title: Jacksonville Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Using The Internet To Access Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Matthew Eric Baumgardner (49, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Baumgardner faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Baumgardner is a registered child sex offender who was convicted in 2017 of possessing photographs depicting the sexual performance by a child, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful activity, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Baumgardner was arrested on this federal charge on July 28, 2025. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2025. According to court documents, law enforcement received a notification from a company that owns a social messaging application that files containing CSAM were uploaded using the app between May 6 and June 5, 2024. Subsequent investigation revealed that these files were uploaded from an account that was associated with Baumgardner. In April 2025, a warrant was issued for Baumgardner’s arrest based upon his violation of his sex offender probation. On that same day, a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office contacted Baumgardner. During an interview, Baumgardner admitted that the email address and phone number associated with the app uploads of CSAM were his and that he had used the app in the past. Baumgardner also admitted to accessing visual depictions of children being sexually abused, stating that none of the child victims were personally known by him. Subsequent forensic examination of Baumgardner’s cellphone revealed at least 67 photos depicting young children being sexually abused, including sadistic sexual abuse and bondage. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted For Attempting To Entice A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Orlin Eli Gonzalez (26, Jacksonville) has been arrested and indicted for using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Gonzalez faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Gonzalez was arrested on September 4, 2025, and has been ordered detained pending the resolution of this case. According to court documents, from August 28 through September 4, 2025, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was conducting an undercover operation on an online social media application to identify adults who were seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. The UC was posing as a 13-year-old child. The UC and app user “Orlean” exchanged several private online messages on the app as well as by text messaging. After the UC advised app user “Orlean” that the “child” was only 13 years old, he asked the “child” about “her” sexual experience and if “she” liked performing a particular sexual act. App user “Orlean” requested that the “child” send him nude photos, and texted, “I wanna see you naked” and asked the “child” if “she” wanted to have sex. Further investigation by the FBI identified app user “Orlean” as Gonzalez. On September 4, 2025, Gonzalez and the “child” exchanged more text messages. Gonzalez confirmed that he intended to meet the “child” for sexual activity at “her” residence in Jacksonville and asked the “child” to provide “her” address. That same afternoon, Gonzalez was observed as he rode a bicycle toward the agreed-upon location. Upon his arrival, Gonzalez was arrested by FBI agents. 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 Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Orlando Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Federal Prison For Transporting Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Matthew Anthony Inman (40, Orlando) to 20 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Inman pleaded guilty on June 5, 2025. According to court documents, between August and October 2024, Inman received, downloaded, and saved several videos of CSAM to his phone. These videos depicted adult males raping young boys. In October 2024, Inman traveled to Las Vegas and began talking online with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as the father of a 9-year-old boy. During this conversation, in which Inman used an encrypted messaging service to evade law enforcement, Inman explained that he sought to sodomize the purported child. He asked the undercover officer for pictures and videos of the child, and in return, sent seven CSAM videos to the undercover officer, saying “hope you like” and that he had “lots of videos if you want to watch.” Through its investigation, the FBI identified Inman as the user of the messaging service and obtained a search warrant for Inman’s electronic devices and residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Inman attempted to delete the evidence from his phone and hide in the attic of his house. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Marshalltown Man Sentenced to 17 years in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine and a Loaded Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Marshalltown man was sentenced on September 12, 2025, to 17 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to public court documents, in October 2024, Matthew Allen Sumpter, 39, was found in possession of nearly a pound of methamphetamine, a scale, cash, and a loaded handgun. Based on the investigation, Sumpter was responsible for distributing multiple pounds of methamphetamine in the Marshalltown area. Sumpter has multiple prior felony convictions, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm, harassment, domestic abuse assault by strangulation, and multiple eluding convictions. After completing his term of imprisonment, Sumpter will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Burlington Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Distribution Quantity of Methamphetamine and a Loaded Firearm

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on September 16, 2025, to 288 months (24 years) in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm as a prohibited person. According to public court documents, Chad Jacob Runnells, 49, sold and received methamphetamine during several controlled purchases to law enforcement. In September 2024, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Runnells’ residence and adjacent stash house and found about 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded firearm, and more than $10,000. Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, Runnells was responsible for distributing more than 65 pounds of methamphetamine. Runnells was prohibited from possessing firearms, including based on a 2021 conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver as a habitual offender in the Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, and a 2013 conviction for domestic abuse assault impeding airflow in the Iowa District Court for Warren County. After completing his term of imprisonment, Runnells will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Burlington Police Department, West Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Henry County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Beaufort County Felons to Spend Decades in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Bobby Lee Moore, Jr., age 45, and Andre Trell Hamilton, age 43, were sentenced for conspiring to distribute and aiding and abetting one another to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin. Moore pleaded guilty on March 20, 2025, and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Hamilton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025, and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. “These two sold a lot of drugs flooding our families and communities with poison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to work with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA to go after these big shark bad boys and hold them accountable in federal court. The streets of Beaufort County will be safer for the next two decades while they think about who they hurt.” According to court records and evidence presented at their sentencings, from February 2021 to July 2023, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) utilized a confidential source to arrange controlled purchases of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl from Moore. On each occasion, Moore communicated directly with the source to set up the drug deals. On May 31, 2023, Hamilton sold drugs after Moore set the meeting location. Hamilton sold 56.77 grams of pure methamphetamine in exchange for $1,000 in U.S. currency. Hamilton’s criminal history spans two decades. Courts previously convicted him of multiple assaults, domestic violence, breaking and entering, burglary and several larcenies. In Beaufort County, courts convicted him of habitual misdemeanor assault in both 2012 and 2013. Moore’s criminal history dates back to September 2001. The state convicted him of drug distribution and crimes of violence, with five prior drug-related convictions. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judges. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00073-D-RJ.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun and a Firearm

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced to illegally possessing two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Kelvontae Rashad Wallace, 26, of Pell City, Alabama, to 79 months in prison. In June, Wallace pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machinegun. According to the plea agreement, between December 2023 and January 2024, Wallace illegally possessed a firearm and a machinegun on two separate occasions: On December 15, 2023, Talladega police officers responded to a call of a person shot at the Orange #1 gas station. Officers responded to the scene and found a victim lying on the ground that had been shot in the stomach, back, and both legs. Officers collected five .45 caliber spent shell casings from the scene and there were at least three bullet holes in the glass on the store windows and door. Surveillance video from the store showed Wallace drive up to the store, exit his vehicle, and shoot the victim with a Glock pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” On January 2, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force and Pell City police officers went to Wallace’s apartment to arrest him for warrants for Assault, First Degree and Shooting into an Occupied Building arising from the December incident in Talladega. When the officers arrived, Wallace attempted to flee out the back door of the apartment, but the officers were able to apprehend and arrest him. Officers recovered a Century Arms Micro VSKA 7.62x39mm pistol with a round chambered and a loaded magazine from Wallace’s apartment. ATF investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, Pell City Police Department, Talladega Police Department, and Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.


title: Davenport Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender While on Federal Supervised Release

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 15, 2025, to 180 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor and failure to register as a sex offender. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Gerald Brian Hoard, 52, was on federal supervised release due a 2022 conviction for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. In July 2024, Hoard sent pictures and arranged to meet up with a person who Hoard believed was a 14-year-old male. Hoard made plans to meet the minor at a Davenport movie theatre, and said he wanted to engage in sexual acts with the minor. After Hoard arrived at the movie theatre, law enforcement approached Hoard. Hoard admitted that he planned to meet a 14-year-old and that they had discussed sex acts. Hoard’s cell phones were examined, which revealed evidence of internet identifiers, including Facebook and Grindr accounts, which Hoard failed to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. After completing his term of imprisonment, Hoard will be required to serve a ten-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Hoard’s supervised release for his prior federal conviction was revoked and the Court sentenced Hoard to 12 months imprisonment, concurrent to the 180-month sentence. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and Scott County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.


title: Man from Ecuador arrested, charged with illegal re-entry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lucas Celas Saula, 39, a citizen and national of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that on September 7, 2025, Saula was encountered by law enforcement at a retailer in Cheektowaga, NY. A records check of Saula’s vehicle determined that he was previously ordered removed from the United States in November 2014 and is a citizen and national of Ecuador. When questioned by officers, Saula did not have any documents that would allow him to be or remain in the United States lawfully. 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. Saula made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. # # # #


title: Mexican man pleads guilty to, sentenced for illegal re-entry

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Giovanni Bernal Guerrero, 39, a citizen and national of Mexican, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to re-entry of a removed alien. He was sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who handled the case, stated in September 2017, Guerrero was physically removed from the United States to Mexico. On July 19, 2025, he defendant was found in Erie County, NY, by United States Customs and Border Protection officers and did not have any documents allowing him to be legally present in the United States. 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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. # # # #


title: Chippewa Falls Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leroy T. McNamara, 62, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced on September 5, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. McNamara pleaded guilty to this charge on the same day. During July 2024, McNamara sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions for a total of 335 grams. At the sentencing, Judge Conley remarked that McNamara’s willingness to trade on the addictions of others through his escalated drug dealing made him a danger to society. The charge against McNamara was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case. Federal drug cases are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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.


title: PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR INTERSTATE DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jafari J. Williams, 48, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am incredibly proud of the excellent collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that dismantled this drug trafficking operation, and this successful prosecution ensures this offender will be removed from our community for a long time. My office will not hesitate to target those who flood our streets with deadly drugs for aggressive prosecution and sentencing, and will deploy the full force of the law to keep our communities safe.” Court documents reflect that Williams was identified during a federal wiretap investigation conspiring with others regarding shipments of cocaine coming from Texas. During execution of a search warrant of a building where Williams maintained his contraband in Pensacola, law enforcement seized approximately seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, drug distribution paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle, and approximately $10,000 in United States currency. “In total, eight law enforcement partners pulled resources and personnel to make this investigation a success,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Pensacola communities will be safer with this drug distributor off the streets.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: CONVICTED FELON FROM HOMESTEAD CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL FIREARM, MACHINE GUN POSSESSION

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Vinson Tavaris Brown, 33, of Homestead, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machinegun. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Brown appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his arraignment in federal court on September 12, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is set for October 27, 2025, before United States District Judge Mark Walker. If convicted, Brown faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and up to ten years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a machinegun. The Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting the case. 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 ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. 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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Reliance Man, Seventh in a Large-Scale Conspiracy, Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Pierre Area

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Reliance, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025. Heath Choal, age 51, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Choal was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025. This conviction stemmed from a drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2023 and continuing until September 2024. Choal would obtain methamphetamine from his codefendants Misty and Heather Stahlhoefer, who were the sources of supply to several other individuals in the Pierre area. The Stahlhoefers would acquire up to one pound of methamphetamine per trip to be further distributed by themselves and others including Choal, Whitney Marrowbone, Wendy Mealer, Brent Larvie, and David Rinehart. The conspiracy involved between 30 and 35 pounds of methamphetamine. The co-defendants who were earlier sentenced to federal prison are as follows: Misty Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. Heather Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. Marrowbone was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. Mealer was sentenced to six years in federal prison. Larvie was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison. Rinehart was sentenced to two years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges. Choal was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Aiken Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Woman in Will Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cody Lee Anderson, 38, of Aiken, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. His co-defendant, Thomas Allen Bateman, 51, also of Aiken, was also sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that sometime during the pandemic, a will was executed by a woman in Aiken that purported to leave the entirety of her estate, which was worth approximately $20 million to co-conspirator Thomas Allen Bateman, Jr. Anderson was designated as the personal representative and stood to be paid a fee of 5%, or $1 million. Evidence developed during the investigation indicated the 88-year-old woman did not have the mental capacity to make an informed decision regarding the disposition of her assets. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. sentenced Anderson to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Bateman was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Guatemalan Citizen Sentenced for Assault of Federal Law Enforcement Officer

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A citizen of Guatemala illegally residing in the United States pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal law enforcement officer and was sentenced to time served on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Juan Jose Antuche-Garcia, 33, on September 15, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, Antuche-Garcia, a native and citizen of Guatemala, illegally entered the United States on September 3, 2023. After he was released on bond by immigration authorities but failed to appear before the immigration court in May of 2024 as directed, an immigration judge ordered him to be removed from the United States. On August 12, 2025, Antuche-Garcia was encountered by immigration authorities in the Robinson Township, Pennsylvania, area after federal law enforcement officers attempted to pull over a vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. Federal law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop by activating the emergency lighting and sirens on five unmarked vehicles. The driver of the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop and, instead, rammed his vehicle into one of the federal law enforcement officer’s vehicles, pinning an officer’s leg between his own vehicle’s door frame and door. The driver of the vehicle and a rear seat passenger fled from the scene, evading apprehension. Antuche-Garcia, who was the front passenger of the vehicle, also attempted to flee by repeatedly and forcefully opening his door into the door of the vehicle behind which the officer’s leg was pinned, causing additional injury to the officer. Antuche-Garcia has been in custody since his arrest and will remain in custody pending his removal from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Antuche-Garcia. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Hebron Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A man previously residing in Hebron, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Portland to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. According to court records, Steven Parker , 47, sent a video file depicting child sexual abuse material to an undercover agent over a messaging application. In August 2024, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) and the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence, resulting in the seizure of multiple digital media devices containing files of child sexual abuse material. When interviewed by investigators, Parker admitted to accessing, viewing, and distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet. Parker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum supervised release term of life. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and MSPCCU investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Montgomery County Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme That Defrauded FEMA of Over $1.5 Million in Hurricane Ida Disaster Benefits

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge yesterday to one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud, arising from a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Williams was charged by indictment with those offenses in April of last year. As presented in court filings, in September 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration for much of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the Commonwealth. This declaration authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to residents whose homes and properties were damaged by the hurricane. As further detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Williams recruited others over social media, advertising that she could assist them in applying for FEMA benefits. Williams then submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA on behalf of dozens of others, including fraudulent leases, letters from landlords, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates. In exchange, Williams collected half of the payout for herself. In total, the government calculates that FEMA paid over $1,500,000 in assistance based on false representations made by Williams. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, with assistance from FEMA Fraud Prevention and Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris.


title: Kaukauna Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit Over $140,000 After Drug Trafficking Conviction

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 15, 2025, John R. Sloan (age: 58), formerly of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, in August 2024, investigators with the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (“LWAM”) searched Sloan’s vehicle, residence, and multiple storage units. In total, investigators seized over 7 pounds of methamphetamine, over $140,000 cash, four firearms, and a vehicle. Sloan later admitted to obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from a source of supply in California. He further admitted to distributing more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the Fox Valley area. Sloan has over 40 prior criminal convictions dating back to 1985. At the time of the offense, Sloan was on state supervision for a distribution of methamphetamine conviction. In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach ordered Sloan to forfeit to the government $142,190, three handguns, a shotgun, and a 2016 Dodge Challenger. This case was investigated by LWAM, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Richmond, Vermont Man Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. On September 8, 2025, Beane appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. A detention hearing was held on September 9, 2025, during which the government requested Beane be held pending trial, due to his prior federal conviction for possession of child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”) and his prior violations of release conditions that included unapproved contacts with minors. Magistrate Judge Doyle denied the government’s motion and ordered Beane released on conditions that included location monitoring, not having contact with children, and avoiding places where children are likely to congregate. According to court records, in July of 2025, Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a person who was sharing CSAM materials on a peer-to-peer network involving sexual assaults of prepubescent children. The IP address for the person sharing the materials led investigators to a residence in Richmond, Vermont which was determined to be Beane’s home. On September 8, 2025, HSI and members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a federal search warrant at Beane’s Richmond apartment. Inside the apartment, law enforcement found a hand-held tablet on which CSAM materials were located. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Beane is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Due to his prior conviction, Beane faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Merrimack County (New Hampshire) Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermont ICAC Task Force. Acting U.S. Attorney Drescher also thanked the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Richmond, Vermont Police Department for their assistance. The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys David Golubock and Jonathan Ophardt. Beane is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Federal Jury Convicts Former Assistant Director of Spokane Tribe’s Division of Child and Family Services of Twenty-Five Counts of Bank Fraud and Embezzlement

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on September 11, 2025, a federal a federal jury in Spokane, Washington, convicted Tawhnee Willow Colvin, of Davenport, Washington, of twenty-five counts of Bank Fraud and one count of Embezzlement from the Spokane Tribe of Indians committed while she was employed by the Tribe. As evidence presented at the trial established, Colvin was employed as Assistant Director of the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). As part of her position as Assistant Director of DCFS, Colvin had access to the Spokane Tribe of Indians bank account which held per capita funds to be used for the care of needy children who were in temporary custody of the Tribe. Between October 2019 and November 2023, Colvin abused her position of trust to make more than seventy fraudulent money transfers, starting with small transfers until she eventually transferred thousands of dollars at a time, totaling over $50,000, from the DCFS bank account to her own personal bank account. She also took out over $50,000 cash from the same bank account. Colvin was terminated from her position at the Tribe on October 23, 2023, but even after her termination she continued to fraudulently transfer funds to her personal account. “For years, Ms. Colvin abused the faith placed in her as a public servant to steal tribal funds intended to care for children in foster care,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “For her own personal gain, she stole more than $100,000, leaving the account almost completely drained. Every one of these dozens of transfers diverted resources away from the most vulnerable members of our society and into her pockets. The FBI is committed to holding accountable fraudsters who choose greed instead of safeguarding the funds under their stewardship.” “In an egregious breach of trust and solely for her own personal interest, Ms. Colvin exploited her position as the Assistant Director of DCFS for the Spokane Tribe of Indian to steal thousands of dollars from vulnerable children over a period of years,” stated United States Attorney Serrano. “Brazenly, Ms. Colvin continued her crimes even after the Tribe terminated her employment. Sadly, it remains unknown how many children Ms. Colvin harmed through her crimes. The United States Attorney’s Office is grateful for the diligent efforts of the FBI who investigated this case, the trust and collaboration of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the prosecutors and staff at our office who ensured Ms. Colvin was brought to justice.” A press release was previously issued by the Spokane Tribe of Indians who thanked the FBI and US Attorney’s Office for their work in bringing this important case to a close. Colvin’s sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman and Jeremy J. Kelley. 2:24-CR-0148-RLP


title: Pine Hills Man Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison For Possessing Firearm As Convicted Felon

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Ellie Edward Dulaire (27, Orlando) to six years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dulaire is currently serving a sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections. His federal sentence will commence on October 9, 2026, when the state sentence is scheduled to end. The court also ordered Dulaire to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition, which were used in the offense. Dulaire pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025. According to court documents, on January 23, 2022, Dulaire was observed at the Florida Gun Show by a deputy from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy recognized Dulaire from a prior case and knew that he was wanted on an arrest warrant from Lake County. After making contact with Dulaire, deputies located a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield firearm inside his vehicle. The firearm was reported stolen out of Pasco County in 2021. Dulaire is a nine-time convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Courtney Richardson-Jones. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department Sues Rhode Island Department of Education and Providence Public School District for Racial Discrimination Against Teachers

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit today against the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the Providence Public School District (PPSD) over their “Educators of Color Loan Forgiveness Program” (Program) through which new PPSD teachers who identify as “teachers of color” can receive up to $25,000 in student loan forgiveness while only white teachers are excluded from the Program. In its complaint, the United States alleges that RIDE and PPSD established the Program in 2021, in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation (RIF), a publicly supported non-profit organization, to provide $3,175,000 in student loan forgiveness to “teachers of color” over at least five years. The Program is described as an “incentive” to “encourage teachers of color” to teach at PPSD and obliges PPSD to “recruit and retain up to 127 teachers of color” during that period. Under the Program, “Teachers of color” includes teachers “who identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and/or 2 or more races” and excludes only white teachers. In its complaint, the United States alleges that this race-based exclusion is a pattern or practice of discrimination of PPSD teachers who do not identify as “teachers of color” in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. The complaint asks the court to declare that the Program discriminates on the basis of race, to enter a permanent injunction against RIDE and PPSD stopping them from implementing the Program or any similar race-based program, and to award equitable relief to PPSD teachers who were not eligible for the Program solely because of their race. “While assisting new teachers in paying off their student loans may be a worthy cause, such a benefit of employment simply cannot be granted or withheld on the basis of the teachers’ race,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “We will not tolerate such plainly prohibited discrimination in employment.” This case stems from an investigation launched by the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. You can view the complaint here .


title: Newcomb Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Firearm

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Newcomb man pleaded guilty to federal charges arising out of an altercation. According to court documents, on February 28, 2025, James Smiley, Jr., 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and pointed a firearm at three men while making threats to kill them without provocation. Smiley pleaded guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, Smiley up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Smiley will be subject to no less than five years and up to life of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.


title: Pinellas Park Man Sentenced To Nine Years For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Samuel Rinehart (58, Pinellas Park) to 9 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Rinehart will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay $27,000 in restitution. The court ordered Rinehart to forfeit approximately 50 electronic devices and 2 plastic sex dolls, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Rinehart pleaded guilty on May 29, 2025. According to court documents, Rinehart used file-sharing software to download and possess more than 600 images and videos of CSAM, which included depictions of young children and sado-masochistic abuse towards children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Justice Department Files Motion for Summary Judgment in Challenge to Vermont’s “Climate Superfund” Law

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Note: View motion here . The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) yesterday filed a motion for summary judgment in its challenge to the State of Vermont’s “climate superfund” law, which imposes what will likely be billions of dollars in liability on foreign and domestic energy companies for their alleged past contributions to climate change. The complaint was filed in May , along with a complaint against the State of New York for its similar statute, to advance President Donald J. Trump’s executive order to protect American energy from state overreach. As the Justice Department explains in its motion, “Vermont is defying federal law, the Constitution, and binding precedent—all so it can punish disfavored businesses for ill-defined harms, without regard to the real harm to our federal system and the Nation’s energy needs.” The motion asks the court to “end Vermont’s lawless experiment.” “Like New York, Vermont is usurping the federal government’s exclusive authority over nationwide and global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “More than that, Vermont’s flagrantly unconstitutional statute threatens to throttle energy production, despite this Administration’s efforts to unleash American energy. It’s high time for the courts to put a stop to this crippling state overreach.” Chief of Staff and Senior General Counsel John Adams and Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General Riley Walters of ENRD filed the motion. Motion for Summary Judgment - Vermont.pdf


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on September 15, 2025, to 168 months in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, during a 2023 investigation, an account, later determined to be associated with Jeffrey Alan Guentert, 57, downloaded files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized 87 electronic devices during a search of Guentert’s Iowa City residence and place of employment. Guentert was a city employee. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Guentert used at least 44 of the devices to receive, view, and possess images and videos containing child sexual abuse material, including more than 5000 images and 1500 videos, between 2019 and 2023. After completing his term of imprisonment, Guentert will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Guentert was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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: MEMBERS OF TRANSNATIONAL FRAUD ORGANIZATION  SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Jerelle George William Jones, 29, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Quint Gasque, 48, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were sentenced yesterday to nine and a half years and six years in federal prison, respectively, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and forgery or false use of a passport. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants engaged in a sophisticated scheme to enrich themselves by defrauding financial institutions using stolen identities, but thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our local and federal law enforcement partners their scheme has been dismantled. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of crimes to protect the members of our community from fraudsters like these defendants.” According to court records, in February 2024, Gasque was recruited by Jones and others to help commit a fraud scheme to obtain money from customer accounts at financial institutions. The scheme involved Gasque falsely impersonating bank customers and presenting fraudulent identification—including counterfeit U.S. passport cards—at several banks and credit unions located throughout the southeastern United States. Jones, Gasque, and others fraudulently obtained $2,600 at a financial institution in Escambia County, and fraudulently obtained, and attempted to obtain, more than $10,000 from multiple branches of a financial institution in Tallahassee. On March 11, 2024, Gasque was caught by bank employees in Tallahassee who called the Tallahassee Police Department. They reported that Gasque, who was impersonating an elderly bank customer, was attempting to fraudulently withdraw funds from the customer’s account. An investigation revealed that the group traveled from the Carolinas through Florida, Georgia, and Alabama to commit the scheme to defraud at various financial institutions. A search of Jones’s cellular phone contained hundreds of images of other counterfeit driver’s licenses and U.S. passport cards, social security cards, checks, and debit cards. “This case is yet another example of the relentless work of the men and women of the Tallahassee Police Department, in partnership with our federal counterparts, to protect our community and remove those who seek to exploit it,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “Thanks to the skill and determination of our investigators and all involved, we shut down a counterfeit operation that was targeting Tallahassee and the southern region.” “The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is dedicated to identifying and investigating passport fraud and pursing criminals who exploit false identities to undermine national security and defraud victims,” said DSS Miami Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney. “Protecting the integrity of U.S. passports and passport cards is vital to our nation’s security. Financial fraud tied to identity theft can devastate victims, causing severe economic loss and long-term harm. This investigation underscores DSS’s commitment to securing the U.S. travel system and shielding individuals from these crimes.” Both defendants’ terms of imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. The defendants were ordered to pay restitution to their victims. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: CONVICTED FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTING DRUGS  WHILE ARMED

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Carlton Shoemaker, 51, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this career criminal has been removed from our streets and there will be one fewer drug trafficker flooding our community with deadly drugs. My office is committed to fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the criminals victimizing our communities, and this successful prosecution is yet another step toward that goal.” Court documents reflect that Shoemaker sold methamphetamine and cocaine from a motel room in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shoemaker’s motel room in May 2025, officers located cocaine, marijuana, two firearms, ammunition, and other items indicative of drug distribution. Shoemaker is a convicted felon and has multiple prior convictions, including Burglary, Grand Theft, Possession of Cocaine, and Grand Theft of a Firearm. Shoemaker faces up to life imprisonment. The case involved a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Christopher Patterson. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Idaho Husband and Wife and Three Others Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Related Charges

component: Tax Division

body_text: Two defendants made their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate judge last week after a federal grand jury in Boise, Idaho, returned an indictment charging five individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related charges for submitting false tax returns and fictious financial instruments to the IRS. The other three defendants had previously made their initial appearances in federal court in Boise. The following is according to the indictment: from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon, of Kuna, Idaho, as well as Brittany Plahm, of Frankfort, Illinois, Monika Skinger of Chicago, and Sherita Chandler, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, allegedly conspired together to submit false individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions in refunds to which they were not entitled. To induce the IRS to accept their refund claims, the defendants and others allegedly sent more than 100 fictitious financial instruments — such as checks, money orders, or payment vouchers — totaling approximately $57 million to the IRS to make it appear that they had paid taxes that could be refunded. The indictment further alleges that Andrea and Kent Shannon used a portion of the false refunds they received to purchase, among other things, a $90,000 Cadillac Escalade and a $144,000 GMC Sierra 3500. All defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with wire fraud and filing false claims. Finally, Kent Shannon was also charged with money laundering. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigations is investigating the case. Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: 46-Month Sentence for Smuggling Switchblade, Fentanyl, and Phones into DC Jail while Awaiting Trial for Homicide

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darius Robertson, 32, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 46-months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to smuggle weapons, fentanyl, and cell phones into the maximum-security Central Detention Facility (CDF) while he was awaiting trial for murder, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Robertson pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Previously, on June 6, 2025, Robertson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the October 2021 beating death of his cousin Andre Robertson. Sentencing on the voluntary manslaughter count is scheduled for November 7, 2025. The judge ruled that Robertson’s sentence in this case will run consecutive to the ultimate sentence on the voluntary manslaughter count. Joining in the announcement were Director Tom Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to court documents, between December 2021 and July 2024, Robertson was being held in the facility, also known as the D.C. Jail, when he conspired with at two other detainees from the Clay Terrace neighborhood, two correctional officers, and two members of the community who delivered contraband to the jail. Among the items the conspiracy attempted to smuggle into the CDF in February 2024 were one switchblade knife; an Apple iPhone and USB iPhone charger; two pairs of eyeglasses; a bundle of marijuana; tobacco; rolling papers; gambling dice; three sheets of bonded paper that were damp and contained a synthetic cannabinoid, MDMB-4en-PINACA—a Schedule I Controlled Substance; two plastic-wrapped packages of marijuana; and five individually wrapped packages containing approximately 100 cigarettes. Following a series of smuggling incidents in July 2024, the Department of Corrections conducted a search for contraband and seized 269 blue pills which tested positive for fentanyl; 60 cigarettes soaked in an unknown liquid, 255 suboxone strips seven pieces of paper soaked in an unknown liquid; three cell phones; and a number of cigarettes. Co-defendants who have pleaded guilty include LaTara Brown, 31, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Kiya Holland, 33, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, Marcel Vines, 28, of Washington, D.C., and Stefon Freshley, 28 of Washington, D.C. Vines was sentenced on March 7 to life plus 60 years in prison for the kidnappings and murders of two innocent victims in retaliation for a slaying in which the victims were not involved. On August 13, Vines was sentenced to an additional 46 months for his role in the smuggling scheme.. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services, and the Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Sarah Santiago. 24cr520


title: Carlsbad Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms and Methamphetamine Distribution

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Carlsbad man was sentenced to 211 months in prison after police chase and crash leads to the discovery of methamphetamine and firearms. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on June 5, 2022, a Carlsbad Police officer attempted a traffic stop on a speeding pickup driven by Christopher Saunders , 25, who fled at a high rate of speed, leading the officer to terminate the pursuit for safety reasons. Minutes later, the officer located the same truck after it had crashed and provided first aid to Saunders . During an inventory search of the pickup, officers found suspected methamphetamine and a firearm inside. A subsequent search warrant uncovered 57.02 grams of methamphetamine and two loaded firearms. Saunders was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction in 2019. Saunders pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a forearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Upon his release from prison, Saunders will be subject to five years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Roswell Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Eddy County Sheriff's Office and Carlsbad Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Saltman is prosecuting the case.


title: Convicted Violent Felon to Spend Three Decades in Federal Prison for Series of Six Armed Robberies

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Robert Williams, 57, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to six counts of interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, between July 8 and August 14 of 2023, Robert Williams committed six robberies of four different Dollar General stores across Indianapolis, stealing $1,799 total in cash. In each robbery, Williams flashed either a revolver or handgun in his waistband to intimidate employees and further the crime. Date Dollar General Location July 8, 2023 5450 Emerson Way July 30, 2023 2131 Central Avenue August 7, 2023 2002 North Arlington Avenue August 11, 2023 2131 Central Avenue August 11, 2023 5450 Emerson Way August 14, 2023 3938 North Illinois Street Williams has a criminal history dating back nearly four decades, with convictions for theft, possession of a narcotic drug, battery against a public safety official, and domestic battery. These felony convictions prohibit him from ever legally possessing a firearm. “Six different times the defendant terrorized innocent people who simply had the misfortune to work at a business he decided to target for a few hundred dollars,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed, repeat criminals are a menace to our communities and must be held accountable. This sentence demonstrates that this type of violent lawlessness carries serious consequences.” “Robert Williams made the choice to commit violent crimes, and now he will spend nearly three decades in federal prison because of it. He terrorized employees, brandished weapons, and tried to instill fear in our communities. That conduct is unacceptable, and today’s sentence proves there is a heavy price for it. The FBI will never hesitate to go after violent offenders. If you pick up a gun to commit crime, we will track you down, we will take you off the streets, and you will go to prison. It’s that simple,” said Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: St. Helena Man Ordered to Pay $15K into Wildlife Conservation Fund for Trafficking Sperm Whale Parts

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Lauren Deloach, 69, of St. Helena, has been sentenced to 30 days of home confinement and a $15,000 fine for violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Deloach illegally imported, sold, and possessed sperm whale teeth and bones from September 2021, through September 2024. Deloach knew importing and selling these whale parts was illegal and would falsely label shipments with these products to avoid detection from law enforcement. The Government provided the court with two sperm whale teeth and one whale ear bone, which were among the approximately 47 whale teeth and two whale ear bones that Deloach had previously surrendered to law enforcement prior to his guilty plea. The sperm whale is native to U.S. waters in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and weighs up to 45 tons. It can grow 52 feet and live 60 years. The sperm whale population was decimated by the commercial whaling industry from 1800 to 1987. Studies have shown that these highly socialized animals communicate over great distances and associate in clans defined by the dialect pattern of their sonar clicks. The Government advocated for a substantial fine to be paid to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, also known as the Lacey Act Reward Fund. United States District Judge David C. Norton agreed and imposed a $15,000 fine on Deloach to be paid to the Lacey Act Reward Fund to serve as a deterrent and assist future wildlife trafficking investigations. Judge Norton also sentenced Deloach to 30 days home confinement and two years of probation. This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston D. Holliday, Jr. and Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, Trial Attorney Ryan C. Connors are prosecuting the case. ###


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Possessing Machine Gun and Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on September 10, 2025, ROY HILTON (“HILTON”) , age 26, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging him in Count 1 with possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2), and in Count 2 with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan will sentence HILTON on January 15, 2026. According to court documents, on August 20, 2024, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), while conducting surveillance in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, observed HILTON meeting with other possible gang associates who were in possession of firearms. HILTON himself possessed two firearms with extended magazines tucked into his front waistband. Based on their observations of seeing multiple individuals possessing firearms, when NOPD officers in their vehicles approached them, HILTON ran, chased by police, and ditched a firearm that he previously held. HILTON was apprehended. Officers later located HILTON ’s firearm that contained a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock switch.” This device converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machine gun. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. HILTON is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court of possession of cocaine. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit/Strike Force Unit. * * *


title: Former Evansville Banker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Over $158,000 from Customer Accounts

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Dekoda Scott Clark, 32, of Tell City, Indiana, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to bank theft and access device fraud. Clark must also pay $158,208.53 in restitution to the bank he defrauded. According to court documents, between January 2023 and March 2024, Dekoda Clark was employed as a Relationship Banker at a bank branch in Evansville. During this time, Clark exploited his position to steal approximately $158,208.53 from customer accounts by making unauthorized cash withdrawals and issuing fraudulent debit cards. Leveraging his access, Clark created debit cards linked to the checking accounts of five individuals and two businesses without their knowledge or consent. He then used these cards to make 17 purchases at various retailers, including Dicks Sporting Goods, Guitar Center, and Best Buy. Several of the purchases were for high-value technology items, including three Apple iPads, a MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch Ultra, two large televisions, a Lenovo gaming laptop, memory cards, a DJI Mini Drone, and an Xbox game drive. One of the transactions was for a $2,000 deposit into Clark’s account with Draft Kings, an online sports betting platform. These fraudulent purchases totaled $15,708.53. Clark also withdrew a total of $142,500 as cash from the checking accounts of three individuals without their knowledge or consent. “Bank employees are entrusted with safeguarding their customers’ hard-earned money, not exploiting that trust for personal gain,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Clark not only harmed individual victims but also undermined confidence in the financial system. This sentence, and the restitution he now owes, reflects the serious consequences of betraying that trust, and the level of accountability our office will seek for those who exploit their positions to defraud the public.” “Instead of serving his bank’s customers, Dekoda Clark lavishly served himself by illegally taking their money to pay for video game systems and other expensive tech gadgets,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to safeguarding the nation’s financial infrastructure and pursuing this type of malfeasance. I am proud of our work in this case, and I want to thank the FBI, Evansville Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana for their efforts in bringing justice to this defendant.” “This sentence demonstrates that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Indianapolis. “By stealing more than $158,000 from customer accounts, this defendant not only violated the law, but also the confidence placed in him by both her employer and the community. The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and pursuing those who commit fraud and theft.” The U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Founder of one of world’s largest hacker forums resentenced  to three years in prison

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A New York man was resentenced today to three years in prison for his creation and operation of BreachForums, a marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell, and trade hacked or stolen data and other contraband, and for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). “Conor Fitzpatrick personally profited from the sale of vast quantities of stolen information, ranging from private personal information to commercial data,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “These crimes were so extensive that the damage is difficult to quantify, and the human cost of his collection of child sexual abuse material is incalculable. We will not allow criminals to hide in the darkest corners of the internet and will use all legal means to bring them to justice.” “Following the dismantlement of RaidForums by law enforcement, the defendant set up and administered BreachForums, an online bazaar where criminals could purchase sensitive data,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to bringing to justice those who seek to sell stolen data to the highest bidder. To those seeking to operate a similar forum, take note: we will tirelessly investigate those who commit these crimes.” “Today’s sentencing sends a message to everyone in the cybercriminal ecosystem — helping others profit from theft, fraud, and other cybercrimes will land you in federal prison,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI is working tirelessly to dismantle criminal marketplaces like BreachForums, and we are pursuing the full range of actors who run these platforms.” Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, 22, of Peekskill, New York, pled guilty to access device conspiracy, access device solicitation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. As part of the plea agreement, Fitzpatrick also agreed to forfeit over one hundred domain names used in the operation of BreachForums, more than a dozen electronic devices used to execute the scheme, and cryptocurrency that represented proceeds of the scheme. Fitzpatrick’s resentencing came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an opinion on January 21, 2025, vacating Fitzpatrick’s prior sentence of time served (17 days) and remanded the case for resentencing. According to court documents, BreachForums, launched in March 2022, rapidly developed into one of the world’s largest English language hacking forums with over 330,000 members. BreachForums emerged as a replacement to RaidForums, a then major English-language hacking forum that law enforcement seized in February 2022. As with RaidForums, BreachForums gained notoriety by selling access to high-profile database breaches that contained, among other things, bank account information, social security numbers and other personal identifying information (PII), and usernames and associated passwords for accessing online accounts with merchants and service providers. BreachForums also maintained and offered access to at least 888 datasets of stolen information containing over 14 billion individual records of PII. Some of the stolen datasets contained sensitive information of customers at telecommunication, social media, investment, health care services, and internet service providers. For instance, one database contained the names and contact information for approximately 200 million users of a major U.S.-based social networking site. Another database listed the details of 87,760 members of InfraGard, a partnership between the FBI and private sector companies focused on the protection of critical infrastructure. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Halper and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Thomas Dougherty for the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division this case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, and FBI San Francisco Division, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations New York Field Office, New York Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Police Scotland, National Police Corps of the Netherlands and Peekskill Police Department. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of California, the District of Maryland, and the Southern District of New York have also provided assistance in this matter. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-119.


title: Sioux Falls Man with History of Eluding Local Police Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025. Boru Guye Wako, Jr., 39, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wako was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial on July 1, 2025. The conviction stemmed from an incident in Sioux Falls, SD, on March 8, 2023, when the Sioux Falls Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle last seen driven by Wako. When detectives with the Sioux Falls Violent Crime Unit located Wako in the stolen vehicle, they attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Rather than comply, Wako fled in the vehicle through a residential neighborhood, later abandoning the vehicle in an alleyway. As the detectives approached Wako a second time, he fled on foot, eventually escaping by stealing a second vehicle. Detectives then searched the first vehicle from which Wako fled and discovered a firearm in the driver’s side door. Later analysis revealed Wako’s DNA on the firearm. Having previously been convicted of a felony, and at the time being under indictment for a separate felony, Wako is prohibited from possessing firearms. “This case is the result of powerful partnerships between local and federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “For nearly three years now, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked with the Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to charge local violent offenders with federal firearm offenses whenever possible. Through federal prosecution, we have been removing violent offenders from the streets of Sioux Falls for significant periods of time, interrupting violence and keeping our community safe.” This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell prosecuted the case. Wako was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing Fifteen-Year-Old Female

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that KENDRICK WHITE, SR. (“ WHITE”) age 40, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on September 11, 2025 for sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2242(3) (Count 1), and sexual abuse of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2243(a) (Count 2). According to the indictment, on or about November 22, 2023, WHITE, with intent to gratify his sexual desire, knowingly engaged, and attempted to engage, in a sexual act with Minor Victim, a female born in January 2008 and who, at the time, was fifteen years old. WHITE committed the offense within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. WHITE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years as to Count One and a maximum term of life in prison as to Count Two. WHITE also faces a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and can be required to register as a sex offender. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. Acting U. S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Little Eagle Man Sentenced to Federal Prison   for Committing Child Abuse

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Little Eagle, South Dakota, convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025. Leslie Gerald Bobtail Bear, age 27, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025. The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between May 12, 2023, and November 21, 2024, when Bobtail Bear and his romantic partner severely neglected their baby, leading to the child’s emergency hospitalization. The conduct occurred in Corson County, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Bobtail Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.