title: Rapper ‘Taliban Glizzy’ Sentenced to 219 Months in Robberies of East Coast Jewelers That Netted His Crew Millions

body_text: WASHINGTON – Trevor Jonathan Wright, 34, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 219 months in federal prison for leading a series violent armed robberies of South Asian jewelry stores that netted millions of dollars in cash and gold for his 15-member crew, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Wright, the D. C. rapper known as “Taliban Glizzy,” pleaded guilty Sept. 16, 2025, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act Robbery); brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and unlawful possession of a firearm. In his plea agreement, Wright accepted responsibility for his roles in the June 10, 2022, armed robbery of Virani Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey for $1.2 million in gold jewelry; the Oct. 25, 2022, armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry in Paterson, New Jersey, for $1.93 million in gold jewelry; and the Dec. 6, 2022, armed robbery of Kishek Jewelers in Jacksonville, Florida, for $700,000. He also accepted responsibility for unlawful possession of a machine gun in Miami, Florida on May 27, 2021. “Trevor Wright and his crew terrorized victims from Northern New Jersey to South Florida. His crew left behind a wake of destruction and great financial loss for family-owned businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “They smashed glass display cases and shoveled the gold into laundry bags. After one armed robbery of nearly $2 million, Wright spent proceeds to purchase a Rolex. He sure won’t need a luxury watch to measure the more than 18 years he’ll now spend in prison.” In addition to the 219-month prison term, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Wright to serve four years of supervised release. According to court documents, during the course of 18 months, Wright and his co-conspirators schemed to rob multiple South Asian jewelry stores of heavy gold jewelry of high purity. The conspiracy began in January 2022 and continued until August 2023. Each robbery was coordinated in advance. The crew selected their targets after careful research. To evade law enforcement detection, some of the suspect vehicles were rented, stolen, or outfitted with stolen tags. At least one of the vehicles was carjacked by the crew at gunpoint. The crew cased the stores in advance. They shattered the doors and windows with sledgehammers They employed a show of force to gain compliance from their victims. At least one co-conspirator was armed with a firearm during each robbery. The crew fenced the stolen jewelry in Miami or melted down the gold into bars which they later sold for cash. On Dec. 12, 2022, Wright was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued by the Southern District of Florida as he and his entourage departed the St. Yves nightclub in a Cadillac Escalade. Police recovered, among other things, more than $17,300 in cash, which investigators linked to proceeds from the Kishek robbery. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony A. Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division; FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office; FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the Newark Field Office; Director Gadyaces Serralta of the United States Marshals Service; and Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case was investigated by the ATF, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI’s Newark, Jacksonville, and Washington Field Offices. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi. 23cr137 Trevor Wright, aka Taliban Glizzy, in a portrait. An AR-15 recovered on July 17, 2022, from the backseat of a rideshare vehicle in which Trevor Wright and other crew members had traveled. Surveillance screen shot from the October 25, 2022, of a co-defendant during the armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry in Paterson, New Jersey, from which the crew netted $1.93 million in gold jewelry. DEFENDANT AKA HOME CHARGES/SENTENCE Trevor Wright, 34 Taliban Glizzy Washington DC Sentenced Dec. 16, 2025, to 219 months after pleading guilty Sept. 16, 2025, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence aiding and abetting; and unlawful possession of a firearm. William Hunter, 30 Ill Will, Broski Washington DC Sentenced to 228 months on Dec. 11, 2024, after pleading guilty to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Avery Fuller, 31 Deavry Cordell Fuller, Fully Ace Washington DC Pending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Franklin Hunter, 31 Gino Washington DC Pleaded guilty on Dec. 30, 2024, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Davon Johnson, 32 YB Washington DC Sentenced to 111 months on Nov. 20, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Decarlos Hill, 31 Los Maryland Sentenced to 57 months on November 6, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Lamont Marable, 29 Washington DC Sentenced to 93 months on Nov. 11, 2024, for interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Keith McDuffie, 28 California Interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Jameise Vaughn Christian, 35 Safety, Safe Play Washington DC Pending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Andrew Smith, 32 Drewso, Drew Maryland Sentenced to 138 months in prison on Oct. 17, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Robert Sheffield, 35 Real Lifaa Washington DC Sentenced to 156 months on July 2, 2025, for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Jaylaun Brown, 23 Lil Launy Washington DC Sentenced to 102 months on May 1, 2025, for conspiracy to interfere with Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Timothy Conrad, 34 Twin Washington DC Sentenced to 168 months on Oct. 1, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Antonio Tate, 22 T-Motion Washington DC Sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Delonte Martin, 27 Washington DC Sentenced to 108 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Leading Scheme in Which Doctors Were Impersonated to Obtain Narcotics

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Maryland man was sentenced today to 65 months in federal prison for leading a long-running scheme in which dozens of medical doctors’ personal information was stolen and then used to create fraudulent e-prescribing accounts, which his accomplices then used to issue thousands of fraudulent prescriptions of controlled substances. Benjamin Jamal Washington, 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. Washington pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. From September 2020 to May 2023, Washington and his co-conspirators obtained personal identifying information (PII) belonging to dozens of doctors, including their names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, National Provider Identification number, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration Numbers. After obtaining this information, the co-conspirators impersonated the victims by obtaining fake drivers’ licenses in their names. They also paid corrupt telephone company employees to perform illegal subscriber identity module (SIM) swaps – fraudulently inducing a phone carrier to reassign a cell phone number from the legitimate subscriber to a phone controlled by the co-conspirators – to gain access to the physicians’ phone numbers. Washington and his co-conspirators then used the fraudulent drivers’ licenses and the stolen phone numbers to open fraudulent e-prescribing accounts in the physicians’ names. At least one co-conspirator spoke with a pharmacy technician to understand the patterns and practices of physicians submitting e-prescriptions so Washington and his co-conspirators could avoid detection and issue more fraudulent prescriptions. Once the co-conspirators opened the fraudulent e-prescribing accounts, Washington and others used the accounts to submit at least 5,600 fraudulent prescriptions of controlled substances, including illegal prescriptions of oxycodone and promethazine with codeine. The co-conspirators then traveled to pharmacies across the United States, including pharmacies within the Los Angeles area, to pick up the illegally prescribed controlled substances, which they sold for a significant profit. During the same period, in May 2022, Washington stole mail from two mailboxes in Bethesda, Maryland, and unlawfully possessed a United States Postal Service arrow key – a master key that allows access to mail for hundreds of boxes in an area. At the first mailbox, Washington stole at least 30 checks. Washington pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of mail theft and one count of unlawful possession of Postal Service keys. That case was transferred from the District of Maryland to the Central District of California. Micah Robert Lee, 26, of Washington, D.C., who is another co-conspirator in the fraudulent e-prescription scheme, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, at which time he will face up to 20 years in federal prison. The FBI and the DEA investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello of the National Security Division, Elizabeth S.P. Douglas of the Major Frauds Section, and Matthew J. Tako of the Transnational Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.


title: Hays woman pleads guilty to assault on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS - A Hays woman accused of an assault on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Alta Rose Chandler, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chandler faces up to 10 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for May 14, 2026. Chandler was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of September 29, 2023, Chandler and Heavenlee Sears were driving around on the Fort Belknap reservation and drinking beer. Late in the night, the two went to a bar to buy more alcohol before driving to John Doe’s home. When Chandler and Sears arrived at Doe’s house, they were highly intoxicated, and they beat him. Sears hit Doe multiple times on the head with a peppermint schnapps bottle. Chandler hit Doe with her fists after he had fallen to the ground. Around 6:00 a.m. on September 30, Sears called a family member to say something was wrong with Doe. Family arrived and found Chandler trying to clean up blood on the floor. According to the witness, Chandler rubbed some of the blood on her arm and said, “I did this. I mean, my dad did this.” Witnesses saw a glass peppermint schnapps bottle at the scene. Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services. He was unresponsive and breathing erratically. After he was intubated, Doe was life flighted to a higher level of care. On October 18, 2023, Doe was admitted to the Long-Term Care Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Doe was largely unresponsive to stimuli and completely nonverbal due to his traumatic brain injury. Doe died on December 11, 2023. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Madison Man Sentenced to Five Years for Illegal Gun Possession

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jevon Smith, 31, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 60 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on October 22, 2025. On June 15, 2025, Fitchburg police officers found Smith sleeping in a car in the parking lot of McKee Farms Park. Officers searched Smith’s car and found a loaded Glock 29 10mm handgun with a machinegun conversion device attached to it. In 2019, Smith was convicted of heroin trafficking, eluding an officer, and recklessly endangering safety. As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. A machinegun conversion device is an illegal device that can be attached to handguns to allow them to fire fully automatic. Machinegun conversion devices are also known as “switches” and pose an extreme risk to the community. At sentencing Judge Peterson considered Smith’s past convictions and said that he was on a bad trajectory. Judge Peterson also noted that Smith was on bond for a pending drug trafficking case at the time he committed the current federal offense. Judge Peterson ordered Smith to serve three years of supervision following his release from prison. The charge against Smith was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Four Bay Area Residents Charged In Fremont Jewelry Store Heist

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted four defendants, Afatupetaiki Faasisila, 20, of San Bruno, Jose Herrada-Aragon, 20, of Concord, Andres Palestino, 19, of Concord, and Tom Parker Donegan, 19, of Fairfield, in connection with the June 18, 2025, robbery of a jewelry store in Fremont. Faasisila and Palestino were arrested yesterday and made their initial appearances in district court today. Herrada-Aragon and Donegan are currently in state custody on other charges and will be transferred to federal custody. Faasisila, Herrada-Aragon, Palestino, and Donegan were initially charged by complaint on December 8, 2025, and subsequently indicted on December 18, 2025. The indictment, unsealed today, charges each defendant with one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce. According to the criminal complaint and other court documents, on June 18, 2025, over two dozen masked individuals conducted a takeover-style robbery of a jewelry store located on Mowry Avenue in Fremont. Surveillance video captured a gray Honda ramming into the store’s front façade to force entry. One individual brandished a firearm at the store’s security guard, while another held the guard’s arms and forced him to the ground. Dozens of masked individuals, including Faasisila, Herrada-Aragon and Palestino, allegedly stormed the business, which was occupied at the time. Once inside, the robbers used hammers and other tools to smash display cases and grab the jewelry contained within, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately $1.7 million dollars’ worth of jewelry. After ransacking the store, the robbers left with the stolen goods and got into waiting vehicles to flee. The complaint alleges that Donegan drove one of the getaway vehicles, leading responding police officers on a vehicle pursuit before eventually crashing the car in another part of Fremont. There, the four defendants exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, only to be apprehended by officers. Several pieces of stolen jewelry were recovered in the defendants’ flight path and the abandoned vehicle, which had also been reported stolen. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Palestino is next scheduled to appear in federal court in Oakland for an arraignment on January 14, 2026, and Faasisila is next scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on January 16, 2026. A complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of robbery affecting interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951(a) and 2. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sloan Heffron and Wendy Garbers of the Violent Crime Strike Force are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Fremont Police Department. Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting the FBI at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov .


title: Local man sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for exploiting child

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Loveland, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 262 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting an 11-year-old. Jonathan Travis Mackey, 46, of Loveland, exploited a child victim in person while employed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). As part of his guilty plea in August 2025, Mackey immediately resigned from the FDIC. According to his court documents, in May 2024, Mackey sexually exploited an 11-year-old and created photos of the abuse. For example, the defendant created a digital photo that depicted Mackey directly engaged in sexual conduct with the victim. Mackey was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Matthew Stentz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Jason J. Scalzo, Special Agent in Charge of the FDIC Office of Inspector General Electronic Crimes Unit; and officials with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Danielle E. Margeaux are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Cleveland Man to Spend 19 Years in Federal Prison for Armored Vehicle Robberies

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 24-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison for his role in two robberies of armored car vehicles in Cleveland. Christion Yarnell Sims, 24, was sentenced to 228 months (19 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty to the following charges: Interference with Commerce by Robbery Carjacking Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence Sims was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $336,120 in restitution. According to court documents, Sims and several other assailants robbed armored car vehicles on two separate occasions. The robberies occurred July 29, 2024, and Sept. 23, 2024. On both dates, employees with Vantage Technical Services (VTS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Brinks, were servicing an ATM at each retail establishment. As employees exited the stores and attempted to enter their armored vehicles, they were threatened at gunpoint. In both instances, the assailants took several bags filled with cash before speeding away in getaway vehicles. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio During the investigation, agents discovered photographs of Sims holding a large sum of banded and unbanded cash. They also found a video of a car dealership employee counting stacks of cash during a transaction in which Sims bought a black BMW after the first robbery. In total, more than $300,000 in cash was stolen from VTS armored vehicles by Sims and other perpetrators. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Cleveland Division of Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Child Pornography

body_text: Huntsville, Ala. – A Limestone County man has been sentenced for committing child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. U.S. District Judge Harold D. Mooty, III, sentenced Clayton Sawyer, Jr., 67, of Athens, Alabama, to 180 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Sawyer was ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In December 2025, Sawyer pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, on February 4, 2025, United States Probation Officers searched Sawyer’s residence and found a Samsung smartphone hidden inside of a box of “Breakfast Essentials.” A forensic analysis of the device revealed 18 images of child pornography. Possession of an electronic communication device without prior approval was a violation of the provisions of Sawyer’s supervised release. At the time of the search, Sawyer was serving a life term of supervised release following federal convictions in the Northen District of Alabama for receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. The FBI Birmingham – Huntsville RA investigated the case along with the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Trevell Marcelus Nurse, 27, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Nurse admitted to selling an approximate total of 27.3 grams of a substance containing fentanyl over the course of five transactions between April 9, 2024, and September 6, 2024, each time in the Charleston area. Nurse further admitted that he arranged the sale of 14.58 grams of a substance containing fentanyl on September 3, 2024, and directed a co-defendant to deliver the controlled substance. Nurse also admitted that he possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P 40 M2.0 .40-caliber pistol and a quantity of a substance containing fentanyl for his personal use in the Charleston area on September 20, 2024. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-55. ###


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Years for Trafficking Multiple Kilos of Meth into North Mississippi

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS– Arturo Bonilla, 48, of Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to ten years in prison for drug trafficking. According to documents and evidence presented in court, in 2021, officers with the Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department and Mississippi Highway Patrol conducted traffic stops of Bonilla and found him in possession of methamphetamine. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating Bonilla’s role in drug distribution and determined he was responsible for the trafficking of at least six kilograms into the State of Mississippi. HSI also determined that Bonilla was illegally present in the United States. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Bonilla to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release in the event that he remains in the country. However, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have placed an immigration detainer on the defendant, to result in his removal from the United States following the conclusion of his federal sentence. “The defendant in this case, who never should have been in this country to commit these crimes in the first place, imported poison into our community and has now been held to account for that conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary. “Our law enforcement partners did incredible work on this case and provided the level of cooperation that our citizens should expect.” “This sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic dangerous drugs into our communities will be held accountable. Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to dismantling transnational criminal organizations and protecting the citizens of Mississippi,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. “We will continue to work with our state and local partners to pursue those who threaten our communities with illegal narcotics and ensure they face justice.” This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Office and Mississippi Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Merrillville Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay $883,166.92 in Restitution

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – On January 13, 2026, Armon A. Hill, 46 years old, of Merrillville, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Hill was sentenced to 30 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $883,166.92 in restitution. According to documents in the case, between April 2020 and May 2022, Hill submitted a series of fraudulent loan applications under the Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan programs. Hill’s applications contained false information and forged tax documents purporting to show that Hill operated a successful business with multiple employees, when in fact Hill had no such business and had no employees. Based on Hill’s fraudulent representations, he received a total of approximately $840,000 in Covid-19 grant and loan funding to which he was not entitled. Hill spent the funds on personal expenses unrelated to any legitimate business activity, including on international travel and high-end retail shopping. “Armon Hill took advantage of government programs designed to help small businesses survive the Covid-19 pandemic, using hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fund his own lavish lifestyle,” said United States Attorney Mildred. “As this case demonstrates, fraud and abuse of government programs are not tolerated in the Northern District of Indiana.” “At a time when struggling small businesses were depending on emergency relief to survive the economic fallout of COVID-19, Armon Hill chose to exploit a national crisis for personal gain,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “By submitting fraudulent applications to the SBA, he diverted critical taxpayer-funded resources away from legitimate business owners who played by the rules. Pandemic relief funds were not a windfall—they were a lifeline—and abusing them is a federal crime with serious consequences.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.


title: Federal Judge Sentences Robeson County Murder Suspect Who Shot and Ran Over Two Sheriff’s Deputies to 45 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. –A Maxton man, Shawn Tobin Locklear, Jr., who was only 20 years old at the time, tried to kill two Robeson County Sheriff’s Deputies by shooting them and running them over with their own patrol car. Last year, he pleaded guilty to using a gun during a crime of violence and possessing a machine gun while selling drugs. A federal judge sentenced him to 45 years in federal prison for these crimes. After officers arrested Locklear for armed robbery while using a gun, a state court judge released him in March 2022. A few months later in November 2022, while Locklear roamed free on bond despite his first gun crime, Robeson County Sheriff Deputies arrested him for murder and robbery charges. He allegedly used a gun to commit that murder. Shockingly, in May 2023, a state court judge released Locklear on bond while he awaited trial on those murder charges. A few months later in September of 2023, Locklear allegedly committed domestic violence crimes by choking his sister because he accused her of stealing one of his guns. When she called 911, he cut off his ankle monitor and fled the scene. While investigating those crimes, officers seized marijuana, cocaine, crack, and firearms, including machine guns, from Locklear’s car. Two months after that latest crime spree, Robeson County Sheriff Deputies located Locklear, on November 7, 2023. As they attempted to arrest him, Locklear busted out his house and scurried into the woods. When two deputies located him on the other side of the woods, their bodycam footage showed him hiding behind a tree. As the deputies commanded him to show his hands and surrender, Locklear first showed his left hand on the left side of the tree. Suddenly, without warning, Locklear popped out on the right side of the tree with his gun drawn and unleashed a blaze of bullets. His barrage struck both deputies several times in the legs and gutshot. Wounded and shocked, the deputies crawled to cover behind their patrol car. As one deputy reloaded, Locklear sprinted up and dove into the driver’s seat of the patrol car. He gunned it in reverse, running over one deputy and almost crushing both. During the skirmish, the deputies shot Locklear. Locklear left the deputies to die, bleeding in the dirt. The deputies called EMS to dispatch an ambulance to provide emergency care. Locklear intercepted the ambulance speeding to those deputies, stopping it in the middle of the road. He commandeered the ambulance for himself and absconded to the hospital. Thankfully, other Robeson County deputies responded, loaded their wounded brothers into the bed of a pickup truck, and rushed them to the same hospital. They arrested Locklear in the hospital. “Every day our law enforcement heroes steady themselves in the mirror, suit up in uniform, leave anxious families behind, and walk out of their homes to valiantly stand between our law-abiding citizens and the violent, anti-social scoundrels who care only about feeding their greed and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This demon should not have walked freely in our community after his first crimes in March 2022, and certainly not after the 2023 crimes. He is not fit for society, and our families don’t need to worry about him shooting more victims for the next 45 years. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the brave, steadfast public servants who put their lives on the line to remove this scourge from our community. Make no mistake, threats of violence and actual attacks on our law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in North Carolina, whether the weapon is a gun or a two-thousand-pound vehicle. As always, our thanks extend to the dedicated and professional deputies in this case, literally heroes who faced down death, and the other law enforcement partners who collaborated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to force this villain to spend his next 45 years surrounded by concrete and steel. We also applaud Judge Flanagan’s appropriate sentence, which will keep the citizens and children in our community safe for decades.” “Today’s sentence brings accountability for a violent and deliberate attack on law enforcement. By the grace of God, the two deputies who were shot and ran over with a stolen patrol car survived, and we remain deeply grateful for their courage, resilience, and recovery. This outcome sends a clear message that violence against those who serve and protect our communities daily will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held fully accountable,” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “The safety of our communities is strongly supported by the brave men and women in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “An attack on an officer is an attack on the community, and ATF will continue to deliver every resource we can to prevent this type of violence against our law enforcement partners.” “The Robeson County District Attorney’s Office is grateful to the Eastern District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts on this case and look forward to partnering in the future to have a robust federal presence to promote safety in our community,” said Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott. “One exciting example of this partnership is the imminent hiring of a Special AUSA from Robeson County District Attorney’s Office to further pursue state and federal criminal convictions focused on keeping our community safe.” The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case, and AUSAs Ashley Foxx and Robert Dodson prosecuted the case. Locklear still faces state charges for attempted murder and other crimes in Robeson County. A copy of this press release is located on the EDNC USAO website. Related court documents and information can be found on the EDNC USAO website or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-33-FL-BM.


title: Justice Department Secures $325,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Iowa Landlord and Property Manager

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Note: View settlement here. The quote has also been updated slightly. The Justice Department announced today that the owner and property manager of residential rental properties in Davenport, Iowa, have agreed to pay $325,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the property manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in January 2025, alleges that for more than two decades, property manager Kurt Williams sexually harassed female tenants at various rental dwellings throughout Davenport. The suit alleges that Williams’ conduct included making unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants, exposing his genitals to female tenants, requesting sex or sex acts from female tenants in exchange for tangible housing benefits like reductions in rent, and taking adverse housing actions, such as initiating evictions or refusing to make repairs, against female tenants who objected to or refused his sexual advances. “A home should be a place of security and comfort, not fear,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold property managers and landlords accountable when they prey on vulnerable tenants by sexually harassing them.” “Housing should not be a tool used for exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “Our office will vigorously uphold the Fair Housing Act to protect tenants’ dignity, safety, and equal access to housing.” “Kurt Williams exploited his authority as a landlord for sexual gain, victimizing our most vulnerable community members,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “Sexual misconduct in housing is not a misunderstanding — it is an abuse of power that turns shelter into leverage, and nobody should ever have to trade their safety for a place to live. HUD OIG will continue to work with the US Attorney’s Office to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.” The Justice Department’s lawsuit also names as a defendant Gearhead Properties LC, the owner of the rental dwellings where the sexual harassment occurred. The lawsuit alleges that this defendant is vicariously liable for the sexual harassment committed by their agent, Kurt Williams. HUD OIG participated in the investigation that uncovered the evidence leading to the lawsuit. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the defendants must pay $315,000 to tenants who were harmed by Williams’ harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The settlement agreement permanently bars Williams from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment and permanently bars Williams from managing residential rental properties. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $17 million for victims of such harassment.


title: MADISON COUNTY SEX OFFENDER INDICTED FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Tavaris Andre Donaldson, 30, of Madison, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury for failing to register as a sex offender. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Donaldson appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 23, 2026, before District Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Donaldson faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: FORMER TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Gabriel Michael Stoelzel, 26, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography after previously pleading guilty in federal court. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “It is one of our highest duties to protect our children from the predations of sex offenders like this defendant, so I applaud the outstanding investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and catch this offender. My office will continue to prosecute these sick individuals with the full force of the law and seek maximum punishment for their disgusting crimes to keep our children safe, both online and in our communities.” Court documents reflect that in 2024, the Tallahassee Police Department received CyberTips that were generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children based on information provided by online social media platforms. Records show that while living in Tallahassee the defendant uploaded child pornography to social media servers while he sent the files to other users. An investigation revealed that the defendant had been communicating with other users, some of whom said that they were as young as 14 years of age, to convince them to meet for sex. Additionally, law enforcement searched the defendant’s Tallahassee residence and uncovered evidence that the defendant sent and received child pornography through an online application. “Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most critical responsibilities of law enforcement,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. “This sentence reflects the gravity of the harm inflicted on victims and the unwavering commitment of our investigators to identify offenders, work in close partnership with our federal counterparts, and ensure those who prey on children are held fully accountable. The Tallahassee Police Department will continue to use every investigative tool available to protect children and uphold the safety of our community.” “There is no safe haven for anyone who preys on children,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes, which inflict irreparable harm and lasting trauma to the victims. This case highlights the critical partnership between our agents and state law enforcement partners and ensures there is one less predator victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.” Stoelzel’s imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face additional prison time. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Guilty Plea from Man Who Murdered His Prior Romantic Partner

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Pernell Sims, 35, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to the shooting death of his prior romantic partner, Tyshida Williams, in Southwest D.C. on July 30, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Sims entered a guilty plea to second degree murder while armed before Superior Court Associate Judge Todd Edelman on January 9, 2026. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to occur before Judge Edelman on March 20, 2026. Judge Edelman ordered that Sims continue to be held without bond pending sentencing. According to the government’s evidence, Sims and the victim Tyshida Williams were in a romantic relationship on July 30, 2023. After returning to the apartment after 7:00 a.m., the defendant became angry about Williams’ phone. Sims and Williams then went to the lobby and parking garage area of Sims’ apartment building and argued for more than an hour. While in the parking garage, the defendant threw Williams to the ground and kicked her in the chest. After returning upstairs to Sims’ apartment where his child was present, he and Williams went into the bedroom and closed the door. Sims then shot Williams in the left side of her head. Williams died from her injuries later that morning. Sims confirmed that, in shooting Williams, he was acting voluntarily, and that he was not acting in self-defense. The defendant was arrested in November 2023 and has been in custody ever since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Stephanie Dinan.


title: COTTONDALE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

body_text: PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Mark David Swearingen, 32, of Cottondale, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess and transportation of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement partners are unified in their commitment to root out and eliminate the threats posed by predators who sexually exploit and victimize children, and this investigation and successful prosecution is another step toward achieving that goal. The possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material has the effect of re-victimizing the sexually exploited children each and every time those horrific images and videos are shared, and this abhorrent crime deserves the most severe punishment. My office will not hesitate to pursue maximum justice in these cases to keep our kids safe.” Court documents reflect that the defendant came under investigation in 2025 when law enforcement received information indicating the defendant had been using a Google account to access child pornography. Law enforcement sought a search warrant and discovered the defendant possessed hundreds of images of minors being sexually abused by adults on several electronic devices. Swearingen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and up to twenty years’ imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 3:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Calhoun County Man Sentenced to More than 3 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun

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

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – A Calhoun County man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Austin Heath Church, 38, of Anniston, Alabama, to 39 months in prison. Church pleaded guilty in September 2025 to two counts of possession of a machine gun. According to the plea agreement, on February 8, 2025, Jacksonville Police officers were investigating an alleged violation of a Protection from Abuse Order in Jacksonville, Alabama. Officers searched the area and located Church in a business parking lot in Jacksonville. As Church got out of his vehicle, officers approached him. While speaking with Church, officers noticed a magazine pouch on Church’s hip. Officers found three loaded Glock magazines inside the pouch. Officers also recovered a Glock 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” from Church’s waistband. During the execution of a search warrant that officers obtained for Church’s vehicle, officers recovered seven additional firearms and a machinegun conversion device for an AR-type rifle (drop-in auto scar). ATF investigated the case along with the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney L. Plyler prosecuted the case.


title: United States Department of Justice Launches Outreach Initiative  Breaking the Cycle to Combat Human Trafficking

component: Department of Justice

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, have been working arduously in the prevention and education efforts to raise public awareness to combat human trafficking, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Breaking the Cycle is a comprehensive educational outreach program designed to dismantle the roots of violence within Puerto Rican society. Operated under the U.S. Department of Justice, the program serves as a proactive intervention, shifting the focus from reactive enforcement to preventative education. By educating citizens with the cognitive tools to recognize and reject harmful behaviors, Breaking the Cycle aims to foster a sustainable island-wide culture rooted in safety, dignity, and mutual respect. The program is inclusive and multi-generational, recognizing that safety is a collective responsibility. Our outreach specifically targets: The Educational Ecosystem: K-12 students, university cohorts, and faculty. The Family Unit: Parents and caregivers seeking to create safe domestic environments. Vulnerable Populations: Specialized sessions for the elderly and at-risk youth. Community Leadership: Local organizations and civic groups. “Human traffickers, particularly those who prey on children, exploit the most vulnerable segments of our society,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “We value the relationships we have with local law enforcement partners to help identify and investigate cases of human trafficking. Together, we strive to educate our communities to detect signs of this illegal activity and report it.” “Education, supported by strong values and access to adequate resources, constitutes the most effective tool to prevent and eradicate risky behaviors. Educating citizens who are aware of their rights, committed to their duties, and engaged in the well-being of their communities is a collective responsibility. Recognizing that human trafficking is a harm that concerns us all, we join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this important prevention initiative, confident that by educating the public to recognize and reject harmful behaviors, we contribute to the building of a society grounded in safety, dignity, and mutual respect,” said PR Secretary of Justice, Lourdes L. Gómez Torres. Breaking the Cycle is available upon request to any institution or community group in Puerto Rico. We facilitate these essential conversations at no cost to the requesting party. To coordinate a presentation or for more information, please contact: Public Affairs and Community Engagement Division (PACE) U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Puerto Rico Email: USAPR.Outreach@usdoj.gov ###


title: Trucker Who Sexually Abused His Minor Relative Sentenced to Over 27 Years for the Transportation, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David Morrison, an out-of-state truck driver, was sentenced on January 8, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for his crimes of transporting, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material (or CSAM). U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika imposed the sentence. According to court documents and statements made in open court, the investigation into Morrison began after law enforcement received thirteen cyber tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reporting that Morrison had uploaded (or attempted to upload) CSAM to his various digital accounts. Law enforcement learned that Morrison—a long-haul trucker—was in Smyrna, Delaware for work, and executed a federal search warrant of his truck. Following a search of Morrison’s phone, law enforcement located approximately 164 media files (25 videos and 139 pictures) containing CSAM, including files depicting the sexual exploitation of infants and toddlers. In those files, law enforcement identified images of a girl who appeared to be Morrison’s minor relative. That relative was subsequently interviewed and disclosed to law enforcement that Morrison sexually abused her on multiple occasions between the ages of 6 and 11. She also confirmed that she was the child pictured in several of Morrison’s photographs. Morrison was sentenced to 327 months of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release from prison, Morrison will be required to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Wallace stated, “There are no victims more vulnerable than children—and there are no victims for whom my Office will fight harder. This just sentence reflects the profound harm that David Morrison caused to his many victims, most especially his minor relative who Morrison repeatedly sexually abused. I thank our partners at HSI, whose excellent investigative work across multiple jurisdictions led to the arrest and conviction of this dangerous child predator.” “David Morrison’s conduct was calculated, predatory, and caused profound harm to a vulnerable child. Homeland Security Investigations will never stop pursuing those who exploit children, whether they hide online or operate in plain sight,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia, Eric D. McLoughlin. “This sentence underscores the strength of our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, whose prosecutors worked tirelessly alongside our agents to ensure justice was served. Together, we remain committed to identifying these predators, removing them from our communities, and seeking justice for survivors.” Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-77. ###


title: Attorney Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Benjamin Crawford (47, Brandon) to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for distributing child sexual abuse material. Crawford pleaded guilty in June 2025. The court also ordered Crawford to forfeit a cellphone and laptop, which were used in the commission of the offense. Crawford is also required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, Crawford distributed child sexual abuse material over a social media application and accessed with the intent to view child sexual abuse material on his cellphone and laptop. Crawford also obstructed law enforcement’s investigation by deleting various applications from his cellphone before law enforcement conducted a search related to his criminal activity. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tampa and Tennessee. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Jacksonville Child Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 Years For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Materials Over The Internet And Ordered To Pay $45,000 In Restitution To Child Victims

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Alexander James Koby (40, Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) over the internet. Koby was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and pay $45,000 in restitution to child victims. Koby pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025. Koby has been in federal custody since September 2024 when he was transported from state prison where he was serving a sentence for failing to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, in 2014, Koby was convicted in federal court of possessing CSAM. After serving his federal prison sentence and being released in August 2019, Koby began serving a 25-year term of supervised release while living in Jacksonville. On December 7, 2022, a search of Koby’s residence revealed that he possessed a computer, a cellphone, and an external hard drive in violation of the terms of his supervision, and these items were seized. During an interview, Koby admitted that he used a particular internet browser to search for photos and videos depicting children being sexually abused, and further that he masturbated when viewing these materials. When asked why he would continue to do this, Koby stated that he gets a high from “living dangerously.” Forensic examination of the three devices seized from Koby’s residence revealed that they contained a total of 103 videos and 2,311 photos depicting the sadistic sexual abuse of young children. Koby had downloaded these contraband materials using the internet from March 11 through December 7, 2022. “This predator’s repeated conviction for seeking out and downloading hundreds of videos and thousands of photos depicting the sadistic sexual abuse of children—to ‘live dangerously’—is in defiance of the law, and at the expense of perpetuating the lifetime victimhood of innocent children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “These images and videos are not just pictures, but evidence of heinous crimes against real children. Every time this vile material is viewed or shared, the suffering of these young victims is renewed. HSI and the INTERCEPT Task Force partners will stop at nothing to find these predators and hold them accountable to their crimes.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Kokomo Couple Receives Combined 50-Year Federal Sentence for Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Dashawn Brown, 25, and Emily Rouse, 24, both of Kokomo, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl dealing operation that resulted in a fatal overdose. Brown was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Rouse was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. According to court documents, between the fall of 2022 and March 13, 2023, Rouse and Brown conspired to distribute fentanyl pills to customers. The pair lived together and stored controlled substances, drug proceeds, and firearms in their shared residence. On March 7, 2023, police arrested Brown after a traffic stop, during which he was found in possession of approximately 60 fentanyl pills, a Glock 19 handgun, and a Glock 26 handgun. At the time, Brown had a prior Level 5 felony conviction for resisting law enforcement and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Brown was transported to the Howard County Jail and held pending trial on state charges. While he was incarcerated, Rouse assumed responsibility for supplying fentanyl to Brown’s customers. Brown and Rouse coordinated drug transactions through text messages and recorded phone calls on the jail’s communication system. On March 10, 2023, Brown directed Rouse to contact B.S., one of his fentanyl customers, to collect money owed from a previous transaction. The following day, B.S. paid the outstanding debt, and Rouse sold her multiple fentanyl pills. That evening, B.S. ingested the pills and died from a fentanyl overdose. On March 13, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at the defendants’ residence in Kokomo, recovering approximately 95 grams of fentanyl pills, 535 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, a Glock handgun, and roughly $3,015 in cash. “Fentanyl dealers endanger every community they touch, and in this case their actions cost a woman her life,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities and ensure they are held accountable for the devastation they cause.” “These two defendants preyed upon some of the most vulnerable members of our community while armed and legally prohibited from possessing firearms,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “Their conduct was both despicable and deadly, and the sentences imposed are just and appropriate. We are grateful for the cooperation and diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners.” The Kokomo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa, who prosecuted this case. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. One Pill Can Kill : Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill . Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. ###


title: Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Machine Gun Device Amid NBA Finals Crowds

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- A’Jon Hall, 20, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. According to court documents, on the evening of June 22, 2025, large crowds gathered in downtown Indianapolis to watch Game Seven of the NBA Finals. At approximately 10:52 p.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were alerted by a member of the public that an armed male dressed in all black and carrying a backpack had been seen displaying multiple firearms near a major hotel on Georgia Street. As officers approached the area, they observed a large crowd running in panic from a nearby street. Officers moved toward the commotion and located the individual, later identified as Hall, who was wearing a black sweatshirt, a black face mask, and carrying a backpack. When officers attempted to detain him, Hall repeatedly ignored commands to stop and fled into a parking garage stairwell. During the pursuit, officers heard a loud bang consistent with Hall discarding the backpack. Hall attempted to hide between the third and fourth floors of the garage but, after multiple verbal commands, ultimately surrendered and was taken into custody. On June 24, 2025, IMPD officers, with the assistance of the Indianapolis Fire Department, located the discarded backpack. Next to it, officers recovered a Glock 23 .40-caliber handgun equipped with a Glock switch—also known as a machine gun conversion device—and a 50‑round drum magazine. Machinegun conversion devices sometimes called “Glock switches” or “auto-sears” are devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. Machinegun conversion devices are themselves considered machineguns under federal law, even when not installed, and are illegal for individuals to possess or sell. “Machine gun conversion devices are among the most dangerous illegal weapons circulating in our communities. A single switch can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing dozens of rounds in seconds, putting innocent people at extraordinary risk,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “As Indianapolis continues to host major events that draw large crowds from across the country, our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure this city remains a safe place to live, work, and gather.” “We are grateful to the responding IMPD officers for their bravery in confronting an extremely dangerous individual armed with an illegal machine gun in a highly volatile situation,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “While we may never know Hall’s true intent that evening, this successful prosecution ensures he will be unable to commit further acts of violence while incarcerated.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter, who prosecuted this case. SAUSA Walter is prosecuting violent crime cases as a part of the partnership with the City of Indianapolis to identify, investigate, and federally prosecute violent crimes taking place in Marion County. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Wakulla County Man Arrested And Charged With Attempting To Entice A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Richard Lynn Simmons, Jr. (36, Sopchoppy) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Simmons faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Pursuant to his appearance in federal court on January 9, 2026, Simmons was detained pending further proceedings in this case. According to court documents, between November 8, 2025, and January 6, 2026, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville conducted an undercover operation using an online social media application (“app”) to identify adults who were seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. During this time period, UC was posing as the parent of an underage child. UC and app user “snowwis89” exchanged several private online messages on the app and by text messaging. After UC advised app user “snowwis89” that UC had access to an 11-year-old child, app user “snowwis89” stated that he was into “kinky stuff” and that he liked “young.” When asked if “is 11 too young for u,” app user “snowwis89” responded, “Na it’s not … would she be ok with it?” Later, app user “snowwis89,” who was subsequently identified as Simmons, described by text the specific sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child.” After more text messages and several telephone conversations discussing his travel plans and his desire to meet UC and the “child,” on January 6, 2026, Simmons drove from the Tallahassee area to Jacksonville where he was arrested by FBI agents. A criminal complaint is an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Justice Department Announces Charges Against Illegal Alien, Known Tren de Aragua Associate, for Violent Attack on Border Patrol Agents in Portland, Oregon

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Luis Nino-Moncada, an illegal alien and known Tren de Aragua (TdA) associate living in the Portland, Oregon area for violently striking a federal law enforcement vehicle. During a targeted enforcement operation, Nin0-Moncada is alleged to have repeatedly struck a federal law enforcement vehicle, placing Border Patrol agents in harm’s way and resulting in significant damage to federal property. Nino-Moncada is in the country illegally, having previously been ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2024. “Anyone who crosses the red line of assaulting law enforcement will be met with the full force of this Justice Department,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This man — an illegal alien with ties to a foreign terrorist organization — should NEVER have been in our country to begin with, and we will ensure he NEVER walks free in America again.” Nino-Moncada has been charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property in excess of $1,000. Nino-Moncada is scheduled to make his Initial Appearance today at 1:30 PM PST. According to the complaint, Border Patrol agents initiated a targeted immigration enforcement operation on a vehicle believed to belong to a female involved in a TdA prostitution ring. The female was sitting in the passenger-side seat of the vehicle at the time of the enforcement operation. This female had previously been arrested by Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas and later failed to report to immigration authorities. According to law enforcement reports, the female is believed to have been involved in a shooting stemming from a bad prostitution deal. After commanding Nino-Moncada to exit the vehicle, Nino-Moncada is alleged to have placed his vehicle in reverse, colliding with an unoccupied Border Patrol vehicle with enough speed and force to cause significant damage. Nino-Moncada continued the forward and reverse maneuver multiple times, striking the Border Patrol vehicle multiple times. A Border Patrol agent interviewed by FBI special agents described being fearful that Nino-Moncada could strike them and other Border Patrol agents with the target vehicle. After the attack, Nino-Moncada and the female passenger fled the scene in the target vehicle. Damage to the border patrol vehicle was significant. Serious damage was sustained to the front bumper, resulting in the bumper being torn from the vehicle, both headlights being destroyed, the front driver-side quarter panel being dented, including the fender liner being detached, and the driver side rear-passenger door and quarter panel being dented. Damaged Border Patrol Vehicle In an interview following the incident, Nino-Moncada admitted to intentionally ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee and stated that he knew it was an immigration enforcement vehicle.


title: Non-Profit Executive Convicted of Theft of Federal Funds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ZOE MARIE FRANCIS (“FRANCIS”) , age 47, of New Orleans, pled guilty on January 7, 2026, to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A). According to court documents, FRANCIS was the chief operating officer of the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (“IWES”), a non-profit organization based in New Orleans that received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal funds. In that role, FRANCIS embezzled funds for the benefit of herself and family members, including unauthorized expenditures for personal events and Amazon purchases. Using her authority with IWES, FRANCIS used falsified contracts to hide these expenses and invoices, and she granted herself unauthorized pay increases. Under the terms of FRANCIS ’s plea agreement, FRANCIS agreed to pay over $100,000 in restitution to IWES, and she also agreed to forfeit at least $150,000 in IWES funds that she spent on unauthorized expenses. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing for April 8, 2026. At sentencing, the maximum penalty FRANCIS faces is ten years of imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Trial Attorney Gary Crosby, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Baxter Springs man indicted for child pornography production

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with producing child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, Garrett Gayoso, 25, of Baxter Springs was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography. Gayoso allegedly enticed and coerced a minor under 16 years of age to engage in sexually explicit activity for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. After his initial appearance, Gayoso went before a federal judge for a detention hearing and was ordered to be remanded into custody until his trial which will take place in Wichita. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . OTHER INDICTMENTS Jesus Meraz-Leyva, 44, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Spouse Of Convicted Narcotics Dealer Sentenced To Five Years’ Imprisonment For Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Island Thi Truong (40, Orlando) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court also ordered Truong to forfeit two real properties and two luxury watches, all of which were purchased with proceeds of drug distribution activities and were used to conceal the origin of those funds. Truong pleaded guilty in August 2025. According to the plea agreement, Truong conspired with her husband, George Pherai-Bogeajis, to launder the proceeds of his drug distribution activities. Pherai-Bogeajis was separately convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine, for which he was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months’ imprisonment. Truong helped Pherai-Bogeajis conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars of illicit drug proceeds by making extensive cash deposits, using a fake tax services company through which drug proceeds were laundered, and using third-party nominees to write checks in exchange for cash. In turn, Truong used the concealed proceeds to fund luxury vacations and purchase expensive jewelry, including an 18-karat yellow gold Rolex wristwatch for approximately $44,000. In total, Truong laundered more than $750,000 in drug proceeds. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Money Laundering Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Hill and Risha Asokan. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Assignment of Five Department of War Legal Personnel to Las Cruces Office

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced today that five Department of War personnel have been assigned to the Las Cruces Office of the District of New Mexico. The detailees include three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) and two Senior Paralegal Specialists and will operate under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These SAUSAs will focus on prosecuting federal offenses arising along New Mexico’s section of the U.S./Mexico border, including immigration, narcotics, firearms, and human smuggling crimes. This assignment strengthens the District of New Mexico’s partnership with the U.S. Military and supports ongoing national efforts to deploy additional Department of War and Department of Justice personnel to the southern border. It also represents an important step toward the administration’s stated objective of achieving 100 percent operational control of the southern border by increasing prosecutorial capacity in a key border district. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Alamogordo Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Federal Government of More Than Half a Million Dollars

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Alamogordo man pleaded guilty to orchestrating an extensive scheme to defraud the federal government and financial institutions by obtaining fraudulent Covid-19 pandemic loans of more than half a million dollars through the use of fabricated businesses and falsified records and using these stolen funds to purchase two houses. According to court documents, between at least April 2020 and December 2021, Scott A. Spiro , 63, devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the federal government and federally insured financial institutions by submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications under the CARES Act. As part of the scheme, Spiro created several shell companies that were not legitimate businesses, had no employees, and paid no wages, including Scott A. Spiro JD, LLC, Pacifica Law Clinic, LLC, Spiro Enterprises of NM, LLC, Pacifica Funding Corporation, and Accounting Advisors. Using these entities, Spiro submitted multiple fraudulent loan and loan forgiveness applications to lenders and the Small Business Administration. He admitted to making material misrepresentations about the companies’ establishment dates, number of employees, payroll expenses, and revenues, and to submitting falsified IRS forms, payroll records, bank statements, and New Mexico Secretary of State filings to support the applications. As a result of these misrepresentations, Spiro obtained more than $650,000 in PPP and EIDL funds. Rather than using the proceeds for permissible business purposes, Spiro admitted that he used the fraudulently obtained funds for personal expenses and debts. He further admitted to engaging in money laundering by completing at least two monetary transactions exceeding $10,000 using criminally derived funds, including the purchase of residential properties in Alamogordo and Ruidoso, New Mexico. Spiro pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, three counts of making false statements to a financial institution and two counts of money laundering. At sentencing Spiro faces up to 30 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory of IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office, made the announcement today. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Social Security Administration. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.


title: Monroe County Man Convicted Of Drug Distribution Resulting In Death

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dimitris Smith, Jr., age 48, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was convicted on January 9, 2026, of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death and four counts of distribution of fentanyl and cocaine following a five-day jury trial before United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Smith distributed a deadly dose of fentanyl on December 11, 2023, in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County. A 38 year old female died after ingesting the fentanyl. Between March 14, 2024, and April 1, 2024, Smith also distributed fentanyl and cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer. During this time period Smith was on federal supervised release from a prior drug trafficking conviction. During the five-day trial, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented testimony of 32 witnesses, including experts in forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, serology DNA profiling, forensic chemistry and historical cell site data. Witness testimony, the victim’s cell phone data and text messages, DNA evidence seized at the crime scene, and CashApp payment records were among the evidence presented that proved Smith was the dealer who supplied the fentanyl that killed the victim. The jury also found Smith guilty of distributing drugs on four separate occasions after the death of the victim. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Patrick Bannon prosecuted the case. The maximum penalty for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Department of Justice and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Withdraw Joint Statement on Fair Lending and Credit Opportunities for Noncitizen Borrowers

body_text: The Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (together, the “agencies”) announced today that they have withdrawn a joint statement regarding the implications of a creditor’s consideration of an individual’s immigration status under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). On Oct. 12, 2023, the agencies published a joint statement cautioning that creditor policies related to an applicant’s immigration or citizenship status could, in certain circumstances, run afoul of ECOA’s and Regulation B’s prohibition of discrimination on the basis of protected classes, including race and national origin. The agencies withdrew the joint statement to avoid any conflict with the express language of ECOA and its implementing regulation, Regulation B. “The federal government is committed to avoiding statements that could confuse the law or imply compliance standards for civil rights laws that lack any statutory or regulatory basis,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This administration is restoring alignment with established federal civil rights law rather than continuing the prior administration’s ideologically-driven departures.” “For decades, ECOA regulations have permitted lenders to consider a borrower’s lawful residence status and other information necessary to protect their rights and remedies with respect to repayment,” said Acting Director Russell Vought at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are correcting the last administration’s attempt to ignore these well-accepted and common-sense principles of our nation’s fair lending laws.” ECOA and Regulation B respectively permit creditors to consider pertinent elements of credit-worthiness and information necessary to protect creditor rights and remedies, including a borrower’s immigration or citizenship status. The agencies also believe withdrawal is appropriate to avoid any confusion that lenders may legitimately consider immigration status under several circumstances, including when necessary to avoid financial risks and to comply with other laws. In addition, withdrawal is appropriate to address any misimpression that the joint statement interprets 42 U.S.C. § 1981 to confer any liability under the statute that has not already been recognized by courts. Finally, the agencies believe withdrawal is appropriate to avoid any unnecessary burdens from new or increased compliance efforts. Read the Withdrawal of Joint Statement on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Noncitizen Borrowers


title: Federal juries convict “Paper Gang Family” drug traffickers and associate

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Kory Keon Solomon, Antonio Pierre Ashmeade, and Rodrigus Dartez Williams have been convicted by federal juries for their roles in a drug trafficking operation based in Ellenwood, Georgia. On January 8, 2026, Solomon was found guilty of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. On December 17, 2025, Ashmeade and Williams, who are members of the “Paper Gang Family,” were found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. “These defendants set up their drug operation in metro-Atlanta, blatantly peddling their poison around students’ bus stops,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to a tenacious investigation and determined prosecution, they were convicted at trial and now face significant sentences in federal prison.” “This case sends a clear message: violent drug traffickers who threaten public safety will be aggressively targeted, dismantled, and held accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2019, a DEA investigation revealed that individuals associated with the “Paper Gang Family” (PGF), an ostensible rap music label, were distributing large quantities of narcotics in the metro-Atlanta area. During the investigation, agents observed PGF members openly conduct drug deals on the same streets where school buses dropped off children. In addition: In July and August 2021, Williams sold methamphetamine to an individual in Ellenwood. After one drug deal, Williams posted a video to a social media website that depicted him flaunting the cash he had just received. In February 2022, agents observed Solomon meet with a suspected PGF member and known drug trafficker in Ellenwood. Agents followed Solomon to a gas station and observed him retrieve a bag from his trunk and conceal suspected narcotics inside. Shortly thereafter, a Georgia State Patrol trooper stopped Solomon traveling on Interstate 75, searched Solomon’s vehicle, and found two kilograms of cocaine and a 9mm handgun. In April 2023, agents observed Ashmeade give a plastic shopping bag to a drug customer in a southeast Atlanta restaurant parking lot. When a Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop his vehicle, the drug customer fled and tossed the plastic shopping bag. Law enforcement recovered half a kilogram of methamphetamine from the bag and surrounding area. On a date yet to be determined, U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. will sentence Antonio Ashmeade, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, Rodrigus Dartez Williams, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kory Solomon, 40, of Macon, Georgia. Ashmeade and Williams each face the possibility of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 10 years. Solomon must be sentenced to at least five years of imprisonment and may be sentenced to up to 40 years. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer, C. Brock Brockington, Teresa Stolze, and Elizabeth M. Hathaway 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .