title: Jury convicts Houston trucker of transporting illegal aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 66-year-old Houston resident who has been a lawful permanent resident in the United States since 1989 has been convicted of smuggling aliens further into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before returning the guilty verdict against Armando Balladares-Prado following a two-day trial. On May 5, 2024, Balladares-Prado pulled up to the Border Patrol checkpoint south of Falfurrias for primary immigration inspection. The jury heard that he seemed nervous but provided consent for an x-ray examination of his tractor-trailer. The vehicle was completely empty but had a seal and lock on it as if there was a full transport load in the back. Authorities soon found two individuals hidden underneath the bed of the sleeper compartment. Both were determined to be citizens of Guatemala illegally present in the United States. Testimony revealed Balladares-Prado told the aliens to get under the bed and instructed them on what to say if law enforcement discovered them. The defense attempted to convince the jury the aliens had gotten into the tractor and pulled the bed down on top of themselves. Contradictory evidence showed that to be virtually impossible. The jury was not convinced of defense claims and found Balladares-Prado guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over trial and set sentencing for Sept. 3. At that time, Balladares-Prado faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Previously released on bond, he was taken into custody following the conviction where he will remain pending sentencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Poplar woman sentenced to prison for making false statements

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Poplar woman who provided false statements to federal law enforcement was sentenced today to 9 months in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Annie Lee Kirn, 27, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of making a false statement. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, Kirn returned with her elderly friend to his residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Shortly thereafter, two men broke into the home. Armed with an assault rifle, the men assaulted the homeowner and another man and demanded money and access to a wall safe. During an interview with federal law enforcement officers, Kirn said she saw the would-be robbers outside before the robbery and one of them kept trying to grab her, she then saw the gun and freaked out. She also told law enforcement the armed man told her to run, that she ran, and then he fired three or four times. Law enforcement recovered and reviewed surveillance video from the home that showed a car with five people following Kirn’s truck into the yard. Two men, one of whom was armed with a rifle, approached the house while Kirn was getting out of the truck. After the homeowner went into the house, Kirn returned to the yard and visited with the two men. During that time, they discussed her relationship with the homeowner, Kirn offered to share a joint with the man armed with the rifle, they whispered about cash, and talked about the location of a safe. At one point, Kirn asked about the rifle, the armed man handed it to her, and she held it at the ready position before handing it back to the man. While they were outside, the man fired seven rounds from the rifle, primarily into the air. In an interview in September 2024, law enforcement followed up with Kirn about the night of the robbery. When asked directly if she ever handled the firearm, Kirn said “hell no.” When asked if she had any conversations with the robbers, she said, “No…I didn’t talk with them at all.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice. 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 . XXX


title: Honduran Citizen Living Illegally in the United States Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Immigration Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Wilson Geovanny Nunez, also known as “Wilson Nunez,” 36, a citizen of Honduras living illegally in the United States, pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to seven months of incarceration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Nunez so he can be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings once he serves the sentence imposed in this case. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 29, 2024, Nunez was arrested by law enforcement following a traffic stop in Hurricane, West Virginia. ICE agents confirmed that Nunez was a citizen of Honduras in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported six times from the United States. Nunez had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States. Nunez was removed from the United States to Honduras on February 28, 2014; June 9, 2014; July 5, 2018; April 8, 2020; November 8, 2020; and June 2, 2021. Nunez was previously convicted of the felony offense of illegal reentry of a removed alien in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on April 14, 2021. Nunez never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for either of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. 3:25-cr-8. ###


title: Franklin County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison  for child exploitation violation

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TEXARKANA, Texas – A Mount Vernon man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Zachary Arzola, 28, pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III on June 5, 2025. According to information presented in court, Arzola met a minor victim online in September 2022 when he was 26 years old, and the minor victim was 14 years old. Arzola communicated with the minor victim through social media applications and eventually traveled to Ohio to meet her in December 2022. Once in Ohio, Arzola presented the victim’s family with an altered driver’s license to falsely represent that he was 16 years old. After briefly returning to Texas, Arzola traveled back to Ohio in January 2023, picked the minor victim up from her home after her mother left for work, and transported the victim back to Texas with him. Mount Vernon Police discovered the minor victim and Arzola at Arzola’s home shortly after they arrived in Texas. Arzola admitted in court documents that he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the 14-year-old victim to engage in prohibited sexual activity. “With the scope and accessibility of social media applications, predators like Arzola are every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Arzola’s despicable crime took online predation to a whole new level. He invented a new identity, lied about his age, and traveled to Ohio to meet the victim and her family. He concocted a plan to kidnap the victim under the guise of elopement and acted on it. The sentence he received should serve as a warning to other online predators that they will get caught, and they will face justice. Parents around our country should take note of the ease with which Arzola was able to exploit technology to lure an innocent child into danger.” This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Clermont (Ohio) County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells. ###


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute PCP

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Norman Morris, 44, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty by a federal jury on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Sentencing for Morris, aka “Fibble,” is pending and will be set at a later date. According to court documents and testimony at trial before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, the DEA and the FBI began conducting a criminal investigation in September 2023 of local PCP and fentanyl distributors, a group that included Morris and co-defendants Lamont M. Langston, Kelvin Sanker, and Jamar Bennett. Morris conducted apparent drug transactions outside of his residence on the 200 block of 58th Street NE. The transactions were monitored by law enforcement from November 2023 to March 2024. During this same period, Bennett and Langston were observed meeting at Morris’s residence to exchange suspected narcotics and cash. During the investigation, Bennett sold more than two kilograms of PCP to undercover officers over the course of nine transactions. The PCP was supplied by Langston and was stored and prepared by Sanker at Sanker’s home. Morris also retrieved 32 ounces of PCP from Sanker at the request of Langston after Langston was arrested with PCP and two firearms. Sixteen ounces of the PCP retrieved by Morris was sold to an undercover officer by Bennett. Bennett, 45, of the District, pleaded guilty Apr. 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to 121 months in prison. Sanker, 43, of the District, pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP and was sentencing to 65 months in prison. Langston, 44, of the District, pleaded guilty Dec. 19, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP. Langston’s sentencing is scheduled for June 30, 2025. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was investigated by the the FBI’s Washington Field Office, DEA’s Washington Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Division, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Stempel, with valuable assistance from Paralegal Michael Asmutis. 24cr109


title: Five Highs Gang Members Convicted by Jury of RICO Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Following a three-week trial, a federal jury in Minneapolis convicted five Minnesota men today for their involvement in the Highs — a violent Minneapolis street gang — and in gang-related murders, shootings, and narcotics distribution. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, defendants Tyreese Giles, 24, Josiah Taylor, 31, Trevaun Robinson, 29, William Banks, 35, and Gregory Brown, 35, all of Minneapolis, were members of various “cliques,” or subsets, of the Highs — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Members of the Highs committed murders, narcotics trafficking, weapons violations, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the enterprise. As part of their Highs membership, the defendants were expected to retaliate against their rivals, the Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue. These two gangs had been in a gang war that spanned years and alleged members of the Lows gang have been separately charged with federal crimes, including racketeering charges. “This is the second successful trial against members and associates of the Highs gang in this case in the last three weeks,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case and these trials show the Department’s relentless determination to hold accountable criminal enterprises that use murder and intimidation to exert power and control narcotics territory. We will continue to dismantle violent gangs and secure justice for victims and their loved ones in communities around the country.” “The Highs have long terrorized north Minneapolis, bringing drugs, violence, and murder,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson for the District of Minnesota. “This verdict represents yet another step in our fight against gang violence. I want to thank the coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who joined together to bring down this violent criminal street gang. I also want to thank the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section for lending their expertise and partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on our RICO cases.” “The FBI is committed to using every legal means available, including federal racketeering statutes, to dismantle these criminal enterprises who plague our society,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The Highs have used violence to terrorize and control our streets with no regard for the innocent lives impacted by their dangerous lifestyle. Today’s outcome is the result of coordinated law enforcement efforts with our partners to dismantle this dangerous group and make our streets safer.” “This case is a powerful example of how we use federal racketeering laws to take down violent gangs at the center of community violence,” said Acting Director Daniel Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “These individuals relied on firearms, retaliation, and drug trafficking to fuel chaos and assert fear and dominance over their neighborhoods. ATF special agents worked closely with our partners to map the gang’s structure and document their vicious acts of violence, to bring the full weight of the law against its members. We will continue to use every tool available to protect the public and hold violent offenders accountable.” “The verdict today reflects the United States Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) dedication to building great partnerships with other federal agencies, as well as state and county law enforcement, to bring violent criminals in our communities to justice,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Steve Hodge of USPIS. “As financial investigators, IRS Criminal Investigation brings a unique skill set to dismantling violent criminal enterprises,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “Our special agents are experts in exposing how criminal organizations move and hide their illicit funds. By following the money, we developed critical financial evidence on significant fentanyl suppliers. As an agency on the RICO task force to combat violent crime, IRS-CI will continue to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners to make a noticeable impact in our community. These convictions are a critical step in restoring safety and stability to the streets of Minneapolis and maintaining the marked decrease in violence in our community.” As proven at trial, the gang war escalated when, on Sept. 9, 2021, a prominent Highs member was shot and killed at a barbershop in Minneapolis. About two hours later, suspecting that the Lows were responsible for the killing, defendant Giles traveled to Pennwood Market in Lows territory. Once there, Giles, who was dressed in black and wearing a mask covering his face, shot and killed a Lows member. He fired the fatal shot into the victim’s back before he attempted to flee from the scene. Evidence at trial tied defendant Robinson to two shootings — one into a crowd of individuals in downtown Minneapolis on July 7, 2019, and another in the parking lot of Merwin Liquors, a Highs hangout, on April 2, 2022. Defendants Taylor and Banks trafficked drugs, including fentanyl, on behalf of the Highs. Evidence proved that Brown was a high-level narcotics supplier for the Highs and coordinated trips to and from Arizona for Highs members to obtain tens of thousands of fentanyl pills to sell on the streets of Minneapolis. Each defendant was arrested in possession of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and oxycodone, and one possessed a firearm in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking. The jury convicted defendants Giles, Robinson, Banks, And Brown of Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy. Defendants Taylor and Banks were also convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy. The jury convicted Taylor of the separate crime of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This is the second of several trials in this case , which charged over 40 defendants with RICO conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, and other charges related to their activities as members and associates of the Highs gang. Nine defendants are awaiting trial. The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation. Trial Attorneys Brian Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Lopez-Calhoun and Carla Baumel of the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.


title: Manteca Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $1.4 Million from Former Employer

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Justin Alexander Payne, 50, of Manteca, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, from December 2017 to September 2023, Payne worked as an IT Director for a family-owned, independent fuel supplier, distributor, and retailer company in Modesto. As part of his scheme, Payne used his company-issued credit card to make unauthorized purchases of gift cards from multiple retailers. To convert the gift cards to cash, Payne sold the gift cards to online businesses that specialize in purchasing unwanted gift cards for less than the value of the cards. The online businesses conducted no less than 3,700 transactions in gift card purchases from Payne, which included subsequent payouts to Payne. Payne also used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized purchases of personal items, including, but not limited to, adult clothing, children’s clothing, golf and other sports equipment and home improvement products. In furtherance of the scheme, Payne concealed his unauthorized purchases from the family-owned company by altering receipts and falsifying expense reports to make it appear as if the purchases were for legitimate IT equipment for the company. During his employment, Payne embezzled more than $1.4 million dollars from the company. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case. Payne is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on October 16, 2025. Payne faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Michael Pratt, the mastermind behind the GirlsDoPorn sex trafficking ring, pleaded guilty in federal court today to multiple sex trafficking counts. Pratt, who was the owner of the website GirlsDoPorn, was charged in October 2019 in the Southern District of California with sex trafficking crimes in connection with a scheme to deceive and coerce young women to appear in pornographic videos. Pratt liquidated his assets and fled the United States in mid-2019. He was named to the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list and lived as an international fugitive for more than three years until his arrest in Spain in December 2022 and extradition to San Diego in March 2024. According to public court filings, Pratt and his co-defendants used force, fraud, and coercion to recruit hundreds of young women – most in their late teens – to appear in GirlsDoPorn videos. In his plea agreement, Pratt pleaded guilty to Count One (conspiracy to sex traffic from 2012 to 2019) and Count Two (Sex trafficking Victim 1 in May 2012) of the superseding indictment. In connection with Count 1, Pratt admitted the following: He was the owner and operator of the pornography website GirlsDoPorn, which featured sex videos of young adult women appearing in their first pornographic video. Pratt came up with the idea for the website, recruited women to appear in the videos, sometimes transported the women to and from the site of the video shoot, sometimes manned the camera for the videos, and otherwise managed the business. In around 2012, Pratt recruited his co-defendant Matthew Wolfe to work for him. Wolfe operated GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys (an offshoot of GirlsDoPorn which featured many of the same women appearing in pornographic videos with sex toys). The two websites were run by Pratt as a single business venture. Both websites were supported by the same employees operating out of a shared office in San Diego. Throughout the conspiracy, GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys received millions of views. To promote the websites, video content from both sites was posted on free porn sites such as Pornhub.com, one of the world’s most visited websites. The videos from GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys posted on PornHub were often viewed millions of times according to PornHub’s own view counters. The websites charged visitors a subscription fee to access content, and generated millions of dollars in revenue for Pratt. To recruit young women to appear in videos for the websites, Pratt and some of his employees (at Pratt’s direction) often told the prospective models that their sex videos would never be posted on-line, that the videos would never be released in the United States, and that no one who knew the women would ever find out about the video, representations that Pratt and other members of the conspiracy knew were false. Women from various places throughout the United States and Canada were recruited to appear in videos based on these material misrepresentations. In 2013, Pratt recruited co-defendant Ruben Andre Garcia. the male model who engaged in sex acts on video with the women. As a part of the scheme, Garcia found young women (“Reference Girls”) to falsely reassure prospective models that the videos would not be posted on-line and that none of the models’ friends, families, colleagues or classmates would ever find out. Garcia used the Reference Girls, because he believed that the victims were more likely to believe other young women. Pratt knew about the Reference Girls and paid them a fee for each model that they attempted to recruit. As a part of the scheme, Pratt and other members of the conspiracy took steps to ensure that the victims did not find out that Pratt and the other members of the conspiracy owned and operated GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys. These steps included the intentional omission of any reference to the websites in statements that Pratt and others made to prospective models and in company names and documents, including the contracts that the prospective models signed. The business was instead often identified by innocuous names, such as “Begin Modeling,” “Bubblegum Casting” or “BLL Media.” Most of the sex videos created as part of the conspiracy were shot at hotels or short term rental units in the San Diego area. Pratt, Wolfe or co-defendant Theodore Gyi served as the camera men for these video shoots. Once the women arrived at the hotel or short term rental unit, Pratt, Garcia, Wolfe and/or Gyi continued to falsely assure the women that the videos would not be posted on-line and that no one who knew the victims would find out. The women were told that the contracts simply said what the women had already been told, including that the videos would not be posted on-line. Women were not provided with a copy of the contracts that they signed, even though some of them asked for copies. If the women told Pratt or his co-conspirators that they wanted to stop making the video, Pratt or his co-conspirators threatened to sue the women, cancel flights home, and post the videos on-line if the women did not complete the sex videos. Pratt became aware that personal identifying information and social media accounts for some models were being posted on Pornwikileaks.com, a site dedicated to exposing the true identities of individuals appearing in sex videos. Even after Pratt became aware of this, Pratt instructed his employees to assure prospective models that no one would ever find out about their video shoot or learn their identity. In connection with Count 2, Pratt admitted the following: In May 2012, Pratt, using the alias “Matt,” recruited Victim 1. The original Craigslist advertisement was for modeling, and it was posted under the name Bubblegum Casting. Victim 1 responded to the ad and communicated with Pratt. Pratt explained that the job was actually to shoot an “adult video.” Pratt falsely assured Victim 1 that her video would only be seen in Australia by private clients and would not be posted on the internet. Victim 1 was 18 years old at the time of these conversations. Victim 1 initially declined, but Pratt referred her to a Reference Girl to convince Victim 1 to do the video and reassure Victim 1 that her video would not be posted on-line. Relying upon assurances by Pratt and the Reference Girl, Victim 1 flew from a state outside of California to San Diego for the video shoot. Pratt picked Victim 1 up at the airport and drove her to a hotel in San Diego. Pratt operated the camera. He directed and filmed the sex video. Prior to making the video, Pratt rushed Victim 1 through a contract and did not provide her with a copy. Pratt had promised Victim 1 that the video would take 30 minutes, but it took hours to film. Once the video was done, Pratt gave Victim 1 $2,000. Victim 1’s video was posted on GirlsDoPorn approximately nine months after the shoot. Victim 1 contacted Pratt after her video was posted to the GirlsDoPorn website and begged Pratt to take her video down. Pratt did not reply and did not take the video down. Garcia was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 14, 2021. Theodore Gyi was sentenced to four years in prison on November 9, 2022. Matthew Wolfe was sentenced to 14 years in prison on March 20, 2024. Valorie Moser, the office manager, is set for sentencing on September 12, 2025. Pratt’s sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2025, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino. DEFENDANTS Case Number 19cr4488-JLS Michael Pratt Age: 42 To be sentenced September 8, 2025 Matthew Wolfe Age: 43 Sentenced to 14 years on March 20, 2024 Ruben Andre Garcia Age: 36 Sentenced to 20 years on June 4, 2021 Theodore Gyi Age: 47 Sentenced to 4 years on November 9, 2022 Valorie Moser Age: 42 To be sentenced on September 12, 2025 SUMMARY OF CHARGES Sex Trafficking Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1594 Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $250,000 fine Sex Trafficking – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1591 Mandatory Minimum: Fifteen years in prison Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation *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: Gang Member Convicted by Jury for his Part in Murder

body_text: Following a one-week trial, a federal jury in Memphis convicted a member of the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) — a violent street gang in Memphis — for his involvement in a gang-related murder, after deliberating for less than an hour. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Vincent Grant, also know as “V-Slash,” 41, of Memphis, was a high-ranking member of UVL, also known as The Ghost Mob — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis and beyond to Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of UVL committed murders, burglaries, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s Supreme Elite Chief, the leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved. As proven at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the gang’s Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in a residential neighborhood in broad daylight. The gang sought retaliation that same night against a rival gang, the Traveling Vice Lords (TVL) whom they initially believed to have been responsible. Multiple UVL members drove to a known TVL hangout and engaged in a gun battle with the other gang. During the next few days, UVL conducted its own internal investigation and were informed that a fellow member was thought to be responsible for their Chief’s murder. Five days after the Chief was murdered, on Jan. 15, 2019, the implicated member, the victim for this trial, was murdered at the hands of Grant and other UVL members. On Jan. 14, 2019, Grant, as a keeper of guns for the gang, provided guns to multiple gang members for the purpose of going on a “demo,” which is the gang’s term for committing violent acts. Then early the next morning at around 1:00 a.m., Grant and three other gang members drove the victim to an apartment complex, where two of them executed the victim with the guns Grant provided. “This violent gang brutally executed one of their own and left the body on display as a warning that betrayal would not be tolerated,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their blatant disregard for human life — carrying out shootings in broad daylight and in residential neighborhoods—underscores the urgent need to confront and dismantle this threat to public safety. The Justice Department and the ATF turned this case from a cold case into a conviction, and we remain committed to working closely with law enforcement to tackle even the most challenging cases. Our warning to street gangs is clear: their violence will not be tolerated.” “Gang violence is never isolated — it endangers entire communities,” said Acting Director Daniel Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This gang’s brutal executions, carried out openly in residential neighborhoods in broad daylight, sent a chilling message of intimidation; but ATF and our law enforcement partners sent an even stronger one back: violence and fear will not prevail. We remained dedicated to protecting the community and unraveled this deadly conspiracy to ensure justice was done. We remain relentless in our commitment to dismantle gangs that threaten public safety, and we’ll continue to hold accountable, those who inflict violence in our communities.” The jury convicted Grant of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19 and faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Police Department, and United States Secret Service assisted in the investigation. Trial Attorneys Lisa Thelwell and Christopher Usher of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.


title: Salinas Man Charged With Attempted Enticement Of A Minor

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury today indicted Edy Antonio, Jr., 30, of Salinas, Calif., on one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct. Antonio was initially charged by criminal complaint on May 13, 2025, with the same offense. According to the indictment and the criminal complaint, Antonio allegedly used or attempted to use his cell phone to persuade, induce, and entice two minors to engage in criminal sexual conduct. On April 21, 2025, Antonio responded to an advertisement on a website dedicated to promoting commercial sex services. The advertisement depicted two minors whom Antonio believed to be a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old. Antonio allegedly responded via text message and agreed to pay $500 to engage in sexual conduct with the minor girls. Thereafter, Antonio traveled to the planned meeting location at a hotel in Salinas, where he was arrested by Salinas Police Department officers. The complaint describes that Antonio worked as a respiratory therapist at two hospitals in Salinas and Monterey. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement. Antonio was arrested in Salinas on May 20, 2025, and made an initial appearance in federal court that same day. He was released on bond. Antonio is next scheduled to appear in district court on June 10, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Chang is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Natachiana Burney and Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department.


title: Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition after Standoff with SWAT at Fresno Hotel

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — On June 5, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Helan Noel Lopez-Sanchez, 32, a citizen of El Salvador, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2025, law enforcement officers received information that Lopez-Sanchez, a felon who had escaped from police custody, was located at a Motel 6 in Fresno after he logged into his Snapchat account. The Fresno Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT team was activated to serve an arrest warrant at the Motel 6. According to court documents, SWAT operators sent a drone into the motel room, where they observed Lopez-Sanchez with a rifle pointing the rifle at the door. Law enforcement officers ultimately took Lopez-Sanchez into custody and located ammunition as well as a short-barreled, privately manufactured rifle. Lopez-Sanchez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to felony convictions including bringing alcohol/drugs into a jail and grand theft. This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Lopez-Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Three Foreign Nationals Charged with Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Almost Four Tons of Methamphetamine

body_text: SAN DIEGO – A federal complaint was filed today charging Erick Arriola, Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes and Eugenio Lizama, alleged drivers of drug-laden vans and a truck, with conspiring to distribute almost four tons of methamphetamine. It was one of the biggest seizures of methamphetamine in 2025 in the Southern District of California, and the most significant so far by the new Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, which was recently established by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security at the request of President Trump. Among other goals, the task force was created to identify and target for prosecution transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, homicide, extortion, and kidnapping. The complaint alleges that on June 2, 2025, federal law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance on four vehicles - which included two white panel vans, a white Ford F150 truck, and a semi-truck - as they congregated in a parking lot in the 8200 block of Otay Mesa Road. According to the complaint, bundles in each vehicle had been moved from the large semi-truck into the other vehicles while in the parking lot. The three defendants drove in separate directions before they were ultimately arrested by United States Border Patrol. Each vehicle was stuffed with large bundles of methamphetamine. Arriola, of El Salvador, was present in the United States despite being a felon convicted of DUI, battery of a spouse, and false imprisonment. Rodriguez Reyes and Lizama are Mexican nationals. “The recent formation of Homeland Security Task Force San Diego is an essential step to fulfilling the promises of Operation Take Back America,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “Our Office will fully support these enhanced law enforcement partnerships to ensure the safety of our community.” “As a founding member of HSTF in San Diego, I’m thrilled to be working alongside our partners who have also committed resources to combatting transnational crime,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Cases under the HSTF will be a priority for me and staff as we all will continue to work together to secure our border and keep our communities safe.” “Collaboration between law enforcement agencies greatly helps to effectively combat transnational criminal organizations,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker. “The leveraging of our unique capabilities amplifies our ability to safeguard the nation.” “When we combine our unique capabilities, authorities, strengths, and assets, we create a unified response to the expansive cartel threat,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “FBI San Diego will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to reduce the growing epidemic of drug trafficking and violence in our community.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin of the U.S. Attorney’s recently created Narcoterrorism Unit. DEFENDANTS Case Number 25mj3112 Erick Omar Arriola Age 27 El Salvador Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes Age 49 Mexico Eugenio Lizama Age 35 Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) – Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Maximum penalty: Life; 10-year mandatory minimum sentence Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1), 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Maximum penalty: Life; 10-year mandatory minimum sentence INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Border Patrol San Diego County Sheriff’s Department This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) San Diego as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to, among other goals, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. *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: Rochester area teacher arrested on child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kevin Burns, 45, of Irondequoit, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2023, the New York State Police received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual living in Rochester uploaded an image of child pornography from the internet. Subsequent investigation traced the images to Burns, a teacher employed by a school in Monroe County. In November 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Burns’ residence, during which they seized his computer. A forensic review of the device recovered more than 450 images of child pornography, to include children engaged in sexual acts with adults, children that are restrained, blind-folded or masked, and infants and toddler-age children. Burns made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Colleen D. Holland and was held pending a detention hearing. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm. 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 Avon police chief sentenced to probation for stealing federal funds

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that Joseph Geer, 40, of Caledonia, NY, who was convicted of theft of funds related to a federal program, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case, stated that in 2022, the Avon Central School District and the Village of Avon entered into a School Resource Officer Contract, in which the Village of Avon agreed to provide an off-duty member of the Avon Police Department to provide various services to the district. In exchange, the School Resource Officer (SRO) would be paid an hourly wage by the district. Between September 2023, and January 2024, Geer was employed as the Avon Police Chief and an SRO under the contract. During that time, Geer billed the district for hours during which he did not perform duties under the contract. Geer assigned an on-duty subordinate officer to “cover” his obligations, thus depriving the Village of Avon of a patrolling on-duty police officer. Geer knew that by assigning an on-duty officer to cover his duties, the Village of Avon was being charged for a police officer’s wages who was not performing all of his police officer duties. The value of police services for the Village of Avon that were lost while officers covered Geer’s SRO duties was approximately $6,866.84. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the New York State Comptroller’s Office, under the direction of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. # # # #


title: Last of Five Defendants Sentenced in Two Separate Romanian ATM Skimming Conspiracies with Combined Losses of Over $1 Million

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Ionel Tomescu Baldovin, age 28, a Romanian national, was sentenced Thursday, May 22, 2025, to 33 months in prison for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy impacting two Northern District of New York financial institutions and least five additional financial institutions across the United States. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Baldovin admitted that he conspired with others to place skimming devices and cameras at ATMs at financial institutions, including two financial institutions in the Northern District of New York. Once installed, the devices and cameras captured ATM customers’ account information and personal identification numbers (“PINs”). Members of the conspiracy subsequently created fraudulent debit cards from the captured information, which they used to withdraw currency from customers’ accounts. Baldovin admitted involvement in the conspiracy from October 2017 to April 2018, with losses of over $450,0000 to financial institutions, including losses of over $20,000 from a Northern District of New York financial institution. Baldovin was the only defendant charged in this conspiracy. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Baldovin to pay $454,447 in restitution, and to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. In 2019, four Romanian nationals conspired to commit a similar bank fraud skimming scheme. In that conspiracy, skimming devices were placed on ATMs at a financial institution in the Northern District of New York, and fraudulent debit cards were created from the information captured, allowing the defendants access to information from over 500 compromised accounts. Each Romanian national pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of aggravated identity theft. They were each sentenced as follows: Laurentiu Florian Iancu was sentenced December 11, 2024, to 48 months incarceration, three (3) years’ supervised release, and an order of restitution of $169,075. Florin Nicolae Mares was sentenced January 18, 2023, to 51 months incarceration, two (2) years’ supervised release, and an order of restitution of $169,075. Liviu Samuel Anca was sentenced September 20, 2024, to 40 months incarceration, three (3) years’ supervised release, and an order of restitution of $169,075. Teodor Claudiu Stan was sentenced December 19, 2023, to 81 months incarceration, four (4) years’ supervised release, and an order of restitution of over $675,000. During his plea, Stan admitted his involvement in the 2019 Northern District of New York conspiracy with Baldovin, as well as a broader conspiracy through 2022 where he and his co-conspirators made, modified, placed or assisted in placing skimming devices at eight (8) additional financial institutions across the United States. U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “We commend our federal and local partners for their diligent work in developing these important investigations into strong cases that held multiple defendants accountable for their conduct in the Northern District of New York and beyond.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated, “This sentence is the direct result of the commitment by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and charge those who willingly defraud our citizens and financial institutions. The FBI will continue to investigate and bring to justice these callous criminals to ensure they pay the price, instead of their victims.” These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Police, the Endicott Police and various local police departments outside the Northern District of New York. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Grabowski.


title: New York City Man Sentenced for Possessing a Handgun with an Obliterated Serial Number

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Steven Gomez, age 23, of Bayside, New York, was sentenced today to 3 years of probation, including 50 hours of community service, for possessing a handgun with an obliterated serial number. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Those who unlawfully possess firearms endanger the public and will face criminal consequences. While the Second Amendment is no longer a second-class right, my office will vigorously enforce federal laws criminalizing the possession of certain firearms and the unlawful possession of firearms by prohibited people, to make our communities safer.” HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “The possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number is not just a violation of the law; it poses a significant threat to the safety of our citizens. We remain committed to working tirelessly to ensure that those who engage in such reckless behavior are held accountable. Together, HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York will strive to create a safer environment for all citizens of Northern New York.” As part of his prior guilty plea, Gomez admitted that on September 8, 2022, in a parking lot of a shopping mall in Albany County, he unlawfully possessed a Glock 17 handgun with an obliterated serial number. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.


title: Crown Point Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Daeshawn Jones, 29 years old, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Jones was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on October 8, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Merrillville, Indiana, in which Jones was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number was discovered from the rear driver’s side seat. Jones attempted to flee but was apprehended. His criminal history revealed that he had a prior 2022 Illinois felony conviction for attempted criminal sexual assault/force and a 2021 Indiana felony conviction for forgery, and as such, he is prohibited from possessing the firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Merrillville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski. 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: Southwest Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Meth Trafficking

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man with a criminal history who admitted to being a “lifelong” methamphetamine supplier and who said he distributed up to three kilograms of the illegal drug per week during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel was sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison this week. Justin Harris Vinson, 42, of Warwick, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on June 4. Vinson previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Sept. 17, 2024. Codefendant Shana Rae Black, 34, of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 168 months to be followed by five years of supervised release on Feb. 28, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Aug. 15, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system. “Repeat convicted felons who weaponize themselves and distribute hazardous, illegal drugs in our communities will be brought to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, our office is working nonstop to identity those offenders causing the most harm in the communities we serve, stop their criminal activities and hold them accountable.” “Drug traffickers drive addiction and destroy communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated. “DEA will use any resource necessary to remove these career criminals from our streets.” “Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug with devastating consequences to users, their families and communities,” said to Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of FBI Atlanta. “This prosecution closes a pipeline for dangerous drugs flowing into the streets of Southwest Georgia.” “We are committed to holding those who traffic methamphetamine accountable,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Collaborating closely with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, we will work to ensure justice and dismantle these dangerous networks.” "I am incredibly proud of our agency's relentless efforts and the strong collaboration with our local and federal partners. Methamphetamine trafficking brings dangerous consequences to our community, often resulting in tragedy and loss of life. This case highlights our dedication to safeguarding the community and demonstrates the powerful results we achieve through collaboration," stated Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock. “This case demonstrates the daily, unwavering efforts law enforcement agents make to ensure a good case to get criminal offenders off the streets and behind bars,” said Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals. "We are proud of the cooperation demonstrated by all to ensure these repeat offenders are held accountable at the federal level, where there is no parole." According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a confidential informant (CI) working with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) contacted Black on Facebook to obtain methamphetamine on Oct. 27, 2022. Black sold the CI approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine at a Perry, Georgia, motel; the CI reported there was a pistol on a nightstand in the motel room next to a bulk quantity of methamphetamine. On Oct. 31, an undercover Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent contacted Black to purchase methamphetamine and met her at the Walmart in Cordele. Under audio and video surveillance, the GBI agent purchased methamphetamine from Black. On Nov. 2, FBI, DEA and GBI agents met with another CI to purchase methamphetamine from Vinson. Under surveillance, Vinson met the CI at his Warwick residence and traveled with Vinson to the Sunrise Inn in Cordele to meet with Black. During the transaction, Black provided 284.4 grams of methamphetamine and collected the majority of the cash payment for the drugs, with Vinson keeping $300 as a brokering fee. Vinson was seen with a firearm during the transaction. On Nov. 7, CCSO and GBI arrested Black in Crisp County as she traveled in a vehicle back from McDonough, Georgia. A search of the vehicle revealed Black was in possession of 982.7 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine, 15.89 grams of 91% pure methamphetamine, a digital scale and several cell phones. GBI executed a search warrant on the Baymont Inn motel room in Cordele where Black was staying and found a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a small bag of suspected methamphetamine, four digital scales and bulk quantities of plastic baggies. Black’s cell phones showed extensive communications between her and known drug dealers. On Jan. 22, 2023, Vinson purchased 15 ounces of methamphetamine in Cordele and sold 277 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine to a CI utilized by GBI in Warwick. During the transaction, the CI observed Vinson place a firearm in the center console of his vehicle. A search warrant was executed at Vinson’s residence on Jan. 26, 2023. Law enforcement located a semiautomatic pistol in his bedroom, along with five other firearms, inside of an open safe. Vinson told officers he had been selling methamphetamine in the South Georgia and North Florida area his entire life and that during the peak of COVID in 2020, he would sell approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine per week for six months on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel. Vinson has multiple prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine. Black also has a previous felony conviction in Jones County, Georgia, Superior Court for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by GBI, DEA and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Five Highs Gang Members

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – This afternoon, following a three-week jury trial, a federal jury convicted all five defendants on trial in the Highs RICO case of a variety of federal charges, including RICO and murder, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joesph H. Thompson. The Highs are a prominent Minneapolis street gang, whose primary agenda consists of gang-related murders, shootings, and the distribution of narcotics. This is the second of back-to-back large trials in which members of the Highs gang have been convicted of RICO or related charges. The third Highs RICO trial begins on Monday. “The Highs have long terrorized north Minneapolis, bringing drugs, violence, and murder into our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This verdict represents yet another step in our fight against gang violence. I want to thank the coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who joined together to investigate and prosecute this violent criminal street gang. I also want to thank the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section for lending their expertise and partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on our RICO cases.” Defendants Tyreese Giles, 24, Trevaun Robinson, 29, William Banks, 35, and Gregory Brown, 35, all of Minneapolis, were convicted of federal RICO conspiracy. As proven at trial, these defendants were members of various “cliques,” or subsets, of the Highs — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Members of the Highs committed murders, narcotics trafficking, weapons violations, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the enterprise. As part of their Highs membership, these defendants were expected to retaliate against their rivals, the Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue. These two gangs had been in a gang war that spanned years and alleged members of the Lows gang have been separately charged with federal crimes, including racketeering charges. Giles was also convicted of committing a murder for the benefit of the gang. Josiah Taylor, 31, was convicted of conspiring to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking. This is the second of several trials in this case, which charged over 40 defendants with RICO conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, and other charges related to their activities as members and associates of the Highs gang. Nine defendants are awaiting trial. “Our special agents devoted countless hours coordinating the intricate details of this complex investigation, working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “The jury’s verdict rightfully recognizes the seriousness of the violence inflicted upon our Minneapolis communities and reflects ATF’s unwavering commitment to relentlessly pursue those who commit craven acts that endanger public safety. Together, we remain resolute and will continue to aggressively target and dismantle violent criminal enterprises to ensure justice and protect our neighborhoods.” “The Highs built their reputation on fear, violence, and bloodshed,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “For too long, this violent street gang operated with a ruthless disregard for human life — they poisoned the streets with drugs and left neighborhoods living under the shadow of gunfire and murder. Today’s verdict is a critical step in the fight against violent crime. The FBI and our partners will continue to dismantle violent organizations and pursue these dangerous offenders without pause until our communities are safe from their destructive influence.” “It’s incredibly rewarding to see violent criminals not only arrested but now convicted,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “These guilty verdicts send a powerful and unmistakable message: we are serious about ending violent crime in our cities. This outcome reflects the incredible work of MPD officers along with the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office. The strategy to target those individuals who cause the greatest harm is paying off. These convictions will surely bring a renewed sense of justice and hope to the individuals and communities that have been harmed by these violent offenders.” As financial investigators, IRS Criminal Investigation brings a unique skill set to dismantling violent criminal enterprises,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Our special agents are experts in exposing how criminal organizations move and hide their profits. By following the money, we developed critical financial evidence on significant fentanyl suppliers. IRS-CI joined the RICO task force to combat violent crime, and we will continue to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners to make a noticeable impact in our community. These convictions are a critical step in restoring safety and stability to the streets of Minneapolis and maintaining the marked decrease in violence in our community.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sherif’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Carla Baumel and Brian Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Lexington Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Lexington, Ky., man, Tommie Joyner, 45, has pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Atkins to wire fraud arising out of a scheme to unlawfully obtain various COVID-19 pandemic relief benefits. In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, established several new unemployment compensation programs that were funded primarily by the federal government and administered by state workforce agencies. Later that same year, the President authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expend money for lost wage assistance, as a supplement to unemployment compensation programs. The CARES Act also expanded existing federal programs, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The EIDL Program provides loans for small businesses suffering from an economic disaster. According to his plea agreement, from March 2020 to June 2022, Joyner made material false statements in order to obtain money from various government relief and Covid-19 relief programs. Joyner fabricated information about employment history, residence, and business ventures, and applied for relief funds using that false information. On May 19, 2020, Joyner filed an unemployment benefits application with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, falsely claiming that he resided in Detroit, Michigan, when in fact he was a resident of Lexington, Kentucky. As a result of the misrepresentation, he was paid $15,269.76 in unemployment assistance. Similarly, from March 2020 to June 2022, Joyner applied for pandemic unemployment benefits in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and New York, all of which contained false statements and representations. His fraudulent applications to New York and Indiana were approved and he obtained $83,925.47 in unemployment benefits. Joyner also applied for two EIDLs with the SBA, seeking $62,500. While the fraudulent EIDL applications were ultimately denied, the SBA still paid Joyner $1,000 in EIDL advances. All of Joyner’s applications contained false statements. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D., Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OIG); and Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Southeast Region, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by DHS-OIG and DOL-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Dunn-Pirio is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States. Joyner is scheduled to appear for sentencing on August 22, 2025. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Joyner will be required to pay a minimum of $100,195.23 in restitution. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . — END —


title: Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty To Arson

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robby Dewayne Tiger, age 41, of Seminole County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Arson in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison. The Indictment alleged that on December 6, 2024, Tiger willfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling, placing the life of a person in jeopardy. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole Lighthorse Police. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Tiger will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jacob Parker represented the United States.


title: Greenwood Arkansas Man Sentenced to 320 Months Imprisonment for Soliciting and Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Greenwood Arkansas man was sentenced today for production of child pornography and the attempted receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Grant Stephen Goers, 24, to 320 months imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Goers will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Frizzell further ordered Goers to pay a $200 special monetary assessment. According to court documents, Grant Stephen Goers began communicating with a minor victim who he knew to be under the age of 18 years on Instagram. Goers repeatedly requested the child to send him sexually explicit photos of herself. The minor victim eventually sent Goers sexually explicit photos. According to his plea agreement, Goers convinced the minor victim to meet and have sex. Goers separately solicited two other minor victims who he knew to be 14 years-old to send him sexually explicit photos of themselves via online messages sent from Goers’ cell phone. Previously released on bond, Goers was taken into custody at his change of plea hearing where he will remain pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for His Role in Two Gunpoint Carjackings Targeting Elderly Victims

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Zamir Tucker, 21, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 85 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and restitution of $33,483 by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage on Tuesday in connection with two gunpoint carjacking incidents in Upper Darby Township in September 2022. Tucker was charged by superseding indictment in April 2023 and, in February of this year, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking, attempted carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendant conspired with others, including co-defendant Alex Askew, to commit one carjacking and one attempted carjacking, both with firearms. Late in the evening of September 7, 2022, Tucker, Askew, and others threatened a 66-year-old woman at gunpoint, in the course of stealing her Acura SUV. The victim had just parked in front of her home on Wilde Avenue in Upper Darby when a male with a firearm pointed a gun at her and demanded her keys. The offenders stole the victim’s purse and fled in her vehicle. In the late afternoon of September 11, 2022, Tucker, Askew, and others threatened a 71-year-old woman at gunpoint as she parked in the alleyway behind her home on Brunswick Avenue in Upper Darby. Tucker and Askew demanded her keys, but when the victim screamed and ran towards her home, the offenders fled the scene without her vehicle. Askew pleaded guilty in February of last year to one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, three counts of carjacking, three counts of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of attempted carjacking, in connection with the September 7, 2022, and September 11, 2022, carjacking incidents, and two additional carjackings in Philadelphia. He was sentenced in September of 2024 to 21 years in prison. “Nobody, let alone our mothers and grandmothers, should have to fear an armed carjacker’s ambush,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Taking violent criminals off the street will always remain a top priority of our office.” “Carjacking elderly women at gunpoint is a cruel dangerous crime, and Zamir Tucker is now facing years in federal prison for it,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Working with the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force we continue to prosecute the carjackers who have plagued Philadelphia, making our city and communities safer with each case we solve. Carjacking is a serious crime, and we hope cases like this deter those who might try it.” “I want to thank U.S. Attorney Metcalf and his team for making Upper Darby safer through their prosecution of this dangerous armed criminal,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “The collaboration between the ATF, Upper Darby and Philadelphia Police Departments, and prosecutors from my office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is critical to keeping Delco a safe place to live and work,” said Stollsteimer. “I want to thank U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for his continued partnership in ensuring violent offenders are held fully accountable,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy M. Bernhardt. “Strong collaborations like this are critical to protecting our communities. Tucker will now face justice for his cowardly acts against elderly residents of Upper Darby. Preying on the elderly is the lowest form of criminal behavior, and it will not be tolerated. These prosecutions send a clear message: if you come into our communities to commit violent crimes, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted. All our residents, especially our most vulnerable, deserve to feel safe, and we will not allow anyone to take that from them. Let this serve as a warning: if you think you can commit these violent acts, not be caught and held accountable, think again,” Bernhardt said. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Upper Darby Township Police Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Doherty and Sandra M. Urban.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud in Hampshire County

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Duane Dixon, Jr., age 35, of Aberdeen, Maryland, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. Dixon was found guilty by a jury following a trial in January 2025. The jury heard testimony that as part of a fraud conspiracy an individual impersonating a landowner contacted a realtor in Winchester, Virginia, claiming to have authority to sell a parcel of real estate located in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Although having no legal rights to the property, the imposter listed the property for sale through the realtor. As part of the fraud scheme, deposit information for a bank account belonging to, and controlled by Dixon, a co-conspirator of the imposter, was emailed to a real estate closing agent in an attempt to acquire control of the proceeds from the sham transaction. The imposter continued to make contact via email in his attempt to have funds wired to Dixon’s bank account. When subsequently contacted by an undercover employee of the FBI, Dixon repeatedly lied about his relationship with the sender of the attempted wire transaction and his knowledge regarding the transactions. Dixon’s fraudulent statements were made with the intent to complete the sham transaction. Dixon will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod Douglas and Dan Salem prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Lebanon County Man Indicted for Child-Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christian Tyler Harding, age 24, a resident of Annville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on May 28, 2025, by a federal grand jury for child-pornography offenses. According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that, on or about February 3, 2025, Harding attempted to produce child pornography, and coerced and enticed a minor to engage in a sexual activity for which a person can be charged with a criminal offense. The indictment further alleges that between on or about January 1, 2025, and February 27, 2025, Harding received and possessed child pornography. This case was investigated by the Bowling Green Police Department in Ohio, the Western Lebanon County Regional Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: San Felipe Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing a Minor

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A San Felipe man was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on August 1 and August 15 of 2022, Vernon Chavez , 62, an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, inappropriately touched an 11-year-old girl over her clothing. Upon his release from prison, Chavez will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro prosecuted the case 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Federal Jury Convicts Michigan Man on Charges of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Possessing a Destructive Device

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Note: A previous version of this press release included an error regarding the nature and number of the charged incidents. The release has been updated to reflect the correct information. A Michigan man was convicted yesterday by a jury on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device. Aws Mohammed Naser, 37, formerly of Westland, Michigan, was convicted following a five-week trial. The jury unanimously found that Naser attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel (including himself) and services, knowing that ISIS was a designated terrorist organization, and that ISIS engages in terrorism. In addition, Naser was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a destructive device. The jury deliberated approximately six hours before returning their verdict. “The trial proved that this defendant spent years trying to support ISIS – first by attempting to join its ranks overseas, then by turning to explosives and extremist networks on American soil,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “His relentless pursuit of terrorism posed a clear threat to our national security and his conviction makes clear that the Justice Department will hold accountable those who seek to advance the violent aims of foreign terrorist organizations.” “Defendant Aws Mohammed Naser is a bombmaker and self-avowed ‘son of the Islamic State’ — a vicious foreign terrorist organization hell-bent on murdering Americans and destroying our way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Naser tried to travel and fight for ISIS overseas but was turned away. So, Naser turned his fight inward on America, gathered drones, and built a bomb in his basement. But our office is dedicated to finding and applying the full force of the law against any terrorist, like Naser, plotting to harm Americans.” “Naser sought to join a terrorist organization and attempted to travel to Syria, multiple times, to join ISIS’s violent attacks against the U.S,” said Assistant Director Don M. Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Through the FBI’s work with our Joint Terrorism Task Force and our commitment to safeguarding our nation, Naser will face justice for his support of ISIS.” Evidence presented during the trial showed that Naser became radicalized and frequently posted extreme Salafi-Jihadist ideological content on his YouTube channel. Naser developed a close relationship with Russell Dennison, an aspiring Salafi-Jihadist preacher, and the two jointly traveled to Iraq in early 2012. In August 2012, Naser returned to Michigan while Dennison traveled to Syria and joined the foreign terrorist organization Al Nusrah Front, an Islamic State of Iraq-affiliate group that was a precursor to ISIS. Once back in the United States, Naser began preparations to join Dennison, and the two continued to communicate and discussed the terror group’s urgent need for money to acquire firearms. Dennison is believed to have been killed in 2019 while with ISIS in Syria. Naser attempted to leave the United States for Syria on two occasions. First, in November 2012, but he was not permitted to board the plan at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Undeterred, Naser purchased another one-way plane ticket departing from Chicago O’Hare Airport bound for Beirut, Lebanon, in January 2013. Hours before his scheduled flight to Lebanon, Naser robbed a gas station. After the robbery, Naser took a bus to Chicago and attempted to board his flight to Lebanon with $2,000 in his possession but was again denied boarding and returned to Michigan. Naser was subsequently charged and convicted of armed robbery and served a three-year prison sentence. After being released from prison and unable to travel to join ISIS, Naser focused his attention on how to support ISIS in the United States. Naser surreptitiously created social media accounts and joined invitation-only ISIS supporters’ chatrooms, groups, and private rooms where he obtained and viewed official ISIS media reports, publications, and other jihadi propaganda. He solicited and obtained information on explosives and experimented with manufacturing explosives and operating drones. In October 2017, FBI searched Naser’s home and vehicle and recovered a readily assembleable destructive device. Naser faces up to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization and up to 15 years in prison for possessing a destructive device. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorneys Saima Mohsin and Hank Moon for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Cuba Man Sentenced for Murder and Firearms Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Cuba man was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and firearms offenses. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on July 26, 2022, Navajo Nation Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting at a residence near Ojo Encino. Upon arrival, officers discovered John Doe deceased with a gunshot wound to his chest and right arm. Witnesses identified Jason Lee Martinez , 52, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, as the shooter, who fled the scene immediately after the incident. On August 26, 2022, FBI agents interviewed Martinez, who admitted to shooting John Doe and subsequently pled guilty to second degree murder and federal firearms offenses. Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.


title: Milwaukee Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 3, 2025, Chasity Evans (age 38, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ripley, Tennessee) was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman for her role in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM, or child pornography), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a), 2251(e), and 2(a). According to court records, Evans created child pornography using a minor child, which she then distributed and sold to her co-defendant via cell phone, in exchange for nominal sums of money via Cash App. The criminal conduct occurred on multiple occasions between February 2023 and June 2023, while Evans was a resident of Milwaukee and the Memphis, Tennessee, area. The child was between the ages of 11 and 12 during the production of the CSAM. Following her term of imprisonment, Evans also will spend five years on supervised release. She will also have to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Memphis, Tennessee, field offices) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Oklahoma City Man to Serve More than 11 Years in Federal Prison After Man is Shot in the Head

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – CHARLES DARNELL HUNTER , 50, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 137 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On May 7, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Hunter with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to public record, on January 20, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a metro hospital following a reported shooting that resulted in a man with a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses told OCPD that shortly before the shooting, they saw a black truck driving on Northwest 87th Street with a gun pointed out the window. The victim survived his injuries. An investigation into the vehicle led OCPD to Hunter, and OCPD executed a search warrant at Hunter’s home on February 1, 2024, where they seized two firearms. One of these firearms matched cartridge cases recovered at the scene of the shooting. On September 24, 2024, Hunter pleaded guilty, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions. At the sentencing hearing on May 30, 2025, U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Hunter to serve 137 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the seriousness of the offense and Hunter’s criminal history. Public record reflects that Hunter has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include: first-degree robbery in case number CF-1991-6009; possession of a firearm in case number CF-2004-3487; and possession of controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute in case numbers CF-2013-3716 and CF-2014-5232. Public record further reflects that Hunter has charges pending in Oklahoma County District Court for shooting with intent to kill and / or drive-by shooting, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a commission of a gang related offense in case number CF-2024-688. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr. prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.