title: Previously Deported Mexican Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty in DC to Role in International Fentanyl Conspiracy

body_text: WASHINGTON – Alfredo Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 27, a previously deported Mexican national, pleaded guilty on October 17 in U.S. District Court for his role in a multinational drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed wholesale quantities of fentanyl-laced pills across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, aka “Alacran,” of Rosarito, Mexico, pleaded guilty to a criminal Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2026. Rodriguez-Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life. Rodriguez-Gonzalez was one of 24 co-defendants arrested during 2023 in the District, Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy. Joining in the announcement of the plea were Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division According to court documents, during the conspiracy Rodriguez-Gonzalez was a Mexico-based supplier to Los Angeles-area drug distributers of large quantities of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills. He utilized social media platforms, most commonly Instagram, to facilitate the importation of thousands of counterfeit “M-30” pills per shipment. Rodriguez-Gonzalez had previously been deported to Mexico from the United States following a conviction in Utah for distributing methamphetamine. On October 4, 2019, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison. On June 13, 2021, he was released and deported to Mexico. From December 2021, Rodriguez-Gonzalez was a member of the conspiracy that eventually distributed an estimated 36 kilograms of illegal fentanyl in the U.S. He remained a member of the conspiracy until April 3, 2024, when he was arrested after illegally re-entering the United States. The illegal fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills that Rodriguez-Gonzalez sold to multiple LA-based traffickers were resold to redistributors in Washington, D.C., area and elsewhere. Communications evidence, as well as physical seizures, indicate that he facilitated the transfer of hundreds of thousands of the counterfeit pills. The impetus for the investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death resulting case , law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms. The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris McCranie of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking (VCNT) Section. 23cr73 DEFENDANT AGE LOCATION CHARGES/SENTENCE Hector David Valdez, aka “Curl” 27 Santa Fe Springs, California Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Craig Eastman 21 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Charles Jeffrey Taylor 21 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Aug. 19, 2025, to 98 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Raymond Nava, Jr. 21 Bell Gardens, California Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Ulises Aldaz 28 Bell Gardens, California Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Max Alexander Carias Torres 27 Bell Gardens, California Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy” 35 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty August 26, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Marvin Anthony Bussie, aka “Money Marr” 22 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Marcus Orlando Brown 29 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Columbian Thomas, aka "Cruddy Murda” 27 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden 35 Washington, D.C. Sentenced May 5, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Andre Malik Edmond, aka “Draco” 23 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Treyveon James Johnson, aka “Treyski” 21 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Karon Olufemi Blalock, aka “Fat Bags” 30 Alexandria, Virginia Pleaded guilty Oct. 16, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Ronte Ricardo Greene, aka “Cardiddy” 29 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty August 25, 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21” 39 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty June 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Darius Quincy Hodges, aka “Brick” 34 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Lamin Sesay, aka “Rock Star” 28 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Paul Alejandro Felix 26 Glendale, California Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Omar Arana, aka “Frogs” 27 Cudahy, California Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano” 27 San Diego, California Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Raul Pacheco Ramirez 31 Long Beach, California Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Giovani Alejandro Briones 31 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Alfredo Rodriguez-Gonzalez 27 Rosarito, Mexico Pleaded guilty Oct. 15, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 23cr73 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Former D.C. Public Schools Official Sentenced to Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON—Dana Garnett, 61, a former contract specialist for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), was sentenced November 12 to 24 months of imprisonment for her role in a bribery and wire fraud conspiracy that illegally steered lucrative DCPS business to local vendors, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Earlier this year, on June 23, 2025, Garnett was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud charges, arising from her role in a bribery and kickback scheme she perpetrated at DCPS. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Amit P. Mehta ordered Garnett to serve three years of supervised release. Joining in the announcement were Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia. According to court documents, Garnett and her co-conspirators defrauded DCPS by falsifying purchase orders and authorizing payments for inflated quantities of goods that were never delivered. In return for approving these fraudulent overpayments, Garnett received kickbacks from local vendors. In September 2025, a federal jury found one of those vendors, Yelake Meseretu, guilty of conspiracy and wire fraud arising out of the same criminal scheme. In addition to Meseretu’s conviction, three of Garnett’s co-conspirators—Patricia Bailey, Donald McWhirter, and Duane King—pleaded guilty earlier this year and face sentencing in February 2026. According to court documents, over the course of at least five years, Garnett, of Hyattsville, Maryland, accepted illegal payments from several vendors who supplied goods to DCPS. In exchange, Garnett steered business to the vendors. Some of the payments were generated from falsified orders that listed inflated amounts of goods that were never delivered. Garnett and her co-conspirator Patricia Bailey, a fellow DCPS employee, coordinated with the vendors to deliver fewer goods than were billed. Based on false certifications made by or with the knowledge of Garnett, DCPS paid the full amount of the purchase orders as if they had been fulfilled in full. The vendors paid cash to Garnett and her co-conspirator in various locations in the D.C. and Maryland area, including parking lots of restaurants in strip malls. This case was investigated by FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher R. Howland and John Borchert of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. Garnett and Meseretu: 24cr281 Bailey: 23cr336 King: 23cr319 McWhirter: 24cr280


title: Marijuana-Dealing Felon Sentenced to 32 Months for Illegal Possession of a Glock

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darnell Earl Christian, 34, a felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 32 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded Glock 45 pistol as he attempted to distribute marijuana in the Kingman Park neighborhood of Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Christian pleaded guilty on June 3 to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and to unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In addition to the 32-month prison term, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Christian to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents on March 26, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were patrolling in the Kingman Park neighborhood when they spotted Christian on the 1800 block of Benning Road NE. Christian was crouching between cars. taking marijuana out of a large plastic bag and placing it onto a digital scale. An officer approached Christian. Christian tried to flee with a large bag of marijuana in hand. A second officer intercepted and detained Christian, and observed a pistol in the defendant’s waistband. Christian struggled with the officers as they cuffed him. Following Christian’s arrest, officers recovered 429 grams marijuana, a digital scale, and a baggie containing 14 grams of a white rock-like substance that tested positive for cocaine. Officers also recovered a Glock model 45, 9mm handgun with one round of ammunition chambered and 16 additional rounds in an extended magazine. Christian previously was convicted in District of Columbia Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, sentenced to 16 months incarceration, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the MPD with valuable help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Wynn for the District of Columbia. 25cr98 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Climate Activist Sentenced in Defacing Degas Exhibit at National Gallery of Art

body_text: WASHINGTON – Timothy Martin, 55, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to two years of supervised release for his role in the April 27, 2023, defacement of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen , at the National Gallery of Art, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. A jury found Martin guilty on Apr. 7, 2025, of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. In addition to the two months of supervised release, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Martin to serve 150 hours of community service that must include 20 hours of cleaning graffiti. He must also stay out of Washington, D.C. and not visit any museum. Judge Berman Jackson also ordered Martin to pay $4,062. in restitution. According to evidence introduced in court, Martin and co-defendant Johanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, NY, smeared paint on the case and base of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen , a sculpture which has drawn visitors for years to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Following the attack, a group called Declare Emergency claimed credit. Martin and Smith agreed, along with other co-conspirators, to enter the National Gallery of Art for the purpose of injuring the exhibit and entered the museum armed with water bottles filled with paint. Martin and Smith handed their phones to other co-conspirators and waited until patrons cleared the area in front of the Little Dancer . The pair proceeded to smear paint on the case and base of the exhibit, at times smacking the case with force. Prior to the attack, members of the conspiracy had alerted the Washington Post. Two reporters from the Post recorded and photographed the offense, as did additional members of the conspiracy Smith and Martin caused over $4,000 in damage, including material and labor costs, and the exhibit was removed from public display for 10 days so that it could be repaired. Smith pleaded guilty December 15, 2023, to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. She was sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by 24 months of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $4,062 in restitution. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Tepfer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. ## 23cr182 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 37 Months for Unlawful Possession of a 9mm Pistol

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Raymond Davon Benson, 32, a convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today, October 31, in U.S. District Court to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a 9mm firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Benson pleaded guilty July 1, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to an indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 37-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Benson to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on March 29, 2025, about 1:45 a.m., Metropolitan Police officers were on patrol in the U Street Corridor when they spotted Benson holding a red Solo cup in his hand. As officers parked and exited their cruiser, Benson noticed their approach and tossed the cup to the ground. He walked away and then took headlong flight. Benson ran into the alleys off the 200 block of Vermont Ave, NW. While running, he withdrew a large firearm from his waistband and threw it over a fence in the 900 block of U Street, NW. Police eventually caught and detained him. Investigators recovered Benson’s Cobray M-11 9mm pistol and 28 rounds of ammunition. Benson was previously convicted in Superior Court for a 2016 charge of Aggravated Assault and Carrying a Pistol Without a License. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison and, as a convicted felon, forbidden from possessing firearms. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Strong. 25cr102 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: WASHINGTON – Vankese Russell, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 months in federal prison for his illegal possession of a pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Russell pleaded guilty on July 21 before Judge Carl J. Nichols to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, Judge Nichols ordered Russell to serve three years of supervised release. The prosecution was part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. Joining in the annoucement were Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to court documents, on Jan. 28, 2025, about 6:37 p.m., MPD officers were patrolling Chinatown on foot when they observed a cloud of smoke coming from behind a bus stop on the 600 block of H Street NW. They smelled burning marijuana and walked toward the bus stop, where numerous pedestrians were present. The officers observed Russell holding a hand-rolled cigarette. As the officers approached, Russell attempted to extinguish the cigarette and dropped it to the ground. Officers cuffed Russell and told him he was under arrest. The officers searched Russell and recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson SW40VE from his waistband. Russell previously pleaded guilty in 2017 to first degree attempted child sex abuse in D.C. Superior Court, was sentenced to four years in prison, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Tobacco, Washington Field Division. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman. 25cr116 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Felon Sentenced to 15-Months Incarceration for Illegal Possession of a Loaded Glock 9mm Pistol

body_text: WASHINGTON –Trevon Timothy Vines, 33, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Vines pleaded guilty June 6, 2025, before Judge Amy Berman Jackson to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 15-month prison term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Vines to serve three years of supervised release. This prosecution comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful" initiative, which is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. According to court documents, on March 15, 2025, about 12:45 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers were on the 1800 block of 7 th Street NW when they observed a white Chevrolet make a U-turn over double yellow lines. Moments later, officers stopped the vehicle. As officers approached the driver, they spotted an open bottle of tequila inside the car and noted the scent of alcohol. Officers ordered all the occupants out of the car include Vines, who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat holding a clear plastic cup containing yellow liquid. While attempting to place Vines in handcuffs, an officer recovered a loaded Glock 43 9mm pistol from Vine’s front left pocket. Officers ran the serial number of the firearm and learned it had been reported stolen from a gun dealer in White Plains, Maryland. Vines was previously convicted in 2016 of attempted robbery in DC Superior Court. He was convicted again in 2017 of armed robbery in Superior Court for which he was sentenced to 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. 25cr091 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Convicted Felon with a Glock Sentenced to 46 Months

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daron Keith Brown, 30, a previously convicted felon who resides in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 46 months in federal prison in connection with his possession of a loaded semiautomatic pistol that had been modified to fire as a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Brown pleaded guilty on March 25 before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.to being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm. In addition to the 46-month prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Brown to serve three years of supervised release. Joining in the announcement of the sentencing was ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to court documents, on Jan. 10, 2024, members of the MPD’s Robbery Suppression Unit were on patrol on the 700 block of Florida Ave. NW when they saw a silver VW stopped on a crosswalk and impeding traffic. Officers attempted a vehicle stop, but the VW fled. The VW subsequently was seen on the 900 block of R Street, NW. Officers again attempted a traffic stop, however, this time the driver, later identified as Robert Williams, exited the car and fled on foot. As officers followed Williams, another officer stayed with the VW and ordered the front seat passenger, Daron Brown, to get out of the car. As the officer approached, he spotted a gun on the front driver’s seat. Brown exited the vehicle and had a blue coat in his lap. As Brown was pulled out of the vehicle he put the coat back onto the seat. Once outside the vehicle Brown attempted to run but was eventually restrained. Another investigator searched the vehicle and located a second gun, a Glock 21, .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm with a converter switch, under the blue coat on the front passenger seat where Brown had been sitting. The Glock was found under a blue coat where Brown had been sitting. Brown was on supervised release for a 2021 firearms offense in 2021. Brown pleaded guilty in July 2022 and served 36-months. He also has previous convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon offense committed while on release and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the ATF. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Shehzad Akhtar and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Haley Pennington. 25cr23 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Three Arrested and Charged in Kidnapping, Stabbing, and Robbery of Two Female Victims in Southeast

body_text: WASHINGTON – Robynn Danielle Bynum, 18, of Fort Washington, Maryland, Cierra Charity Lee, 20, and Kayvon Edwards, 21, of the District of Columbia were arrested on Nov. 5, 2025, and charged today in a complaint in connection with the October 20, 2025, kidnappings, stabbings, and robbery of two female victims in Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Bynum, Lee, and Edwards are charged with federal counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping, and the trio are further charged with three District Code counts of kidnapping while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and armed robbery. Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to the complaint, a United States Park Police officer responded on October 20 at about 11:45 p.m. for a report of a stabbing on the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. The officer found two victims. One had been stabbed several times in her back. The second had knife wounds on her right wrist. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that the victims had been attacked earlier that night at a residence near Suitland Parkway & Stanton Road SE. The investigation further revealed that the victims went to the residence for a “babysitting job” when two individuals “jumped” them, stabbing them with a knife. The victims were bound with duct tape and held in a bathroom. Eventually they were led to a car belonging to one of the victims and driven to another location where their assailants abandoned them. The victims were ultimately able to escape and seek help. MPD officers later found the victim’s car parked on the 3200 block of M Street SE. The officers noted blood stains and pieces of duct tape on the back seat. They also noticed the car’s front passenger tire was flat. Investigators learned that one of the victims had previously accused Edwards of a crime in another jurisdiction, and that Edwards had been due to appear in court on October 21 to face the charges. Law enforcement also learned that the victims were lured to Lee’s residence under the pretext of a “babysitting job.” It was in the residence that Bynum allegedly attacked the victims with a knife. Edwards made several calls to Lee and Bynum to orchestrate the offenses while he was incarcerated and awaiting trial on the above-mentioned charge. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. 25mj256 Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.


title: Quad Cities Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in Violent RICO Conspiracy

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Quad Cities men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy, which engaged in a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. According to public court documents and evidence presented at trials and sentencings, the racketeering conspiracy involved Fifth Street gang members. The Fifth Street Gang is also known as the “Arsenal Courts Posse,” “Zone Fifth,” “Fifth Street Mafia,” “Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG),” and “Money Team.” The Fifth Street gang operated as a criminal enterprise responsible for numerous acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder in the Davenport and Rock Island area. The criminal enterprise was connected to dozens of shooting investigations and at least seven homicides over the course of two decades. SENTENCES Rasheem Damonte Bogan, 34, was sentenced on October 9, 2025, to 27 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition charges, followed by three years of supervised release. On June 1, 2020, Bogan and seven co-defendants went to Necker’s Jewelers to commit a burglary. While there, the group encountered a man they mistakenly believed to be a rival gang member. Bogan and others fired 33 rounds from four firearms, seriously injuring the victim. Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., 29, was sentenced on November 6, 2025, to 30 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition charges, followed by three years of supervised release. Cartwright was also ordered to pay $29,732.23 in restitution. Following a six-day jury trial, Cartwright was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and possessing ammunition as a felon. Evidence at trial demonstrated that on July 5, 2020, Cartwright fired four rounds from a .40 caliber pistol toward a man on West Third Street in Davenport, resulting in the victim’s death. Cartwright used the same pistol that another Fifth Street Gang member had fired during the Necker’s Jewelers shooting a month earlier. ADDITIONAL DEFENDANTS In total, 14 defendants, including Bogan and Cartwright, were convicted of federal crimes related to the Fifth Street Gang’s criminal conduct between April 2006 and February 2024. The 12 co-defendants were sentenced as follows: Don Christopher White, Jr. was sentenced to 480 months’ imprisonment; Raheem Jacques Houston was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment; Deaguise Ramont Hall was sentenced to 400 months’ imprisonment; Brandon Deshane Branigan was sentenced to 226 months’ imprisonment; Michael Linn Cross was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment; Devell Carl Lewis was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment; LaShawn D. James Hensley was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment; Simmeon Terrell Hall was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment; Ricky Lee Childs, Jr. was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment; Timothy Justin Beaver was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment; Devante Atwell French was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment; and Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr. was sentenced to 162 months’ imprisonment. STATEMENTS “This was a thorough and relentless investigation. Our officers stayed committed, and prosecutors were steadfast in seeking justice,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel. “Gun violence will never be tolerated in our community. These dangerous individuals showed no regard for human life and are now being held accountable. I’m incredibly thankful for our investigators, officers, and partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office whose dedication has made our city safer. The message is clear: if you commit violent acts, you will be held accountable.” “This case represents years of tireless investigative work and close collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle one of the most violent criminal organizations operating in the Quad Cities,” said United States Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “The sentences imposed send an unequivocal message: those who bring violence, guns, and drugs into our communities will be held fully accountable under federal law. And let me be clear—anyone who threatens or attempts to harm our law enforcement partners will face the full force of the federal government. Our office will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who safeguard our communities every day, working together to restore safety, stability, and peace to our neighborhoods.” * * * United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport and Rock Island Police Departments, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: New Scam Center Strike Force Battles Southeast Asian Crypto Investment Fraud Targeting Americans

body_text: WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, together with major federal law enforcement and interagency partners, announced the creation of the first District of Columbia Scam Center Strike Force to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams. Joining in the announcement were Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Gregory A. Heeb, and Assistant Director Kyo Dolan of the United States Secret Service, Office of Field Operations. Chinese transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) are using cryptocurrency investment scams and a variety of confidence scams to steal the life savings of everyday Americans. Often using U.S. social media networks or text messages to U.S.-based cell phones, the scammers first gain the trust of their targeted victims. Over time, the scammers convince their victims to invest in real cryptocurrency, only to then trick their victims to transfer those funds into fake cryptocurrency investment websites and applications. Many of those websites are hosted by companies in the United States, but once funds are transferred, the cryptocurrency is quickly laundered into other accounts outside of U.S. jurisdiction. These schemes, which fraudsters refer to as “pig butchering” because they are “fattening” up their victims, are often run out of scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Workers in the compounds often are victims of human trafficking, held against their will, abused, and guarded by armed groups as they are instructed to target Americans. In some of the Southeast Asian countries where these compounds operate, scam-generated revenue is so massive that it amounts to nearly half of the country’s GDP. Recent reporting estimates that this scam industry defrauds Americans of nearly $10 billion per year. “Scam centers are creating a generational wealth transfer from Main Street America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime. As the prosecuting office in the nation’s capital, my office has the authority to charge foreign defendants and seize foreign property,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “President Trump wants the United States to be the global center of the world’s cryptocurrency industry. So it is absolutely crucial that Americans understand the safe use of this commodity. We will expose and prosecute the criminals who would abuse their trust so that all Americans can feel secure in their investments.” U.S. Attorney Pirro specifically called on U.S. corporations to partner in the initiative. “Working together in public-private partnership, we must secure the U.S. infrastructure, which is being used as an instrument to defraud Americans in these scams.” "The FBI is committed to the important work of the Scam Center Strike Force," said FBI Criminal Division Deputy Assistant Director, Gregory Heeb. "The lasting impact from the highly sophisticated, transnational financial crimes emanating from scam centers can be devastating to victims and their families. It is the FBI's job to stop these criminals, and with the help of our partners around the globe, we will do just that." “Since 2019, the U.S. Secret Service has seen a major uptick in cryptocurrency investment scams,” said Assistant Director Kyo Dolan of the United States Secret Service. The organizations behind these scams leverage an ‘ecosystem of criminality,’ often weaving an intricate web of illicit activities together to perpetrate their schemes. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the U.S. Secret Service has responded to approximately 3,000 victims who contacted us regarding cryptocurrency investment schemes.” The new Scam Center Strike Force combines the power, reach, and resources of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service to crackdown and disrupt these schemes. The Scam Center Strike Force is also seeking to use all government tools available, partnering with the State Department, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Department of Commerce. The Scam Center Strike Force is investigating the worst scam compounds located in Southeast Asia. Strike Force teams focus on identifying and pursuing key leaders—including Chinese organized crime affiliates operating in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma—to bring them to justice. The Strike Force also is working to seize and disable the U.S.-based facilities and infrastructure that provide the manner and means to execute these scams, which includes U.S. internet service provider and social media accounts scammers use to prey on Americans. The Strike Force will collaborate with U.S. companies to sever access to the scam centers, and prevent U.S. infrastructure from being weaponized against American citizens. As announced today, the Strike Force is already up and running. The Strike Force Crypto Seizure team has seized and forfeited $401,657,274.33 in crypto currency from these schemes, and announced today the filing of forfeiture proceedings for $80 million in stolen funds. The Crypto Seizure team is focused on recovering stolen funds and returning them to victims. The Strike Force Burma team conducted operations against two scam centers located in Burma. At the Tai Chang scam compound, the team seized websites used to victimize Americans. At another Burmese scam center, the team is seeking warrants to seize satellite terminals used to connect the facilities to the internet and enable fraud and money laundering. Today, the Treasury Department designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and other entities related to these scam compounds, as specially-designated nationals (SDN). Established by the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control, the SDN list contains the names of individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists, narcotics traffickers, and transnational criminal organizations, whose assets are blocked and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business. A Strike Force Regional team investigated a network of Bali scam centers. The suspects, directed by Cambodia-based facilitators, targeted more than 150 U.S.-based victims. Information the Strike Force provided to local police was critical and essential to the prosecution of 38 Indonesian nationals. The Strike Force also deployed FBI agents to Bangkok to embed with the Royal Thai Police War Room Task Force to combat scam compounds, such as KK Park in Burma. The Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, the Strike Force will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing into the pockets of international and domestic criminals, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims. The Scam Center Strike Force is a collaboration of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; DOJ’s Criminal Division, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Fraud Section, and Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island is also collaborating on the initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Kevin Rosenberg represent the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on the Strike Force. Today’s cryptocurrency seizures were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock and Trial Attorneys Ethan Cantor and Stefanie Schwartz of DOJ’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, with the FBI San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Nashville, and Honolulu Field Offices, and the U.S. Secret Service San Francisco and Memphis Field Offices. Today’s seizures related to Tai Chang were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie Zimmerman and Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor with the FBI San Diego Field Office, and additional Burma seizures were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie Zimmerman, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Datta, and the FBI Washington Field Office. If you have been defrauded out of your money by a Southeast Asian Scam Center scheme, please contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.


title: California Political Consultant and Former Public Official Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Obstruct Justice, False Statements, and Tax Crimes

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: williamson_indictment.pdf Political consultant Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The 23-count indictment was unsealed following Williamson’s arrest this morning. “This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.” “Today’s charges are the result of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards.” “Disguising personal luxuries as business expenses—especially to claim improper tax deductions or to willfully file fraudulent tax returns is a serious criminal offense with severe consequences,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “IRS-CI will pursue charges against those who deliberately exploit their business for personal enrichment.” According to court documents, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson conspired with others to divert approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign to an associate’s personal use. Collectively, they funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay for what was, in reality, a no-show job. The indictment also alleges that Williamson conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s business. Williamson also subscribed to false tax returns claiming more than $1 million in business deductions for what were actually personal and nondeductible expenditures, such as private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, home furnishings, and designer handbags, as well as deductions for no-show jobs for friends and family. When questioned by FBI agents in connection with ongoing investigations into the diversion of campaign funds, the backdated contracts, and allegations of public corruption, Williamson made false statements to the agents regarding each of those topics. Williamson is scheduled to make her initial appearance on the charges at 2:00 p.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento. The United States concurrently unsealed charging documents related to this case for two other individuals charged by information. This case is the product of a multiyear investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Rosanne Rust, and Katherine T. Lydon, and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud; up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to obstruct and making a false statements; and up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for each count of subscribing to a false tax return. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted for Immigration Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez (64, Cuba) with fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents, and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. “This man’s past as a longtime military pilot for the evil Castro regime — which has wrought untold suffering on the Cuban people — should have been front and center in his immigration file,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who lies about their past to take advantage of America’s immigration system.” According to the indictment, on or about April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez presented or caused to be presented a Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status containing false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specifically, the false statements pertained to his prior membership in the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force from 1980 to 2009. In the Form I-485 Application, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez falsely stated he had never received any weapons or military training, never participated in any group of any kind that used weapons or threatened to use weapons, and never served in a military or police unit, when in reality, he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force. The indictment included a photograph depicting Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez in the Air Defense Force: An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. The Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida are partners in this investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron for the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Abbie D. Waxman from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. ###


title: Cuban Air Force Pilot Indicted For Immigration Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and United States Attorney and Jason A. Reding Quiñones announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez (64, Cuba) with fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents, and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. “This man’s past as a longtime military pilot for the evil Castro regime — which has wrought untold suffering on the Cuban people — should have been front and center in his immigration file,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who lies about their past to take advantage of America’s immigration system.” According to the indictment, on or about April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez presented or caused to be presented a Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status containing false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specifically, the false statements pertained to his prior membership in the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force from 1980 to 2009. In the Form I-485 Application, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez falsely stated he had never received any weapons or military training, never participated in any group of any kind that used weapons or threatened to use weapons, and never served in a military or police unit, when in reality, he received such training and served in the Cuban military as part of the Air Defense Force. The indictment included a photograph depicting Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez in the Air Defense Force: An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. FBI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. The Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida are partners in this investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron for the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Abbie D. Waxman from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.


title: Chinese National Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Smuggling a Dangerous Biological Pathogen into the U.S. While Working at a University of Michigan Laboratory

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Yunqing Jian, 33, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty today to charges of smuggling a biological pathogen into the United States and then lying to FBI agents about it, and was sentenced to time-served, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The FBI arrested Jian in June in connection with allegations related to Jian’s and her co-defendant, Zunyong Liu’s, smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock. According to court records, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. Jian’s electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America—through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport—so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked. “We must stop Chinese Nationals who are smuggling potentially catastrophic biomaterials. We cannot allow these smugglers to work in the shadows at the University of Michigan. This felony conviction and sentence are a small but important measure against secret biological threats from China. We remain thankful for the work of our elite federal partners—ICE, HSI, FBI, and CBP,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. "Today’s guilty plea underscores the critical role CBP plays in protecting the United States from biological threats that could endanger public health and harm our agricultural economy,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “This case highlights the dangers posed by individuals attempting to smuggle potentially hazardous materials into the country, even under the guise of academic research. The successful resolution of this complex investigation, involving CBP offices nationwide and our federal partners, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing America’s borders and safeguarding national security. I commend the dedication and expertise of all those involved in bringing this case to justice." “Smuggling biological pathogens into the United States from China is a threat to the citizens of Michigan and America as a whole,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “FBI Detroit works around the clock to disrupt any threats to national security no matter when and from where they come. This outcome would not be possible without the exceptional efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and HSI.” The FBI and CBP investigated this case.


title: Deer Park resident sentenced for running unlicensed financial scheme involving $2.3 million check

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. HOUSTON – A 66-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Bobby Charles Lee Sr. pleaded guilty June 30. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Hoyt has now ordered Lee to serve 33 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hoyt imposed strict supervised release conditions, including limits on company and bank account ownership and restrictions on Lee’s access to technology. Lee must also pay restitution to two victims in specific amounts to be determined. At the hearing, the court heard that Lee continued to move illicit funds while on bond. Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted Lee’s conduct was among the “most outrageous” he had seen in 37 years on the bench. He told Lee “at your age, you still have not come home to right” and questioned why Lee had not bothered to tell his family about his criminal case. From 2020 through 2024, Lee operated an unlicensed money-transmitting business that moved funds through multiple personal and business accounts without the required state license or federal registration. Lee allowed others to deposit and transfer funds into accounts he controlled and accepted negotiable instruments others had mailed to him. Authorities flagged several transactions as suspicious or fraudulent, prompting banks to close multiple accounts linked to the scheme. In March 2024, Lee deposited a counterfeit $2.3 million U.S. Treasury check and used the proceeds to enrich himself and his spouse, including purchasing a Cadillac vehicle. Authorities later seized the vehicle and recovered approximately $2.1 million that remained from the fraudulent funds. Lee was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI and Deer Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case with assistance from Kristine Rollinson of the Asset Recovery Section.


title: Billings woman arraigned on murder and gun charges on the Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS - A Billings woman accused of killing an individual on the Crow Indian Reservation appeared today for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Dameka Rose American Horse, 26, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with one count of second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime charged in the indictment, American Horse faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan presided. American Horse was detained pending further proceedings. Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant unlawfully and with malice aforethought, that is deliberately and intentionally, killed John Doe, and aided and abetted the same. Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence that may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, namely second-degree murder, as charged in count 1 of the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PACER case reference. 25-135. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Former martial arts and gymnastics instructor sentenced to 168 months for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material

body_text: Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. GALVESTON, Texas – A 42-year-old Alvin man has been sentenced for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Franklin Joseph Perkins pleaded guilty Feb. 3. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now sentenced Perkins to 168 and 120 months for the receipt and possession convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 168-month-term of imprisonment. Perkins will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Perkins will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. At the hearing, the court heard additional information related to Perkins work as a gymnastics and martial arts instructor who gave female teens massages claiming to be a massage therapist. The investigation revealed Perkins never had a license to provide such services. The court also heard how Perkins commented to a 13-year-old that she had a sexy body and that after she had turned 14, he gave her alcohol and touched her breasts and tried to force himself on her. Her victim impact statement detailed how she trusted Perkins as her gymnastics coach and how she felt manipulated and betrayed by him. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that child pornography cases are ugly cases with real victims. Perkins previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, both located in Alvin. The investigation revealed a user with a Google account had uploaded files possibly depicting child sexual abuse material onto their servers. Law enforcement linked Perkins to that account and determined he had been using various Google accounts and his cell phone to receive and possess child pornography. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Colton Turner prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood - a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Illegal alien sex offender sentenced for second unlawful reentry

body_text: Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 45-year-old man from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. David Antonio Varcenas-Aguilar pleaded guilty Sept. 2. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Varcenas-Aguilar to serve 27 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he was sentencing Varcenas-Aguilar at the highest sentence pursuant to the federal sentencing guidelines because of his serious criminal history which involve violence against another. Varcenas-Aguilar has a felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Authorities first removed him from the United States in 2015, but he unlawfully returned shortly thereafter. On July 12, law enforcement discovered Varcenas-Aguilar hiding in the brush near the Rio Grande during a linewatch operation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Illegal alien charged with assaulting immigration officer with stainless steel mug, resulting in serious injuries

body_text: Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. HOUSTON – A 33-year-old El Salvadorian national has appeared in federal court on charges of attacking and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez will now remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings. “ICE officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our country, and they deserve to be protected in return. Anyone who chooses violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges in the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice, and this office, stand firmly with law enforcement.” According to the criminal complaint, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Tahoe Nov. 4. Rodriguez allegedly got out of the vehicle and ran as law enforcement identified themselves. The charges allege Rodriguez threw a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee on an ICE officer, striking him in the face. The officer fell to the ground and lost consciousness, according to the charges. The officer was taken to a hospital and treated for second-degree burns to his neck and arms and a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stiches, according to the allegations. The criminal complaint alleges authorities first removed Rodriguez from the United States in 2013, and he returned at least two more times. If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer causing bodily injury, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. FBI and ICE – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Keri Fuller and Byron Black are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood . A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Lancaster County Man Pleads Guilty to Bomb Hoax Targeting the 2024 U.S. Open

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Aidan Getchius, 21, of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge John M. Gallagher to one count of conveying false information and hoaxes. The defendant was charged with that offense by information in September of this year. With today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, on September 2, 2024, at 12:12 p.m., the United States Tennis Association (“USTA”) was sent a threat via direct message on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating that “I’m inside Louis Armstrong with a bomb that will go off at 1 pm est.” The message was sent from the X profile “GetchiSoto,” an account created and operated by Getchius. At the time, a Round of 16 (quarterfinals) match in the United States Open women’s division was in progress in the Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The stadium was not evacuated, but the New York Police Department conducted a sweep for explosive devices. While Getchius claimed in the direct message to have a bomb in Louis Armstrong Stadium, he knew he did not possess an explosive device in or near the stadium and was merely seeking to disrupt the women’s match in progress. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10 and faces a maximum possible term of five years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison. Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.


title: Dan Bishop Becomes United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. – James Daniel “Dan” Bishop has assumed office as United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina on interim appointment by Attorney General Pam Bondi, effective today. “I’m eager to lead the Middle District prosecutors and staff and to forge an unprecedentedly collaborative relationship with the men and women of federal, state and local law enforcement in all its counties in order to make and keep North Carolinians safe,” Bishop said. “I’m most grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for this additional opportunity to serve, and I’m thrilled to be home. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina is going to break new ground in effective service to the law, the Department of Justice, and the President of the United States.” As U.S. Attorney, Bishop is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Middle District of North Carolina, encompassing 24 central counties spanning Durham to Yadkin and the borders of Virginia to South Carolina, comprising approximately 3 million North Carolinians. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including immigration violations, gang violence, and National Security, drug trafficking, and violent crimes. The office also represents the United States in civil actions and debt collections. Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Bishop served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He served in Congress from 2019 to 2025 for districts that included portions of the Middle District and as a member of the North Carolina House and Senate for a Mecklenburg district from 2015 until his first election to Congress. Bishop served as a Mecklenburg County Commissioner from 2004 to 2008. For 29 years until entering Congress, Mr. Bishop was a litigator handling complex commercial cases. Bishop received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina in 1986 and his Juris Doctor with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1990. ###


title: Maryland Man, Twice Convicted at Trial of Making Violent Threats Against Federal Judges, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Keith Dougherty, 70, of College Park, Maryland, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh for making violent threats against federal judges. The defendant was charged by indictment in July 2024. In May of this year, Dougherty was convicted at trial of one count of threatening to assault and murder United States judges with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with them while they were engaged in the performance of official duties, and with the intent to retaliate against them on account of their performance of official duties, and three counts of mailing threatening communications. As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, the defendant mailed and/or filed motions containing threatening language directed at federal judges, on numerous occasions and in several federal districts. He had already been prosecuted and convicted by a federal jury in December of 2021 for such filings and served a 41-month prison term in that case, followed by a three-year period of supervised release. Just months into that supervised release, he uttered more threatening communications, so his supervised release was revoked, and he was returned to prison. While back in prison serving the violation sentence, he again mailed and/or filed the same sort of threatening language, resulting in the July 2024 charges and May trial conviction. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph LaBar. Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.


title: Berks County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew McKinney, 27, of Reading, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. on one count each of distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. McKinney was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in August of this year and charged by information in October. With today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court documents, the defendant came to investigators’ attention based on his communications with the subject of an FBI New York investigation into the Telegram account “Steve Jobs” @perv_94, which was used to trade child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with other Telegram users. In reviewing the “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 Telegram account, FBI New York observed communications between it and a Telegram user with the display name of “Unknown 69.” The communications contained both the distribution and receipt of CSAM. Specifically, on May 26, 2025, the “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 Telegram account sent the “Unknown 69” account approximately 80 video files containing CSAM that primarily depicted female children, some of whom were pre-pubescent, engaging in sexual conduct. On July 29, 2025, the “Unknown 69” account then sent “Steve Jobs” @perv_94 four files containing CSAM, including depictions of pre-pubescent children engaging in sexual conduct. The “Unknown 69” account additionally sent a MEGA link, which contained approximately 1,100 video files containing CSAM, including depictions of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual conduct. Some of the video files shared between the accounts depicted the sexual abuse of children as young as infants and toddlers. After obtaining subscriber information and other records, FBI Allentown agents determined that McKinney was the user of “Unknown 69” account, which McKinney subsequently admitted in an interview. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25 and faces a maximum possible term of 40 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison; five years up to a lifetime of supervised release; a $500,000 fine; mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 per victim; and additional financial assessments. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and FBI New York and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik. Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.


title: Bryan County Residents Sentenced For Scheme To Illegally Acquire Firearms

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathanial Louis Hughes, age 31, and Rebecca Leann Hughes, age 33, both of Calera, Oklahoma, were sentenced for crimes committed in a scheme to unlawfully buy and sell firearms. Nathanial Louis Hughes was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. Rebecca Hughes was sentenced to 3 years of probation for one count of Conspiracy to Acquire a Firearm from a Licensed Dealer by False and Fictitious Statement. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Beginning on June 26, 2024, and continuing until July 21, 2024, Rebecca and Nathanial Hughes conspired to unlawfully acquire firearms from a licensed dealer. As part of that conspiracy, Rebecca Hughes agreed to purchase firearms on behalf of her husband, Nathanial Hughes, despite knowing that he was a convicted felon. While purchasing multiple firearms for Nathanial Hughes, Rebecca Hughes presented herself as the actual buyer of the firearms, then affirmed this by marking “YES” on Block 21(a) of ATF Form 4473. On July 21, 2024, law enforcement discovered Nathanial Hughes unlawfully in possession of those firearms despite knowing himself to have previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Nathanial Hughes will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility on January 2, 2026, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Goshen Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – On November 12, 2025, Orlando Rodriguez-Roman, 43 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury found him guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Rodriguez-Roman was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, federal agents intercepted a package addressed to a residence in Goshen that contained over 1,000 grams of cocaine. Agents removed the cocaine from the package and delivered it to its destination. Rodriguez-Roman later took possession of the package and placed the package’s contents, along with an additional amount of cocaine and methamphetamine, inside of a garbage bag. Agents converged on him as he was leaving his home, and Rodriguez-Roman fled in his car, leading police on a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood. During the chase, he threw the trash bag containing the drugs out of his car. After arresting Rodriguez-Roman, police searched his house and found a loaded handgun, three rifle magazines loaded with a total of nearly 80 rounds of ammunition, and other items used to package and store drugs. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service including the USPS Forensic Laboratory Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Katelan McKenzie Doyle. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Johnston County Resident Sentenced For Failure To Register As Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joses Ric-E Beck, a/k/a Ric-E Beck, age 38, of Ravia, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services. The Indictment alleged that Beck was convicted of Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under Sixteen in the State of Oklahoma on August 12, 2008, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from August 30, 2023, until December 20, 2023, Beck failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Beck will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: McCurtain County Residents Plead Guilty To Drug Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Dean Sparkman, age 39, of Idabel, Oklahoma, and Reginald Dondrale Bailey, age 46, of Haworth, Oklahoma, both entered guilty pleas to charges relating to a federal drug conspiracy. Sparkman pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine, and one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman, Bailey, and defendants known and unknown to the Grand Jury knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Indictment further alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Both defendants were ordered into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: Ukrainian Pleads Guilty in DC in Laptop Farm Scheme That Generated Income for North Korean IT Workers

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: WASHINGTON – Oleksandr Didenko, 28, of Kyiv, Ukraine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with a years-long scheme that stole the identities of U.S. citizens and sold them to North Korean IT workers so they could fraudulently gain employment at 40 U.S. companies, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Didenko, aka “Alexander Didenko,” pleaded guilty before Judge Randolph D. Moss to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Didenko agreed to forfeit more than $1.4 million, which includes approximately $181,438 in USD and cryptocurrency seized from Didenko and his co-conspirators. Judge Moss scheduled sentencing for Feb. 19, 2026. According to court documents, Didenko ran a website using a U.S.-based domain, "Upworksell.com," designed to help overseas IT workers buy or rent stolen or borrowed identities. Beginning in 2021, the IT workers used the identities to get hired on online freelance work platforms based in California and Pennsylvania. The work platforms allowed users to advertise themselves as contract gig workers, create free accounts, advertise their skills, and bid on IT work contracts. Didenko paid individuals in the United States to receive and host computers at residences in Virginia, Tennessee, and Califomia. In September-October, 2023, one of Didenko’s customers was unhappy with the services provided by his laptop farm in Virginia. The customer directed Didenko to send the computer to a laptop farm operated in Arizina by Christina Chapman. Chapman was sentenced on July 24, 2025, to 102 months of imprisonment for her involvement in a similar scheme involving IT workers from North Korea. Through his company Didenko managed as many as 871 proxy identities and facilitated the operation of at least three U.S.-based “laptop farms.” He enabled his overseas clients to access the U.S. financial system through Money Service Transmitters rather than having to physically open an account at a bank within the United States, which was then used to facilitate the transfer of employment income to foreign bank accounts. The IT worker clients were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work, much of which was falsely reported to DHS, the IRS and Social Security Administration in the names of actual U.S. persons whose identities had been stolen. On May 16, 2024, the Justice Department seized the online domain, Upworksell.com, and diverted all traffic to the FBI. Polish authorities arrested Didenko and on Dec. 31, 2024, extradited him to the United States. This case was investigated by the FBI New York Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Norfolk, San Diego, and Knoxville Field Offices. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Eastern District of Tennessee, and Eastern District of Virginia, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and Trial Attorney Jacques-Singer Emory of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance. 24cr0261


title: El Paso Resident Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Drugged Children into U.S. from Mexico

component: Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – Manuel Valenzuela, 35, a lawful permanent resident residing in El Paso, pleaded guilty in federal court to four charges related to his role in a scheme to smuggle children from Mexico into the United States. According to court documents, members of an alien smuggling organization brought unaccompanied alien children between the ages of five and 13 illegally into the U.S. from Juarez, Mexico, sometimes using candy laced with THC to sedate them during smuggling events. The drivers and their coconspirator would then present U.S. documents to inspecting officers falsely claiming the documents belonged to the children, and that they were the parents of the children. Once inside the United States, the children were then transported to El Paso. During one smuggling event, one of the children was taken to a local hospital and diagnosed with THC poisoning. Valenzuela conspired in the human smuggling scheme by picking up the children after they were smuggled into the country and providing payment to the drivers. Valenzuela was arrested on Aug. 30 with co-defendant Dianne Guadian, a U.S. citizen. Valenzuela, Guadian, and two additional co-defendants, Mexican nationals Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian, were charged in a five-count indictment on Sept. 24. Valenzuela pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to four of the counts: one count of conspiracy to transport aliens and three counts of aiding and abetting in the smuggling of aliens for profit. He faces a mandatory minimum of 11 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol led investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hines for the Western District of Texas and Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. The investigation and indictment were supported by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the northern and southern borders. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 410 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ###


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced in San Antonio for Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship or Naturalization

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A naturalized U.S. citizen previously convicted for child pornography charges was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio after pleading guilty to one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. On Wednesday, Carlos Fabian Velez, 54, who is already serving 210 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam. Velez will continue to serve the remainder of the more than 17-year prison sentence he received in 2023 and is now subject to mandatory denaturalization. Velez pleaded guilty in July to making false, sworn statements on his naturalization application. Specifically, in response to the question, “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested” Velez answered, “No.” In fact, Velez knew that he had committed the crime and offenses of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography. The child pornography charges to which he pleaded guilty occurred within five years of his application, rendering Velez unable to satisfy the five-year eligibility requirement of good and moral character. “Obtaining American citizenship is the goal of so many who come to our great country, but we will do all we can to ensure those who commit crimes against children and then lie about it never receive the honor,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “My office will continue to preserve and protect the sanctity of the naturalization process, and we will aggressively prosecute those who seek to abuse it.” The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fidel Esparza III and Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Two Men Guilty Of Contract Killing Of 17-Year-Old High School Student To Prevent Her Testimony In Court

body_text: Tampa, Florida–United States Attorney announces that after a little more than two weeks of trial, a federal jury returned a verdict finding Lenard White (37), a/k/a “Len,” “Mike Williams,” and “Stick,” and Sheldon Robinson (22), a/k/a “Poboy,” guilty of all charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire, premeditated first-degree murder, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which caused the death of I.S., discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, tampering with witnesses, and obstruction of justice. White and Robinson each face multiple mandatory life sentences. They scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2026. According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 6, 2023, 17-year-old high school student I.S., a member of her school’s tennis team and ROTC program, and her mother L.P., reported to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office that I.S. had been sexually assaulted. The next day, Sheldon Robinson came to their house and knocked on the door. When the door was opened, Robinson fired a barrage of gunshots at I.S. and L.P., killing I.S. The bullet that killed I.S. struck her in the back as she ran away from her front door for help. L.P. was struck several times but survived. She collapsed on the ground and watched her daughter die. The murder was organized by Lenard White, the man who had sexually assaulted her, and who left the state prior to her murder to give himself an alibi. White’s cousin, Sheldon Robinson, committed the murder for $6,000. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) immediately began investigating the case. After more than 70 federal and state search warrants, investigators obtained a step-by-step blueprint for how Robinson killed I.S., including the individuals that he too recruited to help him carry it out. Six months after I.S.’s murder, and as the investigation was unfolding, Hernando County detectives and ATF agents executed a second search warrant at Robinson’s home. Buried in a forest area behind his home, investigators found the gun Robinson used to murder I.S. As the investigation continued, White and Robinson repeatedly attempted to hinder that investigation by disposing of evidence, tampering with witnesses, obstructing justice, and making false statements to law enforcement. The two also discussed plans at having another witness against them killed, just as they did I.S. A third defendant, Keshawn Woods, previous pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of I.S. and is pending sentencing. This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office – Fifth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Samantha Newman.