title: Fargo Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as Sex Offender

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann, has sentenced a man from Fargo, North Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026. William Dean Locke, 38, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Locke was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025. Locke was previously convicted of a federal sex offense. Because of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Locke was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current with officials within the county in which he resided. Nonetheless, from July through late August 2025, Locke knowingly failed to register and update his registration. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Locke was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Nine coconspirators convicted in drug, money laundering, $4.5 million COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracies

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Nine defendants are now convicted in a case involving drug trafficking, money laundering and COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracies after the lead defendant pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here. Alex Garnett, 49, of Mason, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, as well as wire fraud. According to court documents, between September 2022 and March 2024, Garnett operated a drug trafficking organization, obtaining kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from co-defendant sources of supply and providing the drugs to other co-conspirators for resale. Garnett and others deposited their drug proceeds into bank accounts in the name of fictitious businesses. Co-defendant Kimberly Hubbard, 50, of Griffin, Georgia, conspired with other defendants to prepare materially false and fraudulent claims for COVID-19 relief funds, namely Employee Retention Credits (ERC). In total, Hubbard filed 26 fraudulent IRS forms claiming more than $4.5 million in ERC. The IRS disbursed approximately $207,000 of the fraudulent claims. The others convicted include: Name Age City Christopher Perkins 53 Cincinnati Marvious Hester 45 Decatur, Georgia Jorge Peraza 36 Mexico Markail Smith 28 Cincinnati Richard Watson III 27 Batavia, Ohio Adrian Myles 25 Cincinnati Tierra Womack 42 Duluth, Georgia The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the guilty plea entered on June 5 before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Romanian Man Sentenced for Card Skimming

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – DANIEL IULIAN TEUTOC (“TEUTOC”) , also known as “Simon Mikula,” citizen of Romania, was sentenced on June 4, 2026, in connection with a nine-count indictment against him for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1344, and 1349; conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of Title 18 , United States Code, Sections 371, 1029(a)(3) and 1029(a)(4); and seven counts of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, TEUTOC , and others, went to Walmart stores across the Eastern District of Louisiana, including Laplace, Slidell, Harvey, Boutte, Chalmette, and New Orleans. TEUTOC, and others, captured card information at different the points of sale, where previously installed card skimming devices had been installed by other members of the conspiracy. TEUTOC , and others, used magnets to activate the card skimmers and send the card information electronically to TEUTOC , and others’, cell phones. After gaining possession of the Walmart customer credit, debit, and EBT card information, TEUTOC , and others, sent the information to another co-conspirator with the intent to allow members of the conspiracy to make fraudulent charges with the stolen card information. United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced TEUTOC to sixty months of incarceration and two years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $11,275,777.90 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, New Orleans Police Department, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul J. Hubbell of the Narcotics Unit, Nicholas Moses, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and André Jones, lead OCDETF Narcotics Task Force Attorney, are in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Holyoke Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Holyoke, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for conspiring to distribute fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Jose Heredia Jr., 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2026, Heredia Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and carrying a firearm in in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Over an eight month period, Heredia Jr. conspired with others to distribute massive amounts of fentanyl in Western Massachusetts and throughout the Northeast. On one occasion, Heredia conspired to distribute one and a half kilograms of fentanyl, which was intercepted by law enforcement. The investigation revealed a number of other occasions during which Heredia supplied mid-level drug dealers with large amounts of fentanyl. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police; the Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Offices; and the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield and Easthampton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Merck and Neil L. Desroches, Chief of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.


title: Five Savannah men sentenced to federal prison for illegal firearms possession in separate cases

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Five men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to being felons in possession of a firearm in separate cases. The sentences imposed by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Stephen Lodato , 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 165 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Lodato was found in possession of multiple firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition after Savannah Police executed a search of his residence after a domestic dispute in March 2025. Jaime Alexander German , 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 145 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with the Intent to Distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. After a lengthy investigation including physical surveillance and undercover operations, a search warrant executed by the Savannah Police Department uncovered multiple firearms and 491 grams of fentanyl at German’s residence in May 2024. Todd Shane Pendergraph Jr. , 37, of Savannah was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pendergraph was found to be in possession of a firearm after attempting to flee from a May 2024 traffic stop in Savannah by Georgia State Patrol. Devontay Jones , 29, of Savannah, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jones was found in possession of a firearm in August 2025 during an encounter with Savannah Police who had responded to a road rage incident. Jacorey D. Lockette , 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 22 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Lockette was found to be in possession of a firearm during a March 2024 compliance check when Savannah Police found a pistol in the defendant’s bedroom. There is no parole in the federal system. “We praise the vigilance of our law enforcement partners’ continued commitment to removing these weapons of violence from the streets of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Through effective interagency cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we are ensuring those that violate the law are brought to justice.” The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Georgia State Patrol, and the Savannah Police Department. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese, Jennifer J. Kirkland, Tara M. Lyons, L. Alexander Hamner, Timothy P. Dean and Darron J. Hubbard.


title: Former Brookline Doctor Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud and Tax Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A former Brookline, Mass. physician was sentenced on June 5, 2026 in federal court in Boston for health care fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Dr. Pankaj Merchia, 52, of Brookline, Mass. and Boca Raton, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 58 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Merchia was also ordered to pay $1,847,931 in restitution. In January 2026 , Merchia was convicted of one count of health care fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Merchia was indicted for money laundering and health care fraud in December 2022 and later charged with tax offenses in a superseding indictment along with alleged co-conspirator Dr. Shona Pendse in February 2023 . Merchia perpetrated two distinct health care fraud schemes. First, Merchia billed former patients’ insurance companies for monthly rentals of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPap) machines from 2017 to 2019, despite not having treated the patients since at least 2011. In some cases, the patients had returned the devices to him. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to purchase an expensive home in Brookline. Additionally, Merchia defrauded another insurance company out of over $390,000 by submitting claims for a CPAP machine provided to his brother. After he was told that the insurance carrier would not pay for treatment rendered by a family member, Merchia created a new medical business and submitted new claims so that the company would pay. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to fund a wire transfer of $250,000 and to purchase at least $140,000 in securities. Finally, from 2009 to 2019 Merchia did not report, or pay taxes on, over $6.5 million in income he earned from his medical businesses by falsely claiming that those businesses were owned by his co-conspirator. To defraud the IRS, Merchia fabricated a sham transaction by which he claimed to have sold his medical businesses to his co-conspirator in 2008. To ensure that his co-conspirator did not owe taxes, they claimed large amortization deductions, spread across many years, for the fabricated sale. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: St. Louis Felon Sentenced to 189 Months in Prison for Robberies, Car Theft, Shooting

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced a convicted felon who stole a woman’s gun and car, robbed two men he’d met on a dating app and then used the stolen gun in a shootout to 189 months in prison. Corey M. Felton’s two-week crime spree began on Nov. 27, 2024, when he was supposed to be driving a friend home but instead grabbed her gun, pointed it at her and demanded that she get out of her car. The woman had just retrieved her belongings from a boyfriend’s house after a breakup, and Felton drove off with those belongings also. The next day, Felton robbed a man that he’d met on Grindr. As they walked through an alley in south St. Louis to get a drink, Felton pulled a handgun and stole the victim’s wallet and the $1,200 inside it. On Dec. 2, 2024, Felton robbed another man he’d met via Grindr. The two agreed to meet at the victim’s house. Once there, Felton produced a handgun and demanded cash. The victim transferred $600 to Felton via Cash App. Felton then stole the victim’s Xbox, Nintendo Switch and phone. Eight days later, Felton used the stolen handgun to exchange fire with a group in the 3500 block of South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis. The next day, members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted a court-approved search of Felton’s apartment and found the stolen gun and Xbox. The robberies and shootout “in a densely populated area of St. Louis” risked “the safety and wellbeing of countless individuals,” a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss said. Felton’s criminal history also shows that he “lacks any respect for the law and poses a significant risk of danger to the public,” the memo said. Felton, now 29, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in October to one count of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Friday, he was also ordered to pay $1,800 in restitution to victims. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Three-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Dealing Fentanyl and Carrying Stolen Handgun

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ROME, Ga. – Sincere M. Billingslea, a three-time convicted felon and armed fentanyl dealer who operated in northwest Georgia, was sentenced to nine years in prison after his conviction on federal drug and weapons charges. “The successful prosecution of this serial offender is a prime example of law enforcement working together to rid the streets of dangerous recidivist felons who continue to peddle poison for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With nearly a decade of imprisonment ahead of him, Billingslea will no longer cause trouble for the citizens of northwest Georgia.” “Billingslea is a repeat offender who continued to pollute our community with his drugs, all while having guns he wasn’t supposed to be carrying,” said Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Cartersville office. “The FBI will continue to work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals off our streets.” “Cases like this highlight the importance of strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The successful removal of a repeat offender involved in trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms makes our community safer and sends a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated,” said Major Mark Mayton, Special Operations Commander of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. “Sheriff Clark Millsap is proud of the work performed by the men and women of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to public safety continue to make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On December 30, 2024, law enforcement attempted to arrest Billingslea on an outstanding warrant as he left a Cartersville, Georgia motel in the backseat of a taxicab. As officers approached the taxicab, Billingslea yelled to the driver, “Go, go, go!” When the cab driver did not comply with Billingslea’s demand to drive off, Billingslea threw items into the front seat, including a recently stolen Glock pistol, another handgun, approximately two ounces of purple-colored fentanyl, over six ounces of methamphetamine, a black digital scale with suspected drug residue, a Gucci bag, and $3,450 in cash. Law enforcement promptly seized the contraband and took Billingslea into custody. When law enforcement later searched Billingslea’s cellphone, they found several pictures and videos of Billingslea pointing a Glock handgun at the camera and flaunting drugs and stacks of cash. Billingslea was already a three-time convicted felon whose criminal history included aggravated assault, armed robbery, and obstruction of law enforcement. Accordingly, Billingslea was prohibited from possessing firearms. The investigation further revealed that Billingslea had bought thousands of dollars’ worth of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Atlanta the night before his arrest and was selling it out of his Cartersville motel room. On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II, sentenced Sincere M. Billingslea, a/k/a “Trouble,” 27, of Rockmart, Ga., to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Billingslea was convicted on February 25, 2026, after he pleaded guilty possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bartow County Sheriff's Office, and Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Former MPD Officer Found Guilty in Scheme that Defrauded More than $18,000 from Taxpayers

body_text: WASHINGTON - Roberto Adams, 39, a former Metropolitan Police Department officer residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, was found guilty today in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $18,000 in taxpayer-funded Covid-era disaster relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. A federal jury deliberated a day and a half before finding Adams guilty on one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta scheduled sentencing for October 23. According to the evidence at trial, Adams obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans on behalf of his business SuperKlean LLC, a janitorial services company that was not operational at the start of the pandemic. He obtained a first PPP loan in July 2020 and spent those funds in approximately one month at casinos in Maryland and Las Vegas, on airfare and hotels in Miami, at restaurant and bars, and on hangover treatments. On Jan. 21, 2021, Adams applied for a second PPP loan. Eight days later, on Jan. 29, 2021, $18,345, representing the second draw of the PPP loan funds, was deposited into Adams’ checking account. He quickly spent those funds paying off personal debts, including over $12,000 in back rent as well as other personal extravagances such as clothing and high-end sneakers. In April 2021, Adams applied for a job with the Seattle Police Department. In the course of his background check, a Seattle Police Department detective noticed that Adams had obtained a PPP loan but had failed to disclose it in his written application or during an interview with the detective, as required. When confronted, Adams falsely claimed that the “purpose of the loan was to provide relief and assistance for my small business during the pandemic.” This case was investigated the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with substantial assistance by the Internal Affairs Division of the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Santiago and Caelainn Carney. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 21cr625 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Defendant Sentenced to 210 Months’ Imprisonment for Sex Trafficking Minor Victim

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Hadrian Crichlow was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 210 months in prison for sex trafficking a minor. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Gonzalez ordered Crichlow to pay $12,000 restitution to the victim. Crichlow pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2025. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. “Sex trafficking is a crime that strips victims of their freedom, dignity, and safety, and today’s sentence reflects the profound harm he inflicted on a child,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Crichlow treated a child as a commodity, taking advantage of a vulnerable 15-year-old and selling her body for his own profit. Today’s outcome should send a clear message that such exploitation will be met with serious consequences, and it is my hope that it brings a measure of justice to the victim who endured these abuses.” "Hadrian Crichlow subjected a vulnerable child to unthinkable sexual abuse and psychological torment, including repeatedly trafficking this minor victim for profit. May today’s lengthy sentence reflect the FBI’s dedication to holding accountable those who commit such vile actions that exploit children," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. Between September and October 2023, Crichlow, then 42-years-old, trafficked the victim – a 15-year-old unhoused runaway – and forced her to engage in commercial sex acts throughout New York City, including in Brooklyn and the Bronx, as well as in other states. Crichlow took photographs of the victim and those images were posted in online advertisements for commercial sex. Crichlow then forced the minor victim to meet with commercial sex customers multiple times per day in hotel rooms while transporting her between several states and required the victim to surrender all proceeds to him. Crichlow controlled the victim through a combination of isolation, dependency, drugging, and sexual violence. He prohibited her from possessing or using a cellphone outside of his presence, ensuring she could not contact family, friends, or law enforcement; he gave her drugs; and he forced her to engage in sex acts with him directly – separate from the commercial sex encounters he arranged – over her express objections, telling her on at least one occasion that he did not care whether she consented. Crichlow sex trafficked the victim until she escaped in October 2023. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek, Katherine Onyshko, and Sean Fern are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : HADRIAN CRICHLOW Age: 45 Bronx, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-120 (HG)


title: Passaic Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

body_text: A Passaic County man was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS). Mohamed Sagha, 22, of Wayne, New Jersey was charged by complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. He made his initial appearance today in federal court. He was ordered detained. “As alleged, the defendant sought to support ISIS and expressed interest in violence directed at targets within the United States, including places of worship,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Those who seek to advance the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations should expect a swift and coordinated response from federal law enforcement. This Office will continue working relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and prosecute individuals who support terrorism and threaten the safety of our communities.” “The defendant allegedly wanted to attack targets in the United States in support of ISIS and its hateful ideology, but the FBI detected and put a stop to his violent plans,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “This should be a stark reminder to the American people of the FBI’s resolve to pursue anyone who tries to harm Americans and provide material support to terrorist organizations, and we will work with our Justice Department partners to make sure they face justice.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From approximately December 2025 to June 2026, Sagha participated in one or more online chat groups wherein ISIS supporters discussed, among other things, potential attacks on targets within the United States, including places of worship. In or around October 2025, he met a confidential human source (“CHS”) online, whom he believed to be a member of ISIS. In his discussions with the CHS, Sagha expressed an intent to assist one of the members of an ISIS-supporters online chat group with an attack on a place of worship. He also told the CHS he was contemplating carrying out an attack of his own, possibly on a National Guard location or on a Jewish place of worship. He then shared images and/or videos of both locations with the CHS, and stated that they were near his residence in Wayne, New Jersey. During these conversations, the CHS repeatedly held himself out as an ISIS fighter, sending Sagha messages and photographs that indicated the CHS was in ISIS territory in Syria. These included a photograph of the CHS in the back of a truck holding an ISIS flag, as well as a photograph of the CHS leaning against a vehicle over which the ISIS flag was draped, holding what appeared to be an AK-47-style assault rifle. Sagha, in turn, repeatedly expressed a desire to travel to ISIS territory, and even made an unsuccessful attempt at doing so in early March, 2026. Between on or about May 31 and June 2, Sagha and the CHS discussed the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the CHS and other ISIS fighters referred to as “brothers.” VPN technology enables users to conceal their online activities, mask their locations and identities, and communicate with greater anonymity. In the hands of members of a foreign terrorist organization, the technology can assist efforts to evade detection, maintain communications, and further the organization’s activities. Sagha ultimately purchased a VPN, sent it to the CHS — whom he believed to be a member of a terrorist organization — and explained to the CHS how to use the VPN. The count of attempt to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization has a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of life of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the special agents of the FBI Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, officers of the New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and the Wayne Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Rooney, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. The government is represented by Senior National Security Counsel Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit, and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jay Rezai of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Orlando Resident Charged with Mortgage and COVID Relief Fraud

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Tampa, FL – Yan Daniel Inclan Hernandez (32, Orlando) has been charged by indictment with one count of making a false Statement to a financial institution and three counts of wire fraud. If convicted on all counts, Hernandez faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also notifies the defendant that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $157,500, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, in September of 2021, Hernandez made a false statement on a mortgage loan application submitted to a financial institution claiming $12,350 in monthly income. This false statement influenced the financial institution’s decision to approve and fund a $411,350 mortgage loan which Hernandez used to purchase a property in Orlando. Additionally, between May 2020 and August 2021, Hernandez engaged in a wire fraud scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for himself and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for his company from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Hernandez caused PPP and EIDL applications to be submitted that overstated gross monthly payroll, gross monthly income, gross annual revenues, and the number of employees. These material misstatements, and others, fraudulently induced the SBA and PPP lenders to fund the loans. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Development – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Knoxville Man Indicted On Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine, And Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 20, 2026, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned an indictment charging Brandon Allen Foxx, 36, of Knoxville, TN, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, seven counts of distributing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On June 8, 2026, Foxx appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook, in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was detained pending trial, which has been set for July 28, 2026, before the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge. According to court documents, between November 25, 2025, and May 7, 2026, Foxx sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on seven occasions. Court documents also allege Foxx possessed firearms while selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant. On May 12, 2026, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (“TBI”) executed a search warrant of Foxx’s residence. Inside the residence, agents found 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 93 grams of fentanyl, 28.1 grams of crack cocaine, 1.4 kilograms of marijuana, 181 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, $2,405 in cash, and two firearms. If convicted, Foxx faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Francis M. Hamilton III, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and ATF Resident Agent in Charge Nellie Waterman, made the announcement. This case was investigated by the ATF and the TBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Gilmore of the Eastern District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Sioux Falls Man Guilty of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Ryan Nigro, age 34, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 4, 2026. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Nigro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Nigro started a conversation on Reddit, a popular communication/posting website, with a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl. The conversation turned sexual, and he asked the 12-year-old girl to meet up hoping to have a sexual encounter with her. Nigro arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by law enforcement. All along, unbeknownst to him, Nigro had actually been chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 12-year-old girl. This case was brought as part of an undercover chat operation designed to identify individuals in the community who are interested in having sex with minors. The case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Tea Police Department, Rapid City Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth E. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered; a sentencing date will be set at a later time. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Four Abusive Tax Shelter Promoters Found Guilty in $40M Nationwide Tax Evasion Scheme

body_text: A federal jury in the District of Colorado convicted four individuals today of conspiracy to defraud the United States for their operation of an abusive trust tax evasion scheme that caused approximately $40 million in losses to the United States. “The defendants orchestrated an abusive trust tax scheme designed to help clients evade their tax obligations through a web of sham trusts, false representations, and fraudulent transactions,” said Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Tax fraud schemes undermine the integrity of our tax system and deprive the government of resources, shifting the burden to honest Americans who follow the law. Today’s trial convictions underscore the Fraud Division’s commitment to holding accountable those who promote and profit from abusive tax shelters and other fraud schemes.” “These defendants were repeatedly warned by attorneys, CPAs, financial professionals, and IRS guidance that this trust-based scheme was illegal, yet they chose to ignore those warnings. Their conspiracy was a deliberate attempt to conceal income and undermine the integrity of our nation’s tax system while lining their own pockets through their lies,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Denver Field Office. “We appreciate the jury’s verdict and the message it sends to those who promote or engage in abusive tax schemes. IRS-CI will continue to partner with DOJ-Tax to pursue these criminal tax evaders.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Marcia Predmore, Roderick Prescott, Suzanne Thompson and Weldon Wulstein promoted an illegal “layered” trust tax shelter to hundreds of high-net-worth business owners nationwide. The tax shelter was made up of four trusts called a business trust, family trust, charitable trust, and private family foundation. The four promoters taught clients how to use the layered trust tax shelter to evade paying federal income taxes on upwards of 98% of their business profits, in part by claiming a tax deduction for non-deductible personal living expenses and fraudulent charitable contributions. Some of the promoters marketed this tax shelter at seminars hosted across the country and advertised that using the tax shelter would allow clients to “own nothing, control everything.” The tax shelter cost between $25,000 to $50,000 to set up. Wulstein, a CPA, prepared hundreds of false tax returns for clients who purchased the tax shelter. He did so in partnership with Thompson, who operated a bookkeeping firm and prepared financial statements for the clients’ trusts. Prescott, who had previously been convicted of tax evasion and permanently enjoined from promoting abusive tax shelters, promoted the so-called private family foundation, which was the final layer of the tax shelter. Prescott taught clients how to claim a tax deduction for funds donated to the foundation while maintaining control over those funds for their own personal benefit. Predmore, a registered life insurance agent, promoted the tax shelter to clients through the business she operated with her spouse. In December 2025, Predmore’s spouse, Timothy McPhee, was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy, tax evasion, and wire fraud. Those charges stemmed from his role in this scheme and for his operation of a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme called the ROI Cash Flow Fund. Suzanne Thompson and Weldon Wulstein were also convicted of six counts each of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for clients who purchased and used the fraudulent tax shelter. Marcia Predmore was convicted of six counts of tax evasion for her personal use of the same tax shelter she promoted to others. All four promoters each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Thompson and Wulstein also face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Predmore faces an additional maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Lauren K. Pope and Patrick Burns of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Assault of a Ranger and Other Crimes Committed in Yosemite National Park

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Anthony Valencia, 32, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to time served followed by three years of supervised release for assault of a federal officer, interfering with a government employee engaged in official duties, and camping without a permit, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, beginning in June and continuing through July 22, 2024, Valencia began misusing the 911 emergency system that serves Yosemite National Park by making a series of non-emergency calls intended to harass dispatchers and law enforcement officers. Investigators identified the source and location of the calls and hiked to the location where Valencia had been camping without a permit for an extended time. Valencia stated that if he had had a gun, he would have shot one of the rangers. Valencia then punched and injured one of the rangers who served citations to Valencia. Valencia has been in custody since his arrest in July 2024. Valencia pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026. The National Park Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.


title: District of Kansas releases quarterly update on child exploitation cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) gives an update on cases prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood (PSC) during the months of March, April and May. PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC 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. As part of USAO-KS’s commitment to prosecuting cases related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, offices in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, Kansas, are staffed with federal prosecutors who specialize in seeking justice in these types of offenses. In March, April, and May, USAO-KS indicted multiple defendants on child exploitation related offenses while achieving substantial sentences for defendants who had been convicted. Indictment Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina was indicted on three counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography. The former high school wrestling coach was initially charged through complaint on three criminal counts then prosecutors pursued an additional count at indictment after the discovery of a fourth alleged victim. Dennis D. Dees, 39, of WaKeeney was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. Joshua David Kolb, 43, of Independence, Missouri, was indicted on one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure. Jesse William Laws, 46, of Leavenworth was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. At the time of the alleged offense, Laws was a registered sex offender with two prior federal child pornography convictions. Nicolas Perez-Paxtor, 40, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation and one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Devin Rich, 40, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on six counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Sentencing Matthew William Brewer, 44, of Salina was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor - receipt of child pornography. Frank Castro, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas was sentenced to 110 months in prison after being convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography following a bench trial. Douglas Harpster, 53, of Salina was sentenced to 78 months in prison and a ten-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material. Eric Holloway, 53, of Clay Center was sentenced to 135 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child sexual abuse material, with statutory sentencing enhancement as the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of sexual violence. Jacob Navarrette, 34, of Wichita was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 22, of Haysville was sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography. Michael Pinkerton, 48, of Topeka was sentenced to 137 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography. Pinkerton, a previously convicted sex offender, possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while he was on supervised release for similar offenses. https://www.justice.gov/psc An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026. Anthony Braden Jewett, 31, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Jewett was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026. On New Years Day, 2025, Sioux Falls Police responded to a report of a shooting at an apartment building in town. Upon arrival, they found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his leg. Investigation revealed the victim had gone to the door of Jewett’s apartment to confront him about a previous incident. During the altercation, Jewett produced a handgun and shot the victim in the leg. Jewett is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he has multiple prior felony convictions. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Jewett was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


body_text: Recidivist and Felon Sentenced to Four Years for Illegal Firearm Possession CONCORD – Jonathan Balamotis, 34, of Plaistow, was sentenced today in federal court for firearm offenses, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Balamotis was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Samantha Elliott to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Balamotis previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. “Despite being a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, the defendant chose to disregard the law and is now being held accountable for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Our office will continue to pursue significant consequences for felons who unlawfully threaten public safety.” “ATF enforcement operations prioritize habitual offenders,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Greco. “A recidivist who seeks out a firearm poses an immediate and obvious danger to public safety. The ATF will pursue criminal actors who show a blatant disregard for the law.” According to the public record, Balamotis was previously sentenced to 2-4 years of imprisonment in New Hampshire State Prison for Arson and Second-Degree Assault. After he was sentenced, Balamotis committed nine (9) separate probation violations. A few years later, Balamotis was sentenced to another felony in 2015 for possession of a Class A Controlled Substance. Balamotis’ last conviction was in 2017 for another Possession of a Class A Controlled Substance in Massachusetts. On October 21, 2024, the Plaistow Police Department executed two residential search warrants related to a separate investigation. While that investigation was ongoing, Plaistow Police Department and ATF agents learned that the defendant attempted to purchase a gun on June 25, 2025. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. The Plaistow Police Department provided valuable assistance. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin prosecuted the case.


title: Southeast Missouri Man Admits Two Armed Robberies

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from southeast Missouri on Monday admitted participating in the armed robbery of two businesses and their patrons in 2024. Tarrence Raybon, 41, of Kennett, In Dunklin County, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to two counts of robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that while out on bond and wearing a GPS monitoring device on his ankle, he and two other men robbed a tobacco and liquor store in Kennett on Jan. 17, 2024. The two other men were armed. One grabbed a man and threw him to the ground while pointing a gun at him. They stole cash and a cell phone from victims and cash and lottery tickets from the store. GPS data from Raybon's ankle monitor places him at store at the time it was robbed. Four days later, Raybon and two other men robbed another business in Kennett. One of Raybon’s two accomplices held a gun to a victim’s head while Raybon stole cash from the store’s office. Raybon used bolt cutters to break into video gambling machines and stole cash while his accomplices held employees and patrons at gunpoint. They also stole cash, a gun and a cell phone from victims. Raybon's ankle monitor again put him at the scene of the robbery at the time it was robbed. Both robberies were also captured on video. On Feb. 27, 2024, Raybon and two other people were in a stolen car and being pursued by Pemiscot County Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Portageville Police Department. The driver of the vehicle crashed. After Raybon fled on foot, officers found his driver’s license and a distinctive chrome Lorcin .380 handgun used during both robberies. GPS data from Raybon’s ankle monitor placed him in the vehicle during the chase and tracked him as he fled on foot. The Kennett Police Department, the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Portageville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton prosecuted the case. Raybon is scheduled to be sentenced On September 8. Both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Raybon’s lawyer have agreed to recommend 20 years in prison. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Jefferson County Man Convicted for Drug Trafficking from Inside the Alabama Department of Corrections

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been convicted of using a contraband cell phone to run a methamphetamine conspiracy while in custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Samdrekus Eugene Bester, 43, after four days of testimony before U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Bester was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to evidence presented at trial, Bester was serving a life sentence inside the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) for a 2016 murder he committed in Jefferson County. While inside ADOC, Bester used a contraband cell phone to coordinate the sale of methamphetamine in December 2022 and January 2023. Specifically, Bester arranged for the sale of over 10 pounds of methamphetamine, which the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recovered. Bester used females on the outside to facilitate his drug trafficking operation. The DEA recovered over 20 pounds of methamphetamine from a co-defendant’s home. Throughout December 2022 and January 2023, Bester facilitated the possession and distribution of 165 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the greater Birmingham metro area. “Despite being imprisoned for murder, the defendant continued to endanger our communities through drug trafficking. This guilty verdict sends a clear message that criminal activity will not be tolerated behind prison walls or anywhere else,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “I commend the dedicated collaboration of our law enforcement partners in bringing this defendant to justice.” “Drug trafficking is a scourge on our communities, and we will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in drug trafficking are held accountable for their actions, even if they are already incarcerated,” said Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Byrd. “This conviction demonstrates the reach of our federal and state law enforcement partnership,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “Even from behind bars, this individual continued to pose a grave danger to our community by orchestrating a large-scale drug trafficking operation. We are committed to dismantling these criminal networks, regardless of where the coordinators are located, and holding them fully accountable for the devastation they bring to the Birmingham area.” The DEA investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department, Hoover Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Benjamin A. Keown, Sr., are prosecuting the case.


title: Illegal Alien With Extensive Criminal Record Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After Multiple Deportations

body_text: CHICAGO — An illegal alien with an extensive criminal record has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being deported on multiple occasions. MANUEL ALBERTO CORTES CUAN, a native of Mexico, was unlawfully present in the United States on June 17, 2025, when he was arrested in Lyons, Ill. Police received a report that a vehicle identified in an ongoing theft investigation was located in a residential area of Lyons. When police approached the vehicle and attempted to detain Cortes Cuan, he vigorously resisted arrest, causing injuries to himself and two police officers. Cortes Cuan was previously deported from the United States on five occasions. Each deportation occurred after Cortes Cuan sustained criminal convictions while unlawfully present here. The prior offenses of convictions included theft, escape, trespassing, aggravated assault, and aggravated DUI. Cortes Cuan, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of unlawful re-entry after removal. On June 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt sentenced Cortes Cuan to 14 months in federal prison. The conviction subjects Cortes Cuan to removal from the United States. 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. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lyons, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly.


title: East Helena man sentenced to five years of probation for pulling gun on high schooler

body_text: HELENA – An East Helena man who pulled a gun on a high school student driving through his neighborhood was sentenced today to five years of probation with 80 hours of community service, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Ryan Christopher Williams, 47, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in a school zone. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that, while within 1,000 feet of a high school, Williams pulled a gun on a student who had been driving through his neighborhood. On May 1, 2025, an East Helena High School student was driving through a neighborhood on his way to class and passed a vehicle headed in the opposite direction. The student said the driver then turned his vehicle around and began following him, tailing him to the school. At an intersection in front of the high school, the driver cut off the student with his vehicle, forcing him to stop. The man then got out of his vehicle, approached the high-schooler and pulled his gun, pointing it at the student. He chastised the teenager for driving too fast and the student apologized. The man got back in his vehicle and left; the student finished driving to school and reported what happened to school staff. The school called law enforcement and deputies with the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office canvassed the neighborhood. They eventually found a vehicle that matched the one described by the high-schooler parked on the 2700 block of Bandera Drive. It was registered to Williams. A sheriff’s deputy contacted Williams, who matched the description given by the student, and interviewed him on his front lawn. Williams confirmed that he’d pulled the student over earlier and acknowledged that he was armed at the time. But he denied pulling the gun and pointing it at the teenager. Deputies found the gun on William’s property and it matched the one described by the student. Deputies arrested Williams, who was then interviewed by ATF agents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Grand Rapids Man Involved in Interstate Drug Trafficking Through U.S. Mail

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey, announced that a federal jury convicted Cordairo Aqtavian Lambert, age 39 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. The investigation into Lambert began in July 2024 after postal inspectors in Arizona seized and searched a parcel addressed to a residence in Grand Rapids; that parcel contained over a half kilogram of cocaine. Inspectors identified Lambert on surveillance video mailing the 2024 parcel from Arizona. Lambert had previous drug trafficking and firearm felonies in both federal and state courts. Evidence presented at trial showed that Lambert frequently traveled to Arizona, often crossing the border into Mexico, in conjunction with the time suspected drug parcels were sent. One year later, in July 2025, Lambert attempted to retrieve a parcel containing nearly two-thirds of a kilogram of cocaine from a residence in southeast Grand Rapids. When a Grand Rapids police officer attempted to arrest him, Lambert fled on foot and hid in a residential neighborhood, before surrendering to police. The images below are from evidence admitted at trial showing Lambert retrieving the parcel in July 2025 and fleeing police: “My office will continue to focus its resources on prosecuting recidivist felons like Lambert who flood our neighborhoods with drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey. “This investigation underscores the power of collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies and the need for further vigilance and resources in combatting drug trafficking using the U.S. Mail.” The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains fully committed to investigating and holding accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Felicia B. George, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division. “This successful outcome is a direct reflection of the commitment of federal and local law enforcement partnerships, all working together to keep the citizens of the Western District of Michigan safe.” “I value our partnerships with our federal agencies and appreciate the tireless work from all those that contributed to this lengthy investigation. Drug trafficking not only brings dangerous drugs into our communities, but it also brings violence. Successful convictions for those responsible sends a strong message of accountability which has a significant impact on reducing crime.” said Grand Rapids Interim Police Chief Joseph Trigg. Lambert is scheduled to be sentenced this fall and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the conviction. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Grand Rapids Police Department, and Michigan State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Stephanie M. Carowan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Gainesville Felon Indicted for Possession of a Firearm

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Terry Lajace Lee, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Lee appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida. Trial is scheduled for July 22, 2026, in Gainesville before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Lee faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Convicted Felon Indicted for Stealing Firearms from a Licensed Dealer

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A convicted felon has been indicted on multiple federal charges, including stealing firearms from a licensed dealer, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. A four-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Colton McCoy Tubbs, 35, of Oakman, Alabama, with the theft of multiple firearms from a licensee, possession of stolen firearms, felon in possession of a firearm, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. According to the indictment, on February 17, 2026, Tubbs allegedly stole 14 pistols and 2 rifles from Mid-City Pawn located in Decatur, Alabama. The vehicle Tubbs was driving had been reported stolen in Tennessee earlier the same day. Tubbs is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of three prior felony convictions between 2022 and 2025—two in the Circuit Court of Walker County and one in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County. The ATF investigated the case along with the Decatur Police Department and the Cullman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Peever Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison  for Two Assault Convictions

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Peever, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault by Striking, Beating, or Wounding. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026. Brandon Jared St. John, age 45, was sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $125 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. St. John was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025. On July 28, 2021, St. John assaulted Crystal Diane White by kicking her with boots, which constituted a dangerous weapon. St. John’s intent was to cause White physical harm. At the same time, St. John also assaulted Shelby Candace Renville by striking, beating, and wounding her. Both victims sustained bodily injuries because of St. John’s conduct. The assaults took place in the tribal community of Sisseton, South Dakota. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate’s Law Enforcement office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. St. John was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.


title: Illegal Alien from England Pleads Guilty to Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal Investigators

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators. According to court records, Hameed Mohammed Nagi , 21, and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Nagi and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east. Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Nagi and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were subsequently transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station. During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Nagi maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S. On the false statement charge, Nagi faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On the illegal entry charge, he faces up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Nagi will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence investigation report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Bradley Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Bradley man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Darren Deorsey , 51, to 13 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $16,900 in restitution. Deorsey pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025. According to court records, between July and October 2024, Deorsey conspired with others to fraudulently obtain money by entering banks, impersonating legitimate bank account holders, and using fictitious identification cards to gain access to their bank accounts and withdraw funds. Through fraud, Deorsey obtained a total of $16,900 from customer accounts, including a $5,000 cash advance on a home equity line of credit in the name of an account holder. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division. ###


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Results in Convictions for Eleven Drug Traffickers

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – The final defendant in a multi-defendant Northern District of New York drug trafficking organization was sentenced last month in Utica, New York, by Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Demario Shell, 52, previously of Michigan, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison to be followed by a term of 5 years of supervised release. The sentence stems from his convictions for federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Acting Special Agent Charge Anthony Patrone and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis Jr. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James A total of eleven defendants were charged and convicted for their roles in the organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and other drugs primarily from 2019 to 2021 throughout the Southern Tier of New York including Broome, Tioga and Chemung Counties. Shell, along with other convicted Michigan based defendants Hawkins and Merritt, supplied drugs to re-distributors in Broome, Tioga and Chemung Counties including to convicted co-defendants David Wemmer, David Cobb, Brandon Vanorman and Shawn McCabe. Several of these re-distributors also provided drugs to other re-distributors convicted as part of this case including Phillip Acciarito, Alan Wheeler, Jennifer Patton and Eini Raupers. “The successful conclusion of this case is a testament to the tireless work of the Homeland Security Task Force and our partners,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John Sarcone . “With the sentencing of this final defendant, a dangerous drug trafficking group has been dismantled, those responsible held accountable, and our communities are safer as a result.” Members of the organization also unlawfully possessed firearms as felons or in furtherance of their drug trafficking. Throughout the investigation, law enforcement obtained over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, various other drugs, over 65 firearms and proceeds of drug trafficking including currency and ATVs. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone: "These traffickers pumped methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and guns into the Southern Tier, profiting from addiction and violence. This investigation demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force’s mission: dismantling complex, multi-state criminal networks from suppliers to street-level dealers and bringing them to justice. Working side-by-side with our federal, state, and local partners, HSI Syracuse remains firmly committed to driving criminal organizations out of our communities and protecting the homes, businesses, and futures of the people we serve.” “Today’s outcome reflects the unwavering commitment of our federal, state, and local partners to continue our work together towards safer communities. By bringing this group to justice, we’ve helped protect families across the Southern Tier of New York and closed the door on a drug network that caused real harm,” said Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The final sentencing in this case is a true testament to the perseverance and aggressive strategy of law enforcement in stopping illegal drug trafficking at its source. This sends a strong message to all those trafficking drugs in New York that we will not tolerate these threats in our state. With our partners in law enforcement, we will remain in full force to combat the infiltration of illegal drugs into our communities and the dangers they impose.” Below is a list of all the other defendants convicted in the case and the sentences they received: Name Age Previous Residence Charges of Conviction Sentence Tushaun Merritt 49 Jackson, Michigan Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Drugs (PWID) and Conspiracy to Commit Promotional Money Laundering 170 months with 5 years post release supervision Michael Hawkins 43 Benton Harbor, Michigan Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs, PWID Drugs and Conspiracy to Commit Promotional Money Laundering 121 months with 10 years post release supervision David Wemmer 55 Spencer, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs, Conspiracy to Commit Promotional Money Laundering, Possession of Short Barreled Shotgun in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of Machine Gun 161months with 5 years post release supervision David Cobb 37 Spencer, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs and Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition 121 months with 4 years post release supervision Brandon Vanorman 50 Spencer, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs and PWID Drugs 60 months with 4 years post release supervision Shawn McCabe 38 Windsor, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs and PWID Drugs 121 months with 5 years post release supervision Philip Acciarito 39 Owego, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs, Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition 90 months with 5 years post release supervision Alan Wheeler 40 Basset, Virginia Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs and PWID Drugs 120 months with 5 years post release supervision Jennifer Patton 44 Spencer, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs and PWID Drugs 87 months with 4 years post release supervision Eini Raupers 49 Candor, New York Conspiracy to Distribute and PWID Drugs 37 months with 5 years post release supervision This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP VGNET, Troop C and E), the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Tioga County District Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force (BCSIUTF), the Elmira Police Department, the Michigan Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET),Tioga County Sheriff’s Office, the Owego Police Department and the Sayre Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Grabowski, with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the Western District of New York and the District of Nevada. This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS/ CID), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Border Patrol (CBP/ OBP), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Field Operations (CBP/ OFO), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Department of State/Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. ###


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison For Distributing Fentanyl Precursor and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: HAMMOND – Nathaniel Johnson, 21 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to distribution of a schedule II-controlled substance and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Nathaniel Johnson was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. “An armed drug dealer will spend the next 8 years in prison because he sold over 20,000 pills containing a fentanyl precursor to undercover law enforcement agents while in possession of a semi-automatic pistol loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine, after which he was arrested at the scene. Thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the DEA North Central Laboratory, and Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter, the poison was intercepted and the drug dealer went to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with its law enforcement partners, will use every available resource to investigate and stop those who distribute illegal drugs and possess illegal automatic weapons. DEA’s commitment to protecting the people of Northern Indiana remains unwavering. The sentencing of Mr. Johnson sends a clear message to those who engage in this dangerous, criminal conduct. You will be identified, held accountable, and brought to justice,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and supported by the DEA North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Lanter. 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: Jury Finds Norcross Man Guilty of Laundering More than $400,000 in Proceeds from Fraudulent Tax Refunds

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – After a one-week trial, a federal jury convicted Festus Anyiam of stealing government funds and laundering the proceeds of fraudulent tax refunds obtained through identity theft. “This defendant attempted to conceal his brazen theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent tax refund payments by converting the stolen refunds into money orders and then transferring the cashed money orders into accounts he controlled,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will always pursue wrongdoers who steal from the tax system and attempt to conceal their wrongdoing.” “This verdict is a victory for the U.S. tax system. It should send a message to would-be thieves that IRS-Criminal Investigation and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves on the backs of U.S. taxpayers,” said Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “No matter how many steps a thief takes to hide their ill-gotten gains, our special agents will track them down and bring them to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2015, the IRS received fraudulent tax returns claiming refunds that used the personally identifiable information (PII) of taxpayers in Illinois and Missouri. The returns directed the IRS to send the refund payments to a third-party tax preparation software company, which deposited the tax refunds into prepaid debit cards that had been activated using taxpayers’ stolen PII. After the debit cards were loaded with refund payments, the debit cards were used to purchase money orders from various retail stores in the Atlanta area. During a three-week period in June and July 2015, Anyiam used ATMs throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area to deposit hundreds of those money orders into his personal bank account. To conceal the true source of the funds, Anyiam later sought to clear the tax refund proceeds from his bank account by buying a cashier’s check for $406,000 and depositing it at another bank. On June 5, 2026, a federal jury found Festus Anyiam, 41, of Norcross, Georgia, guilty of four counts of theft of government funds and one count of money laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen. The Court may sentence the defendant to not more than 10 years of imprisonment on each of the theft counts and not more than 20 years of imprisonment on the money laundering count. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Sekret T. Sneed and Daniel Grill are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Belgian National Receives Prison Sentence for Assaulting Flight Crew Members on March 2024 Flight

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Belgian national was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte for assaulting flight attendants aboard a flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Zurich, Switzerland in March 2024, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Jan Daeninck, 43, of Belgium, previously pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte to an Information charging him with one count of assaulting a flight attendant by beating, wounding or striking. Daeninck was sentenced on June 1, 2026 to 10 months in prison and one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $73,000 in restitution. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On March 31, 2024, Daeninck was a passenger aboard a Swiss International Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Zurich, Switzerland. Shortly after takeoff, Daeninck walked up to a female flight attendant, grabbed both of her breasts with his hands, shook her, and began yelling at her, threatening to kill her. After the flight attendant was able to get away from Daeninck, he tried to get into the cockpit by kicking and beating the door. Then, when a male flight attendant approached Daeninck, he assaulted him by punching and kicking the flight attendant, striking him in head and upper body with a closed fist. Flight crew members were able to intervene and restrain Daeninck on the floor near the cockpit door for the rest of the flight. As a result, the flight turned around and landed back at Newark Liberty International Airport. “The defendant’s actions threatened the safety and security of innocent passengers, crew members, and the flight itself. Violence against flight crew members and attempts to compromise aircraft security will not be tolerated. This sentence demonstrates that those who jeopardize flight safety will face serious consequences, including prison time.” – U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “The traveling public should feel confident the FBI takes aviation safety seriously. When a passenger attempts to breach a cockpit or assaults crew members, they are not just attacking individuals, they are threatening the safety of every single person on board,” said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of Newark, with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the Port Authority Police Department under the direction of Edward T. Cetnar, for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Goldman of the Office’s Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark. ### Defense Counsel: Anthony Pope, Esq.


title: Nashville Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Nashville man was sentenced on June 4, 2026, to 2 years and 2 months in federal prison for two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Aaron Vallett, 48, was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months in federal prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $101,630.56 for two counts of wire fraud. In or about and between July 2020 and November 2021, Aaron Vallett, as the Chief Financial Officer for a local home remodeling company, stole more than $100,000 from his employer. He used access to the company’s bank account, granted to him by virtue of his position, to devise and execute a scheme to steal the company’s funds for his own use and benefit. Vallett was previously convicted in 2012 of mail fraud, wire fraud, and theft from an ERISA plan, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,492,548.77. Vallett’s current scheme began almost immediately after his release from his 2012 conviction, while he was on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver prosecuted the case. ###