title: Canadian Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Saskatchewan, Canada man was sentenced on March 6, 2025 to 14 years in federal prison for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. According to public court documents, Quentin Joel Nighttraveller, 45, drove his fourteen-year-old daughter from Canada to the United States. Nighttraveller worked as a commercial truck driver. In Rogers, Minnesota, Nighttraveller stopped to get the truck repaired. Nighttraveller sexually assaulted the victim. They continued the trip and while in Avoca, Iowa, the victim ran from the truck in the gas station and requested assistance. Nighttraveller drove away. After completing his term of imprisonment, Nighttraveller will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Fentanyl and Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 11, 2025, Azjuan Meriwether (age: 25) of Milwaukee, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug and firearm offenses. According to court records, a proactive law enforcement investigation revealed that Meriwether was the leader of an armed drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing at least 32 kilograms of fentanyl, at least 375 grams of para-fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), as well as methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs. Meriwether and his organization also engaged in firearms trafficking involving the illegal sale of firearms, machinegun-conversion devices, also known as “switches,” and “ghost guns.” “Ghost guns” are privately made firearms, often assembled from pre-made kits, that do not possess serial numbers or other identifying markings, which make the firearms difficult to trace back to the original purchaser and manufacturer. As part of his plea agreement, Meriwether agreed that he personally and illegally sold 18 firearms and 6 “switches.” Below is a photograph from the court record of firearms recovered as a result of this investigation. As a result of the investigation, Meriwether was arrested in Indiana. Before his arrest, Meriwether led officers on a high-speed chase that lasted approximately 2 hours and involved Meriwether driving his vehicle the wrong way on a highway, endangering civilians and officers. Law enforcement ultimately recovered approximately 375 grams of para-fluorofentanyl combined with heroin, approximately 165 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately 29 grams of cocaine from Meriwether’s vehicle. “The conduct at issue in this case presented layer upon layer of danger to the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “This individual and his organization not only distributed dangerous – potentially lethal -- controlled substances but also further endangered others through the sale of switches and ghost guns. The sentence imposed in this case is the direct result of strong partnerships among federal and local agencies, supported by the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). I commend the agents, task force officers, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to build this investigation and hold Mr. Meriwether accountable for his actions.” “Meriwether’s possession and sale of fentanyl and Machine Gun Conversion Devices posed a dual threat to our communities,” stated Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon. “Through the use of NIBIN and collaborations like those seen in the Waukesha County Drug Task Force, law enforcement was able to link firearms possessed by Meriwether to violent acts. Taking him off the streets helps stop the flow of drugs and Machine Gun Conversion Devices into our communities, which reduces crime, protects residents, and fosters safer neighborhoods.” “The DEA and their partners from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department continue to relentlessly pursue dangerous fentanyl traffickers like Meriwether. The DEA is grateful to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department for their unwavering commitment to dismantle violent drug-trafficking organizations and keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge John G. McGarry. “This investigation originated in a small Waukesha County community and through the hard work of our local Drug Task Force, and their partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, a criminal organization was dismantled. These law enforcement relationships are paramount to effectively maintaining safety in our communities,” said Captain Tony Kasta, Waukesha County Drug Task Force. This prosecution was 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. This matter was investigated by ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Waukesha County Drug Task Force, through a coordinated partnership supported by the North Central HIDTA. In addition to the investigating agencies noted above, multiple law enforcement agencies participated in arrests, the execution of search warrants, and other matters related to the case, including the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation (WI DOJ-DCI), the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, the West Allis Police Department, as well as the Indiana State Patrol, Vermillion County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermillion County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Halopka-Ivery and Patricia Daugherty.


title: Carter Lake Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charge

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Carter Lake man was sentenced on March 12, 2025, to 84 months in in federal prison for receiving child pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that an account, later determined to be associated with Jay McCall Schnider, 52, received and uploaded files containing child sexual abuse material between April 2020 and July 2023. Law enforcement seized an electronic device during the execution of a search warrant of Schnider’s Carter Lake residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic device showed that Schnider used the device to receive images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. After completing his term of imprisonment, Schnider will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Threating Multiple Federal Law Enforcement Officers

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha, Nebraska man was sentenced, March 11, 2025, to 37 months in federal prison for threatening a federal law enforcement officer. According to public court documents, Larry Eugene Burns, 36, while on federal supervised release, left threatening voicemail message for his assigned United States Probation Officer. Once in custody, Burns threatened United States Marshal deputies, including using racial epithets. After completing his term of imprisonment, Burns will be required to serve three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Probation Office and United States Marshal’s Service.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced for Opioid Diversion

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Nauvoo, Illinois man was sentenced today for diverting opioids from a healthcare facility where he was employed as a pharmacist. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Josef Andres Blunier, 47, between at least July 2022 and July 2023, obtained prescription pills from a Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center hospital while working as a pharmacist. To obtain the pills, Blunier would order and not report the pills in the pharmacy’s inventory, misrepresent the destination of inventory, and take out-of-date pills instead of disposing them. In total, Blunier diverted 10,592 Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydromorphone, morphine, and hydrocodone. In 2023, Blunier also obtained part-time employment at another Iowa pharmacy and diverted Schedule II controlled substances by taking them from filled patient prescriptions. Blunier received a three-year term of probation. Blunier was also ordered to pay $5,311.61 in restitution, a fine of $5250, and a $200 special assessment. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration .


title: Leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana and Atlanta-Based Money Launderer Indicted

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: ATLANTA – Siblings Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, also known as “El Pez,” “Pescado,” and “Mojarra,” 52, and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, also known as “El Fresa,” “El Feyo,” and “La Fruta,” 41, both of Guerrero, Mexico, and co-leaders of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) drug cartel, were charged by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl knowing those controlled substances would be imported into the United States, conspiracy to import those controlled substances into the United States, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute those controlled substances. The indictments were returned in September 2024 and recently unsealed. Prior to his indictment, Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga was designated as a Consolidated Priority Target (“CPOT”) by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) program. Both Hurtado Olascoaga brothers are fugitives believed to be residing in Mexico. In addition, today the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced new sanctions against Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga and their siblings, LNFM members Ubaldo Hurtado Olascoaga and Adita Hurtado Olascoaga. On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State also announced the designation of LNFM as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (“FTO”) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (“SDGT”). Additionally, the Department of State announced a Narcotics Rewards Program offer of up to $5 million and $3 million, respectively, for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga. Franco Tabares Martinez, 51, of Guerrero, Mexico, a high-ranking member of LNFM was charged by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and related substantive counts of drug trafficking. The indictment was unsealed against Franco Tabares Martinez on July 7, 2023, after which he was sanctioned by OFAC. On June 20, 2024, his brother Uriel Tabares-Martinez was also sanctioned by OFAC. Another brother, Pablo Tabares Martinez, pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025, to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Their sister, Guadalupe Tabares Martinez, also known as “Yosel Medrano Hernandez” and “Lupe,” 48, of Mableton, Georgia, has now been charged by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with conspiracy to commit international money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money services business, and related substantive counts. The indictment was returned on April 8, 2025, and recently unsealed. “Today’s indictments and OFAC sanctions against high-ranking LNFM cartel members sends a clear message: if you contribute to the death of Americans by peddling poison into our communities, we will work relentlessly to find you and bring you to justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These cartel members are allegedly responsible for importing massive amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl from Mexico to the Atlanta area and across the United States, and then wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds from distributing those drugs back to Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “These federal indictments, in conjunction with the imposition of OFAC sanctions, send a strong message that we will tirelessly investigate, prosecute, and defund individuals around the globe who choose to import deadly drugs into, and risk the lives of the members of, our communities.” “Today’s action underscores our commitment to intensify the pressure on violent drug cartels like LNFM, who continue to traffic deadly fentanyl and other drugs, smuggle illegal aliens over our Southwest border, and attack law enforcement,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to target the cartels and other violent organizations that attempt to exploit our communities and harm Americans.” “President Trump has promised to crack down on the flow of deadly drugs into our country,” said Senior Bureau Official F. Cartwright Weiland of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). “And today, working with the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of State is delivering on that promise by offering rewards totaling up to $8 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the Hurtado brothers.” “Cases like this exemplify the value of partnerships,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The volume of dangerous drugs and violence impacts our communities beyond comprehension. This investigation and subsequent indictments demonstrate DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking organizations.” “The indictment of senior leaders of this brutal Mexican cartel and subsequent OFAC sanctions makes one thing clear, we are coming after these criminal networks and utilizing every weapon in our arsenal,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and Alabama. “Through aggressive interagency coordination, HSI and our law enforcement partners are not only seizing their drugs and arresting their members, but we are also cutting off their money, dismantling their infrastructure, and bringing their leaders to justice. This operation underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and dismantling the criminal enterprises that profit from violence and addiction.” According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictments, and other information presented in court: In 2021, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) began an investigation of LNFM cartel members importing methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. As part of the investigation, agents identified Franco Tabares Martinez as a then-high-ranking member of the LNFM cartel who allegedly distributed multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in the metro Atlanta area. In addition, agents identified Franco Tabares Martinez’s sister, Guadalupe Tabares Martinez, as an Atlanta-based money laundering allegedly helping her brother and other drug traffickers by picking up bulk currency and then using her money service business, Noyola Multiservice, to transmit those drug proceeds to drug trafficking associates in Mexico. Through the investigation, agents also identified Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga as the cartel’s co-founders and kingpins, who conspired with cartel members in Mexico and throughout the United States to import heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl across the U.S./Mexico border for distribution in various cities and states, including Atlanta, Georgia. Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Bethany Rupert are prosecuting the case againstthe Hurtado Olascoaga brothers, Franco Tabares Martinez and Guadalupe Tabares Martinez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrison with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia provided valuable contributions to the investigation of Guadalupe Tabares Martinez. 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). This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi¬ jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (the Strike Force) is to degrade and dismantle major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations (DTMLOs) in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their associates. The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS; as well as numerous state and local agencies, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov ; www.operationprevention.com/ ; and www.dea.gov/onepill . 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: Members of a Massive International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Indicted in Atlanta

body_text: ATLANTA – On April 1, 2025, seven individuals in Georgia and Mexico were indicted by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia related to a drug trafficking and money laundering ring tied to a Mexico-based trafficker. Five of these defendants, all of Norcross, Georgia – Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel, age 49, Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez, age 22, David Miranda Vinalay, age 39, Jerome Lewis, age 47, and Irving Joel Hernandez, age 34 – were arrested earlier today, on April 15, 2025, in a coordinated effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and local law enforcement. The defendants were arraigned before a United States Magistrate Judge following their arrests. “Thanks to the great investigative work of our federal partners and local law enforcement, five individuals working on behalf of the violent Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) have been taken off our streets,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not allow these criminal enterprises to continue profiting off of the death and destruction of American lives.” “The defendants allegedly trafficked high volumes of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our community and then laundered the illicit proceeds of their activities as directed by a Mexico-based drug trafficker, including more than $1 million during a mere two-month period,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Although these individuals took great measures to conceal their alleged criminal conduct, a determined and coordinated effort by our federal and local law enforcement partners helped to secure the federal charges in this case.” “The deadly impact of fentanyl on our communities is devastating,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “These arrests should be a clear message to the traffickers that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.” “Using our expertise in financial investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation is following the money, despite attempts by criminals to cover their tracks,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents in partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, will continue our work investigating and holding accountable those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.” According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In September 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uncovered a scheme involving drug traffickers delivering bulk currency from drug sales to a middleman in Norcross. The middleman then allegedly delivered the drug proceeds to defendants Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel (“Chilel”) and her daughter Karina Beatriz Perez Hernandez (“Perez”), who then laundered the proceeds as directed by a Mexico-based drug trafficker. Chilel and Perez allegedly operated a money service business (“MSB”) in Norcross called “La Pulga Esperenza.” Between September and November 2024, DEA saw several traffickers deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars of suspected drug proceeds to the middleman in Norcross, who then transferred the cash to Chilel and Perez. Agents with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) analyzed the MSB’s transactions and determined that the cash was wired to Mexico but was transferred in small increments so as not to raise suspicion by federal regulators. During a period of approximately two months, this ring of individuals allegedly laundered over $1 million in drug proceeds smuggled to Mexico. During the investigation, the DEA identified several alleged traffickers who transported the drug proceeds to Norcross, including defendants David Miranda Vinalay, Jerome Lewis, and Irving Joel Hernandez. DEA identified one of the primary traffickers as being a member and/or associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (“CJNG”). Additionally, as alleged in the indictment, some of the traffickers also possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl that they intended to distribute on behalf of the drug trafficking ring. 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. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Georgia State Patrol, Dekalb County, Georgia, Police Department, Gwinnett County, Georgia, Police Department, and Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. are 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). This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 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: Texas Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Carlos Eduardo Pineda-Morales, 34, of Denton, Texas, with receipt of child pornography and access with intent to view child pornography. According to an indictment unsealed today, Pineda-Morales used a communications application, a cloud storage service, and digital devices that he owned to receive and access child pornography between Oct. 7, 2024, and Oct. 30, 2024. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. for the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI Dallas Office – Frisco Resident Agency and the Denton Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare of $3.3 Million

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Florida woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord in connection with her role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of $3.3 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Yolanda Dupont, 38, of New Port Richey, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025. According to court documents, Dupont and her co-conspirators owned and operated Allstar Medical Supply Corp., a purported durable medical equipment business in New Hampshire selling orthotic braces. As part of the conspiracy, Dupont served as the nominee owner of the business to conceal the identities of the true owners. Dupont certified that neither she nor Allstar would not submit false claims to Medicare. However, during the conspiracy, Dupont and her co-conspirators submitted, or caused the submission of, approximately $3.3 million in false and fraudulent claims for orthotic braces to Medicare. Medicare paid at least $1.6 million to Dupont and her co-conspirators for these claims. Ultimately, Medicare beneficiaries received orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary, ineligible for reimbursement, and often not wanted or needed. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Employer

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman plead guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer. Jennifer L. Cabral, 51, plead guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana Counts to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. By pleading guilty today, Cabral admitted that she stole approximately $306,034.28 from her employer’s bank account and used those funds for her personal benefit and use. As part of the scheme, Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to her own personal bank accounts through the employer’s online account at a local financial institution. Cabral used those funds for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car, which was forfeited as part of the plea agreement. Under federal statutes, Cabral is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on the bank fraud count and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.


title: Dayton Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Veterans Organization

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Cheryl Elizabeth Campos, 61, of Dayton, Oregon, pleaded guilty to wire fraud today as part of a scheme to defraud the Department of Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). According to court documents, between January 2022 and June 2024, Campos misused her position as Quartermaster of the VFW to access their bank accounts and illegally transfer large sums of money to her personal accounts. To conceal the unauthorized transfers, Campos falsified financial documents, bank statements, and accounting records. In total, Campos transferred more than $1.7 million from the VFW’s accounts to her personal accounts. Campos used the funds to buy hundreds of crystals, semi-precious rocks, marbles, stones and statues. She also used the funds for personal expenses including credit card payments and purchasing a vehicle for a family member. On March 24, 2025, Campos was charged by criminal information with wire fraud. Campos faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on July 8, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Amy M. Baggio. As part of the plea agreement, Campos has agreed to pay restitution in full to the VFW and will also forfeit any criminally-derived proceeds and property used to facilitate her crimes identified by the government prior to sentencing. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Las Vegas Woman Sentenced To Prison For Destroying Mail Boxes And Stealing Mail From Post Offices

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for damaging post office boxes and stealing mail on 17 different occasions. According to court documents, between June 20, 2023 and September 4, 2024, Amanda Gonzalez-Valerio would bring a pry bar into a post office, break open locked post office boxes, and steal mail from the boxes. In total, she stole mail belonging to more than 10 people. Additionally, on September 10, 2023, Gonzalez-Valerio entered a post office and broke into a box which was rented by a Las Vegas casino. She took a winning betting ticket belonging to a victim who had recently won a parlay bet and mailed his winning ticket back to the casino. Two days later, Gonzalez-Valerio cashed the victim’s winning ticket and received $3,377.60 in stolen money. In January 2025, Gonzalez-Valerio pleaded guilty to one count of theft or receipt of mail matter and one count of destruction of letter boxes or mail. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Washburne prosecuted the case. Report suspected mail theft, and other mail-related crimes, tips or incidents by calling the United States Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. ###


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Devontae Stamps, 31, of was found by Jackson Police Department officers to be in possession of a firearm after responding to a complaint by a property owners that Stamps would not leave his property. Stamps has prior felony convictions. In 2012 he was convicted of burglary. He was 18 at the time. In 2013 he was convicted of armed robbery. He was 19 at the time. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Stamps was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 9, 2024. He pled guilty on January 8, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The FBI and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department Continues Efforts to Stop Unlawful Tax Return Preparers

component: Tax Division

body_text: Today, the federal tax filing deadline, the Justice Department’s Tax Division acknowledges the majority of taxpayers and tax return preparers who voluntarily meet their yearly filing obligations. The Tax Division also cautions taxpayers to choose their return preparers carefully and to look out for unscrupulous preparers who make promises of tax reductions not based on legitimate positions and who include errors or false information on tax returns that could leave a taxpayer subject to liability for unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest. Over the last year, the Tax Division has worked with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country to bring civil and criminal actions against dishonest tax preparers. These actions include criminal indictments and prison sentences when appropriate as well as civil injunctions to stop ongoing fraud, civil penalties, and disgorgement of ill-gotten proceeds when appropriate. The Justice Department’s message has been clear: those who prepare fraudulent returns will face serious and lasting consequences. Examples of civil injunctions obtained by the Tax Division over the last and current filing seasons include: On Oct. 28, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Indiana permanently enjoined Juan Santiago and his tax preparation business, Madison Solutions LLC, from preparing tax returns for others or employing any person acting as a federal tax return preparer. The government’s complaint alleged that Santiago and his business engaged in fraudulent filing schemes by improperly claiming Head of Household filing status, the Child Tax Credit, and business deductions to which their clients were not entitled. The government estimated that these false returns cost the government over $1 million each filing season. On Oct. 3, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida entered a permanent injunction against George and Luis Brito and their business, Brito and Brito Accounting USA Inc. The injunction prohibits them from preparing tax returns for others. The government’s complaint alleged that since 2019, the Britos had prepared thousands of tax returns annually, and that they prepared returns that understated their clients’ income by claiming false or inflated business expenses and fabricating residential energy credits. On March 29, 2024, following a 12-day trial, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Michigan permanently enjoined Annetta Powell and seven of her businesses from preparing tax returns for others. The court found that Powell and her businesses prepared returns that reported fake Schedule C businesses and business expenses, claimed household help income they knew the customers did not qualify for, and claimed head of household filing status without doing the required due diligence. The court also ordered Powell to disgorge $697,797 in ill-gotten profits. The Tax Division has also sought to strip fraudulent preparers of ill-gotten gains and to hold in contempt those who attempt to flout court-ordered restraints on further fraudulent activity. Over the last year, the division has brought these cases to court, including: On Oct. 24, 2024, a federal district court in the Northern District of Texas held that Jennifer Murley violated a previous injunction against returning tax returns for others. The IRS had suspended Murley’s Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), but she and her tax preparation firm misappropriated EFINs assigned to others. The court ordered Murley to disgorge over $700,000 in ill-gotten gains she received for preparing returns in violation of the previous court order. On Oct. 23, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida found Gerald Vito and James Eleby in contempt for violating a previous injunction from 2021 that enjoined them from preparing tax returns for others. Vito and Eleby worked with Kwame Thomas to continue to file returns after being barred from doing so, and the court ordered them to disgorge a total of $988,789.56 in ill-gotten and to notify their clients of the injunction or face possible incarceration. Criminal indictments and convictions against fraudulent preparers obtained by the Tax Division since the 2024 filing season include the following : Thierry Musese, who ran a return preparation business from his barbershop located in Auburn, Maine, was charged with preparing false returns and generating fraudulent refunds for clients by including bogus business losses, fuel and residential energy credits. Musese also allegedly defrauded his clients by diverting a portion of their tax refund to himself without their permission. If convicted Musese faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of preparing a false tax return and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud. John Borgela, a Florida return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to file hundreds of false tax returns for clients from his business, Empire Tax services. Borgela typically inflated tax withholdings and reported fictitious itemized deductions to reduce his clients’ tax liability or to generate refunds. He concealed his involvement in the fraud by not including his name as the person who prepared the return on his clients’ tax returns. Vervia Watts, a return preparer in Illinois, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for preparing and filing false returns for clients. Watts prepared over 900 fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, reporting false education expenses and business income to obtain larger refunds from the IRS. She caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $1.3 million. On April 17, 2024, Jonathan Barefoot, a Mississippi return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for preparing false tax returns for clients. Barefoot conspired with others to claim inflated tax refunds for clients by reporting false education credits, itemized deductions, and business losses. He and his co-conspirators caused a loss to the United States of approximately $3.5 million. The Tax Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS has information, tips, and reminders on its site for choosing a tax preparer carefully ( Choosing a Tax Professional and How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer ) and has launched a free directory of credentialed federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers taxpayers tips to protect their identities and wallets when filing their taxes. In addition, IRS Free File , a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $79,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained civil injunctions and criminal convictions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.


title: Gambian Man Convicted on Torture Charges

body_text: A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. “Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.” “The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.” “Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.” According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh. The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims. Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court. Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden. Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp .


title: Fargo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbery

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Lucas Tavares, Age 34 of Fargo, ND, appeared in United States District Court today and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the offense of Hobbs Act Robbery. Tavares was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. As reflected in court documents, on March 5, 2024, Tavares robbed the Loaf ‘N Jug located at 1201 N. University Ave, Fargo, ND. An employee told responding officers that Tavares held a knife to his neck during the robbery. Fargo Police Department detectives quickly identified Tavares as the robber and took him into custody on the same day as the robbery. A federal grand jury indicted Tavares for one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. Tavares pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee. # # #


title: Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man and woman pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 2022 to August 2023, Keamber McCoy, 27, and Afrika Roshawn Seals, 42, conspired to distribute cocaine. The investigation involved five controlled purchases of cocaine. Three of those controlled purchases were arranged and negotiated by Seals and McCoy delivered cocaine. In the other two controlled purchases, Seals arranged, negotiated, and delivered cocaine. Additionally, in September 2023, agents searched Seals’ residence and found and seized three kilograms of cocaine and $84,411 in cash. McCoy pled guilty on April 7, 2025. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Seals pled guilty on April 14, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025, and faces a minimum and maximum penalty of 5 to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, Director Steven Maxwell of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway, Adam Stuart, and Amber Jones are prosecuting the case.


title: San Antonio, Texas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Selling Thousands of Counterfeit Coupons Causing Losses to Retailers Across the United States in Excess of $17 Million

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a six-count indictment against a San Antonio, Texas woman for fraudulently creating and selling over $17 million worth of counterfeit retail coupons used at various retail stores across the United States for the purchase of household items, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced. Janet Bernal, 48, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. According to the Indictment: From June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to produce and sell fraudulent, counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. In furtherance of her scheme, Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging application. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download. Members paid the monthly fee via mobile cash accounts that Bernal directly controlled. Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. In total, the loss to the retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were covered by the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million. The conspiracy and wire fraud counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, per count. United States Attorney Alina Habba credited postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Carol Dominguez, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender bernal.indictment.pdf


title: Two Romanian Men Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty to Installing  Skimmers throughout Southern District of Mississippi

body_text: JACKSON, MS – Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, 28, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, 29, were both sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for possession of device-making equipment, also known as skimmers. Their codefendant, Bogdan Gabriel Radu, 22, pleaded guilty today to possession of device-making equipment. All three defendants are Romanian nationals who entered the United States illegally. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Gheorghe, Neacsu, and Radu could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout the Southern District of Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. The skimmers were adhered using double-sided tape and were equipped with electronics that captured or recorded bank card magstripe track data and PIN numbers, stored the skimmed card data, were Bluetooth capable for remote connectivity, and were powered by lithium batteries. Gheorghe and Neacsu would install the skimmers while making a small purchase using a gift card. Radu was primarily responsible for retrieving the stolen data from the skimmers. Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling over $85,000, for which the defendants will be required to pay restitution. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. These stolen SNAP benefits were used in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can be traced back to the skimming devices in Mississippi. A criminal complaint was filed against Gheorghe and Neacsu on August 2, 2024. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against them on August 13, 2024. Thereafter, a superseding indictment was filed on November 6, 2024, adding Radu as a codefendant. Radu is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As the defendants entered the United States illegally, they may be subject to deportation upon their release from prison. “This scheme stretched across the United States and was clearly targeting families that rely on financial assistance to put food on the table,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their partnership throughout this investigation. Together, we were able to stop international criminals from defrauding Mississippi taxpayers and protect these benefits for those who need them the most.” Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement. The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case. The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe: Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible. Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.


title: Level 3 Sex Offender From Chicopee Arrested and Charged for Transferring Obscene Material to a Minor

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Chicopee man has been arrested and charged for transferring obscene material to a minor female victim who he believed to be 12 years old. Carl Norton, Jr., 37, is charged with one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. Norton was arrested on April 11, 2025 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 16, 2025. According to the charging documents, from February through June 2024, Norton exchanged numerous Snapchat messages, images and videos with the minor victim. It is alleged that Norton sent the minor victim media files that depicted adult pornography many of which appeared to be self-produced. On multiple occasions, Norton allegedly asked the minor victim to send him nude photos and videos of herself. Norton also allegedly requested to meet the minor victim numerous times – offering to pay for her travel and arrange hotel rooms. Throughout the messages, Norton allegedly described in explicit detail the sexual acts the two would engage in upon meeting. Norton is a Level 3 sex offender with prior convictions for attempted rape of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor. The charge of transferring obscene material to a minor provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Barnico, Jr. of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two illegal aliens and a Laredoan charged with various firearms offenses

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Three men are in custody on charges related to the discovery of various weapons and ammunition at a Laredo residence linked to another crime, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Erick Lopez-Rivera Sr., 37, and Marcos Lora-Morales, 24, both illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Laredo, and Erick Lopez Jr., 18, Laredo, are expected to make their appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future. The investigation began March 21 when law enforcement discovered the location of a firearm allegedly used in a crime, according to the charges. During execution of search warrant at the residence, authorities allegedly discovered two machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) and a backpack that contained magazines and ammunition that Lopez had been storing. MCDs convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. According to the complaint, authorities also located .38 special and .22LR ammunition linked to Lopez-Rivera Sr. Upon further investigation, they allegedly found a grey backpack containing a 9mm S&W handgun Lora-Morales had purchased and a Mexican passport that belonged to him in a detached structure on the property. According to the complaint, Lora-Morales had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. Lopez-Rivera Jr. is charged with possession of a machine gun, while Lopez-Rivera Sr. and Lora-Morales are facing charges of alien in possession of ammunition and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, respectively. Lopez-Rivera Sr. is also charged with felony reentry of an alien. Possession of a machine gun carries a possible 10-year prison sentence, while alien in possession of ammunition and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition have maximum penalties of 15 years. Illegal reentry after removal has a maximum 20-year-term of imprisonment. All three men could also be ordered to pay up to $250,000 in fines, upon each count of conviction. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Office Furniture Supplier Vari Agrees To Pay $1.1 Million To Resolve Allegations Of False Claims For Overcharging Federal Agencies

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Varidesk, LLC and Vari Sales Corporation, two Texas companies that do business under the name VARI, have agreed to pay $1,100,000 to resolve allegations that VARI violated the False Claims Act by failing to give the United States matching price discounts VARI provided to other customers as required by VARI’s contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), while falsely representing to the United States that VARI had complied with those contractual requirements. “Companies must deal honestly with federal agencies and comply fully with the requirements of their federal contracts,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “The False Claims Act is a critical tool to deter and hold accountable contractors who misuse public funds, and we will vigorously enforce it when taxpayers are overcharged.” “GSA contractors should not overcharge federal agencies at the expense of the public fisc,” said GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert Erickson. “I appreciate the efforts of the special agents, auditors, and attorneys who worked on this case.” In 2016, VARI entered into a Multiple Award Schedule contract with GSA, which provided a streamlined process for federal government purchasers to buy office furniture from VARI at discounted prices and required VARI to comply with specific conditions. VARI promised that GSA would receive discounts that were equivalent to those VARI provided to other customers in the “basis-of-award” category defined by the contract. Under the contract’s price reduction clause, whenever VARI provided discounts to basis-of-award customers that were greater than those given to GSA, VARI was required to disclose promptly those discounts to GSA and provide price-matching refunds. The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that, from Dec. 8, 2016, through June 30, 2019, VARI knowingly failed to provide GSA with price discounts that it provided to other customers in the basis-of-award category, in violation of its contract with the federal government, and thus knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for payment to be made to GSA. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Elliot Balis (Relator), a former VARI sales executive. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, Relator will receive $187,000 as part of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Balis v. Varidesk LLC, et al., 22-cv-09146-JCS (N.D. Cal.). Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeVito handled this matter for the government. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and GSA-OIG. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability . Vari Settlement Agreement


component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER — A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. “Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.” “The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.” “Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.” According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh. The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims. Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court. Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden. Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp . Case Number: 20-cr-148-CMA


title: Ecuadorian man charged with illegal re-entry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today Lorenzo Antonio Loja-Castro, a citizen of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sasha Mascarenhas, who is handling the case, stated that in March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations received information that suspected illegal aliens working construction at townhomes in Hamburg, NY, were creating unsafe living conditions for tenants. Specifically, tenants could not communicate with the workers, and the workers blocked tenant units. On March 26, 2025, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed several construction workers at the location. Immigration Officials approached the workers and questioned their citizenship, including the defendant, who stated that he did not speak English. When asked in Spanish, Loja-Castro stated that he was from Ecuador and did not have any immigration documents to be present in the United States legally. An immigration check determined that Loja-Castro was previously apprehended in Middleport, NY, and removed from the United States in July 2024. 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). Loja-Castro made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. # # # #


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to conspiracy to steal mail

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lamor Runell Bolden, 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to commit mail theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that on October 2, 2024, Bolden conspired with Eric Michael Robinson and Antonio Jones, Jr. to steal mail from mail receptacles in Cheektowaga, NY. In addition, the defendants also possessed a key used to open authorized mail receptacles. Bolden drove with Robinson and Jones to a mail facility in Cheektowaga at approximately 1:00 a.m. on October 2, 2024. Robinson drove and Bolden and Jones were passengers. Robinson parked the car behind a row of blue collection mailboxes outside the postal facility, Bolden and Jones got out of the car, and Jones opened the mailboxes with the stolen key and stole mail from the mailboxes while Bolden stood watch. The two then got back into the car and Robinson drove away. A short time later, their car was stopped by law enforcement. At the time the car was stopped, various opened and unopened pieces of mail were found inside. Bolden admits that he and his co-conspirators used the stolen key to open mailboxes at other locations around the Western District of New York. Charges remain pending against Antonio Jones, Jr. Eric Michael Robinson was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons. Sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2025, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Two Bremerton, Washington women indicted in massive identity theft and bank fraud scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A Bremerton, Washington woman was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on a 14-count indictment charging conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Heather Marquis, 36, entered pleas of ‘not guilty’ on all counts. Marquis remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac. Marquis’ co-defendant Emily Vranic, 33, was arraigned and released to the custody of her parents last week. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 16, 2025. “With an estimated 278 victims, these defendants left a broad swath of damage across Kitsap and Mason Counties,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The Bremerton Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office did important work with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to identify victims and trace the financial harm they suffered in this case.” According to records filed in the case, between April 2019 and November 2024, Vranic and Marquis would steal identities in several different ways. Most often, they would steal victims’ mail and use personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim’s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address. Armed with their victims’ identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make their monthly mortgage payments. In one instance, the pair attempted to transfer $35,000 from a vulnerable victim’s account, after a successful transfer of almost $33,000 from the same account. When the transfer was rejected, they repeatedly called the bank posing as the account holder to try to get the fraud alert removed. The estimated loss from their financial fraud is approximately $620,000. “The U.S. Mail remains one of the most trusted forms of commerce and communication in this country. Working to protect the mail system and the citizens it serves from those who wish to harm others while enriching themselves remains our steadfast mission,” said Tony Galetti, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The allegations made against Vranic and Marquis are staggering. The process to undo the harm done to members of our community, not just financially but emotionally, can be agonizing. From fixing bank accounts to rebuilding credit reports, the harm lasts far longer than the initial crime. I thank Bremerton PD and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office for the assistance in this case; partnerships across all levels of law enforcement are what bring these kinds of results.” Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison for each count to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.


title: Federal jury finds human smuggler guilty of possessing child sexual abuse material

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old Lyford man has been convicted of possessing 150 images of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before finding Jose Rodriguez Jr. guilty after a one-day trial. Law enforcement originally arrested Rodriguez Aug. 12, 2024, in connection with an alien transportation event. At that time, they seized his phone and discovered over 150 images and videos of child sexual assault material (CSAM). During the trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding the multiple images and videos of CSAM downloaded and stored on Rodriguez’s phone over multiple months. The evidence included numerous files depicting sexual assaults of prepubescent children. The jury also learned Rodriguez has a prior conviction for criminal attempted sexual assault from 2010 which involved a minor victim. The defense attempted to convince the jury that a virus downloaded the CSAM onto his phone. However, evidence showed that Rodriguez had over 100 user accounts on the phone linked to him and that the child pornography was downloaded on 20 separate occasions from April through August of 2024. The jury also heard from a computer forensic expert who rendered an opinion that the pattern of activity indicated intentional downloading. “The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for child sex offenses, much less repeat sex offenders like the defendant in this case,” said Ganjei. “We are grateful to the jury for serving justice in this case.” U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton set sentencing for July 15. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Rodriguez was charged in a separate case for the human smuggling event and later pleaded guilty. He was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing in both cases. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with assistance from Raymondville Police Department and Willacy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devin Walker and Jose Garcia are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Dominican National Arrested for Conspiring to Distribute Nearly 65,000 Fentanyl Pills

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national, unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass., has been arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring to distribute tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia, 35, was charged with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant was arrested this morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained. According to the charging documents, Rodriguez Garcia was admitted into the United States in December 2009 as a Lawful Permanent Resident in Puerto Rico. In November 2016, Rodriguez Garcia was arrested in North Andover, Mass. for fentanyl distribution, which he was later convicted of in May 2018. He was ordered removed from the United States in November 2018. It is alleged that, sometime after his removal, Rodriguez Garcia unlawfully reentered the United States. According to the charging documents, on March 30, 2025, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement attempted to conduct a controlled purchase of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known drug trafficker. It is alleged that, on April 2, 2025, Rodriguez Garcia arrived at the agreed upon location for the transaction in Lawrence. Rodriguez Garcia was arrested on site for immigration violations. During a subsequent search of the residence Rodriguez Garcia allegedly visited immediately prior to the planned drug deal, approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills made to look like pharmaceutical pills were found. It is alleged that the pills were packaged into three separate vacuum sealed plastic bags and found inside a large black duffel bag inside of the front closet on the first floor. It is alleged that Rodriguez Garcia’s fingerprints matched two latent prints developed from the plastic bags containing the pills. The fentanyl pills had a net weight of over 7.2 kilograms. The charge of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Hudson and Salem, New Hampshire Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Sixth Member Of Salinas-Based “Murder Squad” Pleads Guilty To Role In 2017 Killing Spree

body_text: SAN JOSE – Andrew Alvarado, a member of a Salinas-based Norteño criminal street gang, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. Alvarado, 34, of Salinas, was indicted along with multiple co-defendants by a federal grand jury on Oct. 15, 2020. According to court documents, Alvarado was a member of the self-proclaimed “Murder Squad,” a crew of Salinas-based Norteño criminal street gang members falling under the Monterey County Regiment Enterprise affiliated with the Nuestra Familia prison gang. The squad would go on “hunts,” shooting and killing rival gang members or those perceived to be rivals. The squad would often use military-style tactics, traveling in a convoy of vehicles with a designated shooter vehicle and a designated security/spotter vehicle, all of which were in constant communication via conference call. The security/spotter vehicles would patrol the streets, find a target, and transmit their location to the shooter vehicle. The shooters in the shooter vehicle would drive up, exit, fire at the victims until their magazines were empty, and speed away. The security/spotter vehicles would follow behind, ready to distract or intercept law enforcement and allow the shooter vehicle to escape. In pleading guilty, Alvarado admitted that he personally participated in six of these hunts between January 2017 and May 2017. He was the shooter in three of those hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims and the wounding of a fourth. In one instance, the hunt began at a gathering to remember a co-conspirator’s family members who had been killed in a car accident, during which the gang members agreed to go hunting for rival gang members to kill. Alvarado also admitted that he was in the security/spotter vehicle in three other hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims, the wounding of four victims, and the near-miss of one victim. Each additional “body” increased Alvarado’s status and prestige within the gang. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement. Five of Alvarado’s co-defendants pleaded guilty in May 2024 to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. The five co-defendants were sentenced in September 2024 to between 25 and 41 years in prison. Alvarado, who remains in custody pending sentencing, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for racketeering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5). Any sentence will 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 was brought by the Violent Crime Strike Force and 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. Attorneys George Hageman and Mari Overbeck are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Nina Burney and Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of a yearslong investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department.