title: Vandalia man accused of attempting to commit a child sex offense

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Today in U.S. District Court within the Southern District of Illinois, a magistrate judge ordered a Vandalia man be held in custody without bail after he was charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Trevor W. Yokley, 32, is facing one count of attempting to entice a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment. “Individuals who prey on children perpetrate vile crimes, which is why identifying child predators is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. According to the complaint, an undercover FBI agent created an online social media profile for a purported 14-year-old girl. Yokley is accused of contacting the purported minor and trying to meet with her to engage in sexual activity between January and April 2025. “Due to the tireless pursuit of criminals who would target children, a once faceless online predator has been unmasked and arrested,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This arrest is one of many to come as FBI Springfield continues to work alongside our partners to identify and bring child predators to justice.” FBI arrested Yokley in Effingham on April 1, 2025, when he traveled to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity. A complaint is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. The FBI Springfield Field Office is leading the investigation with assistance by the Carlyle Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Effingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.


title: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Statement on Supreme Court Stay of Maryland District Court Order

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's temporary administrative stay blocking the district court's order that Salvadoran national Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia must be returned to the United States by midnight tonight: "We welcome this stay from the Supreme Court as we continue to fight this case and protect the executive branch from judicial overreach."


title: LOUISIANA WOMAN WHO PROVIDED A CHILD FOR PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOSHOOT PLEADS GUILTY

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images. According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold. Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Division made the announcement. The FBI New Orleans Division - Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz. 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Rolla, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Jace Fox, age 25, from Rolla, ND, appeared in United States District Court on April 4, 2025, and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 51 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Fox was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. As reflected in court documents, in or about February 2022, Jane Doe submitted to a forensic interview during which time she disclosed that Fox sexually abused her when she was 13 years of age. At the time of the conduct, Fox was 20 years of age. During a subsequent investigation, other minors made similar disclosures about having been sexually abused by Fox. Fox was later interviewed by the FBI in January 2023, during which he initially denied knowing Jane Doe . Eventually, Fox admitted to knowing the victim, but he denied having sexually abused her. Despite his denial, Fox plead guilty to the sexual abuse of Jane Doe on November 19, 2024. "This was a despicable crime committed against one of the most vulnerable members of our community," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "The FBI and our partners are fully committed to protecting children from abuse and ensuring those who exploit or harm them face justice swiftly." This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota. # # #


title: Louisiana Woman Who Provided a Child for Pornographic Photoshoot Pleads Guilty

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images. According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold. Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Head of the Justic Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement. The FBI New Orleans Division - Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz. 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MERVIN FIGUEROA, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 14 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component. The investigation revealed that Alexander Kolitsas owned and operated Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford. Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Figueroa, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey. Kolitsas instructed his suppliers on the types of converters that would obtain the most profit upon resale, and he would often meet with them and transact business at his home in Wolcott late at night or behind a family member’s restaurant in Middlebury after hours. Starting in January 2022, Kolitsas maintained electronic invoices reflecting the purchase of stolen catalytic converters from Figueroa and other suppliers. In several of the invoices, Kolitsas permitted his suppliers to use fictitious names or business names in order to create the appearance of proper recordkeeping while obscuring from his records the true source of the stolen converters. The invoices show that between approximately January 26 and May 31, 2022, Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot paid approximately $3,345,675 to purchase stolen converters from his co-conspirators. The invoices reflect that Downpipe Depot paid Figueroa $169,840 for catalytic converters, including converters that were stolen in two separate incidents from vehicles at U-Haul Moving and Storage in Naugatuck. In messages between Kolitsas and Figueroa, Kolitsas told Figueroa that he needed to remove anti-theft tags that U-Haul had placed on the converters before Kolitsas would take them. The investigation revealed that Figueroa also stole converters from school buses. Figueroa was arrested on November 15, 2023. On October 29, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. Figueroa, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 2. Kolitsas pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing. This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Fox Island, Washington, man indicted for stealing more than $920,000 from an elderly financial advisory client

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 56-year-old Fox Island, Washington man was indicted late last month by a federal grand jury for four counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, four counts of money laundering, and four counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. John S. Winslow, a former financial advisor at a national financial services firm, allegedly stole over $920,000 in life savings and inheritance from a former client, a widow in her 70’s. “Mr. Winslow took advantage of the victim’s trust to steal from her bank and brokerage accounts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “He used the victim’s funds to upgrade his lifestyle – buying an island home, installing a hot tub and new appliances, and purchasing a new car and a diamond necklace.” According to the indictment, Winslow moved funds out of the victim’s brokerage accounts with the financial services firm and into her outside bank account in multiple transactions. He did this to conceal his fraud by placing the victim’s funds outside of the firm’s surveillance system. From the victim’s outside bank account, the funds were transferred into Winslow’s bank accounts, again in multiple transactions. Winslow used his trusted status with the victim to further the fraud. He visited the victim at her home and instructed the victim to call the bank and put the call on speaker. He then told the victim what she should tell the bank. Winslow used the victim’s funds for his own benefit. He falsely claimed to the victim that if she transferred money to him, he would repay her at a higher interest rate than what she was getting from her banks. To hide the illicit nature of the funds, Winslow allegedly funneled the victim’s funds through extra layers of transactions. For example, Winslow purchased gold coins from an online gold retailer in multiple transactions. He then sold those gold coins to a local brick-and-mortar gold retailer before depositing the proceeds into his bank accounts. During the fraud-scheme period, Winslow allegedly failed to report the funds that he stole from the victim on his federal tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $254,000. Winslow was arraigned on the indictment and entered a ‘not guilty’ plea on March 31, 2025. Trial in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright is scheduled for June 2, 2025. The wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering counts are representative acts of the alleged scheme and are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The false-tax-return counts are punishable by up to 3 years in prison. The charges in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.


title: Georgia man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft

body_text: BILLINGS – An Atlanta, Georgia man who defrauded banks in multiple states was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant was also ordered to pay $161,401.17 in restitution. Stanford Wilvin Lightfoot, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that for approximately 5 months in 2023, Stanford Lightfoot was a member of a large fraud ring that had been defrauding banks in Montana, Maine and Missouri. In each location, Lightfoot and other coconspirators would travel to the state from the base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia. Once there, they would recruit local homeless individuals who possessed valid ID cards. They would then take these homeless individuals to local banks and provide them with fraudulent checks from real accounts. These checks all possessed forged signatures of real people and were, therefore, means of identification. The homeless individuals would then attempt to cash the checks and, if successful, would provide the money to Lightfoot and his coconspirators. If the homeless individuals were caught by police, they would be abandoned to take the blame. In Montana, Lightfoot hit multiple banks in Belgrade, Bozeman, and Livingston utilizing local homeless individuals to forge checks in excess of $20,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, Livingston Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, and Bozeman Police Department. XXX


title: Deming, Washington man convicted at trial of receipt and possession of images of child sexual abuse

body_text: Seattle – A 47-year-old resident of Deming, Whatcom County, Washington was convicted last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle of two federal felonies related to his receipt and possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Robert J. Howell Jr. came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2019 when a foreign country police organization alerted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that an Ip address associated with Howell Jr’s residence had accessed a website devoted to images of child sexual abuse. Following a two-day jury trial, jurors deliberated about an hour before finding Howell Jr. guilty on April 1, 2025. U.S District Judge John C. Coughenour scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025. According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, after getting the tip from a foreign law enforcement organization, HSI agents sought information on the account associated with the IP address. The IP address was linked to Howell’s home in Deming. On September 15, 2020, federal agents executed a search warrant and seized several dozen electronic devices. A forensic review determined there were more than 90,000 files depicting child sexual abuse on some 21 electronic devices. Many of the images were of the sexual abuse of very young children and included depictions involving extreme violence. At trial prosecutors specifically proved that between 2016 and 2019, Howell Jr. received five specific files of child sexual abuse material and knowingly possessed many more. In all more than 75 electronic assets including computers, phones, tablets, hard drives, storage devices, gaming devices, and CDs were seized by law enforcement and have been forfeited to the government. Howell Jr. faces a mandatory 5 years in prison and up to twenty years in prison when sentenced by Judge Coughenour. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Coughenour after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Hampton and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Ly. 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: Sutter County Man Indicted for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On March 13, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Thomas Michael Davis, 39, of Yuba City, charging him with receipt of child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The indictment was unsealed following his arrest. According to court documents, between May 2023 and January 2024, Davis used the internet to download child pornography. Davis has previously been convicted of having sex with a minor. This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuba City Police Department, and the Sacramento Valley Hi Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case. If convicted of receipt of child sexual abuse material, Davis faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime term of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Rensselaer Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Edwards, age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully possessing multiple rounds of ammunition. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Edwards admitted that on October 8, 2024, inside of his Rensselaer residence, he unlawfully possessed more than 40 rounds of various caliber ammunition. A prior felony conviction prevented Edwards from lawfully possessing the ammunition. When he is sentenced on August 5, 2025, Edwards faces a maximum term of fifteen years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rensselaer Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case, as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Timothy M. O’Shea, is joining with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, in recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 6-12, 2025. This year’s theme, Kinship, recognizes that shared humanity drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. Kinship is where victim advocacy begins. This annual observance challenges us to build a world where every connection built through kinship holds the potential to heal. It asks us to ensure that resources are available to all survivors and that we show up for one another with empathy and intention. National Crime Victims’ Rights week was established in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime. The week is an opportunity “to reflect on the importance of making the justice system work for survivors of crime,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “Many people think justice is only a conviction or an arrest, but for survivors, justice means being heard, treated with dignity and respect, and restored to the degree that goal can be achieved through restitution, treatment, and other remedies. My office will continue to strive to honor the voices of crime victims throughout all stages of federal criminal prosecutions.” U.S. Attorney O’Shea also praised the work of those in law enforcement and in the larger community who support crime victims, “being a crime victim can have lifelong impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health. Providing emotional support and other assistance to crime victims is an invaluable part of providing justice and I applaud those who do this important work.” More information about Crime Victims’ Rights Week can be found at: https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview.


title: Hugo Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Conspiracy

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lana Freeman, a/k/a Lil’ Jerry, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 224 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department. On September 16, 2024, Freeman pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, from June 16, 2023, until July 17, 2024, Freeman willfully conspired with others to possess and distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. “The community is better off with Jerry Freeman off the streets and his supply of methamphetamine disrupted. Over 18 years in the federal penitentiary should dissuade anyone else considering Jerry’s line of work to reconsider. ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal substances out of our communities and investigating those responsible” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “This sentence is a message to all drug traffickers who put methamphetamine on our streets and line their pockets with dirty money,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “Our neighborhoods are safer by holding people accountable with sentences like this.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations distributing illegal narcotics in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Methamphetamine continues to plague families and communities, and through the cooperative work of law enforcement our goal is to hold offenders accountable for the misery their actions cause.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Freeman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Large-Scale COVID-19 Pandemic Loan Scheme

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Pennsylvania man who organized a large scheme to defraud the federal government out of COVID-19 pandemic loan moneys in 2021 was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison. Alhaji Kundu Aly, age 35, from Chester, Pennsylvania, formerly of Liberia, received the prison term after a June 14, 2024, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. In a plea agreement, and at the sentencing hearing, Aly admitted that, in 2021, he and others recruited and assisted various individuals in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for which they did not actually qualify, in exchange for a fee. False, fraudulent, and fictitious documents and statements were submitted to various lending institutions in support of the PPP loans for the PPP applicants. After the PPP applicants received the fraudulent PPP loans, it was part of the scheme to demand a portion of the PPP moneys from the PPP applicants and, if necessary, Aly traveled to demand payment in person. Aly traveled to Iowa and demanded payment in person from a PPP applicant. Aly admitted at his sentencing hearing that he was responsible for approximately $3.5 million in loss based on more than 170 fraudulent PPP loans as a result of the scheme to defraud. Aly was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Aly was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $3,478,781 in restitution the Small Business Administration and two PPP lenders. Aly must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Aly was released on a bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on April 28, 2025, at 10 a.m., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration assisted the investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-9. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Stockton man pleads guilty to threatening to blow up power plants

component: USAO - New York, Western


title: Three Oklahoma Residents Plead Guilty To Federal Drug Crimes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Ja’Darious Rajae Scroggins, a/k/a Juice, age 25, of Hugo, Oklahoma, Latrell Lamont Crawford, a/k/a Trell, age 25, of Atoka, Oklahoma, and Kaleigh Leann Ervin, age 22, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to federal drug crimes relating to drug distribution in Eastern Oklahoma. Scroggins pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by up to 465 months in prison. The Superseding Indictment against Scroggins alleged that between October 19, 2023, and July 17, 2024, Scroggins knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and substances containing cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances. The Superseding Indictment also alleged that during that time, Scroggins acquired, used, and traded firearms to protect and further that drug distribution. Crawford entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 188 months in prison. The Superseding Indictment against Crawford alleged that on December 18, 2023, Crawford knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ervin entered a guilty plea to one count of Maintaining Drug Involved Premises, punishable by up to 63 months in prison. The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning on October 25, 2023, and continuing until January 16, 2024, Ervin knowingly maintained a residence in Durant, Oklahoma, for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendants will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Jordan W. Howanitz, and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.


title: Defendant Previously Convicted of Manslaughter Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - Monte Tyree Johnson, 29, of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal gun charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again” public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., that is surging resources and charging more gun crimes in District Court to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. Johnson was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg detained Johnson on charges articulated in a criminal complaint filed on March 20, 2025, charging unlawful possession of a firearm. As outlined in the criminal complaint, Johnson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Johnson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on December 10, 2021, and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. According to court documents, on March 19, 2025, United States Marshals arrested Johnson for allegedly violating the terms of his supervised release. Johnson was taken into custody without incident at a residence in Northeast Washington, D.C., where authorities also allegedly recovered a firearm, high-capacity magazine, ammunition, and suspected narcotics. On March 18, 2025, it is alleged that U.S. Marshals observed Johnson leaving a residence on Cassell Place NE carrying a black crossbody bag. The next day, investigators returned to the residence with knowledge of the active warrant and arrested Johnson in a third-floor bedroom. Upon arrest, it is alleged that investigators observed the same black crossbody bag next to the bed Johnson had been occupying. In plain view, a high-capacity ammunition feeding device was protruding from the bag. A subsequent court-authorized search warrant led to the recovery of a loaded handgun, extended magazine, and controlled substances. This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators who are a danger to the community. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. johnson_indictment_0.pdf


title: Four Sentenced for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four people have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire Counties. According to court documents and statements made in court, 26 people were charged in 2023 in connection with the drug trafficking organization, led by Dorian Scott Burks and Andrew Ross Hose. The conspirators worked together to sell large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The investigation recovered drugs, firearms, and thousands of dollars. Those sentenced this week are: Alexis Walsh, 30, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, sentenced to 123 months in prison for the distribution of cocaine hydrochloride; Michael Ramsbottom, age 68, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, sentenced to 84 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride, fentanyl, cocaine hydrochloride, and cocaine base; Sathira Lynn Ewers, age 42, of Romney, West Virginia, sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride, fentanyl, cocaine hydrochloride, and cocaine base; Eric Turner, age 38, of Winchester, Virginia, sentenced to three years of probation for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride, fentanyl, cocaine hydrochloride, and cocaine base. All defendants in the case have been convicted. Burks, age 29, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 262 months in prison in January 2025. Hose, age 40, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, will be sentenced on May 5, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Fashion and beauty companies agree to pay $6.7M to settle False Claims Act allegations involving Paycheck Protection Program loans

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Puig USA, Inc. and Carolina Herrera, Ltd., both located in New York, have agreed to jointly pay $6.7 million to settle civil fraud allegations involving second-draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. PPP loans were made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Puig USA, Inc. received a second-draw PPP loan of $1,689,007 and Carolina Herrera received a second-draw PPP loan of $2,000,000. An entity could be eligible for a second-draw PPP loan if, among other requirements, the entity, including its international affiliates, employed fewer than 300 people at the time of application. Carolina Herrera, Ltd. and Puig USA, Inc., both owned by Puig Brands, S.A., had 5,213 employees at the end of 2019 and 4,785 employees at the end of 2020. The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Small Business Administration. The matter was investigated by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina H. Kim. The settlement began with a lawsuit, United States ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. Carolina Herrera, Ltd. et al., that was filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The whistleblower will receive a 10-percent share of the settlement. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia . Case records may be found on PACER under case number 1:24-cv-1856. The civil claims settled are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.


title: Contractor settles allegations of labor overcharging on government contract

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (BAH), located in McLean, agreed to pay $422,557 to settle allegations that a BAH employee assigned to work on a General Services Administration (GSA) contract overreported his time resulting in BAH issuing invoices for services under the contract that were not performed. Between 2018 and 2022, GSA paid invoices submitted by BAH that included services for a BAH employee under a GSA contract. Investigators from GSA and the Defense Intelligence Agency compared invoices and timesheets for the employee with the employee’s badge swipe data for entering and exiting the secure facility where the contract was performed to determine the number of overcharged hours attributable to the employee. As a result, the government alleged that BAH billed for services that the employee did not provide. BAH agreed to settle allegations for common law claims of payment by mistake and unjust enrichment. This investigation was initiated when BAH made a contractor disclosure. BAH received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and The Offices of the Inspector General for both General Services Administration and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Troy. The civil claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no admission of civil liability. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.


title: Five Individuals Face Federal Charges Following Multi-Agency Immigration Enforcement Operations

body_text: ATLANTA – Five individuals have been charged in the Northern District of Georgia with firearms-related offenses during a multi-agency immigration enforcement operation in metro-Atlanta during the past week. The operations involved coordinated investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable support from several local law enforcement partners. In addition to the individuals charged federally, law enforcement seized more than a dozen firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in connection with the operations. “Our office is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this effort and other enforcement initiatives to protect our communities and safeguard our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “This initiative sends a strong message to those engaged in criminal activity, whether regarding immigration-related or firearms offenses, that the ongoing and determined coordinated efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners will achieve measurable results in making our communities safer.” “The successful enforcement actions taken during this multi-agency operation underscore HSI’s unwavering commitment to upholding immigration laws and targeting illegal aliens allegedly possessing and trafficking in firearms,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “By leveraging our partnerships and resources, we are identifying and apprehending those who exploit our immigration system to engage in criminal activities that threaten public safety and national security.” “ATF along with our federal law enforcement partners will utilize all resources to investigate firearms trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. “The success of these investigative efforts could not be accomplished without cohesive partnerships, which keep our communities safe.” “The DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, are sending a clear message to the Mexican drug cartels and their criminal associates, that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “FBI Atlanta is dedicated to supporting our federal partners in achieving our mutual objective of ensuring the safety of our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case clearly illustrates the success that can be achieved when federal agencies unite their resources and expertise to combat violent criminals." According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: From March 24 to April 2, 2025, federal law enforcement agencies conducted a series of enforcement operations targeting individuals allegedly committing firearms and other violations, including those illegally present in the United States. During the operation, law enforcement seized 13 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Significantly, resulting investigations revealed that many of the firearms were bound for Mexico. The following defendants have been charged in connection with the operations: Lucio Hernandez Mora, 45, of Riverdale, GA, was charged in a Criminal Complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. On April 1, 2025, special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Department of Homeland Security, Enforcement and Removal Operations, executed a search warrant on a residence in Riverdale, Georgia and encountered Hernandez Mora, an illegal alien. During a search of the residence, agents located two firearms, allegedly belonging to Hernandez Mora. Cameron Vick, 22, of Atlanta, GA was indicted by a federal grand jury on nine counts of making a false statement to a firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of firearms. Vick’s purchases included two belt-fed M249S rifles, believed to be destined for Mexico. He was arrested on March 27, 2025. Bernice Macias Montes, 31, of Atlanta, GA, was charged in a Criminal Complaint with making a false statement to a firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of firearms. ATF agents seized five firearms during a search of her residence on March 27, 2025. Teresa Gonzales-Hoppo, 56, of Lithia Springs, GA, was charged in a Criminal Complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. On March 27, 2025, ATF agents executed a search warrant on Gonzales-Hoppo’s residence and located a firearm, allegedly belonging to Gonzales-Hoppo. Carlos Sambrano, 28, of Rex, GA, was charged in a Criminal Complaint with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. ATF agents located seven firearms in his residence during the execution of a March 27, 2025, search warrant. Hernandez Mora made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker on April 1, 2025. Gonzales-Hoppo made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins, III on March 28, 2025. Vick, Macias Montes and Sambrano also made their initial appearances before Judge Larkins on March 27, 2025. Members of the public are reminded that the Criminal Complaints and Indictment only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, Georgia State Patrol, Sandy Springs Police Department, Doraville Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton County Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Clarkston Police Department and East Point Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys with the Northern District of Georgia, including those assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), provided valuable support for these operations. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (Atlanta Strike Force) is to eliminate transnational organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Atlanta Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets, Regional Priority Organization Targets, and their associates. The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies; and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: San Fernando Valley Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Tied to Online Violent Network Known as ‘764’

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: A California man was arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he targeted children for sexual exploitation online as part of his role in an online violent network that seeks to accelerate social unrest and the downfall of the current world order. Jose Henry Ayala Casamiro, 28, of San Fernando Valley, was arrested by the FBI on charges of attempting to possess and the possession of child pornography. He made his initial appearance on April 3 in federal court in the Central District of California. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond and an April 22 arraignment date was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court. According to court documents, Ayala allegedly caused minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as other video content depicting themselves engaging in self-harm as part of his participation in an online network known broadly as “764”, a network of nihilistic violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct, particularly targeting children for sexual exploitation online, to further the network’s goals of accelerating the downfall of the current world order, including the U.S. government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors. As part of the 764 network, Alaya was allegedly involved with an online group that blackmailed underage girls into creating child pornography videos depicting themselves engaging in degrading sadistic sexual acts, torture sessions, and carving their abusers’ initials or names on their bodies. The group also encouraged the female minors to commit suicide. As one example, the criminal complaint details a March 2020 photo in which an individual had cut the defendant’s name “Henry” into their right forearm. The complaint also outlines four videos that allegedly depict Ayala directing teen girls to engage in specific sexual acts. In February and March 2025, the complaint also alleges that Ayala participated in a new server created as a “grooming pool” targeting many underage girls, which included two minor students in a public school district in Colorado. Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California; and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Elbogen and David Ryan for the Central District of California and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND- The United States Attorney’s Office in Northern Indiana will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) from April 6–12, 2025, in part, by participating in the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week online Candlelight Vigil to honor crime victims. This year’s NCVRW theme—Connecting Healing—recognizes that shared humanity drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins. This annual observance challenges us to build a world where every connection built through KINSHIP — between survivors, advocates, and communities — holds the potential to heal. It asks us to ensure that resources are available to all survivors and that we show up for one another with empathy and intention. Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay said, “Ensuring victims’ connection to services and awareness of their rights is paramount in the healing process. Last year, our victim advocates made over 2,400 victim contacts by several methods, including in person, email, text, and phone calls. In addition, they issued over 50,000 victim notifications in federal cases, diligently keeping the victims’ informed of their rights throughout the Court process.” The United States Attorney’s Office in Northern Indiana will commemorate NCVRW 2025 with the following events: On April 9, 2025, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host the 2025 NCVRW Candlelight Vigil to pay tribute to victims of crime and the many dedicated professionals and volunteers who advocate on their behalf. Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Time: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. eastern time Location: ovc.ojp.gov/live or justice.gov/live NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims and survivors of crime, raise awareness of victims’ rights and services and recognize the dedication of those who work with crime victims. For more ideas on supporting crime victims, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov . ###


title: Bridgeport Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that ONAI KEDAR WILBUR WRIGHT, 25, of Bridgeport, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses. Wright appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 14, 2025. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on March 14, 2025, an Online Covert Employee (OCE) with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Cleveland, Ohio, monitored a live video stream on the internet application “Fambase” and observed Wright engaging in sexually explicit activity with a 16-year-old female (“minor victim”). Analysis of mobile communications and geo-location data, and information from AirBnB, led investigators to a residence located in Norwich, Connecticut, where they took Wright into custody. The minor victim and two adult females were also present in the residence. The complaint charges Wright with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years of imprisonment, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI in New Haven and Cleveland, with the assistance of the Norwich Police Department, the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, the Vermilion (Ohio) Police Department, and the Norwalk (Ohio) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford. Acting U.S Attorney also acknowledged the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice A Child Into Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that William Isaak Sparks (24, Kalamazoo, Michigan) has pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of an 11-year-old child to engage in sex acts. Sparks faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Following any imposed prison sentence, he will be required to serve at least 5 years’ supervised release and register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Sparks has also agreed to forfeit a cellphone that was used to facilitate the offense. According to court documents, an FBI special agent was conducting an online undercover investigation designed to identify and target adults who were seeking sexual activity with children. The undercover agent, posing as the parent of an 11-year-old girl, made contact with Sparks in a chat group on a social media app. Sparks offered to travel from Michigan to Florida for the purpose of sexually exploiting the “child.” Sparks provided his cellphone number to the undercover agent, distributed to the undercover agent two videos of children being sexually abused, and offered to send an explicit video of himself. Via text message, Sparks continued to make arrangements to travel to Florida. The undercover agent again encountered Sparks in a chat room on May 21, 2024. During that conversation, Sparks again offered to travel to Florida to sexually abuse the 11-year-old “child.” Sparks provided his true name to the undercover agent so that the agent could book a bus ticket from Michigan to Florida for Sparks. The agent later learned that on May 24, 2024, Sparks had been arrested by the Michigan State Police after information was provided by a private citizen that Sparks was attempting to engage in sex acts with a purported 11-year-old child in Michigan. Sparks was arrested after he showed up with a condom and $45 in cash expecting to sexually abuse the purported 11-year-old child in Michigan. While he was detained pending trial in this case, Sparks was found to be possessing in his jail cell drawings depicting children being sexually abused. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Michigan State Police, and the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Indictment Returned for February 2024 Shooting of Metropolitan Police Department Officers

body_text: UPDATE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified to investigate Rattigan. WASHINGTON – Stephen Rattigan, also known as Julius James, 49, of Washington, D.C., was indicted April 2, 2025, on assault with intent to kill while armed and other charges stemming from the February 14, 2024, shooting of Metropolitan Police Department Officers, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”). Rattigan was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of six counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, six counts of assault on a police officer while armed, three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, fifteen counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of endangerment with a firearm, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and one count of cruelty to animals. Rattigan is scheduled to be arraigned on April 4, 2025, at a hearing before the Honorable Michael Ryan. Rattigan faces a mandatory minimum of five years of incarceration for each count of assault with intent to kill while armed, each count of assault on a police officer while armed, and each count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed. Rattigan faces a mandatory minimum of one year for each firearm in his possession. According to the government’s evidence, at about 7:30 a.m., on February 14, 2024, members of MPD went to 5032 Hanna Place SE in Washington, D.C. to arrest Rattigan, then known as Julius James. MPD officers, in full uniform, repeatedly announced that they were with MPD and that they were at the residence to arrest Rattigan. After several minutes of no response, MPD officers observed Rattigan inside the house, and he began speaking to the officers. Despite attempting to have Rattigan open the door, MPD officers were forced to use tools to force open the front door. While six members of MPD were outside the front door, Rattigan fired several shots through the front door, striking three of the officers. An hours-long standoff then ensued, with Rattigan communicating with MPD negotiators for several hours. At one point during the standoff, Rattigan, upset that he wasn’t getting cigarettes quickly enough, fired three additional rounds through the front door. After several hours, Rattigan surrendered to MPD officers, and he was arrested. After Rattigan was arrested, MPD executed a court-authorized search warrant inside the home. Inside, Rattigan had thirty-one dogs, three handguns, two AR-style rifles, two full drum magazines, and additional large-capacity magazines. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Goldstein of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 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: Three Orlando Residents Plead Guilty To Scheme That Facilitated Evasion Of Payroll Taxes And Workers’ Compensation Requirements In Construction Industry

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Eduardo Anibal Escobar (44), Carlos Alberto Rodriguez (35), and Adelmy Tejada (57), all residents of Orlando, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Each are legal permanent residents from El Salvador. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and up to 5 years in federal prison for the tax fraud offense. These individuals are subject to an order requiring them to forfeit at least $8,764,652 in proceeds which they obtained as a result of the wire fraud offense and two houses in Orlando that were purchased with those proceeds. The defendants are also subject to an order requiring them to pay restitution in the amounts of $12,992,908 to four insurance companies for unpaid workers’ compensation insurance premiums, $397,895 to two of the companies for workers’ compensation claims that the companies paid, and $36,957,616 for unpaid employment taxes on approximately $146,077,535 in payroll that was not reported to the IRS. The sentencing dates have not yet been set. According to court documents, over the period of approximately January 2015 through August 2024, the defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud involving misrepresentations concerning workers’ compensation insurance. The purposes of the scheme were to facilitate the employment of workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States, to avoid paying for adequate workers’ compensation insurance, and to avoid paying required payroll taxes. To carry out the scheme, Escobar, Rodriguez, and Tejada obtained workers’ compensation insurance policies in the names of companies they registered with the State of Florida. The policies covered a handful of employees and a minimal payroll. They then reached agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to represent to construction contractors that the subcontractors were employed by the defendants’ companies. The subcontractors provided the defendants with the names of the contractors for whom they wanted to perform work, and the defendants sent the contractors documents representing that the subcontractors worked for the defendants’ companies and that they were covered by the companies’ workers’ compensation insurance. This representation allowed the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, the construction contractors. The contractors wrote payroll checks to the defendants’ companies for work performed by the subcontractors and the defendants distributed the payroll to the workers, after keeping 6% to 8% as a fee. Most of the workers were undocumented aliens working illegally in the United States. Over the course of the scheme, approximately $146,077,535 in payroll flowed through the companies, on which the defendants were paid fees totaling at least $8,764,652. Although the workers’ compensation insurers believed they were providing coverage for the limited payroll reflected in the insurance applications and reported by the defendants, the insurers unknowingly provided coverage for the approximately $146,077,535 in payroll that flowed through the defendants’ companies. If the insurers had known the amount of payroll they were in fact covering, they would have charged additional annual premiums totaling at least $12,992,908. Neither the defendants nor the contractors nor the subcontractors reported to the IRS the payroll that flowed through the defendants’ companies, and no one paid either the employees’ portion or the employers’ portion of payroll taxes due. If the total payroll of approximately $146,077,535 had been properly reported to the IRS, the total payroll taxes due would have been approximately $36,957,616. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a continuing investigation by those agencies of the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.


title: Clearwater Man Indicted For Transportation Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Brian Francis McArdle (34, Clearwater) with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and possession of CSAM. If convicted on all counts, McArdle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024, McArdle transported and shipped a visual depiction, the production of which involved the sexual abuse of a minor. McArdle also knowingly possessed a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Guatemalan National Indicted For Illegal Reentry Into The United States After Being Previously Deported

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Samuel Ortiz-Ordonez (24, Guatemala) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Ortiz-Ordonez faces up to two years in federal prison and subsequent deportation and removal from the United States. According to court documents, Ortiz-Ordonez was previously removed from the United States on June 15, 2023. Ortiz-Ordonez has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to lawfully reenter the United States. On March 13, 2025, Ortiz-Ordonez was found voluntarily back in the United States in Jacksonville, where he was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. After being approached by ICE officers, Ortiz-Ordonez abandoned the vehicle that he was driving and fled on foot through a local residential neighborhood. After a brief chase, he was apprehended by ICE officers. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case 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: Ohio Woman Sentenced on Drug, Gun Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – An Ohio woman, who trafficked ice methamphetamine from the Buckeye State into Southwest Virginia and carried a firearm while doing so, was sentenced yesterday to 98 months in federal prison. Betty Ann Rosenbeck, 42, of Huber Heights, Ohio, previously pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on July 17, 2023, a traffic stop was conducted on Rosenbeck’s vehicle in Bristol, Virginia. At the time of the traffic stop, a K9 officer alerted to the presence of narcotics and officers seized two sets of digital scales, multiple plastic baggies, and a handgun magazine. Approximately ten days later, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for $350 from Rosenbeck at a residence in Bristol, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, on August 11, 2023, investigators learned that Rosenbeck would be traveling back to Virginia after obtaining methamphetamine from a source in Dayton, Ohio. Federal search warrants were obtained and on August 12, 2023, officers stopped Rosenbeck’s vehicle in Abingdon, Virginia and executed warrants on her person and vehicle. During that search, officers located 441.8 grams of 84 percent pure methamphetamine concealed inside four plastic bags hidden in Rosenbeck’s under garments, and a loaded 9 mm handgun hidden in her tights. Officers also found a glass pipe, clear baggy with residue, and a ledger with names and dollar amounts. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Virginia State Police, Holston River Drug Task Force, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: South Florida Federal, State, Local Law Enforcement Cooperation Leads to Murder Charges, Convictions Against MS-13 Gang Members

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, FBI Miami, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), and other law enforcement worked in partnership to solve four local homicides connected to the MS-13 gang, a transnational criminal organization and recognized terrorist group. So far, the law enforcement collaboration has led to federal indictments in the Southern District of Florida charging murder in aid of racketeering activity (22-cr-60078 and 25-cr-20102); convictions that carry mandatory life sentences for six MS-13 members and associates; and pending charges against three defendants facing the death penalty. The Investigation: Beginning in 2015, BSO Homicide Unit detectives investigated two murders that took place in a small area of Oakland Park, Florida, appeared to be gang related, and were carried out using knives or machetes: O.G., 18. On January 7, 2015, BSO detectives found the body of O.G. in Oakland Park, Florida. O.G. was 18 years old when he was killed by machete strikes to his head and neck. C.O., 25. On October 19, 2015, BSO detectives responded to the scene of a stabbing in Oakland Park, Florida. They found 25-year-old C.O. in an alleyway. He had been stabbed many times in the neck and chest. C.O. was taken to the hospital but died soon after getting there. Investigative leads on the two cases went cold in about 2016. In 2020, the BSO Cold Case Unit reopened the unsolved homicides and partnered with FBI Miami and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (the investigative team). They learned of two additional murders with similarities to the ones BSO had reopened: G.V.P., 22. On May 3, 2015, the body of G.V.P. was discovered in a vacant lot in Palm Beach, Florida. G.V.P. was 22 years old when he was stabbed repeatedly in the face, neck, torso, and groin. He was also shot in the head. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which was handling that case, collaborated with the investigative team. J.C.L., 18. In May 2021, the investigative team discovered the body of victim J.C.L. after an extensive, multi-day excavation in Oakland Park, Florida. He had been punched, kicked, stabbed to death, and buried in a makeshift grave. J.C.L. was 18 years old when his family reported him missing. Through investigative techniques and modern technologies, the team pieced together evidence showing that MS-13 was responsible for the four homicides. The Federal Prosecutions: The team secured federal indictments in two cases in the Southern District of Florida related to these MS-13 murders: the July 2022 federal criminal case against six defendants (22-cr-60078) and the March 2025 federal criminal case against three defendants (25-cr-20102). In the 2022 case, all six defendants have been convicted of murder in aid of racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C.§1959: Andy Tovar (a/k/a “Fearless”) pled guilty to two counts of murder in aid of racketeering activity. Tovar, an MS-13 gang leader, approved the murder of victim O.G., and participated in victim G.V.P.’s murder in 2015 – including shooting him in the eye. Tovar has been sentenced to life in prison. Wilson Tirado-Silva (a/k/a “Sombra”) pled guilty to four charges of murder in aid of racketeering activity for his role in: the 2014 stabbing murder of victim J.C.L., the 2015 murder by machete of victim O.G., the 2015 stabbing and gunshot murder of victim G.V.P., and the 2015 stabbing murder of victim C.O. Tirado-Silva was a local MS-13 leader responsible for growing the gang in South Florida. He took MS-13 recruits on kills as part of gang initiation. Tirado-Silva faces a mandatory life sentence. Miguel Angel Cabrera-Granados (a/k/a “Mariachi”) pled guilty to one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity. He participated in the 2014 stabbing murder of victim J.C.L. to gain gang membership credit. Cabrera-Granados faces a mandatory life sentence. Melvin David Cruz-Ortiz (a/k/a “Bigfoot”) pled guilty to three counts of murder in aid of racketeering activity for his role in the 2014 stabbing murder of victim J.C.L., the 2015 stabbing and gunshot murder of victim G.V.P., and the 2015 stabbing murder of victim C.O. Cruz-Ortiz committed the murders to gain gang membership credit. Cruz-Ortiz faces a mandatory life sentence. Kevin Ricardo Gamez-Melendez (a/k/a “Ardilla”) pled guilty to one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity for his role in the 2015 stabbing and gunshot murder of victim G.V.P. Gamez-Melendez faces a mandatory life sentence. Wilber Geovanni Vigil-Benitez (a/k/a “Solitario”) was convicted by a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida earlier this year for murder in aid of racketeering. The jury found Vigil-Benitez guilty for his role in the 2015 stabbing and gunshot murder of victim G.V.P. Vigil-Benitez faces a mandatory life sentence. In the March 2025 case (25-cr-20102), three defendants are charged with murder in aid of racketeering activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1959, in connection with the MS-13 stabbing and gunshot killing of victim G.V.P. They are all in federal custody: Jose Ezequiel Gamez-Maravilla (a/k/a “Chango”) Hugo Adiel Bermudez-Martinez (a/k/a “Blue”) Wilber Rosendo Navarro-Escobar (a/k/a “Power”) The three defendants, whose cases are pending, face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison and a maximum sentence of death. The indictment against them is an accusation and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. “These vicious and callous acts by MS-13 not only shattered lives but also undermined the safety and security of South Florida communities,” said Hayden P. O’Byrne, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Through my office’s unwavering partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement, we are sending a clear message to those who inflict violence, feed drug addiction, or cause other harm to the people of our district: We will find you; we will prosecute you; and we will apply the full force of American justice.” “Nine MS-13 terrorists have been taken off our streets and four cold murder cases have been solved thanks to the great investigative work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Let this be a lesson: no matter how long it takes, we will never give up in our pursuit of justice.” “This investigation reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to arrest dangerous criminals who threaten the safety of our citizens and our communities. Combating violent crime continues to be a top priority for the FBI and the Miami Field Office,” said Brett Skiles, acting Special Agent in Charge FBI Miami. “The FBI is grateful for its close collaboration with numerous local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners, whose combined efforts were essential to track down these violent suspects in South Florida, Central Florida, Kearney, Nebraska, Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Mexico City, Mexico. We commend our partners on their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to keeping our nation safe. However, the FBI and our law enforcement partners cannot do it alone. We ask the public to contact law enforcement if they have information about cold cases or any criminal activity. Two-way communication with our communities is vital to our work, and often holds the answers to solving crimes. Together, we will use all tools available and go to farthest reaches of the globe to bring to justice those who seek to endanger our citizens and society. We will not relent.” “The heartless and brutal actions of these ruthless and violent criminals demonstrate a complete disregard for human life,” Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony said. “BSO’s Cold Case Homicide investigators, who worked closely with our federal partners, proved once again that justice has no expiration date. We owe it to the families of the victims and to this community to make sure the people who committed these heinous crimes are held accountable.” Southern District of Florida Special Prosecutions Chief Brian Dobbins and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler are prosecuting these cases. FBI Miami and BSO investigated, with valuable assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Miami, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, NCIS Southeast Field Office, and Florida Department of Corrections. The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that MS-13 is a violent transnational gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador that operates throughout parts of the United States. MS-13 is a recognized terrorist organization. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . This matter is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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). FBI and HSI have nationwide tip lines for individuals who wish to share information about the MS-13 gang and its activities. The FBI tipline is 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), and the HSI tipline is 1-866-DHS-2423 Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case numbers 22-cr-60078 and 25-cr-20102. ###


title: Assistant United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. Appointed as Interim United States Attorney of the Western District of Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: MEMPHIS, TN – Assistant United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. was appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by the United States Attorney General on March 28, 2025. Mr. Murphy began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Memphis office in 1989. He was appointed as the Acting U.S. Attorney by the District Court and served in that position from 2021-2023. He was named as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2018 and served in that role until his appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney. In 2011, Mr. Murphy served as Criminal Chief, where he supervised Assistant U.S. Attorneys who investigated and prosecuted criminal cases. He also served three years as Deputy Chief of the office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief, Mr. Murphy served as a line Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the criminal division and drug task force unit. During his career with the Department of Justice, Mr. Murphy has tried more than 125 felony cases to verdict in the U.S. District Court. These cases included prosecutions of health care professionals for illegally distributing controlled substances; mail and wire fraud cases; and theft cases involving pension funds and interstate shipments. Mr. Murphy has also represented the government in more than 200 cases litigated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and argued numerous appeals before the court. Mr. Murphy is married and has two adult children. He is a native Memphian, a graduate of Lambuth College and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and is very active in community and legal affairs. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A previously convicted felon was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm and ammunition. Tarik Muhammad, 30, of Boston, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Muhammad pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On the evening of Feb. 4, 2023, Muhammad was denied entry to the Encore Casino in Everett when security detected that he was carrying a firearm. Casino security alerted law enforcement, but Muhammad left before they arrived. Security cameras at the casino show Muhammad leaving in a blue Toyota Rav 4. The following day, a notice was dispatched to law enforcement about the incident and with photos of Muhammad, the vehicle and license plate. On Feb. 6, 2023, Muhammad was spotted driving the Rav 4 in Roxbury. When law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Muhammad fled, leading to a high-speed chase that ended when Muhammad crashed into a parked vehicle. Muhammad tried to flee on foot but was apprehended. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was found in Muhammad’s waistband. Muhammad is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to several felony convictions including a June 2022 conviction in U.S. District Court in Boston of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Muhammad was on federal supervised release at the time of the offenses. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN .


title: Members of methamphetamine drug ring in Casper are sentenced

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: A drug trafficking case involving three people from Casper and their source of supply from Thornton, Colorado, was recently closed after all the parties involved were sentenced. William J. Varney , 57 of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Varney pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne. Jolyn K. Furley , 50, of Thornton, Colorado, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Furley pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 28 in Cheyenne. Julia Carlene Deshaw , 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Deshaw pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne. Gerald Dehnert , 65, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Dehnert pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on April 1 in Cheyenne. According to court documents, in August and September of 2023, Special Agents of the Central Enforcement Team of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation received information that Julia Deshaw and William Varney were suspected of distributing large amounts of methamphetamine within the Natrona County area. Through the investigation, they learned that Deshaw, Varney, and Dehnert took turns driving to Colorado up to two times a week, bringing back approximately one to five pounds of methamphetamine each time for redistribution. Through surveillance and other investigative tactics, agents determined their supplier was Jolyn Furley. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Mills Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00064


title: Protestor Sentenced in Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station Following a Protest Rally

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in connection with spray-painting the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024, following a protest rally. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Courtland Rae of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police (USPP). Mahdawi received 10 days in federal prison, followed by six months of supervision. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg also ordered Mahdawi to serve 80 hours of community service and to pay $1,500 in restitution. Mahdawi pleaded guilty January 23, 2025, to destruction of government property, a misdemeanor. According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest. Between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Mahdawi lowered a United States flag from one of the flagpoles in Columbus Circle. The flag was subsequently stolen by another individual. Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle. His actions were captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument. Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan. The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23. This case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office with invaluable assistance from the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, the FBI Richmond Field Office, and the United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan. 24cr535


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison For Illegally Reentering the United States After Three Prior Removals

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – An illegal alien man was sentenced yesterday to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported or removed. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made the announcement. According to court documents, David Lopez-Guillen, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported or removed. On April 14, 2022, in Russell County, Kentucky, Lopez-Guillen was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States three previous times, on or about January 19, 2001, April 25, 2005, and August 31, 2020. This is Lopez-Guillen’s second conviction in the Western District of Kentucky for illegal reentry. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by HSI Bowling Green and ICE ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case. This case was sentenced under 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). ###