title: Johnstown Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Narcotics Trafficking

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 50 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Joshua Edmonds, 31. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Edmonds conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and a quantity of a mixture of heroin. Edmonds was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to other members of the drug organization in Johnstown. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Edmonds. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: 700,000 Blue M30 Pills Containing Fentanyl Seized Inside Roofing Shingles and Residence

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2025-033_Montes et al.

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Carlos Rene Montes, 32, a United States Citizen from Tucson, and Miguel Angel Sesma, 30, a legal permanent resident from Mexico living in Phoenix, were charged on Tuesday by federal criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl after agents seized a combined total of approximately 700,000 blue M30 pills from Sesma’s truck and Montes’ residence. According to the criminal complaint, on March 10, 2025, DEA Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force (EVDETF) investigators observed Montes drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee into a Phoenix store parking lot and park next to a white Ford F250 bearing Sonora license plates. After speaking briefly with Sesma, the driver of the Ford F250, Montes transferred factory-sealed packages of roofing shingles from his vehicle to the bed of the Ford F250. After Montes left the parking lot, EVDETF investigators conducted traffic stops on both the Jeep Cherokee and Ford F250. A Mesa Police Department Canine Detective conducted an open-air sniff of the Ford F250 and alerted to narcotics in the vicinity of the truck bed. Investigators searched Sesma’s truck and seized approximately 52 kilograms (114 pounds) of blue M30 pills laced with fentanyl, which were concealed in the roofing shingles. Sesma and Montes were subsequently placed under arrest. According to the criminal complaint, Montes advised investigators that he possessed more drugs at his residence in Tucson. During a consensual search of Montes’ residence, investigators seized approximately 14.68 kilograms of blue M30 pills (32 pounds) containing fentanyl. Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute More than 400 grams of Fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000. A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force which is comprised of partners from: the Mesa Police Department, the Gilbert Police Department, the Apache Junction Police Department, the Salt River Police Department and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stuart Zander, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 25-MJ-6099-PHX-ASB RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-033_Montes et al. # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Swanzey Man Convicted for Stealing Firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Winchester

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Swanzey man pleaded guilty today in federal court for stealing 18 firearms from Trader John’s Gun Shop, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Khale Guillou, 19, of Swanzey, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2025. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2024, the defendant forced entry into Trader John’s Gun Shop and stole 18 firearms from the store. Investigators recovered four of the stolen firearms from his vehicle on July 15, 2024, and recovered two of the stolen firearms from his home on July 20, 2024. The charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department, Swanzey Police Department, Winchester Police Department, and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. ###


title: San Francisco Tow Company Operator Indicted In Scheme To Burn Competitors’ Tow Trucks Throughout The Bay Area

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Jose Vicente Badillo on one count of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with an alleged scheme to burn tow trucks throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023. Badillo made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning. According to the indictment unsealed earlier today, Badillo, 29, of San Francisco, conspired with others to set fire to at least six tow trucks on four occasions between April 2023 and October 2023. Specifically, Badillo and his co-conspirators allegedly set fire to and damaged or destroyed (i) two tow trucks in San Francisco on April 4, 2023; (ii) one tow truck in San Francisco on April 29, 2023; (iii) one tow truck in East Palo Alto on July 25, 2023; and (iv) two tow trucks in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2023. The indictment describes that the purpose of the conspiracy was, among other things, to drive more business to two Bay Area-based towing companies with which Badillo was associated—Auto Towing and Specialty Towing—by impeding the business prospects of competitor towing companies, and to retaliate against those same competitors for perceived wrongs. Badillo allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy and then directed others to set fire to the targeted tow trucks. Badillo is next scheduled to appear in district court on March 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for arraignment and identification of counsel. Badillo is facing unrelated federal charges of money laundering and insurance fraud in two other pending cases. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Linda Nguyen made the announcement. An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Badillo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. This investigation is assigned to the FBI SF Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, an interagency task force targeting sophisticated organized crime syndicates that engage in, among other offenses, violent crimes, extortion, fraud, arson, and drug trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and IRS-CI thank the San Francisco Police Department for its substantial assistance and support in this investigation. Jose Vicente Badillo Indictment


title: Mexican National Indicted for Bringing Illegal Aliens through the Arizona Desert Resulting in a Death

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – On March 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a four-count superseding indictment against Jorge Fontes-Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Sonora, Mexico, for Bringing an Illegal Alien to the United States Unlawfully Resulting in Death, Conspiracy to Bring Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, Bringing Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, and Reentry of Removed Alien. The superseding indictment alleges that on August 23, 2023, Fontes-Garcia acted as the foot guide, leading a group of eight aliens across the Mexico-United States border into southern Arizona. United States Border Patrol apprehended all but one of the illegal aliens in the open desert approximately 19 miles south of Tacna, Arizona. The remaining alien was found by Border Patrol agents shortly thereafter, already deceased due to excessive heat exposure. A conviction for Bringing Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully Resulting in Death carries a maximum penalty of death or up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A conviction for Conspiracy to Bring Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully and Bringing Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully each carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000. A conviction for Reentry of Removed Alien carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01322-PHX-JAT RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-034_Fontes-Garcia # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: BOP Inmate Sentenced for Possession of Contraband

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A United States Bureau of Prisons inmate housed at the Yazoo Federal Correctional Institute was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for possession of contraband within the prison facility. According to court documents, Frederick Joshua Scott, 36, while an inmate in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons was found in possession of fifteen individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. Scott pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on November 8, 2024. In delivering the sentence, the Court ordered that the 16-month sentence for the instant offense run consecutive to the 180-month sentence Scott was already serving for his previous 2014 federal conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement. The United States Bureau of Prisons investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.


title: Mexican National Arrested For Illegal Reentry By A Previously Deported Alien

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the arrest of Moises Vasconselos-Garcia (26, Dade City) on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Vasconselos faces up to two years in federal prison. According to court records, Vasconselos is a Mexican national who was previously removed from the United States on May 30, 2022. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to re-enter the United States. On February 25, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and the Sumter County Sherif’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Keene Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in the Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: CONCORD – A Keene man pleaded guilty today in federal court in connection with his role in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Paul Baird, 44, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the production of child pornography. Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2025. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2024, Baird took at least one sexually explicit photograph of the minor victim’s genitalia and posted sexually explicit images of the minor victim on a dark website dedicated to CSAM. During the investigation, law enforcement found images and videos that constitute CSAM on the defendant’s phone. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was employed as a bus driver by the Student Transportation of America, which is a school transportation company that services the Contoocook Valley (ConVal) School District. The charge of aiding and abetting the production of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Keene Police Department provided valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. ###


title: Long Island Bloods Member Charged with Gang-Related Shooting and Selling Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Two Non-Fatal Poisonings

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a 12-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging Bloods gang member Joshua Crowell, also known as “Twiggy,” and Bloods associate Bruce King, also known as “Brucey,” with assault in aid of racketeering. Crowell was also charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in death, distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and other gang related crimes committed in Suffolk County between 2021 and 2024. Crowell and King were arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst and ordered detained pending trial. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the charges. “The charges in the superseding indictment highlight the extreme danger that violent gangs like the Bloods pose to the people of Long Island, ranging from shootings that injure bystanders to dealing lethal drugs that claim lives and destroy families,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “My Office is working closely with our federal and local partners to make our communities safer by dismantling and eradicating street gangs that have zero regard for human life and holding gang members and associates accountable for their crimes.” Mr. Durham thanked the Nassau County Police Department and the Southampton Town Police Department for their assistance. "These alleged gang members represent a grave threat to the safety and stability of our community. Their willingness to engage in brazen acts of violence - as demonstrated by the shooting of three victims in Southampton - shows a complete disregard for human life. Equally disturbing, is the distribution of fentanyl, a lethal substance that has devastated countless families across Suffolk County,” stated District Attorney Tierney. “The charges announced today send a clear message that such dangerous criminal activity will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods and I thank the EDNY for their leadership on this investigation. This case exemplifies why partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are essential in our fight against organized crime. These collaborative efforts ensure that violent offenders face the full weight of the law, and they provide us with the tools needed to dismantle criminal organizations from top to bottom.” “As alleged, the defendants had blatant disregard for human life through their brazen violence and deadly distribution of fentanyl into our Long Island neighborhoods. HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent gangs operating within our community. I commend our law enforcement partners for their relentless effort and professionalism to make our communities safer,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “For years, these individuals have been a scourge on our community through the distribution of fentanyl and vicious gang-related shootings,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “While their activities often targeted rival gang members, their recklessness could very easily have injured innocent victims. The Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work with its partner law enforcement agencies to put violent gang members behind bars and ensure the safety of Suffolk County residents and visitors.” As set forth in the superseding indictment and court filings, the defendants engaged in multiple acts of violence on behalf of the Bloods, including a March 2, 2021 shooting in which they traveled to a party hosted by rival gang members at a rented home in Southampton, New York. Upon arrival, the defendants began shooting into the residence with three guns, including an AK-47 style assault rifle, wounding three partygoers who were not gang members. Additionally, Crowell and co-conspirators operated a longtime drug trafficking network during which Crowell sold fentanyl and other illegal substances. In May 2022, Crowell sold fentanyl that caused serious injury to a female customer. Less than one month later, Crowell sold fentanyl that caused a male customer to stop breathing and die from ingesting the fentanyl. In June 2023, Crowell distributed fentanyl that was ingested by a male customer and caused him to stop breathing. In this instance, life-saving efforts were successful, and he survived. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Crowell and King each face up to life imprisonment. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and James R. Simmons and Special Assistant United States Attorney Donald N. Barclay are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants JOSHUA CROWELL (also known as “Twiggy”) Age: 31 Huntington, New York BRUCE KING (also known as “Brucey”) Age: 26 Huntington, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-257 (S-1) (GRB)


title: Stephenson County, Ill. Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County, Ill. man was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children. COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The counts of transporting and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of ten years. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. zier_indictment.pdf


title: Eight Alleged Members and Associates of the “GoodFellas” Gang Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

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

body_text: ATLANTA – Frank Hubbert, Montavis Jones, Darian Sheppard, De’Andre Jackson, Ephram Marshall, Tahj Rankine, Leonunte Carson, and Ahday Nelson-George, alleged members and associates of the street gang GoodFellas, have been indicted on federal charges including Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering. A federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia returned the 12-count indictment on March 4, 2025, and it was unsealed earlier today, on March 13, 2025. “This indictment reflects the collective determination of our Office and law enforcement partners to confront the deadly cycle of gang violence perpetrated by criminal organizations like GoodFellas whose violence and disregard for public safety threaten the security of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “The alleged gang members and associates charged in this case were allegedly involved in three shootings, including one that injured a child. While the offenses occurred several years ago, these charges are intended to demonstrate that our Office, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, never cease to seek justice on behalf of victims and their family members impacted by crimes of violence.” “These are not victimless crimes. Communities are hurting and will continue to be impacted as long as violent gangs engage in bloody street wars,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with it’s local, state, and federal partners in this fight to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent criminal organizations.” “This case shows the importance of law enforcement collaboration successfully targeting violent gang members, said Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. This indictment sends a direct message to criminals that ATF and our law enforcement partners will investigate and protect our citizens.” According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, and other information presented in court: The GoodFellas are an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods and jails and prisons within the state of Georgia. The GoodFellas generate money for the gang through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang protects its operation, turf, and reputation through violence and threats of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice. Defendants Frank Hubbert, Montavis Jones, Darian Sheppard, De’Andre Jackson, Ephram Marshall, Tahj Rankine, Leonunte Carson, and Ahday Nelson-George, are alleged members and associates of the GoodFellas who committed multiple violent crimes in this district, including Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering. Specifically, the indictment alleges, among other allegations, that, on or about January 17, 2021, Hubbert and Nelson-George allegedly accosted three individuals who were filming a music video at an Atlanta apartment complex. Hubbert and Nelson-George allegedly demanded the keys to their vehicle at gunpoint which led to an exchange of gunfire. On or about February 2, 2021, Sheppard, Jackson, Marshall, Rankine, and Carson allegedly fired dozens of rounds at an Atlanta gas station, wounding a patron. The five members were attempting to target members of another gang. And further, on or about February 10, 2021, Sheppard, Jackson, and Marshall, aided and abetted by Hubbert and Jones, allegedly fired approximately 50 rounds at a woman, severely wounding her and two bystanders, including a child. Hubbert was incarcerated when he allegedly ordered, and aided and abetted, the charged offense. The following defendants are charged in the case as follows: Frank Hubbert, also known as “Capo Frank,” 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, an alleged leader of GoodFellas, is charged with three counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, one count of Attempted Carjacking, and three counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Montavis Jones, also known as “Nigel Woods,” “Jitt,” and “Git,” 37, of Union City, Georgia, an alleged leader of GoodFellas, is charged with three counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and three counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Darian Sheppard, also known as “Lil D,” 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. De’Andre Jackson, also known as “Glock,” “Gen,” and “Glizzy,” 22, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Ephram Marshall, also known as “Lil E,” 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with four counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and four counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Tahj Rankine, also known as “Biggz,” 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with one count of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Leonunte Carson, also known as “Lil Tae,” 22, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Ahday Nelson-George, also known as “Baby K,” 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Attempted Carjacking. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains 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. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Atlanta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud of the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Spritzer and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Macon also contributed to the prosecution. 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: Illinois Man to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm in Humboldt

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Marcus Fair, 28, from Dolton, Illinois, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, to 57 months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Evidence showed that on September 21, 2022, law enforcement responded to a Humboldt, Iowa, residence for a report of domestic disturbance and animal cruelty involving Fair and others. After conducting interviews, law enforcement learned there was a discarded backpack in a nearby woods. Officers located the backpack and found items that belonged to Fair, including a loaded Taurus G3C 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, an extended magazine, and marijuana. As a user of marijuana, Fair was prohibited from possessing firearms. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Fair was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Fair remains in custody of the United States Marshal Service until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mason City Man Found Guilty of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: Darius Stackhouse, age 33, from Mason City, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, four counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, by a jury on March 12, 2025, after a 3-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. The verdict was returned following about 3 1/2 hours of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial showed that between June 2021 and March 2023, Stackhouse was part of an ongoing drug conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa to distribute methamphetamine. Stackhouse sold more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine to sources working with law enforcement. During the execution of several search warrants, more than $30,000 cash was located in Stackhouse’s residence, as well as additional methamphetamine and a firearm he admitted belonged to him. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Stackhouse was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Stackhouse faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5-years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-3001. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Five Members Of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five members of a drug conspiracy were sentenced for federal crimes arising from the distribution of methamphetamine in the Holdenville area. On April 30, 2024, Winston Levert Hanks, Jr., age 44, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On March 13, 2025, he was sentenced to 324 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. On April 10, 2024, Christian Eugene Dewayne Duckworth, age 24, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, Duckworth was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years supervised release. On April 10, 2024, Zechariah Odie Hanks, age 42, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, he was sentenced to 210 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. On April 10, 2024, Jolene Rogers a/k/a Jolene Copeland, age 47, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy. On February 11, 2025, Rogers was sentenced to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On May 1, 2024, Alberto Rafael Mendez Lizarraga, age 35, of El Centro, California, pleaded guilty to one count of Misprision of a Felony. On March 13, 2025, Mendez Lizarraga was sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be followed by 1 year supervised release. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau Narcotics, the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. According to investigators, beginning in November 2022 and continuing through October 2023, the defendants conspired to acquire and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. In February 2023, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a parcel containing approximately 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine addressed to a residence in Holdenville, Oklahoma. This initial parcel was followed by five more shipments. Between February 2023 and July 2023, U.S. Postal Inspectors documented six parcel drops, tracked the parcel deliveries to Oklahoma co-conspirators, and documented defendants’ activities after delivery of the parcels. For each shipment, Winston Hanks Jr. first ordered large quantities of methamphetamine from a supplier in Mexico. In turn, Zechariah Hanks and Christian Duckworth transferred U.S. currency through wire services to the supplier completing the purchase for delivery of product. From that point, Lizarraga and others then shipped parcels from Calexico and El Centro, California, through the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, complete with a unique identifying tracker, to addresses in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Once the parcels reached their destination addresses, Rogers, Duckworth, and others retrieved the parcels and delivered them to Winston Hanks. When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Winston Hanks on July 17, 2023, he was in possession of multiple firearms. “Today, we take a significant step in our ongoing fight against the distribution of illegal drugs in our communities with the sentencing of these five defendants, who exploited the U.S. mail system to facilitate their criminal activities in Oklahoma,” said Kai Pickens, Inspector In-Charge, Fort Worth Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate the use of our nation's postal service for illegal purposes. We are committed to protecting public safety and holding accountable those who threaten it.” “Investigations such as this cannot be successful without DEA McAlester’s relationship with numerous law enforcement partners in Eastern Oklahoma,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Dallas Field Division. “Drugs and those who distribute them have no place in our neighborhoods. The DEA will never waver in our resolve to identify and hold those responsible for their actions.” “I cannot overstate the critical nature of these collaborative investigations with our federal and local law enforcement partners,” stated OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “The defendants in this case are directly tied to drug trafficking organizations responsible for pouring meth into our state and devastating rural communities due to meth-related crime, addiction, and overdose deaths. My agency is committed to targeting organized crime that threatens the safety of our citizens.” “Identifying and dismantling drug trafficking organizations remains a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, and this case is a prime example of the impact cooperative law enforcement can have in combatting the distribution of illegal narcotics,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. The defendants 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 Richard J. Lorenz and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.


title: California Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Victor Garcia will spend the next 168 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr. A federal grand jury indicted Garcia, 43, of Palmdale, California, in a superseding indictment on April 5, 2023. He was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. On November 4, 2024, Garcia pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. On December 21, 2022, the Conway Police Department conducted a traffic stop and upon investigation, discovered Garcia had a federal warrant for drug distribution out of California. Officers conducted a pat down search of Garcia and located a methamphetamine pipe in his possession. Garcia admitted to officers that he had a small amount of marijuana in the center console of the vehicle. During the officers questioning of Garcia and his passenger, they provided officers inconsistent stories. Upon a search of the passenger, officers located a baggie of methamphetamine in her possession. While conducting a search of the vehicle, officers noted the carpeting was not uniform and after locating the seam of the carpet, determined it had been glued down. Officers pulled the carpet back and discovered a sheet of metal with hinges. Upon a search of this after-market hidden compartment, officers located over 20 kilograms of pure methamphetamine in five vacuum-sealed bags. Judge Marshall sentenced Garcia to serve 168 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Marshall also sentenced Garcia to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Conway Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Stamford Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICARDO GEORGES, 35, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to court documents and statements made court, while investigating a shooting incident in Stamford in March 2022, Stamford Police learned that Georges was in possession of a handgun. On May 7, 2022, investigators encountered Georges as he was leaving a gym in Stamford. He was arrested after a search of his backpack revealed a loaded Para USA .45 ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol, as well as a quantity of fentanyl. Georges’ criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and New York for assault on public safety personnel, robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and multiple drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Georges has been detained since his arrest. On April 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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 www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Former Dog Care Employee Pleads Guilty in the Death of a Dog

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jovon Hawkins, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty, for causing the death of Appa, a 4-year-old Shih Tzu mix, on May 27, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. According to the government’s evidence, two local DC residents boarded their dog, a 4-year-old white Shih Tzu named Appa at City Dogs, a dog day care and boarding facility located at 301 H Street NE, Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day weekend in 2024. Hawkins, an employee of City Dogs, was alone in the facility on May 27, 2024. At approximately 7:40 p.m., Hawkins cornered Appa and a tan chihuahua that were sitting on a dog bed. Hawkins leaned over and reached towards the dogs. One of the dogs reacted by barking and the chihuahua fled from Hawkins. Hawkins then moved the dog bed out of the corner with his left foot and used his hands to brace himself against the wall and kicked Appa. As Appa yelped, Hawkins stomped on him, then kicked him again. Appa went silent. As a result of Hawkins’s actions, Appa died that night from blunt force trauma. Hawkins admitted guilt on March 3, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2025. Hawkins faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. This case was investigated by the Washington Humane Society and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hanley.


title: Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Prison

body_text: A man who sold heroin and cocaine on the street near Loras College in 2017 and 2018 was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison. Willie Smith, age 27, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a September 25, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College, and one count of distribution of heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College. At the guilty plea, Smith admitted he worked with others to sell cocaine and heroin out of a house near Loras College. Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment and he must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-01021. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Savanna Police Officer Sentenced To 40 Years After First Guilty Verdict Obtained Under 2022 Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act Enhanced Penalties

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge sentenced former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer (SPD), Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop and obstructing justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera in an effort to avoid recording the assault. This case represents the first sexual assault conviction and sentence under the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that added enhanced penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct. Evidence presented at trial established that on Nov. 2, 2022, Smith, working his first solo shift for SPD, conducted a traffic stop of the victim, K.H., and her then-boyfriend, J.G. After running their licenses, Smith realized that J.G.’s license had recently expired. He had J.G. and K.H. get out of J.G.’s car to switch who was driving. Smith issued J.G. a speeding ticket, and then began asking personal questions, including how long they had been in their relationship. At this point, while still speaking to J.G. and K.H., Smith manually deactivated his SPD body worn camera (BWC). Smith then asked K.H. what she did for work. K.H. reluctantly admitted that she danced at a gentlemen’s club. Upon hearing K.H.’s answer, Smith asked to search J.G.’s car. During the search, Smith looked in K.H.’s purse and found a pre-rolled promotional marijuana cigarette from K.H.’s work. Rather than arrest her, or issue her a ticket, Smith walked back to his patrol car and manually deactivated his dashboard camera. Once the defendant had K.H. in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her. “Smith’s despicable acts traumatized the victim and soiled the reputation of the law enforcement community,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The sentence imposed is just punishment, and I am thankful to the FBI, the OSBI, and the prosecutors for their exceptional work in holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.” “The entire law enforcement profession is disparaged when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve. That is exactly what Mr. Smith did on his first solo shift as a police officer,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “I am proud of the joint effort by the FBI, OSBI, and US Attorney’s Office to hold Smith accountable for his despicable actions. The sentence handed down today represents our commitment to pursuing justice for victims, and to protecting the reputation of those who wear the badge with integrity.” The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Clay Compton for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Traveling to have Sex with Child

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Florida man who traveled from Florida to the Northern District of Texas to have sex with a minor was sentenced on March 11, 2025 to 30 years in federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. Carlos Robles, 31, was indicted in May 2020 and pleaded guilty in August 2022 to Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Minor. He was sentenced on March 11, 2025 to the statutory maximum of 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Karen G. Scholer, who also ordered him to 24 years of supervision following his release and registration as a sex offender. According to court documents, on or about January 31, 2020, the defendant traveled via commercial airline from Florida to the Northern District of Texas for the purposes of engaging in sexual conduct with the victim, who was under the age of 18. In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized the need to protect society from further crimes of the defendant. Specifically, the Court noted multiple facts of the case when imposing the sentence, including the age of the victim, the fact the defendant had over 5,000 messages with the victim in a four-month span, and that the defendant traveled from Florida four times to meet the victim, including once at a roller-skating rink. “The sentence today is a message to anyone who even thinks about traveling to the Northern District of Texas to prey on children – you will go to prison for a very long time,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Garland Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”


title: Man Sentenced to over 21 Years for $3,128,400.00 of Methamphetamine

body_text: Gerardo Barraza-Ortiz, a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for his role in trafficking over 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. On March 10, 2025, Barraza-Ortiz, 42, was sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge David C. Godbey. According to court documents, Barraza-Ortiz pled guilty on September 5, 2023, to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Testimony at sentencing revealed that in June 2022, after two controlled methamphetamine purchases of approximately one ounce each, officers with the Duncanville, Texas police department executed a search warrant at an auto body shop located on South Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas, Texas. As officers entered the building, Barraza-Ortiz fled from officers but was soon apprehended. A Duncanville police officer testified that a search of the building revealed approximately 48.66 kilograms (107.05 pounds) of crystalized methamphetamine. Most of the methamphetamine was located in 1,022 small packages hidden in buckets and pallets. A further search of the auto body shop also revealed a freezer, burners, coolers, storage bins, and barrels that were being used to store, cook, and clean liquid methamphetamine into a crystalized form. Officers also located three firearms and several pounds of marijuana during the search. According to the Duncanville Police Department, the 48.66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, if sold in ounce quantities, has a street value of approximately $3,128,400.00 in the Dallas, Texas area. “This conviction sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate the distribution of dangerous narcotics. The successful prosecution of this case is a testament to the dedication and hard work of personnel of the Duncanville Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office. Removing over $3 million worth of methamphetamine from our streets is a significant victory in our ongoing fight against drug trafficking, and we remain committed to protecting our neighborhoods from the devastating impact of illegal drugs,” said Chief of Police Matthew Stogner. Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham praised the joint efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the Duncanville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and Sarah Douglas prosecuted the case.


title: Dumfries man sentenced to over 19 years in prison for a series of armed robberies and fentanyl possession

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Dumfries man was sentenced today to 19 years and two months in prison for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. According to court documents, from March 6, 2024, through March 27, 2024, Dwayne Selman-Neville, 38, and a co-conspirator, Al Gibran Taylor , 42, of Reston, conspired to rob multiple local businesses throughout Northern Virginia. On March 8, 2024, Taylor entered a Starbucks in Herndon, jumped over the store’s counter, and pointed a handgun at employees. Taylor ordered the employees to open the store's safe and give him cash. Taylor left the store with stolen money and fled with Selman-Neville who was waiting nearby in a vehicle. On March 11, 2024, Selman-Neville entered a check cashing store in Chantilly dressed as an Amazon delivery driver and carrying a cardboard box with an Amazon.com logo on it. Selman-Neville showed a cashier a piece of paper on the clipboard that stated, among other things, "This is a robbery." Selman-Neville then grabbed the cashier's arm and pushed her toward the store's safe. When the cashier attempted to press a panic button, Selman-Neville said, "No, don't do that, I'm going to kill you." At Selman-Neville's demand, the cashier took a tray of cash from the safe and gave it to him. Selman-Neville ran out of the store and fled with Taylor, who was waiting nearby in a vehicle. On March 14, 2024, Selman-Neville and Taylor approached a drive-through window at a bank in Herndon. Either Selman-Neville or Taylor handed the drive-through teller a note stating, among other things, "This is a bank robbery. Follow your training and follow my instructions. I have an associate inside the bank right now, who is ready to kill on my signal." The note demanded money from the bank and stated, "If you comply, no one will get hurt." The teller left the drive-through window for a short period of time, and Selman-Neville and Taylor drove away before they could obtain any money. On March 14, 2024, Selman-Neville, again disguised as an Amazon delivery driver, entered a check cashing store in Annandale and spoke with the store's cashier, who was behind a window. Approximately 40 seconds later, Selman-Neville walked out of the store after the cashier, who did not speak English, was unable to understand what Selman-Neville was saying to her. On March 26, 2024, Taylor was arrested by federal authorities for a different offense and detained pending trial. On March 27, 2024, Selman-Neville robbed a check cashing store in Woodbridge, once again dressed as an Amazon delivery driver. He drove to the store in a vehicle that he and Taylor had rented together the previous week. The store’s cashier area was separated by a window and a locking door from customers. As Selman-Neville approached the window, a cashier opened the door and took an Amazon box from Selman-Neville. Selman-Neville then grabbed this cashier by the arm and pushed her toward a cash register. Selman-Neville pointed a handgun at the cashier and another employee and ordered them to give him money. The employees complied and Selman-Neville ran to the rental vehicle and fled. On April 15, 2024, law enforcement arrested Selman-Neville and searched a residence where he had been staying. Investigators found clothes that Selman-Neville wore during some of the robberies, including a vest with an Amazon logo. They also found 280 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, 136 pills containing oxycodone, 46.37 grams of solid pink material containing methamphetamine, 26.07 grams of solid material containing dipentylone, and 7.23 grams of cocaine hydrochloride. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles. The Fairfax County Police Department and Prince William County Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel K. Amzallag prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-220.


title: Dual Russian And Israeli National Extradited To The United States For His Role In The LockBit Ransomware Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A dual Russian and Israeli national was extradited to the United States on charges that he was a developer of the LockBit ransomware group, United States Attorney John Giordano announced. In August, Rostislav Panev, 51, was arrested in Israel pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. Today, Panev was extradited to the United States and had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa where Panev was detained pending trial. “Rostislav Panev’s extradition to the District of New Jersey makes it clear: if you are a member of the LockBit ransomware conspiracy, the United States will find you and bring you to justice,” said United States Attorney John Giordano. “Even as the means and methods of cybercriminals become more sophisticated, my Office and our FBI, Criminal Division, and international law enforcement partners are more committed than ever to prosecuting these criminals.” "No one is safe from ransomware attacks, from individuals to institutions. Along with our international partners, the FBI continues to leave no stone unturned when it comes to following LockBit's trail of destruction. We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent actors, such as Panev, from hacking their way to financial gain," said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Newark Division Terence G. Reilly. According to the superseding complaint, documents filed in this and related cases, and statements made in court, Panev acted as a developer of the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. During that time, Panev and his LockBit coconspirators grew LockBit into what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware group in the world. The LockBit group attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States. Their victims ranged from individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations, including hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. LockBit’s members extracted at least $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in other losses, including lost revenue and costs from incident response and recovery. LockBit’s members were comprised of “developers,” like Panev, who designed the LockBit malware code and maintained the infrastructure on which LockBit operated. LockBit’s other members, called “affiliates,” carried out LockBit attacks and extorted ransom payments from LockBit victims. LockBit’s developers and affiliates would then split the ransom payments which were extorted from victims. As alleged in the superseding complaint, at the time of Panev’s arrest in Israel in August, law enforcement discovered on Panev’s computer administrator credentials for an online repository that was hosted on the dark web and stored source code for multiple versions of the LockBit builder, which allowed LockBit’s affiliates to generate custom builds of the LockBit ransomware malware for particular victims. On that repository, law enforcement also discovered source code for LockBit’s StealBit tool, which helped LockBit affiliates exfiltrate data stolen through LockBit attacks. Law enforcement also discovered access credentials for the LockBit control panel, an online dashboard maintained by LockBit developers for LockBit’s affiliates and hosted by those developers on the dark web. The superseding complaint also alleges that Panev exchanged direct messages through a cybercriminal forum with LockBit’s primary administrator, who, in an indictment unsealed in the District of New Jersey in May, the United States alleged to be Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev (Дмитрий Юрьевич Хорошев), also known as LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab. In those messages, Panev and the LockBit primary administrator discussed work that needed to be done on the LockBit builder and control panel. Court documents further indicate that, between June 2022 and February 2024, the primary LockBit administrator made a series of transfers of cryptocurrency, laundered through one or more illicit cryptocurrency mixing services, of approximately $10,000 per month to a cryptocurrency wallet owned by Panev. Those transfers amounted to over $230,000 during that period. In interviews with Israeli authorities following his arrest in August, Panev admitted to having performed coding, development, and consulting work for the LockBit group and to having received regular payments in cryptocurrency for that work, consistent with the transfers identified by U.S. authorities. Among the work that Panev admitted to having completed for the LockBit group was the development of code to disable antivirus software; to deploy malware to multiple computers connected to a victim network; and to print the LockBit ransom note to all printers connected to a victim network. Panev also admitted to having written and maintained LockBit malware code and to having provided technical guidance to the LockBit group. The LockBit Investigation The superseding complaint against, and apprehension of, Panev follows a disruption of LockBit ransomware in February 2024 by the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA)’s Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. That disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by documents filed in this case. The superseding complaint against Panev also follows charges brought in the District of New Jersey against other LockBit members, including its alleged primary creator, developer, and administrator, Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. An indictment against Khoroshev unsealed in May alleges that Khoroshev began developing LockBit as early as September 2019, continued acting as the group’s administrator through 2024, a role in which Khoroshev recruited new affiliate members, spoke for the group publicly under the alias “LockBitSupp,” and developed and maintained the infrastructure used by affiliates to deploy LockBit attacks. Khoroshev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/ . A total of seven LockBit members have now been charged in the District of New Jersey. Beyond Panev and Khoroshev, other previously charged LockBit defendants include: In July, two LockBit affiliate members, Mikhail Vasiliev, also known as Ghostrider, Free, Digitalocean90, Digitalocean99, Digitalwaters99, and Newwave110, and Ruslan Astamirov, also known as BETTERPAY, offtitan, and Eastfarmer, pleaded guilty in the District of New Jersey for their participation in the LockBit ransomware group and admitted deploying multiple LockBit attacks against U.S. and foreign victims. Vasiliev and Astamirov are presently in custody awaiting sentencing. In February 2024, in parallel with the disruption operation described above, an indictment was unsealed in the District of New Jersey charging Russian nationals Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev , also known as Bassterlord, with deploying LockBit against numerous victims throughout the United States, including businesses nationwide in the manufacturing and other industries, as well as victims around the world in the semiconductor and other industries. Sungatov and Kondratyev remain at large. In May 2023, two indictments were unsealed in Washington, D.C., and the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Matveev , also known as Wazawaka, m1x, Boriselcin, and Uhodiransomwar, with using different ransomware variants, including LockBit, to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Matveev remains at large and is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s TOC Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/ . The U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program is offering rewards of: Up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of Khoroshev ; Up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Matveev ; Up to $10 million for information leading to the identification and location of any individuals who hold a key leadership position in LockBit ; and Up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of any individual participating or attempting to participate in LockBit . Information is accepted through the FBI tip website at tips.fbi.gov . Khoroshev, Matveev, Sungatov, and Kondratyev have also been designated for sanctions by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their roles in launching cyberattacks. Victim Assistance LockBit victims are encouraged to contact the FBI and submit information at www.ic3.gov . As announced by the Department in February, law enforcement, through its disruption efforts, has developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Submitting information at the IC3 site will enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted. LockBit victims are also encouraged to visit www.justice.gov/usao-nj/lockbit for case updates and information regarding their rights under U.S. law, including the right to submit victim impact statements and request restitution, in the criminal litigation against Panev, Astamirov, and Vasiliev. The FBI Newark Field Office, under the supervision of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. Israel’s Office of the State Attorney, Department of International Affairs, and Israel National Police; France’s Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command, Paris Prosecution Office — Cyber Division, and judicial authorities at the Tribunal Judiciare of Paris; Europol; Eurojust; the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; Germany’s Landeskriminalamt Schleswig-Holstein, Bundeskriminalamt, and the Central Cybercrime Department North Rhine-Westphalia; Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Zurich, and Zurich Cantonal Police; Spain’s Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil; authorities in Japan; Australian Federal Police; Sweden’s Polismyndighetens; Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Politie Dienst Regionale Recherche Oost-Brabant of the Netherlands; and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation have provided significant assistance and coordination in these matters and in the LockBit investigation generally. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Debra Ireland and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the charges against Panev and the other previously charged LockBit defendants in the District of New Jersey. The Justice Department’s former Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division also provided significant assistance. Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov . These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A. The charges and allegations contained in the superseding complaint and above-named Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Frank Arleo, Esq. panev.complaint.pdf


title: Mexican National Charged with Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Mexican national, in the United State illegally, with firearm and immigration crimes. Gerardo Lopez-Gutierrez, 44, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on March 6, 2025. According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, Lopez-Gutierrez was approached by law enforcement for unlawful camping. During the interaction, Lopez-Gutierrez was in possession of a Ruger AR-556 rifle and a records check showed the firearm was reported stolen out of Moab, Utah. Lopez-Gutierrez is restricted from possessing a firearm after he was convicted of re-entry of a previously removed alien in the District of Arizona. As a result, Lopez-Gutierrez was taken into custody. Lopez-Gutierrez is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, alien in possession of a firearm, and illegal re-entry of a previously removed alien. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March 14, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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). 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: Ecuadorian Citizen Sentenced to 18 Months for Alien Smuggling

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edgar Placencia-Guaillas, age 22, and a citizen of Ecuador, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia of the United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement. As part of his earlier guilty plea, Placencia-Guaillas, an illegal alien who entered the United States unlawfully in 2022, admitted that on August 25, 2024, he traveled to the northern border in Chateaugay, New York, where he smuggled two people – one from Mexico, the other from the Dominican Republic – into the United States for profit. Placencia-Guaillas admitted that he had smuggled other people across the border in the past. Placencia-Guaillas will be taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation proceedings following his release from prison. Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck prosecuted the case.


title: Sinaloa Cartel Leader in Idaho Sentenced to  22 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: BOISE – A 44-year-old Honduran national suspected to be unlawfully in the United States and using the name “Hector Ojeda Manuel Aponte” was sentenced yesterday to 262 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced. According to court records, Aponte was distributing approximately 40 pounds of methamphetamine every one to two weeks, along with fentanyl pills and bath salts. Aponte had multiple vehicles to transport and distribute drugs, stash houses to hide the drugs, and business fronts to launder his illicit drug proceeds. According to multiple sources, Aponte was the “number one guy” for the Sinaloa Cartel in the State of Idaho. He had a well-established supply chain and a distribution network consisting of other accomplices. Aponte is the sixth and final defendant sentenced from the investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also previously sentenced Ernesto Diaz Gaspar (30 months in prison), Wilkin Rolando Martinez Munguia (36 months in prison), Cevin Alfonzo Martinez (42 months in prison), and Jesus DeJesus Loera (70 months in prison). Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Lawrence Barnes (160 months in prison). Defendants Barnes and Loera are U.S. Citizens, while the remaining defendants are aliens unlawfully present in the United States. “The United States Department of Justice is committed to eliminating the threat posed by Mexican drug cartels and their distribution of narcotics in Idaho." Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold them accountable for bringing poisonous drugs into our state.” “Illegal immigration and drug trafficking are interconnected threats because Foreign Terrorist Organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel routinely employ people like this defendant to further their drug enterprises,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “I am gratified that we, at the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with our partners at the Nampa Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, succeeded in holding this defendant accountable for his serious crimes targeting our community, resulting in this lengthy prison sentence. Justice was served yesterday.” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nampa Police Department Special Investigations Unit, which led to the convictions and sentences. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case. ###


title: Kansas man sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse materials

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison after federal law enforcement officers discovered child sexual abuse materials at his home. According to court documents, Scott Warren Vass, 57, of Arkansas City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In April 2023, while executing a search warrant at Vass’ home, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized multiple devices belonging to Vass containing child sexual abuse materials. Further investigation revealed several of Vass’ Google accounts also contained sexually explicit depictions of minors under 12 years of age. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. ###


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Postal Robberies While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — William Carl Jackson, 36, pleaded guilty to robbing a postal carrier while armed with a dangerous weapon, Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Jackson robbed postal carriers on July 11, 2024, and July 31, 2024. During in each robbery, he brandished a fake pistol at the victim and then ordered the victim to turn over his postal keys. After taking the victim’s keys, he then fled from the scene on a bicycle. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000. 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.


title: Louisiana man sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine through East Texas

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Shreveport, LA, man has been sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Darren Tremaine Jackson, 41, was convicted at trial in March 2024 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jackson was sentenced to 260 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on March 12, 2025. According to information presented in court, on February 13, 2020, Jackson, and co-defendant Gary Wayne Sepulvado, were stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation in Smith County. After observing a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, a search was executed, and a kilogram of methamphetamine was discovered. Sepulvado pleaded guilty to related charges on November 15, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Dustin Farahnak. ###


title: Former Federal Task Force Agent Found Guilty of Corruption

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – After a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Antonio Pizarro Adorno, a former Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau (“NIE” as known in Spanish) officer who was assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), for corruptly concealing $170 during a law enforcement seizure. United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé presided over the trial. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 27, 2023, Pizarro Adorno, took $170 in cash seized by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives related to drug trafficking in a community in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “The vast majority of law enforcement officers serve the community with honor and valor,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico. “Those who do not, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “Every act of corruption, big or small, weakens the foundation of justice, and we will not tolerate it,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The FBI remains focused on holding accountable those who betray that trust, no matter the amount, no matter the circumstances.” The FBI San Juan Field Office, Public Corruption Unit is investigating the case, with the collaboration of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pizarro Adorno is facing up to 20 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy prosecuted the case. ###


title: Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Ammunition and Silencer

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered silencer. Ryan Davidson, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm-silencer. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025. In August 2023, Davidson was indicted by a federal grand jury. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Davidson in November 2023. On or about May 9, 2023 in Worcester, Davidson was stopped by police for a marked lane violation and for concerns about the Georgia “dealer” license plate on his vehicle. After failing to provide proof of insurance on the vehicle, Davidson was told he could leave with a citation but that his car would have to be towed, and an inventory search conducted pursuant to the tow. Davidson told police he did not want them to search his car. Shortly thereafter, he fled the scene on foot. Davidson was apprehended in a backyard on an adjacent street, at which time he was arrested. At the time of the incident, Davidson was wearing a GPS monitoring device in connection with open state charges involving a firearm. During the inventory search of Davidson’s vehicle, a heavy black bag was located in the trunk of the vehicle. In the bag, was a black balaclava and a zipped blue bag. Inside the blue bag, a Polymer P80, 9-millimeter pistol with no serial number, with a 9-millimeter magazine inserted containing 10 rounds of ammunition, a silencer and a box of 9-millimeter ammunition containing 9 rounds were located. A second firearm was recovered from the glovebox, specifically, a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol with a round in the chamber and a magazine inserted containing six rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition. Davidson possessed the Taurus 9-millimeter pistol and 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition after having been convicted of previous felonies for which he had been sentenced to 7-10 years in prison. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a sentence of up to 15 years’ incarceration. The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm provides a sentence of up to 10 years’ incarceration. Both charges carry a potential for supervised release of up to three years and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Paul Saucier, Chief, Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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: Niagara Falls man pleads guilty to drug charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jermaine McQueen, 46, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine up to $5,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that on August 28, 2024, investigators executed search warrants at several locations associated with McQueen. They seized approximately 405 grams of cocaine, approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, and approximately six grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging materials, $10,625 in cash, and several pieces of jewelry, which constitute proceeds of narcotics trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement made controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from McQueen. 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 plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Nick Ligammari, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith Glass, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Ecuadorian national pleads guilty to making a false claim regarding citizenship, sentenced to six months in prison

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Luis Mauafrewiny Aviles Matias, a/k/a Leiver Artur Ponce Leon, a/k/a Juan Perez Chavez, 57, a citizen of Ecuador, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to making a false claim of United States citizenship. Judge Sinatra then sentenced Matias to serve six months in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that on November 12, 2024, Matias was a passenger in a vehicle attempting to enter the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. He presented a fraudulent Puerto Rican driver’s license as identification. When asked if he was a United States citizen, Matias nodded in the affirmative. Matias is a citizen and national of Ecuador. 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 plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.


title: Mexican national previously deported multiple times arrested for illegal re-entry

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Juan Vera-Cervantes, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of removed aliens, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents observed a white cargo van with a Tennessee license plate traveling on the I 490. A check of the license plate revealed that Vera-Cervantes was the registered owner of the vehicle, and he had been previously deported multiple times from the United States and had his final order of removal reinstated on three different occasions. During a traffic stop of the vehicle, Vera-Cervantes stated that he is a citizen and national of Mexico without immigration documents to be in the United States legally. He was placed under arrest. Vera-Cervantes made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained. The complaint is a result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Juan Ramirez. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Hamburg man going to prison for selling fentanyl and possessing a gun

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Burnett, 40, of Hamburg, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that in September 2022, the New York State Police and Hamburg Police Department began investigating Burnett’s fentanyl trafficking operation. On February 1, 2023, investigators searched Burnett’s Holiday Lane apartment, seizing four bags of fentanyl, a loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia, $9,797 in cash, and a 4.8 carat gold and diamond necklace appraised at $23,900, which represents proceeds from his drug trafficking activities. Burnett was previously convicted of felonies in Erie County Court in 2010 and 2019 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Dienes, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division. # # # #