29, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a 15- year term of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, and ordered to pay $20,000 of restitution to victims of his offenses. Sullivan previously pleaded guilty to using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice a child and possession of child sexual abuse materials. According to court records, Sullivan was previously convicted in federal court for possession of child sexual abuse materials, and received a time served sentence in 2020. Sullivan had numerous violations of his post-release supervision, ultimately leading to a revocation of his supervised release and an additional 9 months of imprisonment. Sullivan was released from the Bureau of Prisons on December 3, 2024. On December 12, 2024, Sullivan uploaded child sexual abuse materials to a website, in hopes of finding and viewing similar materials. This upload triggered a CyberTip, which was routed to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, who began an investigation. On June 24, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Sullivan’s residence, and investigators seized Sullivan’s laptop. A forensic review of the laptop revealed over 2,600 unique images and 131 unique videos of child sexual abuse. The examination also revealed a messaging thread between Sullivan and a person who claimed to be a 13-year-old child. During the messaging, Sullivan proposed meeting up with the boy, offered the boy marijuana, provided detailed descriptions of sexual fantasies to the boy, provided the boy images of Sullivan’s genitalia, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations attempted to locate the 13-year-old boy, and discovered that the messaging was instead sent by a 17-year-old minor in California, who was mimicking “catch a predator” social media posts. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. “State and local law enforcement are crucial partners in our efforts to protect children. I am extremely grateful for their assistance in this case.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith and First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Sullivan was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds 231 New Immigration Cases

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 231 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 20 to March 26, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for violent crimes, drug trafficking, numerous DWIs, and multiple prior removals. Among the new cases, Miguel Angel Castro , of Fabens, was arrested on human smuggling charges Tuesday. U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a sensor activation near San Elizario and allegedly encountered three illegal aliens. A criminal complaint alleges that, during processing, one of the illegal aliens identified two phone numbers in his phone that were used to coordinate with the intended smugglers. Further investigation led the agents to an arranged pickup. The complaint alleges that when the smuggler, Castro, arrived at the agreed upon location and the agents identified themselves, he attempted to flee at a high rate of speed. U.S. Border Patrol agents located Castro at his residence, where he was arrested. The complaint alleges Castro worked with a known smuggler and intended to pick up the illegal aliens for $1,000 and transport them to a stash house in Horizon City. Castro was previously convicted of human smuggling in 2020 and again in 2024. He was sentenced to five months and 21 months in prison, respectively, in those cases. Francisco Irineo Rodriguez-Cordero , an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and charged with illegal entry after allegedly being found approximately 10 miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry near Sierra Blanca. Rodriguez-Cordero has been previously deported four times, the last being on Nov. 24, 2025, through Nogales, Arizona. He also has three prior convictions for DUI, assault, and dangerous drugs. Mexican national Jesus Manuel Jacquez-Beltran was arrested less than a quarter mile west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. He was deported for the third time on Jan. 15 through Harlingen. Jacquez-Beltran has been convicted of three prior illegal re-entry charges as well as assault of a federal officer with a deadly weapon and aiding and abetting. He now faces a fourth illegal re-entry charge. Arturo Ortiz , an illegal alien from Mexico, was encountered at the Bandera County Jail, after he was arrested for escape while arrested/confined and possession of a controlled substance. On March 20, he was sentenced to 10 years of probation and transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Ortiz has been previously convicted of DWI, driving with a suspended license, public lewdness, interfering with emergency request for assistance, and assault on a family member. In San Antonio on Thursday, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers conducted a traffic stop on a driver identified as Ruben Hernandez . A criminal complaint alleges that assisting HSI agents had information that Hernandez was an illegal alien who was deported in 2010 following an illegal re-entry conviction. The complaint further alleges that a Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer questioned Hernandez, leading to a search of Hernandez’s apartment and the discovery of 11 bundles of cocaine amounting to 12.65 kgs. Agents also found an undetermined amount of U.S. currency that Hernandez allegedly claimed to be proceeds from cocaine trafficking. Hernandez is charged with possession with intent to distribute over five kgs of cocaine. Jesus Elmer Amaya-Machado , an illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested by the ICE ERO Fugitive Operations Unit in San Antonio on Tuesday. A criminal complaint alleges that, as ICE agents approached Amaya-Machado, he attempted to flee into his residence, entering through a back door, though he eventually exited voluntarily and was taken into ICE custody without incident. Amaya-Machado was last removed from the U.S. in 2013 and has three DWI convictions. Mexican national Norberto Vasquez-Almanza was arrested by ICE officers after he was pulled over for a traffic stop in Seguin on Tuesday. Vasquez was last removed from the U.S. in 2016, following a conviction for illegal re-entry. His criminal record also includes a conviction for unlawful carrying of a weapon, for which he was sentenced to one year of probation. Over the weekend, Mexican national Saul Albadaba Arriaga was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Maverick. He was deported in December 2025 for the fourth time, following his sixth conviction for driving under the influence. Abel Aguilar-Valdez , an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry after being deported for the sixth time on Feb. 20. Three weeks prior to his sixth removal last month, Aguilar-Valdez was convicted of this third DWI and sentenced to four years in prison. Luis Gutierrez-Aguilar , also a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry after being recently removed from the U.S. on Feb. 17 through Brownsville. Since March 26, 2024, Gutierrez-Aguilar has been convicted of multiple felonies, including illegal use of a weapon and burglary of a building. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Eau Claire Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leo Lacey, 48, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 64 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lacey pleaded guilty to this charge on January 5, 2026. The prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Lacey is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions. On May 21, 2025, Lacey arranged for codefendant Garrett Waldinger to illegally straw purchase a Taurus 9mm handgun for Lacey. The next day, an individual reported that Lacey had threatened him with a handgun. Based on the reported gun offense, on May 23, 2025, an Eau Claire police officer attempted a traffic stop on Lacey. Lacey initially pulled over but then fled. Lacey led police on a high-speed chase before ultimately crashing into another vehicle and fleeing from the vehicle on foot. Officers eventually located Haney and recovered the handgun Waldinger had purchased for him. At the sentencing, Judge Peterson said that Lacey is dangerous, and that the primary goal of the sentence in this case was to protect the public. Codefendant Garrett Waldinger pleaded guilty to straw purchasing the firearm and is scheduled for sentencing on April 1, 2026. The charges against Lacey and Waldinger were the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Federal Law Enforcement Seizes Eleven Firearms, Ammunition, and Twenty Machine Gun Conversion Devices From Chicago Residence; Two Suspected Gang Members Arrested

body_text: CHICAGO — Federal law enforcement this week arrested two suspected gang members and seized eleven firearms, ammunition, and twenty machine gun conversion devices from their Chicago residence. Criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charge JULIAN TORRES, 19, and BRANDON OSORIO, 29, with possession of a machine gun. Torres and Osorio were arrested on Monday. Today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez granted the government’s motion for both defendants to remain detained pending trial. Law enforcement on Monday of this week conducted a court-authorized search of Torres’s and Osorio’s residence in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side. During the search, agents discovered a short-barrel rifle and ten handguns, one of which was equipped with an extended magazine, the charge alleges. Agents also discovered 20 machine gun conversion devices, which when affixed to a firearm allow it to operate like a machine gun, meaning the gun would be able to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. The search also turned up assorted ammunition and firearm accessories, the complaints state. During the detention hearing in federal court today, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Moran advised the Court that Torres and Osorio are members of the 31st and Morgan Satan’s Disciples, a Chicago street gang that allegedly engages in illegal firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and other criminal offenses. The Court was also advised that the gang used Torres’s and Osorio’s residence as a hub for its illegal activities. The complaints and arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Secretary of State Police and the Illinois Army National Guard Counterdrug Program. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. osorio_complaint.pdf torres_complaint.pdf


title: District Man Pleads Guilty to Strangling His Romantic Partner

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ramon Leonard, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to strangling his former romantic partner in April 2025 and October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Leonard was previously convicted of strangling the victim in October 2024. Leonard pleaded guilty to two counts of strangulation in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026, before the Honorable Judge Robert Salerno. “This guilty plea reflects our office’s staunch commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable and protecting victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant had already been convicted of strangling the victim once before, and yet he chose to commit this heinous act not once, but twice more. That pattern of predatory behavior will not be tolerated in this community. We will continue to pursue justice on behalf of every victim with the full force of this office.” According to the government’s evidence, on April 8, 2025, Leonard got into a verbal altercation that turned physical with the victim at her residence. During the altercation, Leonard choked the victim by putting both of his hands around her neck. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and was going to lose consciousness. The victim was able to flee to her leasing manager’s office and called 911. On October 31, 2025, the defendant strangled the victim in front of his residence after trick-or-treating with their children. During the assault, he choked her by placing both of his hands around the front of her neck. The victim felt like she was fighting for air and could not breathe. This assault was captured on surveillance footage. Leonard was arrested on November 11, 2025, and has remained in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Marshal Robert Anthony Dixon. The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and Special Agent Greg Nagurka of the USAO-DC Criminal Investigations Unit. U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance in executing the arrest warrant. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Hinerfeld is prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Arson Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RICKY WILSON (“WILSON”) , age 31, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 19, 2026 by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long, for his role in a Conspiracy to Commit Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, payment of full victim restitution, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Court documents revealed that WILSON purchased a vehicle from a dealership, but later placed three live Molotov cocktails next to vehicles on the dealership’s lot, damaging them. He also fired several shots into other vehicles, as well as the dealership’s offices. No one was injured during the course of these criminal acts. 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 Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller handled the prosecution.


title: Los Angeles Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Money Laundering

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tracy Arnett, 40, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to four years and three months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, from May 2023 through March 2024, Arnett, Daniel Hooker, and two additional co-conspirators conducted more than 20 financial transactions that they believed involved laundering the proceeds of cocaine trafficking. Their belief as to the nature of the funds was based on representations of an individual working at the direction of law enforcement. On one occasion in October 2023, Arnett met the individual in a hotel parking lot in Rancho Cordova to obtain $100,000 in cash to launder. In total, Arnett and his co-conspirators received approximately $940,000 in purported drug trafficking proceeds. Of that amount, the conspirators laundered approximately $811,000. Hooker, 37, of Studio City, California, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced on April 18, 2025, to 27 months in prison. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.


title: Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sex Abuse Material

body_text: A Fort Worth man who produced sexually explicit videos of two children was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison yesterday, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Keith Plaskonos, 68, pled guilty on December 10, 2025, to an indictment charging him with two counts of using a child for the purpose of creating sexually explicit images. According to court documents, in November 2023, DPS officers were dispatched to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport regarding a report that an adult male was looking at animated child sex abuse material on his cell phone. The male was identified as Plaskonos. After agents seized his cell phone and completed a forensic extraction of the contents, they found that Plaskonos used cellular phones in 2021 and 2022 to create sexually explicit videos of a female child approximately one years old and a second female child who was approximately four years old. On March 26, 2026, United States District Judge Mark T. Pittman sentenced Plaskonos to 360 months per count to run consecutively, for a total of 720 months. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office (Fort Worth Resident Agency) and the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”


title: Thibodaux Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that on March 17, 2026, LINEZ GREEN, (“GREEN”) , age 32, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, 4 years of supervise release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Brandon Long on March 17, 2026. GREEN previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); § 841(b)(1)(B), and 846, to Distribution of a quantity of a mixture of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and § 841(b)(1)(C), and Illegal use of communications facility, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §843(b) and Title 18, U.S.C. §2. According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least May 4, 2024, GREEN conspired with several individuals to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine throughout the Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy involved obtaining narcotics from Houston, Texas and transporting the narcotics to Thibodaux, Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications. On numerous occasions, GREEN used his cell phone to further this conspiracy and distributed methamphetamine to numerous customers in Thibodaux. 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). The United States Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisiana State Police, Thibodaux Police Department, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 220 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of narcotics in Albuquerque. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, beginning in August 2024, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department Narcotics Unit investigated Quontez Kuvinka , 26, and his fentanyl trafficking organization. The investigation identified Kuvinka as a source of supply who provided fentanyl and methamphetamine to a courier who, on multiple occasions in September 2024, sold the drugs to an undercover law enforcement officer. Kuvinka also personally sold fentanyl and cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer during controlled purchases. On October 8, 2024, agents conducting surveillance observed Kuvinka leave his residence and drive to a pre-arranged drug transaction location, where he was expected to supply narcotics for distribution. Law enforcement approached Kuvinka while he was seated in his vehicle, and he attempted to flee on foot before being taken into custody. A subsequent search of Kuvinka ’s vehicle revealed approximately 442.6 grams of fentanyl (equivalent to roughly 4,400 pills), approximately 267.5 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately 7 grams of cocaine, along with drug trafficking paraphernalia. Officers also recovered eight firearms and ammunition from the vehicle, including multiple weapons equipped with machinegun conversion devices capable of converting semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. As a previously convicted felon, Kuvinka is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Kuvinka pleaded guilty to conspiracy, distribution of cocaine, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Omar Arellano of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Chief of Police Cecily Barker of the Albuquerque Police Department made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department.


title: Las Cruces Man Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man is facing federal charges after allegedly selling cocaine and a machinegun conversion device to undercover agents. According to court documents, on August 19, 2025, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of a machinegun conversion device from Victor Andrew Pardo Jr. , 26, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for $300. The device was later analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and determined to meet the legal definition of a machinegun. A records check confirmed that Pardo did not have any firearms registered to him under the National Firearms Act. On January 27, 2026, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 249.6 grams of cocaine from Pardo in El Paso, Texas. Surveillance agents observed Pardo travel from his residence in Las Cruces to the meeting location, where he sold the cocaine to an undercover agent in exchange for $5,000. Laboratory testing later confirmed the substance was cocaine. On February 19, 2026, investigators conducted a second controlled purchase of approximately 251.6 grams of cocaine from Pardo at his residence in Las Cruces. During the transaction, Pardo weighed the substance in front of the informant before exchanging it for $5,000. Laboratory analysis again confirmed the substance was cocaine. Pardo is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Pardo faces up to 20 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Sarah Mauricio, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, the New Mexico State Police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Pardo).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Alien Federally Charged With Identity Theft, Voter Fraud, and Passport Fraud After Allegedly Using American Citizen's Identity to Vote

body_text: An illegal alien from Mexico was federally charged with identity theft, voter fraud, and passport fraud for allegedly assuming the identity of an American citizen, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Eliseo Morales-Tapia, 58, a citizen of Mexico residing illegally in the United States, was charged by federal complaint on March 20, 2026. According to the complaint, Morales-Tapia obtained a Texas driver’s license, a Texas identification card, a social security card, and a United States passport, using the identity of another individual who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Morales-Tapia is alleged to have presented the victim’s birth certificate, social security number, and other documents to obtain these identification documents. Most recently, according to the complaint, in October 2025, Morales-Tapia checked “yes” to questions asking if he was a U.S. citizen and if he wanted to vote when he updated his address for the Texas driver’s license that he had obtained years earlier in the victim’s name. As the complaint alleges, in 2025, Morales-Tapia also renewed the passport he had obtained in the victim’s name in 2015. Additionally, according to the complaint, Morales-Tapia voted in an election in Tarrant County on November 5, 2024, utilizing the victim’s identity. Morales-Tapia appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge on March 25, 2026, for an initial appearance on the charges. He remains in federal custody pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Morales-Tapia faces a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment, with up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the identity theft and voter fraud counts and up to ten years’ imprisonment on the passport fraud count. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Diplomatic Security Service, the IRS, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Frisco Police Department, and the Richardson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Capoccia is handling the prosecution. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


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

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the two-week period ending March 27, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 98 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 10 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 6 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 19 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for include theft, aggravated DUI, aggravated assault, use of false immigration documents, aggravated vehicular assault, child sexual assault, domestic violence, alien smuggling, narcotics trafficking and prior immigration offenses. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Extradited Kenyan National Sentenced for Role in Business Email Compromise Scheme

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: JOHN MURIUKU WAMUIGAH, 36, a citizen of Kenya, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to approximately 23 months of imprisonment, time already served, for his participation in a business email compromise scheme that operated out of multiple countries, including the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, Wamuigah participated in a business email compromise scheme masterminded by his co-conspirator, Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a Nigerian national. Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money. They used unwitting and witting “money mules,” including victims of romance scams, to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts and then either transferred those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or converted the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer. Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations. In reality, the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators. The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others. As a result of the scheme, losses and intended losses totaled more than $12 million. Wamuigah’s role in the scheme involved his altering or forging invoices, contracts, and wire transfer instructions at Osuji’s direction. Osuji used the forged documents to trick victims into sending money to bank accounts he and others controlled. Wamuigah was arrested in Malaysia in 2022 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States in 2025. On October 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wamuigah will be transferred to ICE custody and removed to Kenya. On May 1, 2024, a jury in New Haven found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On December 4, 2024, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment . On October 15, 2024, co-conspirator Tolulope Bodunde, a citizen of Nigeria was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment . This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Field Office and the Stamford Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Royal Malaysia Police, and Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers provided valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Wamuigah from Malaysia. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.


title: Wyoming man sentenced to over 9 years in prison for drug and gun charges

body_text: BILLINGS – A Wyoming man with prior felony convictions who was found in possession of drugs and guns on two separate occasions was sentenced today to 118 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Kristofer Mikal Wright, 38, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on March 20, 2024, Wright had an active warrant for his arrest by Wyoming probation. He was also being investigated for distributing drugs. He was located by the U.S. Marshals Service in Billings and arrested. Wright had been surveilled driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee to a storage unit, so law enforcement searched the vehicle and seized two loaded firearms, ammunition, and 35.2 grams of methamphetamine. About two months later, on May 31, 2024, Wright was again in Billings with an active warrant for his arrest on his Wyoming case. Law enforcement saw him in the Jeep at a local motel and watched him as he drove around Billings. He parked at a residence and the U.S. Marshals prepared to effect an arrest, but Wright came out of the house and got back in his Jeep. The officers tried to pin Wright’s vehicle to prevent him from leaving but he ignored their commands, started the car, and tried to escape by ramming a broken-down van parked in front of him on the street. He also tried to back into a marked police vehicle. Law enforcement ultimately fired non-lethal, bean bag, shotgun rounds to break Wright’s windows and get him to surrender. When officers subsequently searched Wright’s Jeep, they found two firearms, ammunition, 253.7 grams of actual methamphetamine, and 90.8 grams of fentanyl. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.


title: Illegal Alien Admits Possessing Firearms, Cocaine

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – An illegal immigrant from Honduras on Friday admitted being caught with guns and cocaine after nearly hitting a family in a crosswalk in St. Ann, Missouri. Esmin Guzman-Euceda, 21, of Woodson Terrace, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. He admitted that on July 7, 2024, St. Ann Police officers spotted him speeding and driving through a pedestrian crossing zone, nearly striking a family pushing a stroller with an infant inside. After officers stopped Guzman-Euceda, they discovered that he did not have a valid drivers license and arrested him. They found $1,208 on Guzman-Euceda and two baggies of cocaine, a rifle and a pistol in the vehicle. The guns had been reported stolen, but Guzman-Euceda told officers that he did not know they were stolen when he bought them. He also admitted that he knew he could not lawfully possess firearms due to his immigration status. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. Guzman-Euceda is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2. The St. Ann Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss is prosecuting the case.


title: District of Arizona Charges 256 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 21 through March 27, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 256 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 155 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 86 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Pedro Martinez-Ruiz . Pedro Martinez-Ruiz was charged by criminal complaint on March 23, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit. On March 21, 2026, a Border Patrol camera operator observed a group of subjects walking north in the Santa Cruz River area, east of Nogales, Arizona. Camera operators then watched as a Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the same area and the subjects got into the truck. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) nearby initiated a traffic stop to conduct an immigration inspection. In the truck, BPAs found 16 subjects wearing camouflage clothing who were sweating and breathing heavily. The subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. The driver, the only individual not wearing camouflage clothing, was identified as Pedro Martinez-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen who was also in the United States illegally. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00171] United States v. Thompson, et al . Tyler Daniels Thompson and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews were charged by criminal complaint on March 27, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On March 25, 2026, National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement officers requested a Border Patrol canine handler for a vehicle sniff at the campground road inside Organ Pipe National Monument. When BPAs arrived, NPS officers notified them that they had seen fresh footprints coming from the mountain pass and going directly to a black Volkswagen Jetta nearby. The temperature outside was approximately 100 degrees. The Jetta was occupied by Tyler Daniels Thompson, the driver, and Yasmine Desire Marie Matthews, the front seat passenger. After the BPA canine alerted to the vehicle, BPAs opened the trunk and discovered two people hiding inside, drenched in sweat. BPAs pulled out one subject who was passing out, carried him to a shaded area, and cut off his clothes to begin cooling him. BPA EMTs then arrived and administered aid. Initially the EMTs reported that the man was unconscious and they could not detect a pulse, but they were eventually able to cool him off. The subject regained a pulse and was transported to a hospital for further care. The other subject in the trunk required water to revive him. Both subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-00354] United States v. Kristie Elizabeth Pablo . On March 23, 2026, Kristie Elizabeth Pablo was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On March 22, 2026, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office observed Pablo driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe below the speed limit on I-10 Westbound in Eloy, Arizona. The deputy matched speed with the Tahoe, observed the vehicle’s tires cross into his lane, and initiated a traffic stop. The deputy learned that Pablo was engaged in human smuggling, and called BPAs to the scene. Immigration checks confirmed that one of the passengers in Pablo’s car was a citizen of Mexico and another passenger was a citizen of Guatemala, both unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-9091] These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-052_March 27, 2026 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 132 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 132 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On March 22, Jacob Ross Juri, a citizen of the United States, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 59 pounds of cocaine concealed in a non-factory compartment in the roof of the vehicle the defendant was driving when applying for entry to the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. On March 23, Victoriano Angulo-Estrada, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, a Border Patrol Agent encountered Angulo-Estrada, who was illegally present in the U.S., about 1.5 miles north of the international border, west of the Tecate Port of Entry. He had been previously deported in October 2025 through San Ysidro. On March 25, Miguel Rosas Zambrano, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the defendant was the captain of a smuggling boat that was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard about 3.5 miles west of Point Loma with eight undocumented Mexican nationals on board. Also arrested were Daniel Eduardo Guerrero Miranda, Jose Guadalupe Padilla Munoz and Maria Elena Tello Figueroa. They were charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.