title: Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Noe Zamudio Hernandez, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to attempted enticement of a minor and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “As this case demonstrated, securing our border and vigorously enforcing our immigration laws is not just a matter of national security, it is also of vital importance to keeping our communities and children safe from dangerous sexual predators, like this defendant. The Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche with this kind of case in mind, and we remain committed to devoting the full might of our office toward aggressively prosecuting dangerous criminal illegal aliens to keep our citizens and communities safe.” According to court records, the defendant came under investigation in 2024 during a law enforcement operation in Panama City, Florida, aimed at identifying individuals targeting children for sexual exploitation. During the operation, the defendant communicated with an individual he believed was a minor to arrange for a sexual transaction. When the defendant was arrested, law enforcement learned he was unlawfully present in the United States and had been previously removed to Mexico. The defendant was previously removed from the United States after committing a sexual offense against a minor. “This case highlights the strength of our partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office. Together, we identified and apprehended a dangerous criminal illegal alien who was targeting children in our community,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “When individuals enter this country unlawfully and commit serious crimes, especially against children, we will work with our federal partners to ensure they are arrested and held fully accountable” “Those who repeatedly violate our immigration laws and prey on vulnerable children will face the full force of federal prosecution, period,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prioritize the protection of children and the integrity of our borders. We will not tolerate those who endanger our communities by disregarding our laws." Deportation proceedings against him will commence following the conclusion of serving his federal sentence. The case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. 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. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Sopchoppy Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun & Drug Crimes

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

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Howard Neil Martin, 46, of Sopchoppy, Florida, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, and the aggressive prosecution of this repeat offender by my office, our community can rest assured he will spend several years in prison for his armed drug dealing. Keeping our streets safe and drug-free remains a top priority for my office, and we will continue to deliver successful prosecutions under the Department of Justices Operation Take Back America initiative.” Court documents reflect that Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report about a burglary in progress. When they arrived, the defendant was parked in the driveway of the residence and in a verbal dispute with someone watching the residence for the homeowner. Officers could see a firearm in plain view inside the defendant’s truck and upon running his criminal history, learned that he was a convicted felon. Officers ultimately searched the truck and located approximately half a pound of crystal methamphetamine. “This joint investigation removes another methamphetamine trafficker from our North Florida communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “I’m thankful to our law enforcement partners for their support in bringing this criminal to justice.” Sheriff Jared F. Miller, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said: “ Cases like this highlight the ongoing threat illegal drugs and firearms pose to our community. I’m proud of our deputies for their quick response and strong partnership with our federal agencies to ensure dangerous offenders are held accountable.” When the defendant is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for a period of five years. The case involved an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Three Family Members Plead Guilty to Smuggling Drugs into Prison

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A District of Columbia (D.C.) inmate, his mother, and his brother pleaded guilty yesterday to drug conspiracy and the smuggling of contraband into the District of Columbia Central Detention Facility (CDF) in 2023. According to statements made in court, on May 23, 2023, D.C. correction officers seized approximately 31 sheets of paper soaked in a synthetic cannabinoid and a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and heroin from the cell of Malique Lewis, 28, of D.C., when Malique was an inmate at the CDF. At the time, Malique was awaiting trial on kidnapping, murder, and firearm charges. He has since been convicted of those charges and is serving a life sentence. In furtherance of the conspiracy and to facilitate the introduction of controlled substances into the CDF, Malique Lewis communicated with his mother, Teleka Lewis, 47, and his brother, Michael Lewis, 32, both of D.C., as well as the drug supplier, through third-party calling prison accounts. Malique and Teleka arranged to have Michael pack an accordion style legal folder with controlled substances that were disguised as “legal papers” to enable their introduction into the CDF and delivery to Malique. Teleka then delivered this folder to Malique’s legal counsel so that it could be covertly introduced into the prison facility and delivered to Malique. There is no evidence that the lawyer knew that the papers were laced with drugs. Malique intended to distribute, and did distribute, controlled substances to other inmates at the CDF. Teleka, at Malique’s direction, also managed the proceeds and finances derived from the scheme on Malique’s behalf, including by receiving and making payments for the drugs that were sold inside the CDF through online payment services such as Cash App and Apple Pay. Malique and Teleka pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances, to include fentanyl, heroin, and synthetic cannabinoids, within a federally contracted prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 where they both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Michael pleaded guilty to providing contraband in a prison, a misdemeanor crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent Jeffrey Lee Tyler of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office and D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Jared Hernandez of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Gainesville Felon Faces Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Robert Anthony Yancy, Jr., 25, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Yancy appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 27, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida. Yancy faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. 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 , 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Challenging Biden State Department’s Alleged Social Media Censorship

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department this week announced the settlement of litigation alleging that the Biden State Department actively silenced and censored disfavored speech by American citizens, in particular through its now-closed “Global Engagement Center.” The lawsuit alleged that the prior administration funded and promoted private companies’ development of technologies that social media companies and other private entities could use to downgrade, demonetize, and otherwise suppress protected speech online. Among other claims, plaintiffs alleged these actions violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The settlement implements President Trump’s Executive Order, entitled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship,” acknowledging that “the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms. Under the guise of combatting ‘misinformation,’ ‘disinformation,’ and ‘malinformation,’ the Federal Government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.” 90 Fed. Reg. 8243 (Jan. 28, 2025). “The weaponization of the Biden Administration against the American people who they disfavored is over,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This settlement is righting the historic wrong that they perpetrated against Americans, and today we say ‘never again’ will we tolerate these injustices.” “The Biden Administration muted speech it didn’t like. But progressive elites cannot oust conservative viewpoints from the public square,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “These settlements are yet another example of DOJ making good on President Trump’s promise to end weaponization against ordinary Americans, ensuring all of our Nation’s citizens may speak freely.” “The Department of Justice will continue vindicating Americans’ right to free speech,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, of the Civil Division. “The Federal Government has no business promoting and funding tools to censor domestic media or citizens. This resolution ensures the unlawful practices at issue will not recur.” The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found good cause for plaintiffs to take discovery in support of their motion for a preliminary injunction after denying the government’s motions to dismiss and to transfer venue. Now, the Department’s agreement with plaintiffs avoids the need for continued litigation in this case. Daily Wire v. Dep’t of State , No. 6:23-cv-609 (E.D. Tex.). Securing the right of the American people to engage in constitutionally protected speech is a priority of the Department of Justice. Additional information about the Civil Division is available at www.justice.gov/civil .


title: Former Ohkay Owingeh Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A former Ohkay Owingeh Police Department officer has pleaded guilty to using his position to disclose sensitive information about a federal investigation. According to court documents, on February 26, 2020, Justin Aguino , 31, a former police officer with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department, placed a phone call to an individual and disclosed that a person that individual was in contact with was cooperating with federal authorities. Aguino made these statements to alert the individual to the person’s status as an informant, knowing that such disclosure could interfere with an ongoing federal investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. When confronted by FBI agents in 2022, Aguino denied sharing this information. Aguino was released on conditions pending trial on July 6, 2023, but failed to appear for a child support hearing in August 2024, prompting a tribal bench warrant, and then violated his release conditions by failing to maintain contact with Pretrial Services. After the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office offered a reward for information leading to his capture, Aguino was arrested on the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo on November 26, 2025, and was subsequently detained pending trial. Aguino pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and faces up to 15 months in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Region III Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Aguino).pdf


title: Business Owner Charged with Treasury Check Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A ninth defendant has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of U.S. Treasury tax refund checks in eastern and central Massachusetts. Victor Vasquez, 40, of Gardner, was charged by complaint with the theft of approximately $988,000 in government funds. Vasques was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. In June 2025 , eight others were charged with theft of government funds or bank fraud related to approximately $8.8 million in stolen Treasury checks. According to the charging documents, in June 2024, Vasquez deposited a Treasury check for $988,744 that had been issued to another taxpayer but altered to bear Vasquez’s name as the payee. Vasquez allegedly deposited the check into a credit union account in the name of a business he had closed years earlier, Victor Northeast Construction, LLC. Shortly after depositing the check, Vasquez allegedly transferred $8,000 to another bank account he controlled in order to pay outstanding loan balances. When the credit union spoke with Vasquez by telephone and asked about the source of the deposited funds, it is alleged that Vasquez falsely stated that the check was a tax refund for his business, despite the fact that his business had not yet been incorporated during the tax year associated with the Treasury check and that he never filed a tax return on its behalf. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Frauds Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Inland Empire Man Federally Charged with Deliberately Setting Fires that Destroyed Massive Warehouse in Ontario

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with deliberating setting fires that destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse, causing approximately $500 million in damage, the Justice Department announced today. Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, is charged with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce and used in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The federal complaint was filed late Thursday. Abdulkarim was arrested on Tuesday and is in local custody in San Bernardino County. He is expected to be arraigned on state criminal charges this morning in San Bernardino County Superior Court. According to an affidavit filed with the federal criminal complaint, early in the morning on April 7, Abdulkarim filmed himself setting fire to multiple pallets of paper goods inside of a large distribution center in Ontario. As he lit the fires, he stated, “If you’re not going to pay us enough to [expletive] live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this [expletive].” The fires Abdulkarim set quickly consumed the building, resulting in its destruction and causing approximately $500 million in damage. Abdulkarim posted videos of himself on social media setting the fires. He further made statements to others on the telephone and via text messages related to his motive for setting the building on fire, including the following: “I just cost these [expletive] billions,” “1% is a [expletive] joke,” and “All you had to do was pay us enough to live. Pay us more of the value WE bring. Not corporate. Didn’t see the shareholders picking up a shift.” The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is pursuing a criminal case against him in connection with Tuesday’s fire. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Abdulkarim would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ontario Police Department, and the Ontario Fire Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander S. Gorin of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.


title: IU Biology Researcher Pleads Guilty to Smuggling E. coli DNA  from China Concealed in Clothing Shipment

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS - Youhuang Xiang (“Xiang”), 32, formerly a post-doctoral researcher at Indiana University and a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, has been sentenced to more than four months in prison, a $500 fine, and one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to smuggling biologic materials into the United States from China. As part of Xiang’s plea agreement with the government, Xiang also stipulated to the entry of a Judicial Order of Removal, which will result in his immediate removal from the United States to the People's Republic of China. Xiang, who holds a Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, applied for and received a U.S. Non‑Immigrant student (J‑1) visa to perform postdoctoral research in the Department of Biology at Indiana University Bloomington (“IU”), beginning June 12, 2023. According to court documents, in November 2025 the FBI’s Indianapolis Division began investigating suspicious shipments from China to individuals affiliated with Indiana University. During the investigation, FBI agents determined that Xiang had received a suspicious shipment from China at his Bloomington, Indiana, residence in March of 2024. The package in question originated from Guangzhou Sci‑Tech Innovation Trading, and the shipping manifest declared that the package contained “Underwear of Man-Made Fibers, Other Womens.” Investigators found it unusual that Xiang was purchasing and shipping women’s underwear from China, especially from a company focused on science and technology innovation. On November 23, 2025, Xiang was interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officials at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as he returned to the U.S. from a research trip in the United Kingdom. During that interview, Xiang initially denied any knowledge of smuggling but subsequently admitted the shipping manifest for the package he received in March of 2024 was intentionally mislabeled and samples of DNA of E. coli bacteria were concealed in that package to circumvent U.S. law. Based on those admissions, CBP immediately terminated Xiang’s J‑1 visa, and he was arrested by the FBI. During the sentencing hearing on April 7, 2026, the U.S. District Court also heard that the FBI’s investigation uncovered evidence that Xiang was a member of the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”), and that Xiang lied about his affiliation with the CCP when questioned by immigration authorities. “Xiang intentionally exploited his access to laboratory facilities at one of Indiana’s flagship research universities, and the privileges of his J‑1 visa status, to illegally smuggle biological materials into the United States. Conduct like Xiang’s circumvents diligent inspection of potentially harmful substances by CBP, USDA, and those agencies required by law to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful biologic materials into our country. Such conduct poses a very serious threat to public safety and to the health of our agricultural economy,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Let me be clear: The Customs laws and regulations of the United States exist to protect our borders, our economy, and the citizenry of this Country. They may not be ignored at the whim and folly of scientific researchers and academic institutions. Our office remains firmly committed to working with our exceptional law enforcement partners to protect Hoosiers and defend the United States against such grave national security threats.” “Those who attempt to secretly bring biological materials into the United States are taking a serious risk with public safety,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Concealing E. coli to avoid detection shows a clear disregard for the law and for the safety of others. The FBI will not tolerate these actions and will ensure those responsible are brought to justice.” “This Chinese Communist Party member exploited a federally funded research grant from USDA to smuggle dangerous biological material into the United States. The sender lied on the manifest to hide the dangerous nature of the shipment. USDA OIG actively combats the illegal import of biological materials, treating these threats to agricultural security and public safety with the highest investigative priority. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement partners like CBP and FBI against trade fraud and stop the exploitation by foreign adversaries of federal grants administered by USDA,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. The FBI Indianapolis Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General jointly investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Rinka, Chief of the Office’s National Security Unit, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Dayton man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for mailing methamphetamine, cocaine from Las Vegas to nephew in Dayton area

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Kuron Evans, 47, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 130 months in prison for participating in a narcotics conspiracy involving more than two kilograms total of methamphetamine and cocaine. According to court documents, in January 2024, Evans used the United States mail to send a package from a post office in Las Vegas to his nephew in Trotwood, Ohio. Evans used fictitious names for the sender and the recipient. Law enforcement officials intercepted the package and discovered approximately one kilogram each of cocaine and methamphetamine. Both Evans and his nephew, Dorian Evans, also age 47, were arrested in Trotwood in February 2024. Dorian Evans was sentenced in March to 60 months in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; and officials with the Montgomery County Regional Agencies Narcotics & Gun Enforcement Task Force (RANGE) Task Force announced the sentence imposed on April 7 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Tax preparers indicted for filing false tax returns causing thousands in fraudulent claims

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: HOUSTON – Two area residents are appearing in federal court on charges they willfully helped clients file false tax returns with the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Elfrin Lee Patten is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. Laquisha “Cookie” Shelton has already appeared in federal court following her arrest April 9. A federal grand jury returned the 16-count indictment March 8, which has now been unsealed. According to the indictment, Patten ran E. Patten Tax Prep in Houston beginning in at least 2019 for approximately seven years, while Shelton worked as a preparer for the business. The charges allege they used false credits and deductions to fraudulently lower their clients’ tax liability. In some cases, refunds exceeded $10,000 and clients were charged thousands in fees, according to court documents. Patten and Shelton allegedly used false Schedule C losses for nonexistent businesses and fraudulent Sick and Family Leave Credits to inflate refunds. The charges further allege Patten sent text and WhatsApp messages pressuring witnesses not to cooperate. Shelton also allegedly submitted a false affidavit claiming she had never prepared a tax return. The IRS identified at least $30 million in Sick and Family Leave Credits tied with the business, according to the allegations. In addition, Patten’s 2022 return allegedly reported false wages and withholdings and was accompanied by a false W-2 for a business where he did not work. The indictment alleges that return claimed a refund of $18,386. Patten and Shelton are charged with conspiracy and aiding and various counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Patten is also charged with filing a false tax return in his own name. If convicted, both face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy count, as well as three years in prison for each of the tax charges. They also face potential fines of up to $250,000. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Springfield Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm After Allegedly Firing a Gun from Back Porch at Neighbor

body_text: NASHVILLE – Christopher Paredes, 43, of Springfield, has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Middle Tennessee has some of the greatest neighborhoods in America and those neighborhoods should be safe from gunfire,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “Keeping all of the communities of Middle Tennessee safe from armed and violent criminals is a high priority of our office and the Department of Justice.” According to court documents, on March 30, 2026, the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls from concerned citizens that Paredes was discharging a gun from his back porch in Springfield. One caller told law enforcement that Paredes told her that he would kill her and then fired the gun at her. After initially refusing to exit his residence, the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team, using flashbangs and chemical agents, successfully facilitated Paredes’ surrender. Deputies recovered a Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol from Paredes’ back porch and eight .40 caliber casings from the back yard. Paredes had previously been convicted of assault in the second degree and wanton endangerment in the first degree when he pleaded guilty to those felony offenses in 2011 in Warren County, Kentucky. He was sentenced to serve 15 years in state prison. If convicted, Paredes faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlin C. Hess is prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # # # #


title: Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Wyoming!

body_text: A Casper man who unleashed a string of antisemitic threats against the Anti‑Defamation League (ADL) has been sentenced to federal prison. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced that Derek A. Fulfer, 31, will serve 12 months and one day behind bars, followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on April 3. Fulfer was ordered to self‑surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by June 1, 2026. Federal prosecutors said Fulfer made four rapid‑fire phone calls on March 5, 2025, to ADL offices located in Colorado and Texas. When no one picked up, he left voicemails packed with antisemitic slurs and explicit threats of violence targeting people of Jewish faith. Staff immediately alerted federal law enforcement. The FBI quickly launched an investigation, traced the calls back to Fulfer, and confirmed his identity as the voice behind the threats. When questioned by agents, Fulfer admitted making the calls and claimed his threats of violence were protected speech. A federal criminal complaint was filed on August 19, 2025, charging him under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) — transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Fulfer later waived indictment and pleaded guilty before Judge Skavdahl on January 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith was unequivocal: "Jewish Americans have every right — not as a courtesy, not as a privilege, but as Americans — to live, to worship, and to serve their communities free from threats of violence. Let there be no confusion about what happened here. This was not political commentary. This was not satire. This was not protected speech. This was a calculated attempt to terrorize people because of their faith. And it failed. To those who would threaten the Jewish community — or any community of faith — in Wyoming or anywhere else in this country: we see you, we will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of federal law. Not on my watch. Not in this district. Not in America ." — U.S. Attorney Darin Smith, District of Wyoming


body_text: Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Building and Detonating Pipe Bombs in Weare CONCORD – Dale G. Stewart, Jr., 57, of Webster, pleaded guilty today in federal court to three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, specifically a destructive device, United States Erin Creegan announces. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Stewart detonated two pipe bombs on Dustin Tavern Road and Sugar Hill Road in Weare, New Hampshire, on the evening of April 26 and on the morning of April 27, 2023. As part of the emergency response to these explosions, on the evening of April 27, 2023, law enforcement agents located and searched Stewart’s vehicle on South Stark Highway in Weare, where they recovered an undetonated pipe bomb, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The undetonated pipe bomb contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two pipe bombs that Stewart had detonated earlier. During police questioning, Stewart indicated he built these destructive devices at his home in Webster. The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2026. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar Vega and Anna Krasinski are prosecuting the case.


title: Two Illegal Aliens from Mexico Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking in West Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Brothers, Julio Cesar Garcia, 45, and Juan Carlos Garcia, 41 , both of Chiapas, Mexico, were sentenced following their 2023 trial conviction. In 2021, these individuals were indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today. According to information presented at trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that Julio Cesar Garcia was facilitating narcotics transactions from the Bureau of Prisons Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton, Oklahoma. Investigators determined that Julio Cesar Garcia would locate buyers in the Western District of Tennessee, utilize a prison contraband phone to set up methamphetamine deliveries, and his brother Juan Carlos Garcia would accept payment. Upon further investigation into Julio Cesar Garcia, HSI learned that he was serving prison sentence for a narcotics trafficking offense stemming from a conviction in the Western District of Tennessee. Specifically, on March 7, 2019, Julio Cesar Garcia was sentenced to 120 months' incarceration for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Methamphetamine. His scheduled release date was July 9, 2026. During the investigation, investigators learned that Julio Cesar Garcia provided tracking numbers to parcels containing kilogram amounts of methamphetamine. The parcels originated from California. Homeland Security Investigations, working with the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two parcels, one containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and the other 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. On February 24, 2023, following a 4-day trial, a federal grand jury convicted both Julio Cesar Garcia and Juan Carlos Garcia of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On December 18, 2023, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Juan Carlos Garcia to 188 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States. On December 6, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld Juan Carlos Garcia’s conviction and sentence. On March 31, 2026, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Julio Cesar Garcia to 300 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States. This sentence is to be served consecutively to the prior sentence Julio Cesar Garcia was serving at the time. There is no parole in the federal system. Both defendants were unlawfully in the United States at the time of the offenses. Due to the nature of the convictions, both are subject to removal from the United States. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation but also threaten the safety of our communities. Distribution of illegal narcotics is NOT a victimless crime. This case demonstrates our focus on those dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry by distributing poisonous drugs that cause addiction, injury, and death.” “Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its mission to protect communities from the harm caused by drug trafficking and criminal organizations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies and our ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable. HSI will continue to pursue those who endanger public safety and uphold the rule of law.” " This case exemplifies the spirit of collaboration we share with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Let these prison sentences serve as a reminder that using the mail to traffic narcotics will be met with serious consequences.” – Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins, USPIS “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, the FBI is working with our partners to pursue and dismantle the networks responsible for participating in the deadly drug trade,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Together, we will ensure that those who exploit our communities for profit face the full force of the law.” This case was investigated and assisted in trial by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Also assisting in the prosecution were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Homeland Security Customs and Broder Protection (DHS CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the DeSoto County (MS) Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Anchorage man guilty of drug trafficking crimes

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy targeting Alaska. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, James Barber, 44, conspired with the organization’s leader, Aaron Washington, 59, and multiple other people, who have already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, to import drugs, mainly fentanyl, from Phoenix and Seattle and distribute the drugs in Alaska. Evidence presented at trial showed that between November 2024 and March 2025, Barber regularly went to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to pick up luggage containing one to two kilograms of fentanyl on behalf of the drug trafficking conspiracy. On one occasion, Washington flew from Anchorage to Phoenix on Nov. 14, 2024, to purchase fentanyl from a codefendant. Washington flew back to Anchorage on Nov. 18. Surveillance video showed Washington bypassing the luggage carousel and heading for the taxi line, while Barber picked up a checked suitcase and left separately. On another occasion later that month, Washington again flew to Phoenix and returned with two kilograms of fentanyl purchased from a co-conspirator. Law enforcement seized the fentanyl pursuant to a search warrant at the airport. Texts between Washington and Barber indicated that Barber was planning to pick up the luggage at the airport but failed to do so. Washington took the bag and took a taxi home. Law enforcement recorded at least seven other trips with similar circumstances to both November incidents. At the time of these offenses, Barber was released on pretrial supervision in a prior federal criminal case. The jury found Barber guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The jury also found Barber guilty of an enhancement because he committed the crimes while he was on federal supervised release for a separate criminal matter. Barber faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Co-defendants in this case are as follows: Washington, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 17, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2026. Charlotte Hill, 55, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 6, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. Erika Willers, 28, of Tukwila, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026. Glenn Cooper, 44, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on March 27, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2026. Kenneth Degroff, 38, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026. Afshin Manzar, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 17, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and from the Mat-Su High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team. Additional assistance was provided by the Airport HIDTA team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case. ###


title: D.C. Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for June 2021 Killing of Innocent Bystander Out Having Dinner with Wife and Friends

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Dearay Wilson, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for shooting and killing 53-year-old Jeremy Black in June 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Wilson pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026, to second-degree murder while armed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz ordered Wilson to serve his 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release and must also register as a gun offender. “This sentencing sends a clear and necessary message: violent crime will not go unanswered,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Dearay Wilson and other shooters indiscriminately fired over 45 rounds into a busy public street, killing Jeremy Black—an innocent man walking with his wife and friends after dinner. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones, and this office remains committed to stopping outrageous killing on the streets of the District.” According to the government’s evidence, in the evening hours, on June 29, 2021, Wilson and three other individuals, armed with firearms, drove to Johnson Avenue Northwest. Once in the area, they fired multiple shots at a group of people outside an apartment building in the 1400 block of R Street Northwest. Jeremy Black was an innocent bystander walking through the area with his wife and two friends following dinner at a local restaurant. Black and a friend were crossing Johnson Avenue when Wilson and the other shooters indiscriminately fired over 45 rounds on a busy public street. Black was struck once in his left torso and died at the scene. After the shooting, Wilson and the other shooters fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi, who indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Merikas, Kathleen Gibbons, and Sarah Santiago, who prosecuted the case. 2021 CF1 006737


title: Greenville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Marijuana, Gun Possession

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Larry Eugene Gunnin, III, 26, of Greenville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for dealing marijuana and possessing firearms. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that beginning in or around 2020, and continuing up to January 2025, Gunnin and others conspired to unlawfully possess with intent to distribute and distribute marijuana. Additionally, Gunnin knowingly possessed firearms while trafficking the drugs. United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Gunnin to 180 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen, III prosecuted the case.


title: Baltimore Man Convicted for Armed Gas Station Carjacking

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to prison after a federal jury convicted him in connection with an armed carjacking at a local gas station. The jury found Ron Wardlow, 26, guilty of carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Wardlow was previously convicted of a robbery at the same Baltimore gas station where he was later arrested. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). According to evidence presented at trial, on February 27, 2025, Wardlow approached Victim 1 and Victim 2 at a Fells Point gas station. Wardlow, who was wearing a mask and gloves, approached the victims and asked them for a ride. When Victim 1 refused, Wardlow followed Victim 1 around the car and pulled out a 9mm Glock loaded with an extended magazine that held 31 rounds. Wardlow then pointed the gun at Victim 1 and demanded the car keys. Victim 1 complied and gave Wardlow the keys. Wardlow entered the car and drove off. Then the victims called 911 to report the carjacking. Some of the victims’ digital devices remained in the car, which enabled them to track the devices. Activity stopped in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, so the victims assumed Wardlow tossed them from the car. Later, the victims went to the spot where the devices were. There, they found Victim 1’s car still running, but then the car backed up and drove away. Victim 1 again called the police to alert law enforcement to the car’s location. Then officers from the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) located the car at a nearby gas station. When law enforcement arrived at the gas station, Wardlow saw them and fled on foot. Officers pursued Wardlow with the assistance of aerial surveillance. Law enforcement eventually found Wardlow hiding in the cellar entryway of a nearby residence. When officers searched Wardlow, they found the mask and gloves he wore during the carjacking. Additionally, officers found a bag in the car that contained the loaded Glock 9mm Wardlow pointed at Victim 1. Wardlow faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in federal prison for the brandishing of the firearm during the carjacking, which is to be imposed consecutive to any other sentence. Wardlow faces a maximum of 15 years for the carjacking and 15 years for possessing a firearm as a felon. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation and RATT for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and John Sippel who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds 261 New Immigration Cases in Western District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 261 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 3 to April 9, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens who, as a group, had the following prior convictions: DWI (19), aggravated assault (1), evading arrest/detention (5), assault family violence (1), theft (1), possession with intent to distribute (2), burglary of a habitation (2), possession of a controlled substance (6), rape (1), failure to register as a sex offender (1), voter retaliation (1), reckless driving (1), resisting arrest (1), assault family violence-impeding breath (1), failure to ID (3), assault bodily injury (1), fictitious license plate (1), failure to appear (1), and aggravated robbery (1). The vast majority of these crimes were committed by illegal aliens found in and around Austin. Among the new cases, convicted sex offender Jorge Guerrero-Martinez , an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested near Val Verde. Guerrero-Martinez was recently deported for the third time on March 13, after being charged in Missouri for failing to register as a sex offender. In 2010, he was convicted of second-degree statutory rape and sentenced to five years in prison. He was then convicted in 2017 of illegal re-entry and sentenced to 57 months confinement. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Enrique Eleuterio Lopez-Rocha for illegal re-entry near Maverick. Lopez-Rocha was deported for the second time in May 2025 following a six-month prison sentence for probation violation. His criminal record includes cocaine trafficking in 2020, along with three DWIs. Samuel Castro , a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with alien smuggling in El Paso on April 6. USBP agents apprehended an illegal alien approximately half a mile east of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during the apprehension, the agents observed a vehicle parked nearby and questioned its two occupants. Castro was the driver of the vehicle, who allegedly told agents that he intended to pick up and transport two illegal aliens and expected to be paid $500 for each. Castro allegedly claimed to be involved in alien smuggling since 2023, operating as a coordinator and a driver. In October 2024, he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest with a vehicle. In San Antonio, Miguel Manzano-Ramirez was encountered after he was arrested by Hollywood Park Police on a public intoxication charge on April 5. He was determined to be an illegal alien from Mexico and later transferred to ICE custody. A review of his criminal history revealed that Manzano-Ramirez has been convicted of three DWIs. Mexican national Arturo Castro Hernandez was transferred to federal custody on April 6 after being found in Bastrop County. He has been removed from the U.S. twice, and previously convicted of three DWIs, evading arrest, reckless driving, and failure to identify. He now faces an illegal re-entry charge in Austin. Also found in Bastrop, Adan Tolentino Guerrero is an illegal alien from Mexico with two prior removals. He was arrested and convicted in 2025 for fleeing from a police officer and his third DWI. He was also convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2018 and illegal re-entry in 2020. Honorio Victorino-Rebollar , another illegal alien from Mexico with three prior DWI convictions, was charged with illegal re-entry for the third time after he was found in Travis County on April 5. His last removal was Sept. 5, 2018. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. 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. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse Charges

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – A 49-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children throughout a nearly seven-year period. Brian C. Sargent, of Bowling Green, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). According to court documents, in July 2025 agents were conducting an investigation to identify offenders sharing CSAM on a peer-to-peer platform and Sargent was identified as a suspect. In August 2025, a search warrant was executed at his residence and agents seized his personal laptop. During a forensic analysis, almost 700 CSAM files were located that depicted minors engaged in sex acts and bondage. Sargent’s cellphone was also seized, and it contained similar material. The investigation revealed that he had been receiving and distributing CSAM from November 2018 to August 2025. During the time period in which these offenses occurred, Sargent was employed with the Ohio Investigative Unit which enforces laws regarding alcohol, tobacco, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Sargent is scheduled to be sentenced July 22 and faces a minimum of five—and up to 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 investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the United States Secret Service and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org , or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Former Shallowater ISD Assistant Band Director Indicted for Enticement of a Minor

body_text: A former Shallowater ISD assistant band director was indicted by a federal grand jury for enticement of a minor after engaging in a sexual relationship with a female high school student, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Joseph Macauley Gonzalez, 27, was charged by a federal criminal complaint in mid-March and indicted on April 8, 2026, for the federal offense of enticement of a minor. He is set for an initial appearance on April 20, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Burch in Lubbock, Texas. “Those who severely abuse trusted positions to prey on children, as this defendant is charged with doing, will be swiftly brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our law enforcement partners’ diligent work uncovered the disturbing circumstances alleged in this indictment and complaint. We will prosecute this case and others like it to the fullest extent.” “The FBI’s partnerships with state and local law enforcement allow us to combine resources and collectively tackle crimes against children. We will continue to prioritize these investigations and support our partners in pursuing those who target the most vulnerable members of our community,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. According to the complaint, in 2023, Gonzalez began developing a relationship with a female student under the age of 17, eventually using a school-approved app to exchange messages with her. In the summer of 2025, Gonzalez obtained the student’s cell phone number and began using that and another platform to message her. Beginning in October 2025, Gonzalez solicited the victim for nude photos and videos of herself and sent the victim nude photos of himself. He also had sex with her in the Shallowater High School band hall on multiple occasions. Court records reveal that Gonzalez’s cell phone contained explicit messages sent to the victim by Gonzalez. The indictment charges Gonzalez with enticement of the victim to engage in sexual activity through March 12, 2026. If convicted, Gonzalez faces a sentence of at least 10 years in federal prison up to life imprisonment. He remains in custody pending further court proceedings. FBI Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency and the Texas Rangers conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long is prosecuting the case. A complaint and an indictment are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”


title: Border enforcement efforts result in another 354 people charged in SDTX

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 353 cases in immigration and border-security related matters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Of those charged from April 3-9, 114 are alleged to have illegally entered the United States, while another 212 face allegations of felony reentry after prior removal. Many have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 25 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining three cases relate to other immigration crimes. One illegal alien charged this week has a prior conviction for assault of a public servant, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly found El Salvadorian national William Alexander Morataya near Roma, despite having been removed March 3. Charges also allege law enforcement found three others, all from Mexico, near the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. Omar Alejandro Valdez-Ornelas and Jose Antonio Romero-Uribe were previously removed Feb. 2 and March 13, respectively, according to court records. Criminal complaints allege Valdez-Ornelas has a prior felony sexual offense conviction, while Romero-Uribe allegedly assaulted a family member. Authorities had previously removed Javier Alegria-Ortega Oct. 19, 2025, following a conviction and sentence for bank fraud, according to his charges. However, law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Havana. If convicted, all four men face up to 20 years in federal prison. In addition to the new cases, another Mexican national who had illegally reentered the United States received a 495-month sentence for distributing drugs and machine guns from his South Texas residence. Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo acted as a broker for selling narcotics and machine guns. The court heard how he emulated the “gangster” lifestyle and saw images of a Scarface poster hung in Garcia-Guajardo’s bedroom. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Garcia-Guajardo’s illegal status, the number of drugs and weapons involved, that he was a leader in this criminal enterprise and the dangerousness of his actions to include discharging firearms near children and from moving vehicles. Another illegal alien was sentenced for her role in a multi-year cartel-linked human smuggling conspiracy. Giovana Lozano Hernandez served as the organization’s de facto chief financial officer, managing payments and records while working with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle more than 1,900 illegal aliens for profit. Authorities tied her to multiple smuggling incidents, including one involving 101 illegal aliens found inside a trailer, several of whom reported difficulty breathing and feared for their lives. A search of her residence uncovered cellphones, ledgers, more than $36,000 in proceeds and digital evidence documenting transportation, housing and payment tracking. Also in Laredo, Guatemalan human smuggler Daniel Zavala Ramos aka Dany ZR pleaded guilty in a scheme tied to a tractor-trailer crash that killed more than 50 people and injured over 100 more. He and others transported illegal aliens, including unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. They recruited individuals, collected payment and arranged travel via foot and various other forms of transportation. In some cases, they provided scripted language if authorities apprehended them. He faces up to life at the time of his sentencing. In Corpus Christi, Christopher Henson received 36 months for smuggling aliens in a disguised fishing trip. The investigation revealed Henson used his boat to bypass interior Border Patrol checkpoints while transporting illegal aliens along coastal waters. He posed trips as fishing excursions, sailing south to pick up illegal aliens at Port Mansfield, then traveling north to dock at locations beyond the checkpoints. Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Miguel Carreon in Houston. The court imposed a 57-month sentence, noting how he chose to reenter the United States illegally and commit other crimes. Carreon has a previous conviction for conspiracy to distribute meth and was first removed in 2016. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Alabama Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Leadership Role in Alien Smuggling Organization

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – An Alabama man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Joel Contreras Jr., 33, of Albertville, Alabama, was a member of the Guzman Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), an international criminal enterprise operating in Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mexico. Directly connected to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), the organization traffics guns and drugs and smuggles illegal aliens into the United States. From May 2021 through June 1, 2022, Contreras communicated with other members of the criminal conspiracy, including the head of the Guzman TCO. Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Contreras on May 9, 2022, after noticing that the rear quarter panel of his vehicle was sitting low and showing little to no room between the tire and the wheel well of the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the troopers noticed human bodies concealed by a blanket in the second row of the vehicle as well as within the rear hatch area of the vehicle. The concealed individuals were identified as illegal aliens whom Contreras had picked up at an Eagle Pass gas station and was transporting to either Houston or San Antonio. Upon delivery of the aliens, Contreras was to be paid $500 per alien. He was charged by the state for smuggling of persons with a likelihood of serious bodily injury or death—charges which were ultimately dismissed. Contreras was again arrested in September 2024 for alleged forgery and obstruction of justice in Marshall County, Alabama. While in custody, Conteras admitted to his role in the Guzman TCO and his participation in alien smuggling events. A search of his phone revealed various photos, phone numbers, and pin drop locations related to the TCO’s smuggling ventures. Contreras was transferred to ICE custody on Nov. 22, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Feb. 18, 2025. He is one of 14 defendants charged, and the first to be sentenced, in the large-scale TCO. It is estimated that the TCO moves 50-100 illegal aliens per month through the Western District of Texas. To date, law enforcement has been able to attribute more than 1,000 illegal aliens and 400 failed smuggling events to the Guzman TCO. Contreras was held accountable for smuggling 655 illegal aliens. ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Long Island College Professor Charged With Attempted Enticement Of a Minor

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Philip Schuler was arraigned in federal court in Central Islip this morning on a seven-count indictment charging him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and child pornography charges. Schuler, who was an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College at the time of the charged conduct, was arrested on a complaint in January 2026. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks who ordered the defendant detained pending trial. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “As alleged, the defendant spent months communicating with an FBI undercover agent who purported to be a 13-year-old female child, during which the defendant repeatedly expressed his interest and willingness to have a sexual relationship with her,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute sexual predators who target children to ensure they are held accountable and protect vulnerable members of the community from these depraved individuals.” “Philip Schuler allegedly sent explicit photos and messages to a supposed teenage girl before planning to sexually abuse her in person. This alleged attempt revealed the defendant’s disturbing desire to repeatedly groom and exploit a vulnerable child. The FBI continues to protect minors from online sexual predators looking to fulfill their twisted wants,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. As set forth in court filings, beginning in October 2025, acting on a tip from the Decoy Project, lnc., a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and reporting online predators, a member of the FBI acting in an undercover capacity (the FBI UA) and posing as a 13-year-old girl named “Chloe,” began communicating with Schuler on the social media platform Discord. During these almost daily communications, Schuler engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the FBI UA, including those in which the defendant talked about taking her virginity; masturbated during a video call; and sent her a photograph of his penis. On January 7, 2026, Schuler arranged to meet the FBI UA at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream, where upon his arrival, he was arrested by FBI agents. Schuler possessed a key to a motel room that he had rented earlier in the day so that he and the FBI UA could be alone. Law enforcement recovered spermicide, gifts for the FBI UA, and a laptop computer, among other items, from inside the motel room. A subsequent Court-authorized search of Schuler’s electronics uncovered approximately 400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Schuler faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Special Assistant United States Attorney James P. Scahill is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : PHILIP SCHULER Age: 53 Port Jefferson, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-77 (SJB)


title: Leesville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Setting Wildfires in Kisatchie National Forest

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LEESVILLE, Louisiana – On April 9, 2026, Clinton Nathaniel Johnson, a 37-year-old Leesville resident, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and immediately remanded to federal custody after previously pleading guilty to a felony for intentionally setting wildfires in the Kisatchie National Forest. In addition to his prison sentence, Johnson was ordered to pay $39,094 in restitution for fire response costs and will serve two years of supervised release following his release from federal prison. “Wildfires pose a grave threat to life and property, and there must be consequences for anyone reckless enough to intentionally set them,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our community is extremely fortunate that no injuries or property damage resulted from the 19 illegal fires set by Mr. Johnson, and we are grateful to our firefighters and first responders for their swift and effective actions. This case shows our Office’s commitment alongside our law enforcement partners to identify perpetrators of this reckless and dangerous crime and hold those perpetrators accountable with felony charges.” The following photo depicts one of the fires that Mr. Johnson set: Evidence presented in court showed that approximately 19 intentional fires were ignited in the Kisatchie National Forest between May and July 2025 that investigators linked to Johnson through patterns such as distinctive stormproof matches that were recovered at multiple scenes. Several of these fires burned significant portions of the Kisatchie, including three fires that separately consumed approximately 150 acres, 75 acres, and 35 acres. Thanks to the rapid response and coordinated efforts of federal and state fire personnel, all fires were contained without injury or structural damage. In August 2025, federal and state agents executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence. Agents located the same brand and type of stormproof matches recovered at the fire scenes during the search, and investigators also recovered video evidence showing Johnson purchasing the matches. Johnson later admitted to igniting the fires by throwing matches from his vehicle while traveling on roads through the forest. The United States Forest Service investigated this case with assistance from the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Denise Duhon and Ginger Green. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 2:25-cr-00237-01. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm While out on Parole

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

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for committing a firearm violation while he was out on parole for a separate, but similar, offense. John Ward, of Maple Heights, Ohio, has been sentenced to 129 months (10.75 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. According to court documents, in August 2025, law enforcement was conducting a liquor law compliance inspection at a bar in Cleveland when they observed several individuals consuming alcohol outside the establishment. As they approached the group, one man, later identified as Ward, moved away toward a vehicle. Officers then heard a hard object hit the ground. The object recovered near the vehicle was found to be an FN, Model 509, 9mm caliber pistol, loaded with 17 rounds in a 24-round magazine. Agents noted that Ward appeared highly intoxicated and was taken into custody. The investigation further revealed that Ward had previous convictions for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in 2022, and for Aggravated Robbery in 2010. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie A. Wojtasik and Scott C. Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.


title: Social media influencer sentenced to 6 years in prison for $20 million Ponzi scheme, tax fraud

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today enforcement actions against violators of tax laws, including a social media influencer who orchestrated a $20 million real estate Ponzi scheme and committed tax fraud to further that scheme. “As we close out tax season for the year, I want to remind the public that this office will aggressively pursue those who cheat the tax system or otherwise steal from the U.S. Treasury,” said U.S. Attorney Gerace. “We will not tolerate fraud—whether committed against the government or private citizens.” Tyler Bossetti Tyler Bossetti, 31, of Columbus, was sentenced in federal court in Columbus today to 72 months in prison. He received more than $23 million in investments from victim investors throughout the United States and abroad. In total, dozens of investors lost more than $11 million. According to court documents, from 2019 until 2023, Bossetti widely publicized what he described as a real estate investment program. Through his company Boss Lifestyle LLC, Bossetti guaranteed large rates of return for short-term investments. He advertised the investments, often promising a rate of return of thirty percent or more, through social media, especially Facebook and YouTube. Bossetti also caused the issuance and filing of approximately 14 false and fraudulent 1099-INT tax forms. He filed the IRS forms to report interest income for investors who did not earn interest. Bossetti claimed he had reinvested victims’ interest earnings when in fact he had not. Bossetti admitted to misappropriating investor funds to further his lifestyle and make purchases like rental payments on a condo in downtown Columbus, frequent travel, a $150,000 Mercedes SUV and various cryptocurrency investments. Bossetti was charged by a bill of information in April 2025 and pleaded guilty in June 2025 to wire fraud and aiding in a false tax filing. Tiauna Castro Also in Columbus, Tiauna Castro was convicted of submitting false federal tax forms related to a pair of sham businesses. Castro was part of a methamphetamine trafficking organization and mailed packages of methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Columbus. While on pretrial release in this case, Castro submitted false tax forms and received more than half a million dollars in refunds to which she was not entitled. Castro pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to the submission of false tax claims while on pretrial release. Castro awaits sentencing. Christopher Dowtin On March 10, a federal judge in Dayton found Christopher Dowtin , an Atlanta-area man, guilty of wire fraud and theft of public funds following a bench trial. Dowtin fraudulently received two tax refund checks—including one for more than $32 million—by falsely converting two businesses’ IRS accounts to his name and address. After receiving these tax refund checks, Dowtin then traveled to Ohio and attempted to negotiate the funds into a brokerage account in his name. Dowtin awaits sentencing. Angela and Shonda Michael On March 24, Angela and Shonda Michael were indicted by a grand jury in Dayton and charged with 15 counts of willfully failing to pay over taxes to the IRS. According to the indictment, the defendants own and operate Free To Be You Residential Services, LLC, a business in Eaton, Ohio, that provides healthcare and other services to disabled adults. As alleged in the indictment, since at least 2021, the Michaels failed to pay over employment taxes they withheld from their employees, totaling more than $400,000, and instead kept the money for their own personal benefit. Marshae Love On April 29, Marshae Love is scheduled to plead guilty to aiding in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. According to the plea agreement, Love worked as a tax preparer at a Columbus business, and, over the span of two years, falsified tax returns that were submitted to the IRS. Specifically, the defendant filed Schedule Cs with fake businesses and claimed false tax credits for COVID-related sick leave and family leave. The total tax loss is nearly $1.6 million. Love’s plea agreement requires her to pay restitution of the full tax loss. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, and Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Twombly, Erica D. Lunderman and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in these cases. These cases were investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI. # # #


title: President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Leads to Federal Charges  Against Bloomfield Hills Man for $5 Million Plus  Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Federal law enforcement charged by complaint and yesterday arrested West Bloomfield resident Randon “Romero” Williams with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly defrauding financial institutions and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). “These efforts are the first fruits of President Donald J. Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and come on the heels of the establishment of the new National Fraud Enforcement Division working under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche,” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. “We will zealously prosecute any thief who steals from the hardworking American taxpayer,” said Gorgon. The complaint alleges that between approximately April 2020 and March 2021, Williams, 40, applied for more than $5 million in loans across six applications submitted to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) participating lenders under the names of various businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators allege that these businesses either existed only on paper or that the applications materially inflated employee headcounts, payroll expenses, and gross receipts during relevant periods—key factors used to determine loan eligibility and amounts. According to the complaint, Williams claimed that businesses with names such as “The Romero Group” and “Step Ladder Construction” employed between 21 and 75 individuals and reported monthly payroll expenses of more than half a million dollars. To support these claims, Williams allegedly submitted falsified tax documents with the loan applications. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office. “The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to be a lifeline for struggling businesses during a global disaster event, not a free-for-all for any unscrupulous fraudster looking for easy money,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “If you think that’s the case, you are dead wrong, and you will be held accountable for stealing from every hard-working tax-payer that pays their fair share. Our expertise is following the money, and we will find you.” A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is complete, determinations will be made whether to seek felony indictments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Fasbinder and investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: West Tennessee Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: Jackson, TN – Gregory Lynn Bond , 33 , of Denmark, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. Bond was charged with three counts of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Bond pled guilty to all three counts. According to the information presented during the sentencing hearing, agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force initiated a joint investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Denmark, Tennessee. Through the investigation, agents identified Bond as a methamphetamine distributor for this drug trafficking organization. The investigation of Bond involved several controlled purchases, a traffic stop, and several searches of property used by Bond. At sentencing, Bond was held responsible for trafficking over 3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Following his guilty plea for distribution and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Bond to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Use and trafficking of methamphetamine continues to destroy lives, families, and communities across West Tennessee. The significant sentence in this case sends a clear message to those drug dealers who distribute poison in West Tennessee: You cannot prey upon our citizens for your selfish personal gain with impunity; there will be a reckoning." This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Cross-Country Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A California man pled guilty in federal court today, to charges stemming from his involvement in a cross-country money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds from marijuana trafficking. Nicholas Parks, 53, of Winnetka, California, admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering. Parks acknowledges that he and his co-conspirators laundered $329,071 between October 2020 and January 2021 in connection with the scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. According to the guilty plea, Park admits that from October 2020 through January 2021, he participated in a conspiracy to launder proceeds he and his associates generated through selling marijuana in Maryland. As part of the conspiracy, female co-conspirators transported marijuana from California to Maryland, usually via commercial air travel. Parks traveled separately from the co-conspirators to Maryland, but he sold the marijuana with local co-conspirators after arrival. When the co-conspirators finished distributing the drugs, Co-Conspirator 1 used a couple of methods to launder the funds. Co-Conspirator 1 either drove U.S. currency across the country to California or provided the proceeds to a Maryland laundering contact. The contact then moved the money through financial institutions, resulting in two levels, or layers, of laundering transactions. HSI agents identified several occasions that the co-conspirators laundered marijuana trafficking proceeds. Law enforcement used evidence obtained through multiple methods, including controlled money drops, text messages between co-conspirators, along with recorded calls and meetings, to link the co-conspirators to the conspiracy. On October 15, 2020, Texas Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 1 in Carson County, Texas. During the stop, officers recovered approximately $109,071 in U.S. currency from Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle. Officers also seized Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone. Following a search of Co-Conspirator 1’s phone, law enforcement uncovered a lengthy text message exchange between Parks and Co-Conspirator 1. The text-message exchange appeared to show Parks’ involvement in the money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy. Messages included detailed ledgers of drug sales Parks and his associates conducted along with the money owed to each of them for their participation. The most recent messages showed that Parks provided Co-Conspirator 1 with U.S. currency to transport from Maryland back to California. Additionally, the text messages revealed that Co-Conspirator 1 was supposed to drop off a portion of the proceeds to a location in Oklahoma. Based on the messages, the amount of U.S. currency found in Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle was consistent with the remaining money bound for California and money he was paid for his services. Co-Conspirator 1 later confirmed to HSI agents that the money found in his vehicle consisted of proceeds from the marijuana trafficking conspiracy in Maryland. He also admitted he was driving the money back to California and was supposed to make a drop in Oklahoma. Then between December 2020, and January 2021, HSI agents conducted three controlled money drops. Co-Conspirator 1 unknowingly used confidential informants (CI) to receive and launder the drug trafficking proceeds from Maryland. On each occasion, Co-Conspirator 1 provided U.S. currency to one of two CIs, who then deposited the funds in a bank account HSI controlled. Then co-conspirators withdrew the funds in California and transported it to other individuals who were believed to grow marijuana in the state. Over the course of the three controlled money drops, Co-Conspirator 1 provided the CIs with approximately $220,000. Parks faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Monday, July 27, at 2:30 p.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in the investigation and Texas Highway Patrol for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #