title: Bridgewater Man Who Robbed Cash Courier at Gunpoint in 2024 Heist Pleads Guilty

body_text: BOSTON – A Bridgewater man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in the armed robbery of a cash courier working for licensed cannabis companies, outside of a bank in Swansea, Mass. last year. The defendant and, allegedly, others zip-tied and pepper sprayed the victim before burning the stolen getaway vehicle. Steven Madison, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery; one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court. In May 2024 , Madison was arrested and charged along with Christopher White and Quentin McDonald in connection with the robbery. A fourth individual, Elgun Mikaiylov, a former manager for one of the cannabis dispensaries, was later charged in a superseding indictment for his alleged involvement in providing information about the cash pickups at the dispensary and the couriers, for his involvement in planning the robbery and for receiving some of the proceeds. In the early morning hours of Feb. 19, 2024, Madison and another man stole a rental van from a U-Haul Moving & Storage location in Abington, Mass. Later in the day, an armed courier who worked for a company that provides secure cash transportation services for licensed cannabis companies arrived at a bank in Swansea carrying approximately $436,200 in cash for deposit. Madison and, allegedly, White drove the U-Haul van behind the courier. It is alleged that White exited the van wearing a camouflaged vest and pointed a firearm at the courier before zip-tying the courier’s hands behind his back. Madison then exited the U-Haul van and quickly loaded the cash into the vehicle. After trying to disarm the courier, the two men allegedly forced the courier into the back seat of his own car, pepper sprayed him and closed the door. Surveillance footage showed that the courier managed to remove one hand from the zip-tie restraints while inside his vehicle, draw his firearm and fire four rounds in the direction of the U-Haul van as it fled the scene, before calling 911. After leaving the bank, it is alleged that Madison and White drove the van to a nearby location in Swansea where McDonald was waiting in an SUV. There, the men allegedly transferred the stolen cash into the getaway SUV, burned the U-Haul van and fled. During a search of Madison’s residence in Bridgewater, a pistol and over 400 grams of cocaine were found. Madison has prior state convictions for masked armed robbery, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and unlawfully possessing a firearm. The charge of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, to be served consecutively to any sentence on the underlying offense. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble of the Massachusetts State Police; and Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Bridgewater, Brockton, Raynham and Whitman Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Major Crimes Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Driscoll are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Drug Trafficking Ashley Nicole Haberman , 40, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to a total of 144 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, beginning in September of 2024, detectives with the Cheyenne Police Department Community Action Team began an investigation into the distribution of fentanyl in the Cheyenne area. Through surveillance and interviews, they were able to track Haberman and her boyfriend at the time, Brady Ehlers’, movements to Colorado where they purchased fentanyl and brought it back to Laramie County to distribute. The investigation revealed that Haberman and other coconspirators were redistributing the fentanyl for several months and that one redistributor sold the fentanyl to another person who overdosed. Detectives also issued search warrants, resulting in the seizure of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia from Ehler’s vehicle and their shared hotel room. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistance U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skadahl imposed the sentence in Casper on June 5, 2025. Case No. 25-CR-00033. Drug Trafficking & Firearms Donald Cameron Jackson , 33, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 155 months followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court filings, in September 2024, Jackson was identified as a source of supply for fentanyl in Natrona County. In September and October 2024, Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Jackson. A subsequent search warrant was executed at his residence, resulting in the seizure of approximately 218 grams of fentanyl, 11.8 grams of cocaine, and a semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity drum magazine. Jackson admitted that within the last six months he had obtained and redistributed a half ounce of cocaine and 500 fentanyl pills per week. He also stated that he is prohibited from possessing firearms and he received a firearm as collateral, in exchange for $200 worth of cocaine. DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Makenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. A complaint was filed on Dec. 3, 2024, and Jackson waived indictment, pleading guilty to an Information on March 14. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on June 3. Case No. 25-00031 Tristan Brynn Larsen , 40, of Hudson, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogue (Carfentanil) and for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court records, in September 2024, while investigating drug distribution activity on the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force (RMSTTF) identified Larsen as a local source of supply for drugs. During the investigation, law enforcement purchased fentanyl from Larsen and obtained a search warrant for her vehicle and residence. On Oct. 4, 2024, Larsen was identified and stopped by law enforcement at which time she admitted to having fentanyl on her person. Firearms were also located in her vehicle. Larsen later admitted to purchasing large quantities of fentanyl tablets and fentanyl powder in Denver and redistributing them in Fremont County. The RMSTTF is a joint undertaking of the FBI, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and local law enforcement agencies. RMSTTF is tasked with identifying and disrupting the distribution of controlled substances in and around the Wind River Indian Reservation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. A complaint was filed on Nov. 1, 2024, and Larsen waived indictment, pleading guilty to an Information on March 14. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on June 2. Case No. 25-00036 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Marco Mejia-Montiel, 36, of Hueyotlipan, Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2024, Mejia-Montiel was arrested by the Jackson Police Department for the violation of a protection order, a probation violation and contempt of court. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted, the defendant’s fingerprints were examined against their database, and a match was found. They determined that Mejia- Montiel had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in August 2018, September 2021, May 2024, and June 2024. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on June 3. Case No. 25-CR-00069 Public Land Violations Timothy Steury II , age 31, of Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced to 10 days of incarceration, with credit for 6 days previously served. On June 3, Steury pled guilty to refusing to submit to an official breath test after being stopped by law enforcement and suspected of driving while impaired, contempt of court for refusing to comply with a validly issued warrant for his blood, and speeding. He was also ordered to pay $1,060 in fines and court costs and placed on 2 years of unsupervised probation, terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time. The refusal of a breath test conviction was also reported to the state that issued Mr. Steury’s driver’s license. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence in Mammoth.


title: Newington Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARTIN DELGADO, 30, of Newington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 13, 2024, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force conducted a court-authorized search of Delgado’s residence on Main Street in Newington and seized approximately 2,500 wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl, approximately 160 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately 21 grams of cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, and a loaded 9mm gun magazine. Delgado, who fled on foot when officers arrived at his residence, was apprehended a short time later in West Hartford. Investigators also located and seized a loaded 9mm handgun near Delgado’s residence that he discarded as he fled, and additional quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from Delgado’s vehicle. The firearm had been reported stolen in 2019. Delgado was charged with state offenses and released on bond. Delgado has been detained since his federal arrest on August 2, 2024. On February 11, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the Connecticut State Police, and the West Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Reed Durham through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Illegal alien drug dealer sentenced for unlawfully returning to the country for fifth time

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 36-year-old citizen of Mexico with a felony record has been sentenced for illegal reentry into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Jose De Jesus Soto-Gonzalez pleaded guilty March 5. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Soto-Gonzalez to serve 21 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Soto-Gonzalez had a felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana and served approximately four years in prison before his removal in 2022. He illegally returned and was removed again in 2023. Authorities had also previously removed him in 2008 and 2014. On Dec. 20, 2024, authorities encountered Soto-Gonzalez at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. They discovered he was a citizen of Mexico without any permission to be back in the United States. The investigation revealed he had illegally reentered the country in July 2024 near Laredo after his 2023 removal. Soto-Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.


title: Baltimore County Man Facing Federal Charges in Connection With Bribing Former Baltimore City Finance Official

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment charging James Carroll Erny Jr., 54, of Glen Arm, Maryland, with paying more than $10,000 in bribes to Joseph Gillespie, a former Baltimore City Department of Finance, Revenue Collections, employee. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. As alleged in the indictment, from about August 2021 through September 2023, Erny paid Gillespie at least $10,000 in bribes in exchange for Gillespie extinguishing various financial obligations he owed to Baltimore City. The debt was in connection with various properties Erny owned, including unpaid water bills. On February 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Gillespie to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, in connection with his role in the bribery scheme, along with an unrelated fraud scheme. According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2016, and continuing into 2023, Gillespie engaged in a bribery scheme. Through the scheme, Gillespie abused his position of trust as a public official within the Baltimore City Department of Finance for personal gain. As an employee of the Department of Finance’s Revenue Collections, Gillespie routinely accepted bribes from various property owners in Baltimore City. These property owners were subject to financial obligations with Baltimore City, and if these debts remained unpaid, the property became subject to a tax sale. Gillespie accepted these bribes — typically 10-15 percent of the amount owed to the City — in exchange for removing or extinguishing these financial obligations, including for citations, tax, and water obligations, which caused losses for the City. He also accepted bribes in exchange for delaying or postponing due dates — without approval or permission from other City officials — for payments owed to the City. By adjusting payment due dates, this prevented the City from placing liens on these properties. Once Gillespie received bribe payments, he then extinguished the financial obligation owed by marking it as paid in the City’s online records. After removing the obligation, Gillespie sometimes sent a photograph of a cashier slip reflecting that the City received payment toward the financial obligation when, in fact, no such payment was made. The bribery scheme continued for years, and Gillespie admitted that he enlisted the help of multiple co-conspirators. According to the plea agreement, Gillespie received more than $250,000 in connection with the bribery scheme and caused losses to the City in excess of $1.25 million. Erny faces one charge of Bribery in connection with his role in the bribery scheme. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and the Baltimore County Police Department for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Evelyn L. Cusson who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Philadelphia Men Convicted at Trial of Armed Carjacking of FedEx Truck

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ronald Byrd, 37, and Saikeen Dixon, 32, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were convicted today at trial of carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with their armed carjacking of a FedEx truck in August of 2022. Byrd was also convicted of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. After the convictions, during a second phase of the trial, Byrd stipulated that he had previously been convicted of a drug offense and also agreed to plead guilty to an additional firearms charge. The defendants were charged by superseding indictment in September 2023. As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, on August 9, 2022, a package weighing approximately 29 pounds was sent from “Karen Boothe” of “Caliber Consulting LLC” in Buena Park, California, to “Universal Medical Inc” at 3401 North Broad Street, Suite 101, in Philadelphia, which is the address for Temple Hospital. A FedEx Express driver, J.H., was delivering packages to Temple Hospital on the morning of August 10, 2022. J.H. began receiving phone calls and text messages from a former FedEx Express employee, P.A., asking for a package addressed to “Universal Medical Inc” at Temple Hospital. After J.H. arrived at the Temple Hospital loading dock, P.A. met him there and asked him again for the package addressed to “Universal Medical Inc.” J.H. told P.A. he could not give him the package. P.A. continued asking for it, even offering J.H. $5,000 in exchange. J.H. refused and called his supervisors. J.H.’s supervisors, R.J. and D.J., arrived at the Temple Hospital loading dock driving a FedEx van. They took the package P.A. was asking for onto their FedEx van, told J.H. to do his next round of deliveries at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, which is right next to Temple Hospital. D.J. saw a black Jeep Cherokee come out of the Temple Hospital loading dock and follow the FedEx truck. P.A. then approached D.J. and asked her if he could have the package that he had asked J.H. for; she told him that he could not. After finishing his deliveries at Shriners, J.H. drove his FedEx truck south on Broad Street towards the FedEx distribution center at 3600 Grays Ferry Avenue, with D.J. and R.J. following behind in their FedEx van. The black Jeep Cherokee that D.J. had seen continued following J.H.’s FedEx delivery truck. At a red light about a block from the FedEx facility, the black Jeep, driven by defendant Dixon, pulled in front of the FedEx truck. Defendant Byrd got out of the passenger side of the Jeep, pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at J.H., and approached the driver’s side of the FedEx truck. J.H. jumped out of the passenger side door and ran into oncoming traffic, heading toward the FedEx facility. Byrd climbed into the FedEx truck and drove westbound across the Grays Ferry Bridge before pulling over at 47th and Linmore in Southwest Philadelphia, with Dixon following him in the Jeep. Byrd tried to open the back of the FedEx truck but could not, so he abandoned the FedEx vehicle and got back into the Jeep, which fled the scene. After the carjacking, a trained narcotics K9 alerted to the package that P.A. had been asking for and investigators obtained a search warrant. Inside were nine individual packages wrapped in plastic and labeled “DSQUARED2,” each of which weighed approximately one kilogram and field-tested positive for cocaine. Lab testing later confirmed that the packages contained a total of approximately 9.005 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $500,000. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on September 29. Byrd faces a mandatory minimum term of 22 years’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release, and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and a $20,500,000 fine. Dixon faces a mandatory minimum term of seven years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release, and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and a $500,000 fine. “When their original scheme to retrieve the package went awry, Byrd and Dixon turned to Plan B,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “They were so determined to get their hands on that cocaine that they stalked and carjacked a FedEx truck at gunpoint, in broad daylight on a busy Philadelphia street. They’ve endangered our community with both their drugs and their guns, and today’s verdict holds them accountable, ensuring each a lengthy stay in federal prison.” “The brazen acts at the heart of this case — from violent carjackings to plotting the distribution of dangerous drugs — put our citizens directly in harm’s way,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “These convictions underscore the power of collaboration in confronting violent crime and protecting our communities. We’re grateful for the steadfast commitment of our partners in the Violent Crimes Task Force, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Together, we remain resolute in our mission to keep the public safe.” The case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Bowerman and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Lanni.


title: Former CIA Analyst Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Unlawfully Transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information

body_text: A former CIA analyst was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for unlawfully retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information to people who were not entitled to receive it, information which was publicly posted on social media platforms in October 2024. According to court documents, Asif William Rahman, 34, of Vienna, was an employee of the CIA since 2016 and had a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) until his employment was terminated after his arrest. “For months, this defendant betrayed the American people and the oaths he took upon entering his office by leaking some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets,” said John Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice will continue to protect our nation by vigorously investigating and prosecuting leakers who compromise our nation’s security.” “Asif Rahman violated his position of trust by illegally accessing, removing, and transmitting Top Secret documents vital to the national security of the United States and its allies,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The urgency with which Mr. Rahman was identified, arrested, charged, and prosecuted is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of the investigators and prosecutors who brought him to justice. This case should serve as a stern warning to those who choose to place their own goals over their allegiance to our nation.” “By stealing and divulging classified information and then attempting to conceal his crimes, Asif Rahman not only violated the law; he also betrayed his oath as a government employee and his responsibility to the American people,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Now he will pay the price for putting American lives and U.S. national security at risk. Let this be a warning to all clearance holders: The FBI will exhaust all avenues to find and bring to justice anyone — no matter who they are — who endangers our nation by disclosing sensitive information without authorization." On Oct. 17, 2024, Rahman accessed and printed two Top Secret documents containing National Defense Information regarding a U.S. foreign ally and its planned actions against a foreign adversary. Rahman removed the documents, photographed them, and transmitted them to individuals he knew were not entitled to receive them. By Oct. 18, 2024, the documents appeared publicly on multiple social media platforms, complete with the classification markings. After Oct. 17, 2024, Rahman engaged in a deletion campaign of work product on his Top Secret work station. In 2024, continuing through November, Rahman repeatedly accessed and printed classified National Defense Information, including documents classified up to the Top Secret and further compartmented levels, that he learned in the course of his employment and transmitted to multiple individuals he knew were not entitled to receive it. Rahman was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 7, 2024, and was arrested by the FBI as he arrived to work on Nov. 12, 2024. On Jan. 17, Rahman pleaded guilty to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information related to the national defense. He has remained in custody since his arrest. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy A. Edwards Jr. for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.


title: Rockford Woman Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearms

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

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Rockford woman has been sentenced to thirty-two months in federal prison for straw purchasing five firearms. JESSICA BARRERA, 56, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of knowingly providing a false and fictitious written statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The statement misrepresented that Barrera was the actual buyer of the firearms, when, in fact, she knew she was not the actual buyer. Barrera admitted that in 2021 and 2022, she purchased five firearms in four separate transactions for her son, ANGEL BARRERA-ESTEVES, who was legally prohibited from owning a firearm and did not have a valid Firearm Owners Identification. Barrera completed firearm-transaction records indicating that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms. She then provided the firearms to her son, knowing that he intended to sell the guns to others without a license. Barrera also purchased firearm ammunition for her son at his direction. Barrera was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston in federal court in Rockford. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza L. Tomlinson. Angel Barrera-Esteves, 27, of Rockford, pleaded guilty to federal firearm offenses and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10, 2025. Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney's Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.


title: Billings man sentenced to 63 months in prison for possessing unregistered firearm

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who possessed an unregistered firearm was sentenced today to 63 months in prison to be followed by 3 of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Derek Joseph Velarde, 37, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on or about July 1, 2024, law enforcement officers were called to a residence on Florine Drive in Billings, Montana to a report of a man with a firearm who was involved in a domestic dispute. Law enforcement responded and witnesses identified the man as Velarde. Witnesses reported Velarde had left the scene on foot. A few minutes later, police located Velarde a short distance away and detained him. Velarde was in possession of a Savage Arms .22 caliber rifle and had discarded it in some nearby bushes just prior to police detaining him. Police recovered the rifle, and a witness confirmed Velarde was in possession of that firearm during the domestic dispute. An ATF agent later determined the rifle was a firearm with an overall length of 15 inches and a barrel of 7 inches, that it was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and that it was in operating condition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Billings Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Florida Fuel Supplier Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud U.S. Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment today charging a Florida business owner with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies by submitting altered and fake invoices to U.S. Navy ships and other vessels through the SEA Card Program, which allows U.S. vessels to purchase critical fuel from suppliers at ports around the world. According to court documents filed in the Southern District of Florida, between August 2022 and January 2024, Jasen Butler, 37, of Jupiter, Florida, the owner of Independent Marine Oil Services LLC, submitted dozens of falsified documents to multiple U.S. warships — including the USS Patriot — demanding and receiving over $5 million dollars in payments for phony expenses that Butler had not incurred. These ships were attempting to purchase fuel in international ports such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia, among others. Butler also concealed his identity from government officials by using a false name and feigning employment by a fictitious fuel division of a different company. As alleged in the indictment, Butler used the millions in fraud proceeds to personally enrich himself and purchase multiple properties, including in Florida and Colorado. “This indictment sends a clear, public message: the Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force under President Trump will not rest until all who defraud the brave men and women of the U.S. military and the American taxpayers receive swift justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail A. Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Our office is steadfast in its commitment to prosecute individuals that seek to unjustly profit at the expense of the U.S. military,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Such fraud undermines military readiness and jeopardizes the dedicated service members who selflessly defend our country.” “Investigating complex fraud schemes which impact U.S. Coast Guard operations is a priority for CGIS,” said Special Agent in Charge Josh Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office. “CGIS remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate any fraud which undermines the integrity of the Coast Guard’s supply chain.” “Mr. Butler’s alleged involvement in unlawfully submitting fraudulent invoices related to U.S. naval ships receiving fuel during port visits is an affront to the warfighter and taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to thoroughly investigating those who commit fraud impacting the Department of Navy.” “Those who exploit the Department of Defense for personal gain — by inflating costs, falsifying bids, or manipulating the contracting process — will be relentlessly pursued and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our mission to protect taxpayer dollars and preserve the integrity of DoD contracts that directly support our nation’s warfighters.” If convicted, Butler faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years for each count of forgery, and up to 10 years for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant Chief Sara Clingan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Pomeranz of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint . The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former CIA analyst sentenced to over three years in prison for unlawfully transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former CIA analyst was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for unlawfully retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information to people who were not entitled to receive it, information which was publicly posted on social media platforms in October 2024. According to court documents, Asif William Rahman, 34, of Vienna, was an employee of the CIA since 2016 and had a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) until his employment was terminated after his arrest. “Asif Rahman violated his position of trust by illegally accessing, removing, and transmitting Top Secret documents vital to the national security of the United States and its allies,” said Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The urgency with which Mr. Rahman was identified, arrested, charged, and prosecuted is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of the investigators and prosecutors who brought him to justice. This case should serve as a stern warning to those who choose to place their own goals over their allegiance to our nation.” “For months, this defendant betrayed the American people and the oaths he took upon entering his office by leaking some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets,” said John Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice will continue to protect our Nation by vigorously investigating and prosecuting leakers who compromise our Nation’s security.” “By stealing and divulging classified information and then attempting to conceal his crimes, Asif Rahman not only violated the law; he also betrayed his oath as a government employee and his responsibility to the American people,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Now he will pay the price for putting American lives and U.S. national security at risk. Let this be a warning to all clearance holders: The FBI will exhaust all avenues to find and bring to justice anyone — no matter who they are — who endangers our nation by disclosing sensitive information without authorization." “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold all clearance holders accountable for their oath to support and defend the Constitution,” said Steven J. Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI and our Intelligence Community partners are dedicated to protecting our nation’s security and will use every available authority and resource to prevent the disclosure of classified information without authorization.” On Oct. 17, 2024, Rahman accessed and printed two Top Secret documents containing National Defense Information regarding a U.S. foreign ally and its planned actions against a foreign adversary. Rahman removed the documents, photographed them, and transmitted them to individuals he knew were not entitled to receive them. By Oct. 18, 2024, the documents appeared publicly on multiple social media platforms, complete with the classification markings. After Oct. 17, 2024, Rahman engaged in a deletion campaign of work product on his Top Secret work station. In 2024, continuing through November, Rahman repeatedly accessed and printed classified National Defense Information, including documents classified up to the Top Secret and further compartmented levels, that he learned in the course of his employment and transmitted to multiple individuals he knew were not entitled to receive it. Rahman was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 7, 2024, and was arrested by the FBI as he arrived to work on Nov. 12, 2024. On Jan. 17, Rahman pled guilty to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information related to the national defense. He has remained in custody since his arrest. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy A. Edwards Jr. for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Rodregous and former National Security Division Trial Attorneys Brett Reynolds and Adam Small helped prosecute the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-CR-249.


title: Powhatan man sentenced to 33 years in prison for child exploitation offenses

component: Criminal Division

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Powhatan man was sentenced today to 33 years in prison for transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to sexually abuse her. According to court documents, Daniel Wayne Kidd, 50, spent thousands of dollars to entice a teenage girl to come to Virginia in 2022 so that he could sexually abuse her over the course of a week. Kidd and his co-defendant, Rosalinda Delgado Rosas, 36, schemed to obtain control and custody of the minor and to ply her with expensive gifts and experiences to coerce her into engaging in sexual acts with Kidd. Prior to the nightly sexual abuse acts, the minor was administered medications, including some that made her drowsy. Kidd and Rosas also recorded Kidd’s sexual abuse of the minor. Rosas was sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024, to 25 years in prison for her role in the scheme. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. The Powhatan Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Mansfield and Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted 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 U.S. Attorney’s 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 . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-93.


title: Owner of Long Island Ambulette Services Pleads Guilty to Leading Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Adnan Arshad, also known as “Eddie,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal approximately $20 million from Medicaid. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields. When sentenced, Arshad faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, restitution of at least $16 million, and forfeiture of over $19 million, including several real properties and vehicles. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York, (IRS-CI); and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the guilty plea. “The defendant was the leader of a massive fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators bilked Medicaid out of millions of dollars of government and taxpayer funds intended to help the needy and infirm,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “With his guilty plea today, the defendant admitted that he abused our health care system for his own enrichment. Arshad lived large on his illicit profits—buying expensive homes and driving luxury vehicles—but today’s guilty plea demonstrates there is a steep price for his fraudulent scheme.” Mr. Nocella also thanked the Office of the New York State Comptroller and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office for their assistance in the case. “For self-serving purposes, the defendant in this case egregiously diverted crucial Medicaid funds,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of federally funded health care programs which relies, in part, on providers billing only for services they actually provide.” “While Mr. Arshad should have been transporting medical patients as designed, the only people he took for a ride were the American taxpayers. Nearly $20 million was misappropriated by Mr. Arshad and his partners, who used his ambulette service as a backdrop for fraud and deceit - exploiting the Medicaid program and pocketing the illicit gains. With today’s plea, Mr. Arshad will need to give up his life of extravagance funded by tax dollars to face prison time, which is far less luxurious,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.” “Today's conviction represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to protect taxpayer-funded healthcare programs from fraudulent schemes," stated District Attorney Tierney. “Healthcare fraud not only diverts critical resources from those who need them most, but it also undermines public trust in these essential programs. My office will continue to work with our state and federal partners to investigate and prosecute those who would defraud Medicaid and other public healthcare systems.” As set forth in court filings and facts presented during the plea hearing, Arshad was the owner of MTK Taxi LLC in Montauk, Long Island, and part owner of All-Star Taxi LLC, in Ronkonkoma, Long Island. From approximately December 2020 to his arrest in June 2024, Arshad and his co-conspirators paid illegal health care kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries for fraudulent ambulette services. Pursuant to the scheme, the beneficiaries would order medical transportation services specifically from Arshad and his co-conspirators, including for transportation to addiction treatment centers for the beneficiaries’ purportedly necessary methadone treatment. In reality, Arshad’s businesses generally did not provide the medical transportation services ordered by the Medicaid beneficiaries. At least two claims were submitted to Medicaid for individuals who were deceased, and some claims were submitted for individuals who were hospitalized or incarcerated. In total, Arshad and his co-conspirators fraudulently billed Medicaid millions of dollars for these non-existent services throughout the course of the scheme. Arshad and his co-conspirators also submitted artificially inflated claims to Medicaid. Although there were numerous addiction treatment centers on Long Island the beneficiaries could have utilized, Arshad and his co-conspirators instructed them to order rides to addiction treatment centers in New York City and to list false addresses so they could obtain higher reimbursement rates from Medicaid for longer rides. The transportation companies owned or operated by Arshad and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid over $16 million for trips to three addiction treatment centers in New York City. Arshad used the illicit proceeds to purchase several additional transport vehicles for use in the scheme and to purchase multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles, including a Ferrari, BMWs, and multiple Mercedes. Five co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Toporovsky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Milito of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : ADNAN ARSHAD (also known as “Eddie”) Age: 46 Mount Sinai, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-231 (JMA)


title: Ecuadoran cocaine traffickers plead guilty after being caught at sea

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Three Ecuadoran nationals pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute cocaine on board a vessel. According to court documents, on Jan. 31, United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Stone identified a target of interest, a go-fast vessel (GFV) in international waters approximately 550 nautical miles south of Mexico. USCG Stone launched a helicopter and a small boat and diverted to intercept the GFV. After gaining control of the GFV, a USCG boarding team encountered Marco Antonio Garcia-Morales, 50, Luis Geraldo Pico-Bastardo, 26, and Segundo Gonzalo Lucas-Veliz, 44. The boarding team observed packages as well as fuel barrels onboard the GFV, which had no indicia of nationality. The packages on deck contained approximately 1,160 kilograms of cocaine. Garcia-Morales and Pico-Bastardo are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16; Lucas-Veliz is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29. The defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric M. Hurt and Kevin M. Comstock are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-12.


title: Mexican National Who Conspired with Son in Cocaine Dealing and Human Smuggling Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today to 37 months in prison for his role in cocaine trafficking and human smuggling conspiracies. He was also ordered for forfeit over $600,000 in proceeds from his criminal activity. According to court documents, Jorge Armando Morado, 44, helped his son, Jorge Armando Morado Moreno, 25, complete a sale of cocaine to an undercover Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy on July 16, 2023. During that sale, Morado arranged for his son to sell a kilogram of cocaine to that undercover deputy at a future date, and then drove in tandem with his son to make that sale on July 25, 2023. Morado and his son were both encountered by law enforcement while driving to make that sale, and approximately one kilogram of cocaine was found in the son’s vehicle. The investigation led to search warrants for Morado’s and Moreno’s respective residences. During the search of Morado’s residence, approximately $601,302 in cash was found in a cooler located in his master bedroom closet, along with an additional $3,000, a firearm, and a suspected drug ledger in his dresser drawer. Another bedroom—an empty room with only a mattress on the floor—housed five illegal aliens. A bucket full of urine was found in an adjacent bedroom. Moreno’s cell phone was also searched and contained numerous conversations between Morado and Moreno pertaining to their cocaine trafficking and harboring of illegal aliens at Morado’s house. Morado pleaded guilty on June 26, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens. He’s sentenced to 37 months in prison for each count, running concurrent to one another, and in addition to his four months spent in state custody on related charges. Moreno pleaded guilty to the same two conspiracy charges on July 11, 2024, and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on Jan. 29. “This case serves as a stark reminder that alien smuggling is not a victimless crime, but rather a for-profit enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Alien smugglers only seek to enrich themselves, in this case to the tune of over $600,000 in proceeds from these criminal activities.” The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case. ###


title: Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machinegun

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – A Jackson, MS man pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to possession of a machinegun. According to court documents and statements made in open court, Atrell Galloway, Jr., 21, pleaded guilty after being indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a machinegun. On June 9, 2024, Officers with the Capitol Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on Lynch Street in Jackson after observing a traffic violation. After approaching the vehicle and seeing narcotics in plain view, a probable cause search of the vehicle was performed. During the search, Officers discovered a Glock Model 45 handgun with an attached machinegun conversion device or “switch.” Capitol Police seized the firearm and then referred the matter to the ATF for further investigation. After obtaining a search warrant, the ATF discovered photographs of the weapon on Galloway’s cell phone with the serial number displayed. Text messages were also discovered on the Defendant’s phone concerning the compatibility of “switches” with certain Glock handguns. During the change of plea hearing, Galloway admitted to purchasing ten machinegun conversion devices online and installing the conversion device on the recovered handgun himself. Galloway is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2025. Galloway faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Capitol Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: A Virginia man was sentenced today to 33 years in prison for transporting a teenager across state lines with the intent to sexually abuse her. According to court documents, in 2022, Daniel Wayne Kidd, 50, of Powhatan, spent thousands of dollars to entice a teenage girl to come to Virginia so that he could sexually abuse her over the course of a week. Kidd and his co-defendant, Rosalinda Delgado Rosas, schemed to obtain custody of the minor in order to ply her with expensive gifts and experiences and coerce her into engaging in sexual acts with Kidd. Prior to the nightly sexual abuse acts, the minor was given medications, including medications that made her drowsy. Kidd and Rosas also recorded Kidd’s sexual abuse of the minor. Rosas was sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024, to 25 years in prison for her role in the scheme. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Washington made the announcement. ICE-HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Mansfield for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry for Third Time

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States following multiple prior deportations and felony convictions. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 17, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were conducting enforcement operations in Rankin County on Interstate 20. Agents conducted a vehicle stop and Luis Simon Acevedo-Rodriguez, 32, freely admitted to being a citizen of Mexico and to being present in the United States without the requisite permission. He was arrested and processed for removal. Acevedo-Rodriguez’s fingerprints were scanned into DHS databases resulting in a computer match to his prior immigration records, including photographs. Acevedo-Rodriguez has been convicted three times in the Western District of Texas – once for improper entry by an alien and twice for illegal reentry by a deported or removed alien. He has been formally removed from the United States three times previously. Acevedo-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to unlawful return of an alien removed after conviction of a felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement. The United States Border Patrol investigated the case with assistance from the Rankin County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) 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 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: Jackson Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to five years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Felix Peire Brown, 38, was found by United States Probation Officers to be in possession of a firearm while staying in a hotel in Jackson. Brown has prior felony convictions, including a prior federal felony conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was on supervised release for that prior federal felony conviction at the time of this illegal firearms possession. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 11, 2023. He pled guilty on September 26, 2024. In addition to five years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Brown was also sentenced to an additional 10 months in prison for having violated the terms of his supervised release from his previous federal felony conviction. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Illegal Alien in Los Angeles Charged with Spitting on ICE Officer

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An illegal alien from Mexico who is living in Los Angeles was charged today with a felony count for allegedly spitting on a federal agent executing a warrant for his arrest earlier this week. Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, of the Historic South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of assault of a federal employee, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. Pulido, who earlier this year separately was charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal, was arrested and made his initial appearance on Tuesday in United States District Court in Santa Ana. A federal magistrate judge order him detained and scheduled his arraignment for July 16 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. He is expected to make his initial appearance in this case in the coming days. “This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit – with a felony charge,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with the disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly.” According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on Tuesday morning, a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer arrived at Pulido’s residence to execute the arrest warrant on the illegal re-entry charge. After knocking on the door, the officer identified him as law enforcement with a warrant. Pulido, looking down on the officer from a second-story balcony, responded by insulting the officer. Several minutes later, the officer saw Pulido open the front door, which had an iron security gate separating the two men. When the officer told Pulido there was an arrest warrant for him, Pulido said, “No, get out of here. I know my rights. I’m calling my lawyer” then spat through the iron security gate onto the officer. At the time, the officer was leaning his head against the grated security gate to be able to see Pulido and felt the spit on his face. After spitting on the officer, Pulido retreated back into the residence. Shortly after, ICE personnel forced entry into the residence and found Pulido hiding in a second-story storage room. Pulido then said, “OK, you got me,” and was arrested. A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. The Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: District Man Indicted for Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: WASHINGTON – Zachary Silas Brandner, 28, of the District of Columbia, was charged by indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, with allegedly distributing multiple videos of child pornography to an undercover police officer. Last week, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui ordered Brandner held without bond. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro of the District of Columbia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to the affidavit, on April 1, 2025, Brandner interacted with another individual on multiple online messaging platforms. During the course of that conversation, Brandner distributed videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of an infant. Law enforcement agents also obtained evidence indicating that Brandner was interacting with at least one other individual about his interest in child sexual abuse material. This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25mj93


title: Mother Found Guilty of Felony Murder of Her 16-Month-Old Daughter

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Faneisha Scott, 39, of Washington, D.C. was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today of felony murder for the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Rhythm Fields, in March 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Scott was found guilty on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children (willful maltreatment) and second-degree cruelty to children. The Honorable Jason Park scheduled sentencing for August 29, 2025. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 2:45 p.m., on March 21, 2017, Scott’s friend, who is the child’s godmother, went over to the defendant’s home in the 5400 block of C Street, SE. While there, the friend’s eight-year-old child asked to play with Rhythm. The defendant then found Rhythm in her playpen, unresponsive, and cold. The defendant went out and flagged down a mail carrier, who called 911 and followed the defendant back to the apartment and observed Rhythm on the couch, lifeless. The child’s body was cold, her body was stiff, and her eyes were fixed. While on the phone with 911, the mail carrier followed the operator’s instructions when two other individuals entered the residence to administer CPR – one was an experienced former firefighter and knew that the child was dead immediately upon seeing her. First responders were surprised to learn that the defendant claimed to have no contact with the child since 9:00 a.m. that morning. The child was pronounced dead. On March 22, 2017, the D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Rhythm’s remains and ruled on February 5, 2018 that the manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. The blunt force injuries included: (1) contusions and abrasions of the head, neck, torso, and extremities; (2) subdural hemorrhage; (3) cerebral edema, subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute hypoxia-ischemia; (4) retinal and optic nerve sheath hemorrhage; and (5) 23 bilateral rib fractures (there was evidence of both healing and new rib fractures). This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Andrea Antonelli.


title: Corning sex offender sentenced to 35 years in prison on new child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ryan M. Newman, 34, of Corning, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison and 15 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that Newman was convicted of child pornography crimes by New York State in 2012, sentenced to serve a local jail term and 10 years’ probation, and required to register as a Level 3 Sex Offender, which is someone considered to be at high risk of re-offending and a threat to public safety. In January 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Snapchat that a user had uploaded a video of child pornography. NCMEC sent the tip to the New York State Police, who executed a search warrant on Newman’s person and residence in 2022. The search determined that Newman uploaded the child pornography video to Snapchat and possessed other child pornography on his electronic devices. Newman remained out of custody following the 2022 search warrant by the State Police. In April 2024, the FBI Corning received a tip that pornography involving a child in the Corning area, was distributed to an undercover agent in Illinois. Subsequent investigation determined that Newman sexually abused the child and produced the child pornography. Newman was taken into custody by the FBI and Corning Police. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Corning Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the Corning Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kenzie Spaulding. # # # #


title: Federal grand jury indicts Rochester and Jamestown man for role in narcotics conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Johnny B. Mays aka Blaze, 40, of Rochester and Jamestown, NY, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, one kilogram or more heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between 2018, and May 26, 2022, Mays conspired with Joseph S. Zaso, co-defendant Quentin L. Yancey, and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Rochester area. Joseph Zaso was previously charged and convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Charges remain pending against Quentin Yancey. Mays was arraigned before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Roemer and detained. 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). The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. 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: Syracuse Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing an Assault Rifle at Gas Station

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Bradley, age 36, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to 14 months in prison following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Bradley admitted that, on September 9, 2024, he possessed a loaded assault rifle in his vehicle, which was parked at a gas station in East Syracuse. Bradley inadvertently fired the rifle several times, but did not strike anyone. As a result of his prior felony conviction for criminal mischief, Bradley could not lawfully possess a firearm. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a three-year term of supervised release to begin following the term of imprisonment and ordered Bradley to forfeit the rifle he possessed. U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “When Bradley fired the rifle in the parking lot, he put the lives of everyone at that gas station in danger. Thanks to the quick thinking of the gas station employees and the fast response by law enforcement, no one was harmed.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller said, “This case is a powerful reminder of the danger posed when illegal firearms end up in the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them. We thank our partners at the Manlius Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of New York for their work in holding this individual accountable. This shows the impact of Project Safe Neighborhoods and our collective commitment to reducing violent crime.” ATF and the Manlius Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Amsterdam Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Over 3 Kilograms of Cocaine

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Carrero, age 36, of Amsterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. On November 4, 2024, DEA agents arrested Carrero after observing him place three kilograms of cocaine into the trunk of his car. He had $1,704 in cash on his person, and a search of his home led to the recovery of an additional 296 grams of cocaine and $70,000 in drug proceeds. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, Amsterdam will be free of this major drug dealer for years.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated: “Today’s sentencing reflects the hard work and commitment the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals poisoning our communities. We will continue to target those individuals responsible for pushing illicit narcotics into our communities.” United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Carrero to serve 4 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. Carrero administratively forfeited the $70,000 in drug money in his apartment as well as the $1,704 found on his person. The DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.


title: Lake County Man Facing Up To 135 Years In Federal Prison For Firearms Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Fernando Munguia, Jr. (23, Leesburg) on an indictment charging him with nine counts of knowingly making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and nine counts of causing a federal firearm licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in its official records. Each materially false statement charge is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison; each false information count is punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment. In total, Munguia faces a maximum penalty of up to 135 years in federal prison. According to court records, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, Munguia illegally straw-purchased multiple firearms in the Middle District of Florida for other individuals. Nine of these firearms—along with other guns—subsequently were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on May 27, 2023, as another individual attempted to transport them from Eagle Pass, Texas, across the United States’ border into Mexico. Authorities intercepted Munguia’s nine firearms less than a month after he purchased them. USA v. Munguia - Case 5:24-cr-00082-TPB-PRL Document 1 The firearms and ammunition seized at the U.S. border on May 27, 2023. A record check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed that between January 2023 and November 2023, Munguia had purchased 44 firearms for a total of $23,334.25—an amount representing approximately two-thirds of his reported annual income. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. 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: Osceola County Man Sentenced To More Than 16 Years For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Alex Ramon (34, Kissimmee) to 16 years and 3 months in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Ramon to forfeit the electronic device used in the commission of the offense. Ramon pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025. According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Ramon’s residence following cyber tips related to online child sexual abuse activities, which resulted in the recovery of Ramon’s cellphone. The cellphone contained more than 450 videos and 160 images of child sexual abuse material. A further forensic examination of the device revealed that Ramon also shared links and screen-recorded live streams of child sexual abuse, producing his own child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Testerman and Kaley Austin-Aronson. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To More Than 3 Years For Illegally Selling Firearms To A Convicted Felon

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Ty’shon Damon’n Ramos (26, Jacksonville) to three years and one month in federal prison for selling two firearms to a convicted felon. Ramos pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025. According to court documents, Ramos came to law enforcement’s attention because he was with the original purchaser of multiple firearms that officers later recovered from individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms, either because they were convicted felons or adjudicated delinquents. Subsequently, Ramos agreed to sell a confidential informant a firearm that contained a machinegun conversion device, despite the informant’s status as a convicted felon. Ultimately, Ramos sold the informant a rifle and a pistol in exchange for $1,500. Although the rifle did not have a machine conversion device as promised by Ramos, it did have a large-capacity magazine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney. 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: Tulsa Man Arrested at Airport Sentenced for Attempting to Coerce and Entice Minor and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced Tuesday for Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor Child and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, 45, to 210 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Dietzel will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill also ordered Dietzel to pay a $200 special monetary assessment. According to court documents, Nicholas Kyle Dietzel, used a website and an encrypted messaging app to communicate with a woman Dietzel believed to be a mother of a seven-year-old female child. From November 2023 to January 2024 Dietzel communicated with the mother about grooming and engaging in sexual activity with the seven-year-old child. Dietzel sent videos of child pornography to mother so that she could show them to the child and Dietzel also sent sex toys to the mother for her to use on the child. Court documents indicate that Dietzel believed this woman and her child lived in Phoenix, Arizona and he booked a flight to Phoenix. On January 18, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Dietzel at the Tulsa International Airport where he was about to board an airplane to Phoenix to meet the purported mother of the child, who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer. During this same time, Dietzel also possessed child pornography in Indian Country Nicholas Kyle Dietzel is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation Tribe. Dietzel will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa and Phoenix offices, the Tulsa International Airport Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Collinsville Police Department 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: Polk County Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Polk County man was sentenced on June 11, 2025, to 48 months in federal prison for the possession of child pornography. According to public court documents, law enforcement seized electronic devices belonging to Andrew Charles Nygaard, 45, when law enforcement searched his Granger residence in September 2022. A forensic examination of Nygaard’s devices showed that Nygaard knowingly and intentionally downloaded files containing child sexual abuse material from the internet from at least September 2018 through June 2022. After completing his term of imprisonment, Nygaard will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Nygaard was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force and Granger Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zachary Thomas Carson, a/k/a Zach Thomas Carson, age 36, of Adair County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Indictment charged Carson with knowingly possessed 297 rounds of ammunition on April 21, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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. Carson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Failing To Register As A Sex Offender

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Thomas Edwards, age 35, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender. The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. On March 10, 2025, Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Edwards was previously convicted by the State of Oklahoma for Lewd Molestation in September 2001, Indecent Exhibition of Child Pornography in November 2001, and Lewd Molestation in January 2015, each a felony conviction requiring the defendant to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) passed by Congress in 2006. According to investigators, Edwards initially registered an address upon his release from prison in March 2024, but by June 2024 Edwards was no longer living at that address and had failed to update or register his new address as required by law. U.S. Marshals traced Edwards’ new residence to a Muskogee apartment, and on September 21, 2024, law enforcement arrested Edwards. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Edwards will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Vian Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stephanie Leigh Rodgers, aka Stephanie Larsen, aka Stephanie Yoder, aka Stephanie Ward, age 40, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, followed by three years of supervised release. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. On January 13, 2025, Rodgers pleaded guilty to the charge. On August 19, 2024, law enforcement officers apprehended Rodgers after she sold approximately 447 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer. According to investigators, Rodgers sold approximately 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the months preceding her arrest. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rodgers will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Adrian Wrenn, age 36, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Ardmore Police Department. On December 31, 2024, Wrenn pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 9, 2023, Wrenn stole a semi-automatic handgun from an Ardmore, Oklahoma gun store. Prior to taking the weapon, Wrenn had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wrenn will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Tulsa Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mark Galen Putnam, age 41, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Fentanyl, 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the terms to run concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the District 27 Drug Task Force, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On January 24, 2025, Putnam pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on September 6, 2023, Putnam sold a baggie of two hundred pills containing fentanyl to an undercover officer. A week later, on September 14, 2023, law enforcement arrested Putnam after he agreed to sell another 1,600 fentanyl pills. When officers arrested Putnam, they discovered Putnam in possession of more fentanyl pills and approximately sixteen grams of methamphetamine. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Putnam will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.