title: Wakefield Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring

body_text: BOSTON – A Wakefield man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine. Daniel Loughman, a/k/a “Swiss,” 40, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2025. Loughman was one of four individuals charged in connection with a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring operating in Eastern Massachusetts by members and associates of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club. In approximately October 2023, law enforcement received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Eastern Massachusetts area. Over the next several months, investigators identified Loughman as a drug trafficker who distributed methamphetamine to customers throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Investigators also conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Loughman, as well as from his co-conspirators James Snow, of Tewkesbury, Danielle Steenbruggen, of Peabody, and, allegedly, James Adams, of Byfield. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms were seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and search warrants. Loughman is the third defendant to plead guilty in the case. Steenbruggen pleaded guilty in August 2025 and, in November 2025, was sentenced to 93 months in prison. Snow pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2026. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Steven A. Skory of the Wakefield Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Newbury, Newburyport, Haverhill, Peabody and Hampton (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Men Plead Guilty in $1.49 Million Scam Involving  Bulk Gold Purchases

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO –Xilin Sun and Alexander Charles James have pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting they participated in a fraud and money laundering scheme that tricked a Carlsbad resident out of almost $1.5 million. Sun pleaded guilty today to money laundering conspiracy; James pleaded guilty on November 25, 2025, to wire fraud conspiracy. According to public documents, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force learned of the fraud scheme after a victim reported to Carlsbad police that she was duped over a period of months by fraudsters posing as government, bank and tech-support employees. She said she was using her computer when a pop-up window appeared, advising her to call for help because her computer had been hacked. She made the call. Once the scammers discovered the victim had substantial savings, they convinced her she could safeguard her funds by obtaining gold bars and sending them to the U.S. treasury, which would create a locker under her name. Over the course of two months, the victim sent approximately $1,335,000 via three separate wire transfers to a precious metal business located in San Marcos, California. Once each of the wire transfers were completed, the victim was instructed to pick up the purchased precious metals—consisting of mostly gold—and to package them. The victim was then directed to hand the package over to an individual under the false pretense that it was being “secured” for safekeeping. In their respective plea agreements, Sun and James both admitted to participating knowingly with the organization that operated technical support, bank impersonation and government impersonation scams targeting elderly victims throughout the United States, including in the Southern District of California. As set forth in their plea agreements, in February 2024, the FBI set up a sting operation with the Carlsbad victim’s help. The victim was directed by scammers to meet up to deliver a final payment of $100,000 in gold bars. During surveillance, federal agents observed defendant James meet with the victim. After James provided the “secret” word, the victim handed James a package purporting to contain the gold. James then left the area and met co-conspirator Sun, who took possession of the package of gold bars. With the assistance of local law enforcement, Sun was then stopped and ultimately arrested. In addition to the fake gold bars, Sun had a false California driver’s license and a package containing $12,900 in bulk cash that had been sent by another victim. This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. A sentencing hearing for Sun and James is scheduled for February 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. The FBI requests that victims report: The name of the person or company that contacted you. Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers. Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient name(s). The name and location of the metal dealer company and the account to which you wired funds, if you were instructed to buy precious metals. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mokhtari and Francisco Nagel. DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-cr-1007-BTM Xilin Sun Age: 35 Ontario, CA Case Number 24-cr-2607-BTM Alexander Charles James Age: 21 Los Angeles, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Xilin Sun Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the amount of monetary instruments involved in the offense, whichever is greatest Alexander Charles James Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349 Maximum penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Elder Justice Task Force Carlsbad Police Department California Highway Patrol San Diego County District Attorney’s Office San Diego Police Department *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Justice Department Seizes Unlawful 7-OH Opioid Products at Three Warehouses

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced today that recent actions targeting illegal products containing 7-hydroxymitragine, commonly known as 7-OH, resulted in the seizure of approximately 73,000 units of product at three warehouses. In seizure complaints and accompanying court papers filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the government alleged that two firms in the Kansas City area received warnings from FDA that 7-OH products were illegal under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the seizure complaints, recent FDA inspections showed that the firms continued to distribute unlawful 7-OH products after receiving the warnings. The seizures were carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service, with support from FDA. The products were seized from facilities operated by Shaman Botanicals LLC and Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC. “Products containing 7-OH are illegal under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We have seen numerous reports of harmful health consequences in consumers, including children, who have taken 7-OH products. Working with our partners at FDA, we will take action against anyone participating in the illegal distribution of these products.” “The 7-OH products seized are illegal under federal law and pose risks to consumers, including children,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “We are committed to helping American consumers protect themselves from dangerous chemicals posing as health products. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure illegal products never enter the stream of commerce and pursue all possible civil and criminal remedies against those who violate federal laws.” The FDA has recognized 7-OH products as dangerous and potentially addictive, recommending in July 2025 that a scheduling action be taken to control certain 7-OH products under the Controlled Substances Act. FDA also issued warning letters to multiple firms stating that their 7-OH products appeared to be unlawful. 7-OH products were not marketed in the United States until recent years. Under a bipartisan law passed by Congress in 1994, a dietary supplement may not contain a “New Dietary Ingredient,” meaning a dietary ingredient that was not marketed in the United States prior to October 15, 1994, if there is inadequate information available to provide a reasonable assurance that the ingredient does not present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury. Because there is inadequate information available to provide a reasonable assurance that 7-OH does not present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury, it is illegal to sell dietary supplement products containing it as an ingredient. In each of the seizure actions, the clerk of court issued a warrant authorizing the seizure of specified illegal 7-OH products. Assistant Director Patrick Runkle, Senior Litigation Counsel David Sullivan, and Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch are handling the cases under the leadership of Sarmad Khojasteh, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bradshaw and Leigh Farmakidis in the Western District of Missouri provided critical support, along with attorneys at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel and FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel. Additional information about the Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov.


title: Webster Groves Man Admits Sending, Receiving Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Webster Groves, Missouri on Tuesday admitted sending and receiving child sexual abuse material online. Joseph A. Seiffertt, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted possessing 43 images and 433 videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cell phone, as well as AI-powered apps that he used to depict clothed individuals, including minors, in the nude. Seiffertt also discussed the sexual abuse of minors with someone online and shared and received CSAM via the Kik Messenger app. Seiffertt is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2026. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 12 years in prison, followed by a lifetime on supervised release. The FBI and the St. Louis County Special Investigations Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who 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: Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machinegun

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Ibrahim Ahmed Mohamud, a/k/a “Ibbs” and “30,” age 19, pled guilty in federal court today to Possession of a Machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Mohamud is a member of the criminal street gang known as “YSL” (“Young Slime Life”). Witnesses implicated Mohamud, who goes by “Ibbs,” in a drive-by shooting that occurred on February 24, 2024. According to witnesses, Mohamud shot at the victim after mistaking him for a member of a rival street gang known as “Muddy,” which associates with the Somali Outlaws street gang. Based on this information, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Mohamud and his vehicle. Officers found two guns inside Mohamud’s car—a Glock 19x 9mm pistol equipped with a switch, rendering it fully automatic, and a Glock 17 9mm pistol. These firearms were forensically linked to a shooting that occurred just two days prior at a residence in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. The targets of that shooting were suspected members of the Muddy street gang. One of those targets had previously been the victim of another gang-related assault by YSL members during a basketball game at Robbinsdale High School on January 28, 2025. During the vehicle search, police squad vehicle video recorded Mohamud as he attempted to pressure a juvenile occupant of the vehicle into taking responsibility for the firearms, believing the juvenile would not be prosecuted due to his age. Mohamud’s DNA was found on the Glock 19x 9mm pistol equipped with a switch. Mohamud pled guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Laura M. Provinzino. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Blaine Police Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C. Weir for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Alexandra Swain of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Announces North Carolina Division Of Motor Vehicles Improvements On Voter-Registration Process To Protect Election Integrity

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that a series of actions to further enhance and protect the integrity of the voter-registration process will be implemented by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This follows a rigorous review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of ineligible individuals, including illegal aliens, who were improperly registered to vote at the DMV. In July, the U.S. Attorney initiated an inquiry to the Commissioner of the DMV following a report by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that the DMV permitted ineligible individuals, such as illegal aliens, to register to vote at the DMV, sometimes without the individual’s knowledge. The investigation found individuals were erroneously given citizen identification cards for years and some were registered to vote even after informing the DMV they were not citizens. The involved DMV examiners initially blamed the error on a “system glitch,” but the DMV later admitted “the online system doesn’t verify citizenship status.” The U.S. Attorney asked the DMV Commissioner to review the voter registration processes to ensure non-eligible voters were not being registered to vote. The DMV agreed to investigate and found that individuals had been registered to vote due to errors by DMV examiners. These errors included mistakenly marking individuals as U.S. citizens, which “bypassed the necessary legal presence questions and allowed voter registration.” The DMV also found a “system error” that lasted for three months and permitted ineligible individuals to register to vote. Following the inquiry by the U.S. Attorney, the DMV has agreed to make changes to safeguard the North Carolina voter rolls and assure election integrity. Some changes include: Issuing a statewide reminder to DMV examiners on protocols and safeguards to ensure proper voter registration of only eligible individuals through the DMV. Designing and implementing new training modules for DMV examiners with a special emphasis on citizenship verification processes. Modernizing DMV technology to streamline technological processes and reduce examiner errors, including of the voter registration component. Hiring additional personnel to increase accurate input of sensitive data. Actively pursuing a technical solution to effectively integrate citizenship checks into the DMV’s online and kiosk voter-registration application systems. The DMV is also coordinating with the State Board of Elections to ensure that any ineligible individuals identified by the federal government have been removed from voter rolls. “It is vitally important that our elections in North Carolina are accurate, fair, and irreproachable—and that the public has confidence in them—to protect the foundation of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We must ensure that our voter rolls are precise and do not include minors, felons, or illegal aliens. The DMV, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of voter registrations in a given year, plays a central role in that process. We appreciate the agency’s cooperation to improve processes so that only eligible voters are added to the rolls.” U.S. Attorney Ferguson also thanked HSI and the State Board of Elections for their coordination during this review process and noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to monitor compliance at all levels to ensure the sanctity of our elections. “A host of federal laws give the federal government oversight authority to ensure states maintain accurate and current statewide voter lists,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We take that obligation seriously and will continue to ensure confidence in our elections.”


title: New Assistant United States Attorney Sworn in for the District of Rhode Island

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announces the appointment and swearing-in of Andrea Hyatt as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. Hyatt will serve in the Office’s Civil Division, where she will handle a broad range of matters essential to protecting the interests of the United States, including Federal Tort Claims Act litigation, employment discrimination, immigration cases, and matters arising under the Administrative Procedure Act and False Claims Act. Hyatt joins the U.S. Attorney’s Office after more than 23 years of experience as a litigator in both the private and public sectors. Most recently, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, where she represented the United States in civil actions in federal and state courts, securing early dismissals or summary judgements in fourteen defensive cases and recovering more than $1.5 million in a False Claims Act matter. During her tenure, she earned an “Outstanding” performance rating for 2024. Prior to her work as a federal prosecutor, Hyatt held senior litigation roles at BNSF Railway Co. in Fort Worth, TX where she served in labor and employment law, corporate compliance, and internal investigations, leading teams and managing high-volume, nationwide dockets. She also practiced at Thomson & Knight LLP in Dallas and served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, she was elected to the prestigious Order of the Coif and served as an Articles Editor of the Texas Law Review. “I am thrilled to welcome Andrea to the United States Attorneys Office,” stated Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. “A seasoned and exceptionally skilled litigator, she brings with her decades of experience across federal practice, corporate compliance, and complex civil litigation. Her depth of knowledge, dedication to public service, and proven commitment to excellence will serve the people of Rhode Island extraordinarily well.”


title: Kotzebue man sentenced to 10 years for sexually exploiting a minor to possess child pornography

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Kotzebue man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison and will serve an additional 25 years on court mandated supervision upon release for surreptitiously sexually exploiting a minor female known to him in Bethel. The 10-year sentence is the statutory maximum penalty for his crime. According to court documents, on July 30, 2023, the mother of the minor victim contacted the local police department to report that Jesse Hadley, 33, sexually exploited the minor victim. The mother found a video on a family electronic device that showed Hadley’s face as he surreptitiously placed a camera in the bedroom of the minor victim. Within minutes of Hadley installing the hidden camera, it recorded the minor victim enter the bedroom and captured the minor victim in a state of undress. Hadley later retrieved the hidden camera. On June 17, 2025, Hadley pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a child to possess child pornography. In handing down the sentence yesterday, the Court emphasized the abuse of trust Hadley exhibited in exploiting a child that he had access to, as well as his troubling history of violence against women and girls. “Mr. Hadley, a man with a history of assault and domestic violence, continued his deplorable pattern of behavior by secretly filming and exploiting the minor victim. His actions resulted in the statutory maximum penalty for his offense,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office continues to prioritize protecting Alaska’s children, wherever they live. We will continue to work closely with all our law enforcement partners across the state to track down child predators and hold them accountable for their reprehensible actions.” “Not only was Hadley’s behavior disturbing and predatory, but also an egregious abuse of trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting children is one of our most critical responsibilities. The FBI will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit our most vulnerable.” “The Bethel Police Department is committed in efforts to investigate and combat child exploitation online, particularly in rural areas like Bethel, Alaska, where the spread of internet-related offenses can be more challenging due to geographic isolation,” said Chief Jeffrey Kirkham of the Bethel Police Department. “Public cooperation and reporting reinforce the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies to address these crimes comprehensively, and obtain justice for the victims bringing those responsible accountable for their actions.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Bethel Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. UPDATE: This release has been updated to correct the defendant's city of residence. ###


title: Five Members of “Greggy’s Cult” Charged with Sexually Exploiting Children on the Internet

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Hector Bermudez, Zachary Dosch, Rumaldo Valdez, David Brilhante, and Camden Rodriguez for their participation in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats. The defendants led an online group called “Greggy’s Cult,” whose members carried out the alleged criminal conduct on a series of Discord servers (the Target Server). Four defendants were arrested today throughout the United States. Valdez is currently incarcerated on another federal matter. Bermudez will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York this afternoon and the remaining defendants will be arraigned at a later date. United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi; Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); David Porter, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Honolulu Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and indictment. “No child should ever be terrorized or exploited online, and no online platform should give refuge to predators,” stated Attorney General Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect children, support survivors, and hold accountable anyone who preys on the vulnerable – online or offline – with every tool we have.” “As alleged, the defendants leveraged a popular internet platform to coerce minors into creating grotesque child pornography of themselves, which the defendants distributed, and then tormented these victims with the images, not only encouraging self-harm, but also encouraging some minors to commit suicide,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants’ conduct, as alleged, is monstrous and will be vigorously prosecuted. I strongly urge parents and caregivers to speak to their children about the dangers of communicating with strangers on social media and how to seek help from adults and law enforcement in these situations.” “These defendants are charged with the unspeakable act of coercing and blackmailing children and adults to engage in self-harm and other degrading acts,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Galeotti. “As demonstrated by today’s indictment, the Criminal Division will not stand for such heinous crimes, and we will work tirelessly to bring these offenders to justice.” “These five defendants allegedly coerced children to share videos subjecting themselves to brutal sexual abuse, while also encouraging self-harm and suicide,” stated FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The defendants allegedly weaponized online gaming platforms to target unsuspecting minors and use them to satisfy the horrendous desires of a twisted group. The FBI will never cease its pursuit of those who prowl the web for innocent victims to torment and exploit in their sick games.” “The defendants allegedly coordinated efforts to exploit minors through the creation and distribution of sexually explicit material, coerced children to commit self-harm, and extorted their victims in a variety of ways,” stated FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Porter. “The FBI will stop at nothing in its pursuit of violent predators targeting the children in our communities and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle the enterprise networks responsible for these heinous acts.” “The five individuals charged in this case allegedly used gaming and social-media platforms to target and coerce minors into sexually abusive acts, recorded that abuse, and distributed it across an online network,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “This case underscores how easily predators can embed themselves in the digital platforms that minors use. The NYPD and our federal partners have been focused on uncovering and dismantling online groups that prey on children, and today’s indictment reflects the progress of that work. I want to thank the NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their persistence and dedication to bringing these offenders to justice.” As alleged in the indictment, between January 2020 and January 2021, the defendants participated in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and engaged in other forms of exploitation and harassment of both minor and adult victims. The defendants convened on the Target Server and directed minor victims, who had joined a video call on either Discord or another video conferencing platform, to engage in sexually explicit or other degrading conduct. The defendants captured images and videos (i.e. “screenshots” or “screen recordings”) of the sexually explicit conduct of their minor victims and shared it on the Target Server, to other Discord servers, and amongst themselves. Greggy’s Cult came into existence before another sadistic extortion network, 764, and prominent members of 764 and other similar networks that followed were also members of Greggy’s Cult. The defendants coerced, induced, and enticed their victims to degrade themselves by engaging in self-harm, including professing themselves as being “owned” by a member of “Greggy’s Cult” to demonstrate loyalty and writing the names of “Greggy’s Cult” members on their bodies or holding up signs their names, which is a practice referred to as “fansigning.” The group found victims in Discord servers or on gaming platforms such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Members of Greggy’s Cult engaged in conduct such as encouraging victims to kill themselves or demanding that they insert household objects into their genitals or anus. Greggy’s Cult also engaged in coordinated extortions of adult and minor victims through various means, including by attempting to frame adult victims as pedophiles or by sending malware to minor victims’ computers and refusing to return their access until victims complied with the group’s demands. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If you believe you have been victimized by or have information about the defendants, please contact the FBI tip line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section,are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : HECTOR BERMUDEZ Age: 29 Queens, New York ZACHARY DOSCH Age: 26 Albuquerque, New Mexico RUMALDO VALDEZ Age: 22 Honolulu, Hawaii DAVID BRILHANTE Age: 28 San Diego, California CAMDEN RODRIGUEZ Age: 22 Longmont, Colorado E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-361 (PKC) detention_memo_united_states_v._bermudez_et_al_25-cr-361.pdf 25-cr-361_indictment_redacted_v.1_redacted.pdf


title: Koreatown Man Charged with Throwing Two Molotov Cocktails Inside Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Koreatown man was charged today with throwing Molotov cocktails at security officers inside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, an attack law enforcement believes was motivated by anti-immigration enforcement sentiment. Jose Francisco Jovel, 54, was arrested Monday and is charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property. Jovel is expected to make his initial appearance on Wednesday in United States District Court in Los Angeles. “This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.” “There can be zero tolerance for any targeting of law enforcement officials – let alone violent acts – and we’re lucky that the devices allegedly thrown by the subject did not physically injure anyone,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is dedicated to investigating and holding accountable anyone who conducts targeted attacks against government employees.” According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Jovel – who hours earlier had set his Koreatown apartment on fire after receiving an eviction notice – arrived Monday morning at the Federal Building, located in the Civic Center of downtown Los Angeles. Jovel arrived outside the building with multiple shopping bags. The Federal Building houses offices for several federal agencies, including United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While standing at the base of the stairs outside the building’s main entrance, Jovel reached into one of the bags on his bicycle’s handlebars and then threw a Molotov cocktail through the building’s sliding door, which was open at the time, and is marked as an employee entrance. Jovel then threw another Molotov cocktail through the then-open door of the Federal Building’s public entrance, where a line of members of the public were waiting to go through security to enter the building. Evidence collected from the scene, including surveillance video, indicates Jovel attempted to light at least one of the devices. Federal officers immediately arrested Jovel then searched the bags he brought with him, which included a lighter and five additional Molotov cocktails. During his arrest, Jovel said he was motivated by his anger at the federal government of its immigration policies and actions. Jovel described his actions as “a terrorist attack” and said to the officers, “you’re separating families” – a remark commonly made by opponents of current United States government immigration policies. He then yelled for people to “start shooting these,” referring to the officers. A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Jovel would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jenna W. Long of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.


title: Justice Department Announces Seizure of Tai Chang Scam Compound Domain Used in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a web domain used to target and defraud Americans through cryptocurrency investment fraud (CIF) scams. The domain, tickmilleas.com, was used by those located at the Tai Chang scam compound (also known as Casino Kosai) located in the village of Kyaukhat, Burma. This domain seizure comes less than three weeks after the Justice Department announced the launch of the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office’s (D.C. USAO) “Scam Center Strike Force” – the first District-level CIF strike force – and the seizure of two additional domains that were also used by the Tai Chang scam compound as part of CIF scams. According to the affidavit filed in support of the domain seizure, Tai Chang is affiliated with the Burmese group, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and the Trans Asia International Holding Group Thailand Company Limited (Trans Asia), which were designated by the Department of the Treasury , among others, as specially-designated nationals (SDN) on Nov. 12 for links to Chinese organized crime and development of scam centers in Southeast Asia. The seizure announced today is part of the D.C. USAO’s Scam Center Strike Force’s efforts to combat Southeast Asia scam centers at the highest level and prevent U.S. infrastructure from being used as instrumentalities of the fraud schemes. The seized domain was disguised as a legitimate investment platform to trick victims into unknowingly depositing their funds. Victims who used the domain reported to the FBI that the site showed lucrative returns on what they believed to be their investments and displayed purported deposits made by scammers to the victims’ “accounts” when the scammers walked the victims through falsified trades. Despite the seized domain being registered in early November 2025, the FBI already identified multiple victims who used the domain in the last month and were scammed out of their investments. A splashpage the tickmilleas.com website warns victims who have been directed to the domain that it has been seized by law enforcement, thereby disrupting the intended CIF scam activity and related money laundering. According to the affidavit filed in support of the seizure, the tickmilleas.com domain directed users to download mobile applications linked to the scam from Google Play and the Apple App Store. The FBI notified Google and Apple of the fraudulent apps, and several of the applications have been voluntarily removed. Additionally, also announced today, based on information provided by the FBI about Tai Chang scam compound, Meta identified and voluntarily removed more than 2,000 accounts from their network of social media platforms. In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 41,000 complaints reporting roughly $5.8 billion in losses from CIF scams. These CIF scams, such as the ones described by victims in the affidavit, typically begin through unsolicited outreach from strangers over dating applications, social media, messaging applications, and text messages. These strangers form close virtual relationships with their victim targets, convince them to make purported investments in or using cryptocurrency, and direct victims on how to purchase cryptocurrency and invest it using fraudulent domains and applications that appear legitimate. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI San Diego Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Diego Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. The case is the latest public action taken by the District of Columbia Scam Center Strike Force. The D.C. USAO’s 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 & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), 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. Additionally, the D.C. USAO’s Scam Center Strike Force benefits from the work of FBI agents deployed to Bangkok to investigate and combat scam compounds, including Tai Chang and other compounds in Burma. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. If you have been defrauded out of your money by a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme, please contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If you were directed to use tickmilleas.com as part of a scam, reference tickmilleas.com in your complaint. If you have information to report about past or ongoing activity regarding the Tai Chang scam compound (coordinates 16°28'20.9"N 98°38'45.1"E and 16°28'02.1"N 98°38'54.1"E), please contact the FBI at fbisd_fraudresponse@fbi.gov .


title: Justice Department Sues Six Additional States for Failure to Provide Voter Registration Rolls

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced it has filed federal lawsuits against six states — Delaware , Maryland , New Mexico , Rhode Island , Vermont , and Washington — for failure to produce their statewide voter registration lists upon request. "Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "The Department of Justice will continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply with basic election safeguards." "Our federal elections laws ensure every American citizen may vote freely and fairly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "States that continue to defy federal voting laws interfere with our mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists as they go to the polls, that every vote counts equally, and that all voters have confidence in election results. At this Department of Justice, we will not stand for this open defiance of federal civil rights laws." According to the lawsuits, the Attorney General is uniquely charged by Congress with the enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which were designed by Congress to ensure that states have proper and effective voter registration and voter list maintenance programs. The Attorney General also has the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) at her disposal to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of the statewide voter registration lists.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Julio Rangel-Jimenez, 41 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to two felony counts of Illegal Alien Unlawfully in Possession of a Firearm and Reentry of Removed Alien, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Rangel-Jimenez was sentenced to 46 months in prison. According to documents in the case, Rangel-Jimenez was removed from the United States in February of 2025. He illegally reentered the United States and was arrested on July 22, 2025, in Fulton County, Indiana, following a traffic stop. Police found two handguns, two rifles with large capacity magazines, and about 19 grams of cocaine in the house where he was living. Because he was unlawfully in the United States, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones. 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: Five Leaders of ‘Greggy’s Cult’ Charged with Sexually Exploiting Children on the Internet

body_text: Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed charging five men with a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats. As alleged, Hector Bermudez, 29, of Queens, New York; Zachary Dosch, 26, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Rumaldo Valdez, 22, of Honolulu, Hawaii; David Brilhante, 28, of San Diego, California; and Camden Rodriguez, 22, of Longmont, Colorado, led an online group called “Greggy’s Cult,” which carried out the alleged criminal conduct on a series of Discord servers. The defendants were arrested today throughout the United States and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. “No child should ever be terrorized or exploited online, and no online platform should give refuge to predators,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect children, support survivors, and hold accountable anyone who preys on the vulnerable – online or offline – with every tool we have.” “These five defendants allegedly targeted vulnerable children and others via online platforms – they exploited, threatened, and harassed them, and encouraged horrific acts of self-harm,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI is sending a message to those individuals involved in criminal activity through violent online networks: you can’t hide in the shadows hovering over a keyboard – we will find and hold accountable those who participate in these illegal and heinous acts.” “These defendants are charged with the unspeakable act of coercing and blackmailing children and adults to engage in self-harm and other degrading acts,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As demonstrated by today’s indictment, the Criminal Division will not stand for such heinous crimes, and we will work tirelessly to bring these offenders to justice.” “As alleged, the defendants weaponized their sexual exploitation of minors through the creation and distribution of child pornography, creating a nightmarish platform on the internet where children were used, sexually abused, and at times driven to the brink of suicide,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “The defendants’ depraved conduct, as alleged, is monstrous and will be vigorously prosecuted. I strongly urge parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and individuals who seek to cruelly exploit them.” As alleged in the indictment, between January 2020 and January 2021, the defendants participated in the production and distribution of child sex abuse material and also engaged in other forms of exploitation and harassment of both minor and adult victims. The defendants and other members of the Greggy’s Cult convened on the Discord servers and directed minor victims, who had joined a video call on either Discord or another video conferencing platform, to engage in sexually explicit or other degrading conduct. The defendants and other members of Greggy’s Cult captured images (i.e. “screenshots” or “screen recordings”) of the sexually explicit conduct and shared it to other Discord servers and amongst themselves. Greggy’s Cult came into existence before another sadistic extortion network, 764, and prominent members of 764 and other similar networks that followed were also members of Greggy’s Cult. The defendants coerced, induced, or enticed their victims to engage in acts of degradation such as self-harm, or professing the victim is “owned” by a member of “Greggy’s Cult” to demonstrate loyalty, or writing the names of “Greggy’s Cult” members on their bodies referred to as “fansigning.” The group found victims in Discord servers or on gaming platforms such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Greggy’s Cult engaged in depraved conduct such as repeatedly encouraging victims to kill themselves or encouraging them to insert household objects into their genitals or anus. The group also engaged in coordinated extortion of victims, both adults and minors, through various means including by attempting to frame adult victims as pedophiles or by sending malware to minor victims’ computers. The group then used this leverage to get the victims to engage in degrading acts on camera. Bermudez resided in the Eastern District of New York during the charged offenses. If you believe you have been victimized by or have information about the defendants, please contact the FBI tip line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Violent Threats, Cyberstalking, Civil Rights Violations

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Mark Tucci, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and $16,529.44 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for multiple offenses arising from racist, violent threats made by phone, email, text message, and in person, that targeted African-Americans. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: hate-based violence has no place in America,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division remains committed to ensuring that all Americans feel safe in their cities and communities.” “Every citizen is entitled to a peace and security undisturbed by the abhorrent and racist threats that took place in this case, full stop,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “No citizen has the right to inflict, and no citizen has the duty to endure, the verbal harassment and racist attacks that the defendant committed in our District.” “Today's sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting every individual's civil rights and ensuring that those who intimidate, harass, or threaten our citizens are brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. “The FBI and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the United States Attorney's Office will continue to work side by side to safeguard our communities from threats of violence.” The defendant pleaded guilty to an information on Aug. 21, charging him with two counts of interfering with federally protected activities, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of interstate communication of threats. As detailed in the information and other court filings, the defendant repeatedly called and sent text messages and emails that consisted of racial epithets and violent threats to harm an employee (Victim 1) of an agency of the City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Agency 1), and Victim 1’s colleagues. Between about April 18, 2024, and June 2, 2024, Tucci emailed Victim 1 multiple times regarding a records request he had made to the agency. This escalated on June 3, 2024, when he repeatedly called Philadelphia Agency 1, and during two of those calls, he spoke with Victim 1, identified himself by name, and screamed at Victim 1, who asked him to stop screaming. He continued to do so, causing Victim 1 to hang up each time. During subsequent calls on June 3 with Philadelphia Agency 1, Tucci spoke with two of Victim 1’s colleagues, using racial epithets and making threats. Specifically, the defendant said that he was going to come down to Philadelphia Agency 1 the next day and hurt everyone, and that he had Victim 1’s home address and was going to hurt Victim 1. Tucci sent multiple emails to Victim 1 the same day, using similar racial epithets and threats. He also texted Victim 1 on their personal cell phone, a phone number that Victim 1 had never provided to the defendant. The text messages from Tucci to Victim 1 mentioned Victim 1 by name, and the name of the street on which Victim 1 resided at the time. The messages included a warning that “This is personal now,” and additional threatening language. Tucci’s communications caused Victim 1 severe emotional distress, and fear that Tucci would find Victim 1 and seriously injure or kill them or their family members. Tucci willfully intimidated and interfered, and attempted to intimidate and interfere, with Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s race and color, and because Victim 1 was enjoying employment by, and all perquisites of, an agency of the City of Philadelphia, a subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also detailed in court filings, on the morning of Feb. 1, 2024, Tucci pulled up next to another car in heavy traffic on I-95 southbound, lowered his windows, and repeatedly screamed racial epithets and threats to kill and shoot the other car’s driver (Victim 2), who is African-American. Tucci then reached down into his car, at which point Victim 2 believed Tucci was reaching for a gun. Instead, Tucci pulled out a glass mug containing coffee, and threw it at Victim 2’s vehicle, terrifying Victim 2 and damaging their car. The incident occurred while Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided and administered by a state and a subdivision thereof, that is, driving on I-95. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Jeanette Kang and Michelle L. Morgan for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Samuel Kuhn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Justice Department Seizes Unlawful 7-OH Products at Three Warehouses

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced today that recent actions targeting illegal products containing 7-hydroxymitragine, commonly known as 7-OH, resulted in the seizure of approximately 73,000 units of product at three warehouses. In seizure complaints and accompanying court papers filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the government alleged that two firms in the Kansas City area received warnings from FDA that 7-OH products were illegal under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the seizure complaints, recent FDA inspections showed that the firms continued to distribute unlawful 7-OH products after receiving the warnings. The seizures were carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service, with support from FDA. The products were seized from facilities operated by Shaman Botanicals LLC and Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC. “Products containing 7-OH are illegal under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We have seen numerous reports of harmful health consequences in consumers, including children, who have taken 7-OH products. Working with our partners at FDA, we will take action against anyone participating in the illegal distribution of these products.” “The 7-OH products seized are illegal under federal law and pose risks to consumers, including children,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “We are committed to helping American consumers protect themselves from dangerous chemicals posing as health products. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure illegal products never enter the stream of commerce and pursue all possible civil and criminal remedies against those who violate federal laws.” The FDA has recognized 7-OH products as dangerous and potentially addictive, recommending in July 2025 that a scheduling action be taken to control certain 7-OH products under the Controlled Substances Act. FDA also issued warning letters to multiple firms stating that their 7-OH products appeared to be unlawful. 7-OH products were not marketed in the United States until recent years. Under a bipartisan law passed by Congress in 1994, a dietary supplement may not contain a “New Dietary Ingredient,” meaning a dietary ingredient that was not marketed in the United States prior to October 15, 1994, if there is inadequate information available to provide a reasonable assurance that the ingredient does not present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury. Because there is inadequate information available to provide a reasonable assurance that 7-OH does not present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury, it is illegal to sell dietary supplement products containing it as an ingredient. In each of the seizure actions, the clerk of court issued a warrant authorizing the seizure of specified illegal 7-OH products. Assistant Director Patrick Runkle, Senior Litigation Counsel David Sullivan, and Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch are handling the cases under the leadership of Sarmad Khojasteh, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bradshaw and Leigh Farmakidis in the Western District of Missouri provided critical support, along with attorneys at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel and FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine Pills to Connecticut

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRONE BROWN, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine pills to Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately January 2022 and March 2024, Brown mailed parcels containing methamphetamine pills from Georgia to addresses in New Haven associated with Gregory Grant and others. Investigators identified approximately 79 suspicious parcels shipped from Brown to Grant during that time. In January 2023, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of an intercepted parcel and found 16 ziplock sandwich bags containing a total of more than four kilograms of multicolored methamphetamine pills and a firearm. The investigation also revealed that Grant made multiple payments to Brown during the conspiracy. Brown was arrested on April 7, 2025. A search of his residence on that date revealed numerous pills and a handgun. Brown has been detained since his arrest. On September 2, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Grant, of New Haven, pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025, and is detained while awaiting sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.


title: Repeat offender felon receives 72-month sentence for illegal reentry into United States

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Mario Alberto Almanzan-Mata pleaded guilty Aug. 28. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered him to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered Almanzan-Mata’s criminal and immigration history to include convictions for evading law enforcement and domestic violence. The court also heard about a pattern of violent behavior that places members of the community in significant danger. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of his criminal history. Almanzan-Mata was removed on two prior occasions, most recently May 27. Authorities discovered him again July 7 in Mission. He had admitted he illegally reentered the country earlier that day near Hidalgo. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia 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.


title: Douglas County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Dealing and  Felon in Possession of Firearms

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Douglas County, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Glenn Allen Gearhart, 51, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. According to court documents, on October 18, 2024, Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) detectives executed a search warrant on Gearhart’s residence and found evidence of drug dealing including methamphetamine, cocaine, drug records, a set of digital scales, packaging material, four loaded magazines, and ammunition. Just prior to the execution of the search warrant, Gearhart fled from deputies before hitting another vehicle and crashing into a patrol car. Gearhart had more than $5,000, fentanyl, and a round of ammunition on him. In his vehicle, he possessed a stolen pistol, an AR-style rifle, a short-barrel shotgun, another shotgun, and two ammunition cans full of ammunition. On June 13, 2025, Gearhart was charged by information with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm. On August 5, 2025, Gearhart pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm. This case was investigated by DINT and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Honduran man pleads guilty to, sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ever Josue Erazo-Lopez, 30, a native and citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to re-entry of a removed alien. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case, stated that Erazo-Lopez is an alien without any legal status in the United States. He was physically removed from the United States in July 2019. On September 27, 2025, Erazo-Lopez was taken into custody by the Brighton, NY, Police Department for suspected drunk driving. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato. # # # #


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty for his role in credit card scam

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Angel Valentin-Martinez, 34, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that between October and December 2024, Martinez conspired with Daniel Plata Miranda to fraudulently gain access to the credit card accounts of individuals at Synchrony Bank. The two used an account holder’s personally identifiable information to pass Synchrony’s account verification process. Martinez and Miranda then changed the address of record on the accounts to an address that they controlled or had access to. This oftentimes caused new credit cards to be sent to Martinez’s residence in Buffalo, or to a P.O. Box registered to Miranda in Rochester, NY. On one or more occasions, Martinez drove to the Rochester P.O. Box to retrieve mail. Martinez and Miranda then used the fraudulently obtained credit cards to make purchases in the Western New York area, including numerous purchases at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. In total, Martinez and Miranda used five fraudulently obtained credit cards at six different Lowe’s locations to make more than two dozen purchases, totaling approximately $13,098. Charges are pending against Daniel Plata Miranda. The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division. Sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Canandaigua man charged with making threats to kill attendees at a holiday Christmas market

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael J. Keitz, 56, of Canandaigua, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with interstate transmission of threats to injure the persons of another, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on the afternoon of November 5, 2025, the Director of the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum received an email from justonstclair0@gmail.com with the subject line “$20,000 donation consideration.” In the body of the email, the sender stated that he would like to donate to the museum but wanted to visit the museum before making any donation. Over the next few days, the Director and the sender exchanged emails regarding upcoming events at the museum and a potential visit. Late in the morning of November 7, 2025, the Director received another email from justonstclair0@gmail.com , but the subject line read “DEATH TO THE JEWS.” The email contained a threat to “bring death and destruction” to an event scheduled at the museum that weekend. The email also stated that “we will bring a swift justice worse than OCTOBER 7th.” The threatening email resulted in the cancellation of the event, which resulted in a loss of approximately $10,000 in expenses and a substantial amount of revenue. On November 9, 2025, Keitz was taken into custody by Canandaigua Police officers on an unrelated matter. During that investigation, Canandaigua officers determined that the email address justonstclair0@gmail.com belonged to Keitz, and the emails were sent from the Wood Library in Canandaigua. Keitz has prior felony state and federal convictions and is currently on federal supervised release based on a 2021 conviction for bank robbery, for which he served 84 months in prison. “A threat by any individual to harm a large number of people in a public setting is concerning and something that our Office takes very seriously,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Residents of the Western District of New York deserve to move around their community freely, whether it be everyday activities or attending a holiday event. The threats made in this case were quickly traced to the defendant, who will now be held accountable for his actions.” “Today’s federal arrest of Michael Keitz should serve as a warning for those who use the internet to threaten violence and terrorize people.” said Philip Tejera, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “Unfortunately, the FBI continues to see threats of violence all too often – in person and online. The FBI takes all acts or threats of violence seriously and is committed to working side-by-side with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.” Keitz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Canandaigua Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mathew Nielsen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Former Antioch Police Officer Sentenced To 7.5 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Violate Civil Rights And Distribute Anabolic Steroids, And Obstructing Justice

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Former Antioch police officer Devon Christopher Wenger was sentenced today to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison for conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch through the use of unreasonable force, conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids, and obstructing justice. Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence. Wenger, 33, formerly of Oakley, California, was indicted in two separate cases. In April 2025, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Wenger on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of obstruction of justice. In September 2025, following a seven-day trial, a jury convicted Wenger of conspiracy against rights. Wenger was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals in September 2025 and has remained in federal custody since then. “Devon Wenger and his co-conspirators believed the badges they wore gave them a license to break the law. They were wrong. Today, the court held Mr. Wenger accountable for his betrayal of the public trust placed in him,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Devon Wenger’s sentencing marks another significant step in a multi-year effort to uncover and confront corruption within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments. His conviction, along with the earlier convictions in this case, underscores that no one is above the law. The FBI and our partners are committed to holding those who violate the civil rights of others and betray the public’s trust accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez. According to court documents and the evidence presented at the September 2025 trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, conspired with each other and others about using excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses and intended uses of excessive force included deployment of a police K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence. The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents. Wenger, Amiri, and or Rombough engaged in numerous communications in furtherance of the conspiracy, including an April 2019 communication in which Wenger sent a photo and booking information for a suspect to Amiri and Rombough and requested that they “[p]lease find this guy[] and f--- him in the a--.” Rombough responded “Deal,” and Amiri responded “ill bite em.” Later in 2019, Wenger broke the arm of a young female shoplifting suspect, then pushed her sister to the ground, handcuffed the sister, picked the sister up and grabbed her neck, and smashed the sister’s face into the side of the patrol car, as captured on video. However, Wenger wrote in his police report that as he was escorting the sister to a patrol car, she attempted to pull away from him and that as a result of her actions she “subsequently fell onto the side of the patrol vehicle.” In August 2020, after Amiri deployed his K9 to apprehend a suspect in Pittsburg, California, with Wenger, he wrote to Wenger “if pitt didn’t have all those body cams and that was us... we would have f---ed him up more. he didn’t get what he deserved.” Wenger responded, “I agree. That’s why I don’t like body cams.” The next night, Wenger wrote to Amiri, “We need to get into something tonight bro!! Lets go 3 nights in a row dog bite!!!” Amiri and Wenger exchanged additional messages and bloodied photographs after engaging with another suspect that night, and following Amiri’s deployment of his K9 to bite a suspect in a homeless encampment the subsequent evening. At the end of the week, Amiri wrote to Wenger, “let’s f--- some people up next work week,” to which Wenger agreed. According to court documents and evidence presented at the April 2025 trial, in February 2022, Wenger set up the sale of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance, between Daniel Harris, who was at the time also an Antioch Police Department officer, and a third individual. Law enforcement officials seized the package of anabolic steroids destined for Harris before they arrived, although Wenger continued to communicate with Harris about supplying the third individual with anabolic steroids, including offering to give this individual some of Wenger’s own while they waited for the delayed package. On March 23, 2022, at 8:03 a.m., the FBI began calling and sending text messages to Wenger telling him that they were outside of his residence with a warrant. It was not until 9:00 a.m. that Wenger appeared for the FBI to seize Wenger’s cellular phone. Later forensic examination of that device showed that specific entries related to the anabolic steroid distribution conspiracy had been deleted. In addition to the prison term, Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. A hearing to determine the amounts of restitution owed to victims is scheduled for January 27, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney. *** These charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple federal charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below: Case Name and Number Statute(s) Defendant (Bold: multiple case numbers) Status Fraud 23-cr-00264 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud) Patrick Berhan Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24 Morteza Amiri Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25 Amanda Theodosy a/k/a Nash Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24 Samantha Peterson Sentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24 Ernesto Mejia-Orozco Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24 Brauli Jalapa Rodriguez Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24 Obstruction 23-cr-00267 18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Timothy Manly Williams Pleaded guilty 11/28/23, sentencing set for 1/13/2026 Steroid Distribution 23-cr-00268 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids) Daniel Harris Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids); 18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) Devon Wenger Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025 Civil Rights 23-cr-00269 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) Morteza Amiri Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/25 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Eric Rombough Pleaded guilty 1/14/25, sentencing set for 1/13/2026 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Devon Wenger Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025 Steroid Distribution 24-cr-00157 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids) Patrick Berhan Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24 Bank fraud 24-cr-00502 18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud) Daniel Harris Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026


title: Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic Loan Fraud Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – Two defendants were sentenced to serve more than five years in prison each and pay more than two million in restitution for their roles in a wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds, using the money on luxury cars and other personal items. James Frank Austin, 51, of Americus, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and pay $2,185,175.72 restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA), $1,106,499.62 of which is owed jointly and severally with codefendant Way. Austin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud and two counts of money laundering on Aug. 27. Rosalend Way, 40, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and pay $1,106,499.62 restitution to the SBA jointly and severally with codefendant Austin. Way was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering on Sept. 24, following a three-day trial that began on Sept. 22. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell handed down the sentences on Dec. 2. There is no parole in the federal system. “Using stolen taxpayer dollars to purchase a Bentley and other luxury goods at a time of national emergency is wrong, pure and simple, and won’t be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office and our law enforcement partners will hold fraudsters accountable for profiting at the expense of honest and hard-working citizens.” “Frank Austin and Rosalend Way are two of many people who took advantage of COVID-19 Economic Relief programs intended to provide critical assistance to millions of Americans during one of the deadliest pandemics in history,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “The sentences they received today send an important message that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and holding those who committed fraud on the COVID-19 programs accountable.” “Austin and Way chose to commit fraud, further depleting funds designed to help people who struggled to survive during the pandemic,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue criminals who cheat federal health programs and profit at the expense of American taxpayers.” According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, on June 21, 2020, Austin and Way applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of Propel Opportunity Fund, a business established to raise capital through investors and use the funds to conduct pre-development work in underserved neighborhoods, preparing them for future development. The PPP loan application indicated that Propel had 18 employeeswith an average monthly payroll of $420,558, and they needed the funds to make payroll, as well as to pay their mortgage interest and utilities. They also submitted a fraudulent W-3 that indicated Propel paid $4,999,789 in wages in 2019. Way claimed 100% ownership of Propel on the PPP loan application. IRS records from Propel’s 2019 corporate tax return showed that the company did not pay any salaries or wages, nor did Propel’s bank statements reflect payroll as suggested in the PPP application. The loan was approved and Propel received $1,051,395. Approximately $500,000 ended up in bank account’s belonging to Way and was spent on personal items including dining, retail, gas, groceries and cash withdrawals. Additionally, Austin used approximately $30,000 in funds from another fraudulently obtained PPP loan to pay off Way’s Mercedez-Benz. Austin submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on May 9, 2020, on behalf of the Austin Smith Center for Community Development (ASCCD). As a result of this fraudulent application, ASCCD was awarded a $654,315.00 PPP loan. Austin also obtained another fraudulent PPP loan for Propel and received $372,500 on March 15, 2021. Instead of these funds being spent for authorized expenditures under the PPP program, Austin used the money for personal expenses, including $119,840 on a Bentley. Austin obtained a total of $2,078,210 in fraudulent PPP loans. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The FBI and the IRS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Howard and Hannah Couch prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – John Gray, 40, of Oak Hill, was sentenced on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing a quantity of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2023, Gray sold approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Oak Hill. Gray admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling approximately 848 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Oak Hill on May 1, 2023. Gray also admitted to selling 3 grams of fentanyl on May 3, 2024, and another 3 grams of fentanyl on May 6, 2024, each time to a confidential informant in Oak Hill. During a March 1, 2024, interview with law enforcement officers, Gray admitted that he had been distributing approximately 3 grams of fentanyl three times per week from April 2023 until his arrest in March 2024. Gray is among four individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they participated in the drug trafficking conspiracy. All four pleaded guilty. Phillip Gray, 42, of Oak Hill and a brother of John Gray, was sentenced on October 15, 2025, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Leondus Whittenburg, 43, of Beckley, was sentenced on August 19, 2025, to seven years and 11 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Daemien Thompson, 40, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-31. ###


title: Two Men Facing Federal Charges For Assaulting Ice Officers

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced it filed a criminal complaint today, against Anderson Martinez-Montenegro, 28, and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, 37, both citizens of Guatemala and unlawfully present in the United States. They are charged with resisting arrest and assault on federal officers. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Acting Field Office Director Jeremy Bacon, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to court documents, on Saturday November 29, 2025, ICE officers investigated a Salisbury, Maryland, work site. During the investigation, law enforcement encountered both Martinez-Montenegro and Ortiz-Berduo in a work truck. The ICE officers attempted to identify the driver who refused to roll down his window. As officers began to breach the window, the driver agreed to step out of the car. Martinez-Montenegro also stepped out of the passenger side, but while law enforcement detained him, he struck one of the officers. Ortiz-Berduo, who was the rear passenger, tried to run away but officers captured him. Then Ortiz-Berduo refused to comply with orders, as he struck the officers and attempted to stab them with the prongs of a taser that law enforcement deployed. ICE officers ultimately subdued and arrested both men. Martinez-Montenegro and Ortiz-Berduo face a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison for the assault. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen McGuinn and Victoria Liu and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who are prosecuting the federal case. A complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced in D.C. to 144 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: WASHINGTON – Luis Santos Perez, 34, of Las Vegas, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 144 months in prison for posting photographs and videos to a notorious chat room where its members shared and celebrated graphic images of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Santos Perez, aka “chillbill,” pleaded guilty before Judge Beryl A. Howell on Feb. 20 2025, to a charge of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 144-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Santos Perez to serve 10 years of supervised release and pay $42,000 in restitution to victims. Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. In early 2024, an undercover agent from the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an online chat room where members post videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. One of the members identified himself as an administrator, posted several clips of pre-pubescent child pornography, and demanded that others do the same or risk being kicked out of the chatroom. That member was later identified as Santos Perez. “This defendant was both an administrator and participant on a mobile app called KIK where child sexual abuse images were exchanged,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “In his role as administrator, he required younger and younger images, including infants, in order to remain in his group. Twelve years is not enough which is why the judge ordered him to serve an additional 10 years supervised release.” On May 13, 2024, law enforcement arrested Santos Perez in Las Vegas and seized several digital devices. In an interview with officers, Santos Perez admitted that he had sent and received child pornography on two online groups and that his digital devices contained child pornography. Law enforcement recovered more than 2,000 images of child sexual abuse materials from his digital devices. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Shinskie for the District of Columbia. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 24cr216