title: 26 Fugitives Wanted for Violent and Serious Crimes Returned to the United States from Mexico Including Leaders of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Alien Smuggling Organization

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The United States announced today that it has taken into custody 26 fugitives from Mexico facing a range of federal and state criminal charges from around the country, including charges relating to drug-trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering, the murder of a sheriffs’ deputy, and other crimes. Among the fugitives taken into U.S. custody today are leaders and managers of dangerous drug cartels, such as those designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), and Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas). These fugitives are collectively alleged to have imported into the United States tonnage quantities of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. “Today is the latest example of the Trump administration's historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores -- under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to Mexico’s National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.” Included in today’s transfer are the following fugitives: Abigael Gonzalez Valencia also known as “Cuini” – is one of the leaders of Los Cuinis, a major Mexican drug cartel responsible for trafficking multiple tons of cocaine from South America, through Mexico, into the United States. Kevin Gil Acosta and Martin Zazueta Perez – According to court documents, Gil Acosta and Zazueta Perez are leaders of the security apparatus for the Chapitos , a powerful faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that engages in prolific fentanyl trafficking. Both men have led sicarios armed with military-style weapons – such as AK-47s, M-16s, AR-15s, and grenade launchers – in attacks on Mexican government and military officials. Gil Acosta leads sicarios tasked with protecting fentanyl labs and distribution routes while Zazueta Perez provides personal security for a leader of the Chapitos . Abdul Karim Conteh , a national of Sierra Leone, allegedly led a human smuggling organization that smuggled thousands of migrants to the United States through Mexico. These smuggled migrants originated from countries around the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Egypt, and others. The migrants paid smuggling fees, often tens of thousands of dollars. Conteh allegedly oversaw the migrants’ unlawful entry into the United States by various surreptitious and unlawful means, including the use of ladders and tunnels. Leobardo Garcia Corrales is believed to be an important figure in the Sinaloa Cartel who has trafficked kilogram quantities of fentanyl into the United States, sometimes in exchange for military-grade weapons such as AK-47s, grenades, and submachine guns. He claims to be close friends and associates with Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, aka “El Chapo.” Luis Raul Castro Valenzuela also known as “Chacho,” a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been charged with kidnapping and holding hostage a U.S. citizen. Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum also known as “El Chavo Félix,” a major Sinaloa Cartel cell leader and son-in-law to former Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, is alleged to be a principal operator of the Sinaloa Cartel’s clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories located in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico involved in the manufacturing and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Roberto Salazar is wanted in connection with the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Juan Escalante, who was killed in 2008 when he was leaving his home during the early morning hours. Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, also known as “Flaquito,” is a violent Tijuana Plaza boss who has operated with impunity during the last 15 years. Huerta-Nuno is alleged to have supplied thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors and cells located throughout San Diego and Los Angeles. And in return, millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds were delivered to him and his organization via shipments of bulk cash from San Diego into Tijuana. Below is a complete list of fugitives, as well as the districts in which they are charged and will appear in federal court in the coming days: Fugitive Arraignment Jurisdiction Statutory Maximum Enrique Arballo Talamantes District of New Mexico Up to life imprisonment Benito Barrios Maldonado District of Arizona Up to life imprisonment Luis Raul Castro Valenzuela District of Delaware Up to life imprisonment Francisco Chavez District of Colorado Up to life imprisonment Abdul Karim Conteh Southern District of California 45 years’ imprisonment Baldomero Fernandez Beltran District of Arizona Up to life imprisonment Ismael Enrique Fernandez Vazquez Eastern District of Texas Up to life imprisonment Leobardo Garcia Corrales Southern District of New York Up to life imprisonment Abigael Gonzalez Valencia District of Columbia Up to life imprisonment Jose Carlos Guzman Bernal District of Alaska Up to life imprisonment Anton Petrov Kulkin District of Massachusetts Up to life imprisonment Roberto Omar Lopez Northern District of Georgia Up to life imprisonment Jose Francisco Mendoza Gomez Eastern District of Virginia Up to life imprisonment Hernan Domingo Ojeda Lopez District of Columbia Up to life imprisonment Daniel Perez Rojas District of Columbia Up to life imprisonment Juan Carlos Sanchez Gaytan Southern District of Texas Up to life imprisonment David Fernando Vasquez Bejarano Eastern District of Virginia Up to life imprisonment Jose Antonio Vivanco Hernandez Northern District of Illinois Up to life imprisonment Mauro Alberto Nunez Ojeda District of Columbia Up to life imprisonment Juan Carlos Felix Gastelum Southern District of California Up to life imprisonment Jesus Guzman Castro Eastern District of New York and District of South Carolina Up to life imprisonment Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno Southern District of California Up to life imprisonment Servando Gomez Martinez Southern District of New York Up to life imprisonment Kevin Gil Acosta Southern District of New York Up to life imprisonment Roberto Salazar CA: Los Angeles County Up to life imprisonment Martin Zazueta Perez Southern District of New York Up to life imprisonment Attorney General Pamela Bondi thanked the law enforcement officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County Police Department for their valuable contributions to these investigations. The Attorney General also thanked the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, as well as the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Alaska, District of Arizona, Southern District of California, District of Columbia, District of Colorado, Middle District of North Carolina, District of Delaware, Northern District of Georgia, Northern District of Illinois, District of Massachusetts, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, District of South Carolina, Eastern District of Virginia, Northern District of Texas, Eastern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas and Los Angeles County for handling the prosecutions of these cases. The Attorney General also thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs which provided critical assistance in securing the transfer of these fugitives to the United States to face justice. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Putnam County Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment and COVID-19 Benefits

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Lomax, 34, of Hurricane, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $13,312 in restitution for theft of public money, property or records. Lomax admitted that he fraudulently obtained $13,312 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supplementary funds. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 24, 2020, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lomax applied for unemployment compensation after he was laid off as a sales manager at a St. Albans auto dealership. Lomax legitimately received unemployment benefits until the week ending April 25, 2020, when he returned to work, but continued to apply for unemployment benefits through at least July 18, 2020. As part of his guilty plea, Lomax admitted that he falsely certified to WorkForce West Virginia, which administers the unemployment compensation program for the State of West Virginia, for 13 consecutive weeks that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. Lomax submitted the false certification answers while using his personal electronic device in St. Albans. Lomax fraudulently obtained approximately $13,312 in unemployment benefits, including supplementary funds provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Lomax admitted that he used the fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits to make purchases and pay his bills. Two of Lomax’s co-workers, his father Gary Lomax, 63, of Hurricane, and Christopher Grant, 42, of Buckhannon, previously pleaded guilty to similar pandemic-related unemployment compensation fraud schemes. Gary Lomax was sentenced on November 19, 2024, to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $29,592 in restitution for theft of public money, property or records. Grant was sentenced on November 25, 2024, to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $35,168 in restitution for conspiracy to steal public money, property or records. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman and former Assistant United States Attorney J. Parker Bazzle II prosecuted the case. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 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-57. ###


title: Five-Time Felon and Domestic Abuser  Convicted for Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Cedar Rapids man who possessed a firearm after five felony convictions and a conviction for a misdemeanor domestic abuse offense was convicted by a jury today after a two-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Kirby Joe Truesdell, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by prohibited person based on his prior felony convictions and domestic abuse offense. The verdict was returned this morning following just over an hour of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial showed that Truesdell was observed in a residence that was not occupied at the time. When Cedar Rapids police officers arrived on scene to investigate, they located Truesdell coming out of the garage. Truesdell was not cooperative with officers and was taken into custody. Officers located a loaded revolver inside a backpack in Truesdell’s possession. Truesdell was previously convicted of the following felony offenses: OWI 3 rd Offense (on two occasions), burglary, theft, and forgery. He was also previously convicted of assault causing bodily injury - domestic abuse-penalty enhanced. 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). This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Truesdell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Truesdell faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Nydle and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the US Marshal Service and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-cr-00006. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Felon Who Tosses Gun During  High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A felon who discarded a loaded firearm while fleeing from the police was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Lawrence Curtis Glover, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 10, 2025 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Information at sentencing showed that on January 6, 2024, law enforcement stopped a car that Glover was driving in Cedar Rapids. After Glover realized that officers were going to search his car, he fled and led officers on a high-speed pursuit. He reached speeds of at least 80 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. During the chase, he tossed a loaded firearm out the window of his car. Glover then pulled over. Officers later searched his car and found psilocybin chocolates and marijuana. Glover has a 2011 federal conviction for distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base. Glover was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Glover was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Glover is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-3. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Woodville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Woodville, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Reginald Lionel Gilmore, 40, in January 2023, sold 228 grams of methamphetamine to an individual for $3,000.00 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway 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: Two women charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ancelma Contreras Pano, 40, a citizen and national of Mexico, and Ana Castro Castro, 38, a citizen and national of Ecuador, were arrested and charged in separate criminal complaints with re-entry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint against Contreras Pano, on July 31, 2025, she was a passenger in a van that was pulled over by Border Patrol Agents in Amherst, NY. Through questioning, agents determined that Contreras Pano is a citizen and national of Mexico and does not have any documents that would allow her to be or remain in the United States lawfully. Contreras Pano was previously removed from the United States in June 2015. According to the complaint against Castro, on August 1, 2025, she was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Lancaster, NY, police officers. Through questioning, it was determined that Castro is a citizen and national of Ecuador and does not have any documents that would allow her to be or remain in the United States lawfully. Castro was previously removed from the United States in July 2021. These cases are 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. Contreras Pano and Castro made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and were detained. The complaints are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. # # # #


title: Justice Department Announces Coordinated Disruption Actions Against BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware Operations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: The Justice Department announced today coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24, 2025. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia. “The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.” “This action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches.” “Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.” “Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers — it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Deputy Assistant Director Michael Prado for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.” “This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.” “This announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.” As detailed in an announcement by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) – which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024. As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory , BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware. Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On or about April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on or about Jan. 9, 2024. HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia.


title: Former Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing Employees Plead Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney Julianne E. Murray announced that on August 8, 2025, Karen D. Wilder, age 39, and her husband, Renwick L. Davis, age 49, of Dover, Delaware, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds for embezzling approximately $600,000 as employees of the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing (“DIMH”), including federal funds awarded to DIMH to provide services to homeless individuals in Delaware. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the pleas. According to court documents, between December 2021 and November 2023, Wilder, the former Executive Director of DIMH, and Davis, a Case Manager at DIMH, collectively embezzled approximately $600,000 from DIMH’s bank accounts through a variety of fraudulent means. The stolen funds included federal grant funds awarded to DIMH from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Treasury to provide essential services to individuals in Delaware who were homeless or at risk of homelessness, including emergency housing assistance and critical medical assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Wilder withdrew cash from DIMH’s bank accounts purportedly to provide emergency housing assistance to homeless individuals or individuals at-risk of homelessness. Instead, she deposited the stolen cash directly into her own bank accounts. Wilder and Davis also worked together to deposit approximately $150,000 in DIMH funds directly into Davis’s personal bank account under the guise that those funds would be used to provide rental or mortgage assistance to individuals in need. The defendants spent the stolen funds on luxury goods, shopping, and travel, among other personal expenses. Wilder even directed DIMH funds to pay the mortgage on her personal residence. “The defendants abused the trust of their positions and stole taxpayer dollars intended to provide essential services to Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The defendants’ greed deprived homeless individuals across southern Delaware of assistance they desperately needed. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars and hold fraudsters who exploit government aid for personal gain accountable.” “Wilder and Davis exploited their positions of trust to divert public funds away from the very individuals and families most in need,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure justice for those harmed by this behavior. “For years, Karen Wilder and Renwick Davis lived large on the taxpayer’s dime. Not only did they steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, but they prevented those who truly needed these resources from receiving help intended for them. As their guilty pleas show, the FBI and our partners will not tolerate corruption. We remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who violate the public’s trust,” stated FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. This case was jointly investigated by the HUD-OIG and FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. LaRosa is prosecuting 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 is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. Case 25-CR-93 and 25-CR-94.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Man of Burglary and Assault with Intent to Murder On Menominee Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 6, 2025, a federal jury in Green Bay found Neegee J. Cloud (age: 32) guilty of burglary and assault with intent to murder in violation of federal law. The offense related to a domestic assault on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Cloud is an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and formerly resided on the reservation. The evidence presented at trial showed that on the afternoon of September 20, 2024, the defendant broke into a home in Neopit. Once inside, the defendant attacked his girlfriend, violently beating her unconscious on a bedroom floor. Cloud returned to the bedroom several times over the next twenty minutes, and punched, kicked, and stomped on the victim’s head. Cloud also slammed the victim’s face into the floor. The trial evidence included video from a camera system inside the home that captured the forced entry and portions of the attacks. The homeowner was alerted by the camera system, saw some of the incident, and contacted tribal police, who responded. The defendant was arrested outside the house. The evidence also showed that tribal EMS arranged for emergency transport of the victim to a trauma center in Wausau. The victim remained in the intensive care unit for nearly two weeks and was hospitalized for nearly a month. The victim sustained fractured orbital bones and soft tissue injuries to her throat that required intubation while in the ICU to prevent her airway from closing. Cloud faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on the burglary count and a maximum of 20 years in prison on the assault with intent to murder count when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach on November 10, 2025. The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Maier and Alexander E. Duros prosecuted the case. ### For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Wyoming Man Found Not Guilty in Federal Court

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Gillette, Wyoming, man was acquitted of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Aggravated Sexual Abuse with Children following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 25, 2025. Richard Wayne Gray, age 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. The charges related to the alleged transportation of a minor across state lines to engage in a sexual act. The investigation was conducted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.


title: PANAMA CITY MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND A FIREARM

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

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Marlow Level Allen, 46, of Panama City, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Allen is scheduled for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 14, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted on the drug count, Allen faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment. If convicted on the firearm count, Allen faces a minimum mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin 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 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). 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: United States Department of Justice Transfers 14 Mexican Nationals with Drug Convictions to Mexico Pursuant to the U.S.-Mexico International Prisoner Transfer Treaty

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, with the assistance of the Department’s Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), transferred 14 Mexican nationals serving prison sentences for drug distribution-related convictions in the United States to their home country on Friday. The transfer was made pursuant to the United States’ prisoner transfer treaty with the Government of Mexico. “Friday’s transfer of 14 federal inmates to correctional authorities in Mexico has saved the United States over $4 million by eliminating the need to pay incarceration costs for the 96 years remaining on their combined sentences,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department will continue such transfers – pursuant to our treaty with Mexico – to reduce incarceration costs and relieve overcrowding in our federal prisons.” All 14 inmates transferred Friday were serving sentences relating to the distribution of controlled substances. The inmates will complete the remainder of their sentences in Mexico pursuant to the treaty. The inmates requested to be transferred to their home country, and the governments of both the United States and Mexico approved these transfers. The transfer was part of the United States’ congressionally enacted International Prisoner Transfer Program. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs’s International Prisoner Transfer Unit (IPTU) administers the program and coordinates all treaty-based international prisoner transfers. Under the program, approved foreign national inmates in federal and state prisons are transferred, under certain circumstances, to complete their prison sentences in their native countries’ prisons. The United States has entered into 10 additional bilateral transfer agreements and two multilateral transfer conventions. These international agreements give the United States transfer treaty relationships with more than 85 countries. To learn more about the International Prisoner Transfer Program, visit: www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-oia/iptu


title: Carbon County Man Sentenced On Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON, The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jesus Bracero, age 29, of Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 8, 2025, to 121 months and 18 days’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julie K. Munley for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, between January 2023 and September 2023, Bracero and others distributed large amounts of controlled substances throughout Carbon and Lehigh Counties. Investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Bracero at his residence. In July 2023 investigators executed a search warrant at Bracero’s residence and seized controlled substances, firearms, ammunition, explosive devices, drug transaction records, and drug packaging material. The area where the contraband was located was protected by video surveillance cameras and two aggressive dogs. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Las Cruces Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Operation

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 123 months in prison following an investigation into a fentanyl trafficking operation in southern New Mexico. According to court records, since early 2024, the FBI’s Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force, together with Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics and the Las Cruces Police Department, have been investigating a drug trafficking organization distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico. The investigation identified Orangie Lee Fisher , 37, as a key participant in the operation. On April 3, 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at a motel room occupied by Fisher at the Imperial Sky Motel in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Inside the room and Fisher’s vehicle, agents recovered approximately 600 grams of suspected marijuana, $5,693 in cash, firearms magazines, and ammunition. After the seizure, agents continued to surveil Fisher and conducted controlled narcotics purchases at his Las Cruces residence. On October 4, 2024, agents from the Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics executed a state search warrant at that residence, where Fisher was present. During the search, Fisher ignored commands and fled into a bedroom before surrendering. Approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills were found scattered throughout the residence, and a stolen handgun wrapped in a latex glove was recovered from the bedroom closet. When interviewed at the scene, Fisher denied living at the residence and denied any knowledge of the drugs or firearm. Fisher subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Upon his release from prison, Fisher will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted the case.


title: Doña Ana Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon was sentenced to 96 months in prison after agents recovered fentanyl and a stolen firearm during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces. According to court records, on May 21, 2024, FBI task force officers and Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics agents attempted to stop a vehicle associated with an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking. The driver, later identified as Jaime Lopez , 35, fled at a high rate of speed, and officers did not pursue due to public safety concerns. Agents later determined the vehicle had recently been purchased by Lopez and that he was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear. Approximately three hours later, agents located the vehicle again in Las Cruces and observed Lopez exit a public establishment with two other individuals. As officers approached, Lopez fled on foot, discarding a package later found to contain approximately 690 fentanyl pills. Officers pursued and arrested Lopez a short time later. Agents recovered a stolen handgun from a backpack inside the vehicle. In a post-arrest interview, Lopez admitted he fled because of the outstanding warrant and discarded the pills to avoid getting caught with them. He also admitted to possessing the firearm for protection, stating that he had previously sold drugs in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and feared retaliation from former associates. At the time of the offense, Lopez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions, including a 2005 conviction for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. Lopez subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted the case.


title: MADISON MAN INDICTED FOR DISTRIBUTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Willie Frank Hicks, Jr., 42, of Madison, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of distribution of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Hicks, Jr. is scheduled for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Smith faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment with a maximum of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. 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 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Three Men Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today the unsealing of a seven-count indictment charging the following individuals: DARRYL SUMLER , ( SUMLER) , age 61, of Slidell, Louisiana DARRYL GOODMAN , (GOODMAN) , age 47, of New Orleans, Louisiana JASON SLAUGHTER , (SLAUGHTER) , age 33, of Bogalusa, Louisiana The indictment was returned Friday, June 26, 2025, and unsealed Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after all individuals were arrested by local law enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration agents. All three individuals were indicted in Count 1 for Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); § 841(b)(1)(B); and 846. If convicted of Count 1, they face a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. SUMLER was indicted in Counts 2, 5, 6, and 7 for distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and § 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted of any of these four counts, SUMLER faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. SLAUGHTER was indicted in Count 3 for possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and § 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted, he faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. GOODMAN was indicted in Count 4 for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and § 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of Count 4, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment. As to each count in which they are charged, SUMLER , SLAUGHTER , and GOODMAN , face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown, but continuing until at least June 13, 2025, SUMLER , SLAUGHTER , and GOODMAN conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl throughout the Eastern District of Louisiana. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Slidell Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Former Correctional Officer Sentenced On Drug Distribution Resulting In Death Charges

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Santino Bellucci, age 28, of Dickson City, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 8, 2025, to 252 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and 40 grams and more of fentanyl resulting in death and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between January 2022 and February 2023, Bellucci and others conspired to distribute controlled substances throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. On December 18, 2022, Bellucci sold an individual pills and a lethal dose of fentanyl which caused the individual’s death. At the time of the incident, Bellucci was working as a correctional officer at a county facility. 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). The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dunmore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Roberts and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Cracking Down on Fentanyl: Two Indianapolis Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Two Indianapolis men have been sentenced for their roles in the distribution of fentanyl. The following cases are unrelated. On July 31, Richard Garner III, 38, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on August 8, 2024, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officers initiated a traffic stop on Garner after he ran a red light at Keystone Avenue and English Avenue in Indianapolis. Garner ignored the police and fled at a high rate of speed through a neighborhood, throwing a loaded Glock .40 handgun out of the car, and eventually stopping in a traffic jam on Hoyt Avenue. Officers searched Garner’s vehicle and located 55 fentanyl pills, powder cocaine, and over $9,000 in cash. The same day, investigators searched Garner’s home and found over 1,000 M30 fentanyl pills, powder fentanyl, powder cocaine, various pills, digital scales, pill presses, as well as a loaded Ruger handgun, an AR-15-style rifle, ammunition, a machine gun conversion device, and $11,550.00 in cash. In total, Garner was in possession of 244 grams of fentanyl and 470 grams of cocaine. On August 5, Andres Hernandez-Alamar, 29, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, on May 20, 2022, IMPD detectives were alerted to a U.S. Postal Service package containing 1,165 grams of fentanyl addressed to a residence in Indianapolis. Hernandez-Alamar was found at the residence and denied knowledge of the package. However, during a search of his phone, investigators located the parcel’s tracking number and text messages between Hernandez-Alamar and a Mexican phone number in which he ordered and discussed the drugs. “The fentanyl epidemic continues to claim lives across our country, and those who profit from its distribution will be held accountable,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, two dangerous individuals are now off the streets of Indianapolis and no longer able to threaten the safety of our community.” “Every dose of fentanyl distributed has the potential to destroy a life and leave a family shattered. Those who traffic it are fueling a deadly epidemic with zero regard for the lives they ruin,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “These sentences represent justice for the countless victims - many of them young people - who will never have the chance to recover. The FBI stands with those families and, along with our law enforcement partners, remains unwavering in our mission to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our communities.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and IMPD investigated these cases. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson and Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Gibson and Jayson McGrath, who prosecuted these cases. ###


title: Justice Department announces coordinated disruption actions against BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware operations

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department announced today coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia. "This action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat," said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches." “The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.” “Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.” “Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers—it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Michael Prado, Deputy Assistant Director for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.” “This investigation reflects the full reach of HSI Washington, D.C.’s cyber mission and our commitment to defending victims—whether they’re small businesses, school systems, or hospitals,” said Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C. “We will continue to target the infrastructure, finances, and operators behind these ransomware groups to ensure they have nowhere left to hide.” “This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.” “This announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.” As detailed in a joint announcement released by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) — which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024. As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory , BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware. Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on Jan. 9, 2024. HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.


title: Deming Teenager Charged in Federal Drug, Firearms, and Immigration-Related Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Deming teenager is facing federal charges in two separate cases after allegedly selling cocaine and a modified firearm capable of automatic fire to an undercover officerand later fleeing from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint during a high-speed incident. According to court documents, on February 11, 2025, an undercover agent conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine from Gerald Anthony Lopez , 19. During the transaction, Lopez allegedly displayed a firearm equipped with an extended magazine and an MCD. Lopez offered to sell it for $1,300 with the switch or $1,000 without. He also claimed he could supply additional weapons, conversion devices, and narcotics. On February 20, Lopez met with the agent again and sold cocaine and the firearm equipped with an MCD for $1,300. Lopez demonstrated how the switch worked and confirmed the extended magazine was loaded with 30 rounds. Lopez is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, possession of an unregistered machinegun and possession of a firearm which was not identified by a serial number and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 25 years in prison. In addition to the firearms charges, Lopez is also facing a second federal case stemming from a separate incident. On May 6, 2025, Border Patrol agents encountered Lopez at the Interstate 10 Border Patrol checkpoint. Lopez initially consented to a canine inspection after agents detected the odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle. However, after briefly stopping at the secondary inspection area, Lopez fled the checkpoint at a high rate of speed. Agents quickly alerted nearby units, and Border Patrol agents from Deming located and stopped Lopez on Highway 549 near Ventura Road. Based on the incident, Lopez is also facing charges for high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. If convicted, Lopez faces up to five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, andChief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the firearms offense with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is investigating the immigration-related offense. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower. This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering. Law enforcement agencies are racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately: Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477) Email: ATFTips@atf.gov Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community fall victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Ellsworth Man Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine in Downeast Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: An Ellsworth man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiring to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jeremy Kane , 38, to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Kane pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025. According to court records, from May 2022 through May 2023, Kane and others conspired to traffic methamphetamine in Maine. A source in California would mail shipments of methamphetamine to Maine for distribution in Downeast Maine. Proceeds from the sale of the methamphetamine were sent to the source using various money services, including Walmart2Walmart, Cash App, and Venmo. A co-conspirator enlisted the aid of Kane and others to use their identifications and accounts to receive the money. This was done to conceal and disguise the source’s involvement in the transactions and the money laundering. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Service, Ellsworth Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Holden Police Department, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. ###


title: Guatemalan Convicted Felon Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the August 7, 2025 indictment of FEDERICO MENDEZ-FRANCISCO a/k/a “JORGE SANTOS ARROYO,” a/k/a “JORGE A. GORDILLO,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FREDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ FRANCISCO,” (“MENDEZ-FRANCISCO”) , age 40, a native of Guatemala, for re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a)(b)(1). According to court documents, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO , an illegal alien, was found in Jefferson Parish on May 2, 2025. Law enforcement previously removed MENDEZ-FRANCISCO from the United States on July 3, 2024, and he had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the United States. On August 24, 2005 and prior to his removal from the United States, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO pled guilty to felony forgery in the Circuit Court of Pike County, Missouri. MENDEZ-FRANCISCO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). * * *


title: Greenville Man Indicted for Robbing a Bank While on Federal Supervised Release

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Greenville man was indicted for robbing a TD Bank branch in New Ipswich, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Eric Lord, 54, was indicted on August 6, 2025, on one count of bank robbery. Lord is currently in state custody on related charges. He will appear in federal court on a later date. According to court records, Lord robbed the TD Bank branch on April 2, 2025. At that time, he was on federal supervised release in connection with robbing the same TD Bank branch in 2014 The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Ipswich Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced for Armed Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced today to three years of probation for a violent assault that injured two people. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on July 9, 2024, Jerome Weaver , 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted two adults at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico, while intoxicated. Weaver choked one victim, pressed a loaded handgun equipped with a laser attachment to their head, and pointed the firearm at the second victim. A minor witnessed the assault and called 911. When officers arrived, they found the victims injured and observed Weaver holding a firearm, which he surrendered without incident. Upon his release from prison, Weaver will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.


title: United States Obtains More Than $1.4 Million Judgment Against Family Medical Practitioner for Fraudulent Billing

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland –The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland (USAO-MD) announced that it obtained a judgment of $1,407,493.23 against Dr. Richard Akoto, M.D., a family medical doctor, and his practice, Richard O. Akoto, M.D. PC, located in Takoma Park, Maryland. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found that Akoto submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to the Medicare program in connection with his use of auricular stimulation (P-Stim) devices. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the judgment with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). In his practice, Dr. Akoto used a P-stim device to treat patients for pain. A P-Stim device provides electrical acupuncture to treat pain symptoms and is applied externally to the patient, generally behind the patient’s ear using an adhesive to hold the device in place. Acupuncture, electrical or otherwise, is not reimbursable by Medicare. The United States filed a complaint against Dr. Akoto alleging he falsely billed Medicare using a code for an implantable neurostimulator device, which is surgically implanted into a patient and typically performed by a surgeon in an operating room. Dr. Akoto fraudulently billed Medicare for this complex neurosurgical procedure numerous times from approximately January 17, 2019 to May 1, 2019. “Dr. Akoto knowingly submitted false claims by billing non-invasive P-Stim devices as surgical implants—an unconscionable and blatant misrepresentation to exploit the Medicare system,” Hayes said. “This type of fraud not only wastes taxpayer dollars, it also undermines trust in our healthcare system. The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to continuing to work with our partners to identify and eliminate this kind of waste and abuse of our federal health care programs.” “Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program,” Dixon said. “HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue inaccurate billings related to P-Stim and similar devices.” U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HHS-OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Thomas F. Corcoran, Chief, USAO-MD Civil Division, and Investigator Ann Thiel, for their investigation and litigation of this case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Founder of Lender Service Provider Pleads Guilty for Role in PPP Fraud Scheme

body_text: A founder of the lender service provider Blueacorn pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). “During a national emergency, this defendant exploited a taxpayer-funded program that individuals and small businesses desperately needed to survive,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conviction demonstrates the Department’s ongoing commitment to bring to justice those who would steal from the public fisc to enrich themselves.” “This defendant had the opportunity to help small businesses overcome tremendous financial hardships during a time of national crisis but instead exploited the system to line his own pockets with taxpayer money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson. “We will continue to pursue convictions against those fraudsters who preyed upon the generosity of the American people as we struggled through the pandemic.” “The FBI takes our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain very seriously,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Reis and others exploited a program meant to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to prevent these programs from becoming targets and fight fraud wherever we find it.” According to court documents, Nathan Reis, 47, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and previously of Arizona, conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications, including by fabricating documents that falsified income and payroll figures in order to receive loan funds for which they were not eligible. Reis co-founded Blueacorn in April 2020, purportedly to help small businesses and individuals obtain PPP loans. Through Blueacorn, Reis and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications they knew contained materially false information to make more money. Reis and others fabricated documents, including tax documents and bank statements. As part of the conspiracy, Reis and his co-conspirators charged borrower’s fees based on a percentage of the funds received. Reis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI, IRS-CI, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board-CFPB Office of Inspector General, and SBA OIG investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Carr and Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www. justice. gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Justice Department Announces Coordinated Actions to Disrupt the Operations of BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced coordinated actions against the BlackSuit (Royal) Ransomware group which included the takedown of four servers and nine domains on July 24. The takedown was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and international law enforcement from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Ukraine, and Lithuania. These actions include the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of virtual currency valued at $1,091,453 at the time of the seizure. The unsealing was announced today jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “Too often we see the damage ransomware causes to systems that then allows cybercriminals to wreak havoc on corporations and others,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.” “The BlackSuit ransomware gang’s persistent targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure represents a serious threat to U.S. public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division is proud to be part of an ongoing team of government agencies and partners working to protect our Nation from threats to our critical infrastructure.” “Today’s action exemplifies the forward-leaning, disruption-first approach we are taking to address this threat,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “When it comes to protecting U.S. businesses, critical infrastructure, and other victims from ransomware and other cyberthreat actors, we will pull no punches.” “Disrupting ransomware infrastructure is not only about taking down servers — it's about dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said Deputy Assistant Director Michael Prado for HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3). “This operation is the result of tireless international coordination and shows our collective resolve to hold ransomware actors accountable.” “This operation strikes a critical blow to BlackSuit’s infrastructure and operations,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises and prevent the deployment of malicious ransomware that victimizes businesses and organizations.” “Today's announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables cyber criminals to illegally launder millions in cryptocurrency,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington Field Office. “Criminal software like the BlackSuit Ransomware group is deployed to steal, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend, and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.” As detailed in a joint announcement released today by HSI, an operation by U.S. law enforcement in close coordination with international partners successfully seized servers, domains, and digital assets used by the BlackSuit Ransomware group to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds of these activities. Some of those proceeds included approximately $1,091,453 in virtual currency (valued at the time of the theft) — which was separately seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia using evidence collected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia on or about June 21, 2024. As previously described in a joint FBI and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity Advisory , BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware attacks have targeted numerous critical infrastructure sectors including, but not limited to, critical manufacturing, government facilities, healthcare and public health, and commercial facilities. The advisory also describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to help organizations protect against ransomware. Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On or about April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data. This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on or about Jan. 9, 2024. HSI, the U.S. Secret Service, IRS-CI, and the FBI are investigating the case alongside the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Northwest Regional Organized Crime Unit, Germany's Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen, Ireland's An Garda Síochána - Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, France's Office Anti-Cybercriminalité, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Delta Police Department, Ukraine's National Police – Cyber Police Department, and Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. -###- Links to Court Documents: DDC Seizure blacksuit_24-sz-27_-_redacted_-_seizure_warrant.pdf Unsealing Motion and Order


title: Eric Grant Sworn in as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced that Eric Grant was sworn in today as the Interim United States Attorney by Chief United States District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Mr. Grant to be the United States Attorney beginning on Aug. 11, 2025. He is a veteran of the Department of Justice, having served twice in Washington, D.C.: from 1991 to 1993 as an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of Legal Counsel, and from 2017 to 2021 as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). During his tenure at ENRD, Mr. Grant supervised more than a hundred Department litigators advancing the interests of the United States and its agencies in both enforcement and defensive matters, both civil and criminal. “I am honored to rejoin the Department of Justice to lead an excellent team of lawyers and other public servants in our shared mission to enhance public safety and the rule of law in Northern California. I look forward to working with that team and with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners in law enforcement and otherwise to accomplish that mission,” U.S. Attorney Grant said. In addition to his service in the Department, Mr. Grant has decades of experience in private practice in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. That experience includes arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, and numerous other federal and state courts. Mr. Grant served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger (retired) and Associate Justice Clarence Thomas during the Supreme Court’s October 1994 Term. Earlier he served as a law clerk to Judge Edith H. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston, Texas. Mr. Grant grew up in Modesto, California, and raised his family in Sacramento County. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics (1986) and a law degree (1990). The United States Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of California and is responsible for prosecuting federal criminal cases and representing the United States in civil litigation. The Eastern District encompasses 34 counties throughout the Central Valley and the Sierra, from the Oregon border in the north to the Los Angeles County line in the south. The office has 72 attorneys and 61 non-attorney staff with offices in Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield.


title: Waterbury Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT HARRISON, also known as “Firm” and “Lox,” 39, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a drug-related firearm offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, between March and June 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization headed by Harrison. During that time, investigators made eight controlled purchases of narcotics from Harrison and his associates. On June 20, 2024, law enforcement executed federal search warrants for locations connected to Harrison’s organization. A search of Harrison’s residence on Frost Road, his auto repair business on Todd Hollow Road in Waterbury, and a recording studio he operated on Woodtick Road in Waterbury, revealed more than 370 grams of cocaine, narcotic pills, four loaded handguns, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and approximately $18,208 in cash. Harrison has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on June 20, 2024. On April 14, 2025, he pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.


title: Dominick S. Gerace II sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Today, Dominick S. Gerace II took the oath of office to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Mr. Gerace was formally sworn in this afternoon in Cincinnati by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland following his appointment as interim United States Attorney by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. In July, President Donald J. Trump nominated Mr. Gerace to the position and his nomination remains pending in the United States Senate. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gerace will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer representing the United States in all federal criminal and civil litigation in the Southern District of Ohio. The district covers the 48 southern-most counties in the state of Ohio and is home to more than five million people. Mr. Gerace leads a staff of approximately 100 prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel across three offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. “It is the honor of my lifetime to serve the people of Southern Ohio as United States Attorney, and I look forward to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,” said United States Attorney Gerace. “I am extremely grateful for the trust that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed in me, and I thank Senators Moreno and Husted for their support in the confirmation process.” Mr. Gerace is a former federal prosecutor with nearly a decade of experience in both the Southern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Virginia, where he prosecuted cases involving national security, domestic and international terrorism, international drug trafficking, violent crime, bank and wire fraud, public corruption, tax evasion and money laundering. He previously served as Deputy Criminal Chief of the district’s Dayton office. During his time as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Gerace received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security for his work in the federal investigation and prosecution arising from the August 2019 mass shooting in Dayton. He also received the U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Performance for his service as counsel in the first international terrorism trial held in the district. Most recently, Mr. Gerace was a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he practiced in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, compliance, and civil litigation. Mr. Gerace earned his law degree, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Georgetown University, where he was a senior board member of The Georgetown Law Journal and Editor-in-Chief of The Georgetown Law Journal’s Annual Review of Criminal Procedure . Following graduation from law school, Mr. Gerace clerked for the Honorable John M. Rogers of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Gerace earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the United States Military Academy and served as a tank platoon leader and company executive officer in the United States Army prior to attending law school. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, visit justice.gov/usao-sdoh . # # #


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Years Imprisonment for $24 Million Ponzi Scheme

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $24,065,636.20 in forfeiture following his conviction for orchestrating a Ponzi-style investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 100 victims, many of whom were Northern New Mexican residents, out of millions of dollars. A restitution order remains pending. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, from 2014 to 2022, John Lopez , 74, solicited investments through his company, Personal Money Management Company (PMMCO), falsely claiming to have developed a proprietary algorithm that generated above-market returns. He guaranteed returns ranging from 10 to 42 percent annually and assured clients their money was invested in stocks and bonds. In reality, he used client funds to purchase precious metals and to make Ponzi-style payouts to earlier investors, disbursing $6.1 million to maintain the illusion of legitimate investment returns. Lopez collected approximately $24 million from investors and used about $16 million to acquire precious metals, which he stockpiled in his home basement, office, a rented storage unit, and even buried underground. All the bullion seized in November 2021 When federal agents seized PMMCO’s assets in November 2021, they recovered less than $15 million, far short of the $39 million Lopez falsely claimed was under management. Despite the seizure, Lopez continued to solicit new investors and issue fake account statements. He lived comfortably on a self-assigned six-figure salary while portraying himself as a successful investor with assets rivaling major financial institutions. Trial evidence revealed that he failed to segregate or track individual investments, lied about account balances, and actively discouraged large withdrawals to keep the scheme afloat. After his indictment, Lopez violated his court-ordered release conditions at least five times—two before his conviction and three afterward—including committing additional fraud, making unauthorized financial transactions, refusing to turn over financial documents, and having prohibited contact with victims and witnesses. Prior to sentencing, federal agents executed another search warrant on Lopez’s home and recovered additional precious metals he had purchased with client funds. Specifically, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service discovered approximately 19 boxes of silver coins, worth approximately $350,000, hidden in the crawl space under Lopez’s home. To this day, however, the location of approximately $3 million in additional precious metals remains unknown. Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought a separate civil forfeiture action on April 15, 2022, seeking to forfeit assets seized in November 2021. Litigation in the civil proceeding is ongoing.