title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Firearms

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing firearms, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Melvin Navarro Morgan, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 210 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. On Dec. 19, 2024, following a one-day bench trial on Oct. 28, 2024, Morgan was found guilty of one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms. When Springfield, Mo., Police Department (SPD) officers contacted Morgan on Jan. 5, 2023, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Morgan threw two baggies containing a total of 24.35 grams of fentanyl. When officers searched Morgan, they found methamphetamine, cocaine, and over $2,000 in cash. On April 17, 2023, officers with SPD executed a search warrant at Morgan’s residence. Officers seized approximately 117.35 grams of fentanyl, 50.75 grams of cocaine, and 416.87 grams of methamphetamine. During the search, officers found six guns, including an AR-pistol with no serial number or markings (also known as a “ghost gun”), and a pistol with an extended magazine. Officers also seized over $8,200 in cash. At trial, an FBI Special Agent testified that the approximate value of the seized drugs was $43,662. Morgan fled from officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), when they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Oct. 9, 2023. When SLMPD apprehended Morgan, he was in possession of 98 pills containing heroin and fentanyl; powders containing cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol; and off-white chunks containing cocaine base. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Lucas. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Guatemalan Man Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Domingo Gonzalez Perez, 43, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about October 9, 2024, Perez was found in western Pennsylvania after having been removed from the United States on or about September 4, 2007. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Fort Hood Soldiers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Alien Smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – A former U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Hood was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos to 33 months in prison for aiding and abetting the transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. According to court documents, Enrique Jauregui, 26, organized a smuggling event in 2024, recruiting fellow soldiers Angel Palma, 21, and Emilio Mendoza Lopez, 22. Jauregui provided Palma and Mendoza Lopez with the location information to pick up illegal aliens to smuggle, supported them with encouraging messages and instructions, and intended to pay the two co-conspirators after they dropped off the illegal aliens. On Nov. 27, 2024, Palma and Mendoza Lopez drove from Fort Hood (known at the time as Fort Cavazos) to Presidio and picked up three illegal aliens before leading U.S. Border Patrol agents on a high-speed chase. At one point, the defendants hit a marked USBP vehicle with an agent inside, causing injuries. Palma and Mendoza Lopez, along with the three illegal aliens, fled the vehicle on foot. All were apprehended except for Palma, who was located at a hotel in Odessa and eventually arrested. All three co-defendants pleaded guilty in early 2025. Palma and Mendoza Lopez were each sentenced in May to 24 months in federal prison. In addition to their imprisonment, Palma, Mendoza Lopez, and Jauregui were also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Jauregui was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. U.S. District Judge David Counts presided over the hearings. “These three individuals turned their backs on their values in a way that put our nation at risk, and put at risk the lives of others, including the lives of law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Everyone in this district, regardless of whether you wear the uniform or not, should take note: if you seek to enrich yourself by moving illegal aliens into or through this country, you will face the consequences of federal prosecution and will likely find yourself in federal prison.” "The sentencing of these individuals underscores the serious consequences of engaging in human smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens for Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. “Recruiting fellow soldiers to participate in illegal activities, culminating in a reckless high-speed chase with law enforcement, is a blatant betrayal of duty and public trust. HSI alongside our law enforcement partners, remain committed to dismantling smuggling networks and ensuring those responsible face justice." “This sentencing demonstrates the strong partnership between Army CID, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Border Patrol," said Special Agent in Charge Lane Allen of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Central Texas Field Office. "Maintaining the readiness and integrity of our fighting force remains our top priority." Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Central Texas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Curwensville Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Methamphetamine

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Curwensville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Jason Lentz, 31, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on June 17, 2025. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, in and around January 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lentz possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for October 14, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pennsylvania State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lentz.


title: SIXTEEN INDICTMENTS RETURNED FOR PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIENS IDENTIFIED IN RECENT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

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

body_text: TALLAHASSEE & PENSACOLA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that 16 previously deported aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. Jose Victor Aguilar-Zelaya, 40, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Fort Walton Beach in March 2025, after previously being deported in 2010. Oscar Alva-Cabrera, 23, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Gulf Breeze in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2024. Ofelia Andrea Caal-Chub, 22, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located Madison County in June 2025, after previously being deported in 2021. Bernardo Chavez-Chavez, 46, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 1997. Joel Coto-Mendoza, 48, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2023. Luis Armando Funez-Gomez, 48, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2008. Roberto Gonzales-Coto, 46, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2004. Candido Hurtado-Solano, 39, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2012. Juan Hurtado-Solano, 43, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2012. Omar Jimenez-Salinas, 29, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014. Jose Luis Morales-Huerta, 40, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2018. Cevero Enrique Ordonez, 29, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014. Juan Gomez Perez, 22, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2022. Elpidio Abelardo Perez-Perez, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Pensacola in February 2025, after previously being deported in 2010, 2012, and 2013. Maximo Solis-Xec, 25, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2018. Juan Carlos Hernandez Vallejos, 42, of Nicaragua, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Tallahassee in May 2025, after previously being deported in 2014 and 2015. The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton, Harley Ferguson, Alicia Forbes, Justin Keen, Walter Narramore, and Eric Welch are prosecuting the cases. 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 in a court of law. The cases are 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: Lee County Man Sentenced for  Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lee County man, Curtis Phillips, 45, was sentenced on Monday, to 360 months, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, on March 17, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office encountered Phillips passed out in a vehicle in the driveway of a residence. A search of the vehicle revealed over a kilogram of pure methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, $8,000 in cash, and a set of digital scales for drug trafficking purposes. On June 18, 2024, Phillips was again encountered passed out in a vehicle by law enforcement. At his feet, law enforcement located a loaded firearm. Phillips admitted to possessing the firearm and knowing that he had been convicted of a felony, and therefore was prohibited from possessing the weapon. Under federal law, Phillips must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Paul C. McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Sheriff Jospeh Lucas, Lee County Sheriff’s Office; and Sheriff Tara Chadwell, Owsley County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and Owsley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Georgia Man Sentenced To More Than 33 Years For Transporting A Minor With Intent To Engage In Sexual Activity And Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Vincent Joseph Robusto (42, Decatur, GA) to 33 years and 9 months in federal prison for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Robusto was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found Robusto guilty on January 15, 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, beginning in at least February 2021, Robusto was chatting and discussing sexual activity with a minor using a social media application. In July 2021, Robusto purchased an airline ticket for the minor using his bank card and provided the airline with the minor’s name and date of birth, indicating that he knew the minor’s age. On July 17, 2021, Robusto caused the minor to travel from Texas to Fort Myers, where airport surveillance video captured Robusto picking up the minor from the airport. Within a few days, the minor’s parent contacted the Dilley (Texas) Police Department (DPD) to report the minor missing and shared the locations of the minor’s cellphone that were observed using a locator application. The DPD contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for assistance in locating the minor and provided the residential address of a home in Port Charlotte indicated by the locator application. On July 23, 2021, at approximately 3:00 a.m., CCSO deputies arrived at the Port Charlotte residence attempting to locate the minor, where they found Robusto with the minor. While executing a search of the residence, law enforcement located a firearm and ammunition inside Robusto’s backpack on a kitchen table. Robusto knew that he was a convicted felon and could not possess a firearm or ammunition. Subsequently, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conducted DNA analysis on evidence obtained in this case. A crime laboratory analyst found Robusto’s DNA on the rough surfaces of the firearm and in the analysis of the sexual assault kit that had been collected from the minor. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Dilley Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Lee County Port Authority. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande G. Viacava and Benjamin S. Winter. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute 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: Shiprock Woman Sentence for DUI Crash

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman was sentenced to 33 months in prison for driving under the influence and causing a multi-passenger collision in 2023. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on April 10, 2023, Jazmyne Deschinny , 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove a vehicle with eight occupants, including five children, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. While passing through the intersection of U.S. Highway 491 and U.S. Highway 64 in Shiprock, within the Navajo Nation, Deschinny ran a red light and collided with a flatbed trailer being towed by a truck. Deschinny's vehicle following the crash Law enforcement and medical personnel responded quickly to the chaotic scene, providing life-saving care and transporting the injured to local hospitals. The impact caused severe injuries to multiple passengers, including children. One child suffered critical head trauma requiring emergency surgery and extended hospitalization. The subsequent investigation revealed that most occupants, including children, were not properly restrained in the vehicle. At the hospital, Deschinny ’s blood alcohol content was measured at .264 — over three times the legal limit — and she also tested positive for cannabinoids and opiates. Deschinny admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving and pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon her release from prison, Deschinny will be subject to two years of supervised release. 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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.


title: Largest Ever Seizure of Funds Related to Crypto Confidence Scams

component: Criminal Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $225.3 million in cryptocurrency. According to the complaint, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI used blockchain analysis and other investigative techniques to determine that the cryptocurrency is connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, commonly referred to as cryptocurrency confidence scams. The civil action was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet of the San Francisco Field Office, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the San Francisco Field Office. The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency addresses that held the over $225.3 million in cryptocurrency were part of a sophisticated blockchain-based money laundering network that executed hundreds of thousands of transactions and was used to conceal the nature, source, control, and ownership of proceeds derived from cryptocurrency investment fraud. The scam operators dispersed proceeds across an extensive group of cryptocurrency addresses and accounts on the blockchain to conceal the source of the illicitly obtained funds. As part of the investigation of the laundering network, dozens of victims across the country were confirmed to have lost funds through the belief that they were making legitimate cryptocurrency investments, with more than 400 suspected victims around the world. The complaint discussed millions of dollars in victim losses. “Under my leadership, with the support of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia is taking a leading role in the fight against crypto-confidence scams, partnering with law enforcement throughout the country to seize and forfeit stolen funds and rip them from the hands of foreign criminals, all with the eye toward making victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s civil forfeiture complaint is the latest action taken by the Department to protect the American public from fraudsters specializing in cryptocurrency-based scams, and it will not be the last,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These schemes harm American victims, costing them billions of dollars every year, and undermine faith in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Our investigators and prosecutors are relentlessly pursuing these scammers and their ill-gotten gains, and we will relentlessly pursue recovery of victim funds.” “This seizure of $225.3 million in funds linked to cryptocurrency investment scams marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service history,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet of the U.S. Secret Service’s San Francisco Field Office. “These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims. The U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and our private partners worked diligently to trace these illicit transactions, identify victims and seize these funds so that they can eventually be returned to their rightful owners.” “Cryptocurrency investment schemes can have devastating and long-lasting consequences for victims, far beyond just financial losses,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the San Francisco Field Office. “In this case, hundreds of victims lost millions of dollars to an elaborate scheme, and I commend the work of the FBI San Francisco investigative team and the United States Secret Service, San Francisco Office who worked tirelessly to return stolen assets to the victims. The FBI continues to aggressively pursue the criminals behind these heartless frauds, working alongside our federal partners and the private sector to disrupt malicious networks and recover funds for those targeted.” According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, cryptocurrency investment fraud caused more than $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone. This investigation is being handled by the U.S. Secret Service San Francisco Field Office and the FBI San Francisco Field Office. The Department of Justice thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation. This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg and Rick Blaylock, Jr., of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz and Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). Members of the public who believe they are victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and other cyber-enabled crime should contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. If you believe you may be a victim of one of the scams alleged in the government’s complaint, add the code “BT06182025” in the narrative of your complaint, and if you have previously filed a related complaint, make note of the prior complaint in the narrative. verified_complaint_25-cv-1907.pdf


title: Grand jury indicts Mexican national for firearms, drug crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Mexican national who opened fire in a local taco restaurant parking lot was indicted by a federal grand jury. Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, 29, was charged with illegally possessing a firearm as an illegal alien and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. According to charging documents, on April 11, Velasquez-Avecedo and another individual allegedly had an argument at Taco Nice restaurant in Columbus. It is alleged that the defendant fired multiple shots from a vehicle while driving near the restaurant. Local law enforcement authorities found Velasquez-Avecedo to be in possession of a pistol and 30 to 40 small baggies of narcotics. The defendant has prior convictions including assault and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the indictment returned on June 17. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: Man Who Fatally Shot SLED K9 Sentenced to Over 12 Years for Gun Charge

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —James Robert Peterson, 38, of Prosperity, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on June 11, 2024, Peterson was found in possession of a firearm while law enforcement attempted to arrest him on a felony state warrant. He has prior convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms. Peterson used the gun to fatally shoot South Carolina Law Enforcement Division K9 Officer Coba during the incident. United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Peterson to 150 months imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Peterson was sentenced to 33 years in state prison earlier this year for first-degree burglary, attempted murder, cruelty to a police dog, and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ###


title: FLORIDA MAN CONVICTED OF RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION OF OBSCENE MATERIAL

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Donovan Arthur Sauleda, 39, of Crawfordville, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of all counts for possession and receipt of child pornography and production and distribution of obscene material portraying a child. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Protecting our children from sexual exploitation and abuse is of paramount importance, and I am proud of the great work by my office to bring this sex offender to justice. My office will aggressively pursue these types of cases to ensure those who victimize our most vulnerable populations are prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.” Trial testimony demonstrated in November, 2021, Sauleda, a registered sex offender, came under investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for his failure to register his internet accounts as required by law. Further investigation led to a search warrant in March 2022, where the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found child pornography and child-like sex dolls within Sauleda’s residence. Sauleda was found to have made videos for sale and distribution with the child-like sex dolls. Sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. Sauleda will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence and is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and up twenty years’ imprisonment. This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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 . 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Washington, DC Man and Felon Pleads Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Loan Program and Identity Theft While on Federal Supervised Release

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Jemel Lyles, 43, of Washington, DC, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in federal court. In his guilty plea, Lyles admitted to submitting applications for and receiving funds from six fraudulent CARES Act loans. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations. According to the guilty plea, between April 2020 through February 2021, while on supervised release for a prior federal felony fraud conviction, Lyles defrauded the SBA and PPP by obtaining six fraudulent PPP loans. In the relevant applications, Lyles inflated the applicant businesses’ number of employees and monthly payroll amounts to fraudulently increase the amount of PPP funds he received. Lyles also knowingly submitted both false payroll documentation and false tax documents to support the false assertions. Under PPP regulations, Lyles’s prior felony fraud conviction made any business in which he had a reportable ownership interest ineligible to receive PPP funds. Lyles fraudulently obscured either his ownership interest in the applicant businesses or the fact that he would be the immediate recipient and have primary control over the PPP funds to evade this legal restriction. When Lyles submitted one set of applications, he omitted his reportable interest in the applicant companies Green Capital Construction and Landscape, LLC (Green Capital) and JSL, Investments LLC. In another set of applications, Lyles used the identity of his then friend and employee, Individual-3, to apply for PPP loans in the individual’s name. These loans were then deposited into bank accounts that Lyles was a signatory. Then Lyles proceeded to use PPP funds in impermissible ways, some of which included expenditures involving a home gym, jewelry, child-support payments, personal retail credit accounts, food, and personal financial investments. In total, Lyles defrauded approximately $281,900 in PPP funds from the United States and PPP lenders. Lyles faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by up to five years of supervised release, for his wire fraud conviction. He also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of two years in prison for his aggravated identity theft conviction, consecutive to any other sentence. Lyles also faces up to an additional two years in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, September 10, at 2 p.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner who is prosecuting the federal case. She also recognized the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for their valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for Exploiting Minors via Snapchat

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— Darren Ringenberg, 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, after being convicted of two counts of sexual exploitation of a child while required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, in 2019, Ringenberg was previously convicted in Kentucky of twenty counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor and was required to register as a sex offender for life. Then, after his release from the Kentucky offense, in June 2023, Ringenberg, using the Snapchat username “devil_hell6969,” communicated with a nine-year old girl living in Monroe County, Indiana and coerced her to send sexually explicit images and videos, threatening to hack into her social media accounts and remove all her friends if she did not comply. Ringenberg directed her as to what images to send, how to take the photos and told her that they could meet in person in the future. He also falsely claimed to be sixteen years old and would screen-record and save many of the images and conversations without the child’s knowledge. After receiving a tip about his illicit behavior online, law enforcement conducted judicially authorized searches of both Ringenberg’s Snapchat account and his residence in Louisville. Investigators found text messages, many of which were sexual in nature, between Ringenberg and various other unidentified minors, including the nine-year-old girl. Also located on his cell phone camera roll were many Snapchat screen recordings of minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct. “Sex offenders often use manipulation and threats to sexually exploit children with utter disregard for the lasting trauma they inflict. I urge parents and guardians to talk to the children in their lives about what they’re doing online and make sure they have trusted adults they can turn to for help,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI and the Bloomington Police Department for their work to seek justice for this victim and protect other children from this online predator.” “This case is a tragic reminder that with today’s technology, predators can reach across state lines with a few clicks. While the distance didn’t help protect this child from harm, it did not stop the offender from being brought to justice,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable – no matter where they are.” The FBI and Bloomington Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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. If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood ###


title: United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $225M in Funds Involved in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Money Laundering

body_text: The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $225.3 million in cryptocurrency. According to the complaint, law enforcement used blockchain analysis and other investigative techniques to determine that the cryptocurrency is connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, commonly referred to as “cryptocurrency confidence scams.” The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency addresses that held the over $225.3 million in cryptocurrency were part of a sophisticated blockchain-based money laundering network that executed hundreds of thousands of transactions and was used to disperse proceeds of cryptocurrency investment fraud across many cryptocurrency addresses and accounts on the blockchain to conceal the source of the illegally obtained funds. “Today’s civil forfeiture complaint is the latest action taken by the Department to protect the American public from fraudsters specializing in cryptocurrency-based scams, and it will not be the last,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These schemes harm American victims, costing them billions of dollars every year, and undermine faith in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Our investigators and prosecutors are relentlessly pursuing these scammers and their ill-gotten gains, and we will relentlessly pursue recovery of victim funds.” “Under my leadership, with the support of President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is taking a leading role in the fight against crypto-confidence scams, partnering with law enforcement throughout the country to seize and forfeit stolen funds and rip them from the hands of foreign criminals, all with the eye toward making victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. "The forfeiture of these illicit funds is a powerful tool in the FBI’s toolbox to stop the fraudsters who are operating online from stealing from the American people," said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Division. "The FBI will not standby while these criminals target unsuspecting victims who believe they are making legitimate investments. The hard work of the FBI and our partners continues as we work with victims and potential victims across the country to put an end to these scams and warn others about their devastating effects." “This seizure of $225.3 million in funds linked to cryptocurrency investment scams marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service (USSS) history,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet of the USSS San Francisco Field Office. “These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims. The USSS, FBI, and our private partners worked diligently to trace these illicit transactions, identify victims and seize these funds so that they can eventually be returned to their rightful owners.” As part of the investigation of the laundering network, over 400 suspected victims are believed to have lost funds after being duped into believing that they were making legitimate cryptocurrency investments. The complaint recounts millions of dollars in victim losses. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, cryptocurrency investment fraud caused more than $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone. The USSS San Francisco Field Office and FBI San Francisco Field Offices investigated the case. The Department of Justice thanks Tether for its proactive assistance in this investigation. Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz and Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg and Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia are handling the matter. Members of the public who believe they are victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and other cyber-enabled crime should contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov . If you believe you may be a victim of one of the scams alleged in the government’s complaint, add the code “BT06182025” in the narrative of your complaint, and if you have previously filed a related complaint, make note of the prior complaint in the narrative.


title: Colorado Dentist Sentenced for Tax Evasion

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Colorado dentist was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison for tax evasion related to his use of an illegal tax shelter. The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: since 2014, Ryan Ulibarri owned and operated Ulibarri Family Dentistry in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2016, Ulibarri purchased an abusive-trust tax shelter for $50,000. The tax shelter involved concealing income and creating false tax deductions through the use of a so-called business trust, family trust, charitable trust and a private family foundation, all of which Ulibarri created and controlled. From 2016 through 2023, Ulibarri used this tax shelter to conceal from the IRS over $5 million in income he earned from his dental practice and evade more than $1.6 million in federal and state income taxes owed on that income. To set up the tax shelter, Ulibarri signed trust instruments that named him as trustee of the three trusts and foundation, and he opened bank accounts in the name of each entity. He further recruited friends to falsely sign his trust instruments as the purported creators of the trusts to make it seem as if Ulibarri himself was not the real creator. Ulibarri then transferred majority ownership of his dental practice to his business trust. He did this despite having been warned by attorneys and CPAs that, in Colorado, a trust could not own a dental practice. Ulibarri then transferred over $5 million in income he earned from his dental practice into the bank accounts of the various trusts and foundation to create the illusion that the funds belonged to those entities, not him. In reality, Ulibarri retained complete control over those funds and used the funds to pay for personal expenses including his home mortgage, credit card bills, boats, and professional baseball season tickets. Ulibarri also filed false tax returns for himself, his dental practice, the trusts, and his foundation that falsely reported the income he earned from his dental practice as income of the trusts. On those tax returns, Ulibarri also claimed fraudulent deductions for his personal living expenses which he disguised as trust expenses and charitable donations. In total, Ulibarri caused a tax loss to the United States of $1.5 million. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Nina Y. Wang ordered Ulibarri to serve 3 years of supervised release, to pay a $150,000 fine and to pay $1,449,121 in restitution to the IRS and $166,966 in restitution to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Special Agent in Charge Amanda Prestegard of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Scott and Lauren K. Pope and Assistant Chief Andrew J. Kameros of the Tax Division prosecuted the case. Note: This press release was updated to correct minor errors.


title: KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Christopher R.P. Beaman, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs to five years for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Court ordered the sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole. The Court also sentenced Beaman to three years of supervised release following incarceration. On Nov. 26, 2024, Beaman pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense. On July 1, 2023, Independence, Missouri Police Department officers pulled over a black Mazda truck with expired plates and missing door handles. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Beaman. During the traffic stop, officers observed two clear glass pipes and a bowl that appeared to be drug paraphernalia. Officers asked Beaman to step out of the car and directed him to the rear of the Mazda truck. One of the officers was about to conduct a probable cause search of the truck when Beaman fled on foot. Officers chased Beaman and were ultimately able to subdue him after utilizing a Taser and forcefully handcuffing him. When investigators searched the Mazda truck, they discovered a black, Taurus, .45 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number. They also found approximately 23.3 grams of methamphetamine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: Convicted Felon In Possession Of Two Illegal Firearms Including An Unregistered “Ghost Gun ” Is Sentenced To Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Phillip Leon Leggett, 30, of Kings Mountain, N.C., was sentenced yesterday to 102 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm, including a “ghost gun,” announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to court records and court proceedings, in the fall of 2023, CMPD was monitoring an area in Charlotte for criminal activity, when officers observed an individual, later identified as Leggett, who appeared to be concealing a firearm in the front pocket of his sweatshirt. CMPD officers approached Leggett who immediately fled on foot. A foot chase ensued, during which the officers observed two firearms fall from Leggett’s person. The guns came to rest along the defendant’s flight path. One officer stopped to collect the firearms while other officers continued to pursue Leggett until the defendant was apprehended and taken into custody. The recovered firearms were a black Taurus PT111 G2 9mm loaded with a magazine, and an unregistered privately made firearm, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” fitted with a 17-round magazine and a round in the chamber. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Leggett has a criminal history, including multiple Felony Common Law Robbery convictions, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Leggett will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Cartel firearms traffickers sent to federal prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been sentenced for attempting to traffic firearms into Mexico on behalf of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Mexican national Jorge Alberto Morales-Calvo, 25, pleaded guilty Jan. 8, while Homero Arteaga Jr., 45, Mission, entered his plea Nov. 21, 2024. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now imposed a 41-month-term of imprisonment for Morales-Calvo. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. At the hearing, the court heard Morales-Calvo and Arteaga knew the firearms were going to be smuggled across the border and delivered to CJNG. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted that selling firearms to the cartel in Mexico leads to the destabilization of that country. Arteaga previously received 57 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The investigation revealed Arteaga and Morales-Calvo were purchasing firearms on behalf of a broker for CJNG. On Sept. 18, 2024, they planned to purchase a Barrett .50 caliber rifle for $15,000 and a FN Herstal Belgium, 5.7 x 28 caliber pistol with a large capacity magazine for $850. Arteaga and Morales-Calvo were given $16,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency to pay for the firearms. When they arrived in Zapata to complete the transaction, Morales-Calvo stayed in the vehicle while Arteaga inspected the firearms. Arteaga then retrieved the fake U.S. currency and took possession of the firearms. Law enforcement immediately arrested Arteaga. Morales-Calvo attempted to flee but authorities stopped him before making it out of the parking lot. “The Department of Justice is looking to hit the cartels from every angle and at every opportunity, which includes vigorously prosecuting not just the members of these terror groups, but those that enable them as well,” said Ganjei. “Those that arm or otherwise empower the cartels are going to the meet the full force of the federal criminal justice system.” “Trafficking firearms on behalf of violent cartels is not just illegal, it fuels deadly cycle of violence on both sides of the border,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case demonstrates how seriously we take these crimes and how we are using every tool and resource available to disrupt the illegal flow of weapons, dismantle cartel networks, and protect our communities.” The success of this investigation reflects the critical partnerships between all levels of law enforcement working together to stop this violence at its source.” Both men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The ATF conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Members Of Drug Conspiracy Distributing Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Are Sentenced To Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two members of a drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine were sentenced to prison yesterday, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Ashton Durrell Farley, 32, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Thomas Eugene Ikard, 46, of Lenoir, N.C., was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Farley and Ikard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Ferguson is joined in making the announcement by Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department. Two other members of the drug conspiracy were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Dustin Eric Wilson, 35, of Charlotte was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Harold Marquis Wilfong, 37, of Hickory, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents and court proceedings, federal charges were filed against the defendants following a 10-month investigation led by the ATF and the Hickory Police Department (HPD), aimed at reducing drug distribution and drug-induced criminal activity in Catawba County and surrounding areas. The drug trafficking ring operated out of Hickory and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the area. To identify the drug conspirators and their operations, ATF agents and HPD officers utilized controlled drug purchases, conducted physical surveillance, and executed search warrants. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that members of the drug ring used several residences either as “stash houses” to store drugs and/or guns, or to conduct drug sales and other drug trafficking activities. One of the alleged stash houses was located two blocks from the federal courthouse in Charlotte. According to court records, during the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Law enforcement also seized multiple firearms used by some of the traffickers to support their drug distribution, including an AR-15 rifle and a privately made firearm or “ghost gun,” and ammunition. In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF, HPD, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office investigation of this case and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Cherokee County man sentenced to life in federal prison for sex trafficking teens

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, was sentenced to seven life sentences by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on June 18, 2025. In 2023, Herndon was convicted by a jury of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children following a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody between the time of trial and sentencing. “Victimizing children through commercial sex trafficking is reprehensible and will be prosecuted vigorously in East Texas,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “We will not stand by and watch the lives of young people ruined by predators like Herndon to satisfy the wanton interests of commercial sex customers. Herndon’s life sentence demonstrates our society’s intolerance for such callous disregard for others. I want to thank our many law enforcement partners for their diligent work on this case.” “Sex trafficking is one of the most appalling crimes in our society, exploiting the most vulnerable among us. HSI remains committed to identifying traffickers, dismantling their criminal networks, and providing critical support to survivors,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “Through our victim-centered investigations, we will spare no resource to protect communities and seek justice for those victimized by this modern-day slavery. “ According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Herndon engaged in trafficking multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts. Herndon recruited the girls by social media, deceived them by promising riches, and placed them in hotels in the Tyler area. He then posted advertisements on sex trafficking websites showing explicit photos of the girls and offering commercial sex acts. Some of Herndon’s victims were as young as 13 years old. During trial, jurors heard testimony that Herndon used co-conspirators to continue to run his operation while he was in jail so that the victims could earn money to pay his bond. Three of Herndon's co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the offenses. Malcolm Kadeem Roberts, 29, of Tyler, was sentenced on November 16, 2023, to over 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Roberts was also sentenced to 75 years in state prison in Smith County District Court for aggravated sexual assault of a child charges in relation to one of the minor victims in this case. Tavarus D. Watkins, 29, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 16, 2023, for interstate transport of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Patrick Lamont Cross, Jr, 28, of Palestine, pleaded guilty on August 22, 2022, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Cross is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2025. 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. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Tyler Resident Agency, North Texas Trafficking Task Force, FBI Tyler Resident Agency, Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Unit, Tyler Police Department, Henderson County Sherriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sherriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Palestine Police Department, Abilene Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Alan Jackson, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Jiral. ###


title: Jury convicts Du Quoin felon of possessing a firearm

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois jury found a Du Quoin man guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon in Franklin County. A jury convicted Marcus T. Moore, 42, of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. “To help protect the public and keep guns away from dangerous individuals, convicted felons lose the right to legally possess firearms. As this case demonstrates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to hold repeat criminal offenders accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. According to court documents, a Sesser police officer initiated a traffic stop on Moore’s vehicle on Sept. 10, 2023. After Moore failed a field sobriety test, he fled on foot as officers attempted to take him into custody. He was apprehended after being tased, and a firearm was discovered secured to his ankle. Moore had a prior federal conviction from 2007, which prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm. Moore was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest. Moore’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 at the federal courthouse in Benton. Convictions for felon in possession of a firearm are punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The Sesser Police Department led the investigation with support from ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Sanders and Tom Leggans are prosecuting the case.


title: New Hampshire Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges For 2024 Crime Spree

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – A New Hampshire couple pleaded guilty in federal court last week to robbery charges stemming from a crime spree in August of 2024. On June 10, 2025, Christopher Boisvert entered a plea of guilty to the charge of armed bank robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss. On June 12, 2025, Meghan Cox entered a plea of guilty to the charge of conspiring with her accomplice to interfere with commerce by robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss. At sentencing, if the District Court accepts the plea agreements Boisvert and Cox each face up to 20 years’imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, will be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing in September of this year. According to court records, on August 26, 2024, around 2:06 PM, the Vermont State Police were notified of an attempted robbery at Rolling Twenties, a Cannabis Dispensary located at 440 Rockingham Road in the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. Investigation revealed that in the minutes before the robbery, exterior surveillance video captured a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck parked in front of the business, with its rear license plate obscured by a dark covering. Two subjects, a male and a female – later confirmed to be Boisvert and Cox – exited the Silverado truck and approached the business on foot. The male was white, with a medium build, and was wearing a grey long-sleeved “Henley” style shirt, gray sweatpants, brown leather boots, a black ball cap, a black face mask, sunglasses, and was carrying one or two dark colored backpacks or duffel bags. The female, also white, with a medium build, red hair, was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, tight-fitting blue jeans, brown leather boots, wearing a black ball cap, a black face mask, and dark “aviator” style sunglasses. She was also carrying a dark colored bag. Both subjects were wearing blue colored latex gloves. Once inside the business’s lobby, they attempted to enter the retail floor and demanded money and marijuana. An attendant denied entry and both subjects left the business in the blue Silverado truck, traveling south bound on VT Route 5/Rockingham Road towards Bellows Falls, Vermont. At approximately 2:47 PM, the Bellows Falls Police Department was called to a bank robbery at the TD Bank, 2 Church Street, Bellows Falls, Vermont. Officers determined the bank robbery suspect fit the description of the male subject from the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery minutes earlier. TD Bank surveillance video showed the male wearing the same clothing and disguise as described in the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery and was carrying a black and gray backpack. The male approached an employee and produced a note indicating he wanted 100s (one-hundred-dollar bills) and other large denominations placed into the bag. The male lifted his shirt revealing what appeared to be a wooden handle/grip of an object tucked into his pants. The teller placed money onto the counter and the male subject retrieved the money, placing it into his backpack. An image of the male, who turned out to be Christopher Boisvert, displaying the weapon in his waist band is below: TD Bank Photograph Boisvert told the employees he had done research, and he knew where their families live – if they try anything, he was going to come back and hurt or kill them. He also said he had a gun inside his backpack and that his girlfriend or wife was waiting in the vehicle outside with a “45[.]” As he was leaving, Boisvert told the employees to wait two minutes before calling the police. In total, Boisvert received approximately $2,500 of U.S. Currency from TD Bank. About an hour after the Bellows Falls bank robbery, around 3:45 PM, the Brattleboro Police were called to a robbery of the Brattleboro Savings and Loan, located at 972 Putney Road, Brattleboro, Vermont (“Brattleboro Savings and Loan”). Law enforcement investigation revealed a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck with New Hampshire registration plates parked on Black Mountain Road, next to the Putney Road Plaza where the bank is located. Boisvert was wearing the same clothing, hat, mask, footwear, blue gloves, and was carrying a black and gray backpack. Inside the bank, he approached a teller and told her to put money into the bag. He stated to the teller that he knew the employee’s families and their addresses, and to give him all the money. He also said he had a gun. The teller observed that he possessed an orange handled knife. Several tellers provided him with U.S. Currency; in total the amount was approximately $5,000. Surveillance video showed Boisvert return to the blue Silverado truck. Using a cellular phone, a teller captured photographs of the Silverado fleeing the area. The photographs revealed the rear license plate number of the truck. Law enforcement then confirmed the vehicle was registered to Christopher Boisvert of New Hampshire. At approximately 4:00 PM, the Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department located the blue Silverado on Route 9 near the Chesterfield/Keene, New Hampshire town line. Deputies attempted to stop the truck, but it fled, and a pursuit began. Sheriff Deputies and New Hampshire State Police, among other agencies, pursued the truck, ultimately ending the pursuit when the truck entered Massachusetts. The truck was later located abandoned in the parking lot of Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol, Massachusetts. Law enforcement examined a social media account associated with Boisvert and Cox, and compared known photos of the defendants to the surveillance footage obtained during the investigation. Investigators saw Boisvert was wearing an identical shirt to the one he wore during the robberies. In addition, Meghan Cox had a distinctive tattoo on her neck. A close-up review of the surveillance footage from the Rolling Twenties dispensary shows an object covering the tattoo that appeared to be peeling off her neck. When they searched the Silverado truck, investigators recovered a 14-inch bowie knife with a wooden handle consistent in appearance with the weapon displayed in the TD Bank surveillance footage, black KN95-style facemasks consistent in appearance with what the defendants were wearing, a small spiral bound notebook containing a handwritten note that matched the same threats articulated to the various robbery victims, a grey “Henley” style shirt, and blue medical gloves. These clothing and disguise items were subsequently tested for DNA that matched Boisvert and Cox. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Brattleboro Police Department, Bellows Falls Police Department, Keene, New Hampshire Police Department, Swanzey, New Hampshire Police Department, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department, New Hampshire State Police, Athol, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Winchendon, Massachusetts Police Department. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Federal Defender Michael Desautels represents Christopher Boisvert and Meghan Cox is represented by Richard C. Bothfeld, Esq. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Grand jury indicts Columbian national for illegally reentering United States after prior kidnapping, firearms convictions

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jaime Fernandez-Alacron, 48, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony. According to charging documents, the defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2011 and 2020. Fernandez-Alacron was deported after being convicted in New York of federal kidnapping conspiracy and firearms crimes. Court documents detail that Fernandez-Alacron was most recently arrested in May by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was charged locally with felony possession of drugs and driving violations, including driving while intoxicated and without a valid license. Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, like Fernandez-Alacron is in this case, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones announced the indictment filed today. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. These cases were investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #


title: Canadian County Man Convicted after Arranging Meeting to Sexually Assault Children in Oklahoma City Motel

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted RONNIE ALLEN BARTON , 48, of Canadian County, of two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender, and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Barton, charging him with the above crimes. On June 17, 2025, a federal jury found Barton guilty on all counts. Evidence presented at trial showed that in July 2024, an undercover FBI agent posted an online advertisement for the opportunity to meet with two fictitious, underage children—a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl—for sexual purposes. Through the platform, Barton expressed interest in the ad, and over the course of several months, requested that the agent send him pornographic pictures of the girls. Ultimately, Barton arranged to meet the agent and the two fictitious girls at an Oklahoma City motel for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the girls. Barton was arrested outside of the motel on January 24, 2025, when he showed up at the appointed time and place for the meeting. Public records reflect that Barton is a registered sex offender, with a previous 2018 felony conviction for lewd acts or indecent proposal in Canadian County District Court case number CF-2017-254. At sentencing, Barton faces no less than 20 years and up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Joynes and Brandon Hale are prosecuting the case. This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Las Vegas Man Convicted Of Receipt And Possession Of Child Pornography Following Multiple Prior Child Pornography Convictions

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – After a one-day bench trial, a Las Vegas man was found guilty on Monday for one-count of receipt of child pornography and one-count of possession of child pornography. As a result, he faces at least 15 years in federal custody. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on June 12, 2023, Leonard Shove was found in possession of a cell phone that contained multiple images and videos which constitute child pornography. Shove was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense, and in accordance with the terms of his release, the U.S. Probation Office conducted a search of his possessions and discovered the cellular device in his backpack. The FBI subsequently took possession of the cellular device and continued the investigation. United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva presided over the bench trial on June 16, 2025. Shove was convicted of one-count of receipt of child pornography and one-count of possession of child pornography. He had multiple prior convictions related to the possession and receipt of child pornography. Shove is set to be sentenced on September 22, 2025. As a result of his conduct, and his prior convictions, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jean Ripley and Daniel Schiess prosecuted the case. The case was initially indicted by Trial Attorney Supriya Prasad. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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 www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . ###


title: Detroit CPA Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $14.5 Million in Restitution for PPP Loan Fraud Scheme Involving Hundreds of Small Businesses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $14.5 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration on his conviction of fraud conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Matthew Lloyd Parker, 37. According to information presented to the Court, between March 2020 and August 2021, Parker conspired with others to defraud lenders of more than $14.5 million through false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief in the largest known PPP fraud in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Parker, a licensed CPA, recruited hundreds of small businesses in Pittsburgh and Detroit and falsified PPP loan applications in their names. The Small Business Administration approved more than 200 of those applications, resulting in loans totaling approximately $14.5 million to the various businesses. The United States argued that Parker’s sophistication as a CPA aided him in falsifying the hundreds of PPP loan documents, which then generated substantial PPP loans to others along with approximately $1.5 million dollars in loan processing fees to Parker. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Parker.


title: Beaver Falls Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security Benefits

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Nicholas T. Grimes, 30, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on June 17, 2025. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, following the death of a Title II Social Security benefits recipient, Grimes began stealing that person’s Social Security retirement benefits, beginning as early as 2014. Grimes stole benefits totaling approximately $216,779 by negotiating the benefits from the deceased’s account through ATM transactions. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Grimes.


title: Southern Ute Tribal Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with Children

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Kalin Burton Goodtracks, age 36, of Ignacio, Colorado, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a Justice of Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessment of $10,000, after pleading guilty to two charges of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country. According to the plea agreement, on separate incidents in 2019, Goodtracks sexually abused two minors under the age of 12 who were under his supervision. He committed the offenses at his home on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Both children were related to Goodtracks. “Mr. Goodtracks deserves to spend a long time in federal prison because he preyed upon children he was supposed to protect,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Pursuing justice for the most vulnerable in Colorado—and especially our children—remains one of our top priorities.” “This case is a clear reminder that those who exploit children — including those on tribal lands—will find no safe haven from justice, no matter where they are,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “These predators pose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and the FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who targets children.” United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher sentenced the defendant on June 16, 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southern Ute Investigations Division within the Southern Ute Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey K. Graves and Lisa Franceware handled the prosecution of the case. Case Number: 1:23-cr-00491-GPG-JMC


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Shooting at Police

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man on Wednesday admitted shooting at multiple St. Louis County police officers in 2024. Dylan Farmer, 21, of Breckenridge Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to four counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer and two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Farmer admitted that on Feb. 13, 2024, officers of the St. Louis County Police Department Special Response Unit (SRU) were trying to find someone who was wanted in connection with a double homicide. A vehicle associated with that wanted person was parked in the 4500 block of Virginia Avenue in St. Louis. When Farmer unlocked the vehicle and got in, officers converged to detain him. All wore vests marked “Police,” and three of the vehicles were equipped with blue flashing emergency lights. The officers were also designated as task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI. As three task force officers pulled up in their SUV, Farmer immediately opened fire with a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun equipped with a 50-round drum magazine, damaging the SUV. Officers returned fire. Farmer then ran across the street and between some buildings, where he fired one shot at an officer. He then ran down an alley and fired multiple times at a different officer, who ducked behind a dumpster. Farmer then hid on the front porch of a house in the 4500 block of Alaska Avenue. When officers drove down the street and spotted Farmer, he opened fire again, damaging their vehicle, and officers again returned fire. Farmer eventually surrendered after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Officers treated his wounds and summoned an ambulance to take him to the hospital. One officer’ was injured when a bullet ricocheted off a vehicle’s window, causing glass to fly into his eye. Another’s ankle was injured when he jumped out of his car and sought cover. Farmer admitted firing first at police. As part of the plea agreement, both sides have agreed to recommend 22 years in prison at Farmer’s sentencing, which is set for September 23. The firearm charges each carry mandatory minimum 10-year sentences. The St. Louis County Police Department, the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Anchorage residents charged with conspiring to traffic fentanyl pills and powder to Alaska, laundering the proceeds

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging an Anchorage man and woman with conspiring to traffic large quantities of fentanyl to and within Alaska and laundering over half a million dollars in drug proceeds. According to court documents, between August 2024 and February 2025, Corey Clifton, 51, and Elizabeth Cruickshank, 44, conspired together, and with others, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl in Alaska. Specifically, on Aug. 6, 2024, Clifton allegedly shipped a parcel from Washington to Cruickshank in Alaska. The parcel contained over 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills packaged in small baggies with stickers inside drink mix containers. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska Court documents further detail that between Nov. 7, 2024, and Feb. 19, 2025, Cruickshank allegedly attempted to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute on three separate occasions. On Aug. 8, 2024, Clifton is also accused of possessing two firearms and ammunition as a felon. On the date of incident, Clifton had two prior serious drug felony convictions from 2015 and 2017 in the Alaska Superior Court in Kenai and U.S. District Court in Anchorage, respectively. The indictment further alleges that between April 2024 to 2025, Clifton and Cruickshank conspired together to launder over $500,000 in drug proceeds. Clifton is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and firearms and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Cruickshank is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. The defendants made their initial court appearances yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames of the Seattle Field Division, Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Seattle Division and Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS CI) Seattle Field Office made the announcement. The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, USPIS Anchorage Domicile and IRS CI Seattle Field Office are investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative’s Southcentral Area-Wide Narcotics (SCAN) team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Cody Tirpak are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of the Alaska Parcel Interdiction Initiative, a statewide partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Alaska State Troopers and other local law enforcement to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into Alaska through the mail. Together, the agencies work tirelessly to interdict suspicious U.S. Postal Service and other carriers’ parcels, with a goal of seizing narcotics before they enter communities and prosecuting those responsible for trafficking drugs to Alaska. 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 and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Williston Man Charged with Tax Evasion

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging John Caleb Wright, 43, of Williston, Vermont, with attempting to evade payment of over $1 million of tax. Wright’s arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle is scheduled for July 22, at 11:00 A.M. in Burlington. According to court records, after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notified Wright that it would begin enforced collection of his assets to satisfy a tax debt of over $1 million, Wright moved his cryptocurrency assets on two occasions in 2021 from a cryptocurrency exchange where they were accessible to the IRS via legal process, to an off-exchange, unhosted wallet beyond the reach of the IRS. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Wright is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Wright faces up to 5 years’ 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 the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Corinne Smith. Wright is represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.