title: Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Arrest in Northwest

body_text: WASHINGTON – Sherwood Russell, 35, of the District of Columbia, has been charged in an indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, on a federal firearms charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Russell is charged federally with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. According to court documents, on May 4, 2025, members of the MPD’s Third Police District responded to a call for a domestic disturbance on the 2000 block of 11 th Street Northwest. Officers observed Russell grabbing a woman by the arms and yelling at her. Russell attempted to flee in his vehicle as officers attempted to stop him. After a struggle, officers were able to detain Russell and observed an open container of alcohol in the front passenger seat. Upon further search of the vehicle, officers discovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol, containing one round of .40 caliber ammunition in the chamber and 25 additional rounds in the 29 round capacity magazine. The pistol was modified with a “giggle” switch that converted the firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Russell is prohibited from possession of a firearm and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2011 conviction for first degree burglary while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25cr210


title: Vallejo Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Darren Mitchell, 35, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 15 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine and firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced. According to evidence presented at a five-day jury trial, Mitchell negotiated a transaction for 1,000 methamphetamine pills with a buyer who testified at trial. Federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Mitchell’s Vallejo residence a few days later. At the residence, agents encountered two infants who lived there and recovered methamphetamine-laced pills and an industrial pill pressing machine. Hidden inside the residence’s dishwasher, agents recovered a loaded AR-15 assault-style rifle and a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol with an obliterated serial number: This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Desmond and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.


title: Middleton Nail Salon Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tam Phan, 40, Middleton, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion in connection to her nail salon business, Happy Nails & Spa, in Middleton. Phan has been the operator and sole proprietor of Happy Nails & Spa since 2010. The government’s investigation revealed that a large percentage of Happy Nails customers paid for their services with cash between 2021 and 2023. However, Phan’s tax returns for that time period only reported the credit card sales. During the plea hearing, Phan admitted that she intentionally failed to report the cash sales from Happy Nails & Spa on her 2022 federal tax return. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley scheduled Phan’s sentencing for October 28, 2025. Phan faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. The charge against Phan was the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.


title: Sacramento Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

body_text: Jose Luis Aguilar Saucedo, 26, of Sacramento, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to seven years and six months in prison for fentanyl distribution, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced. According to court documents, Aguilar Saucedo distributed hundreds of fentanyl pills that were made to look like prescription “M-30” oxycodone pills to a DEA confidential source on three separate occasions in March, April, and August 2020. Fifteen co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and 11 have previously been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to 27 years. Luis Lopez Zamora is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025, Leonardo Flores Beltran and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in October 2025, and Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo is scheduled to be sentenced in December 2025. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Founder And CEO Of AML Bitcoin Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Cryptocurrency founder and CEO Rowland Marcus Andrade was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg handed down the sentence. At the conclusion of a five-week trial in March 2025, a jury found Andrade, 47, guilty of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the fraudulent marketing and sale of a cryptocurrency called AML Bitcoin, a scheme that raised millions of dollars through false and misleading statements to investors about the cryptocurrency and the purported technology behind it. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Andrade made false statements to the public and potential purchasers of AML Bitcoin misrepresenting the development of the technology, its viability, potential business deals, and release date. Among other misrepresentations, Andrade falsely claimed that the Panama Canal Authority was close to permitting AML Bitcoin to be used for ships passing through the Panama Canal when no such agreement existed. Court documents and evidence presented at trial established that Andrade defrauded cryptocurrency investors out of approximately $10 million. Andrade diverted more than $2 million in proceeds from the sale of AML Bitcoin and spent it on personal expenses, including the purchase of two properties in Texas and two luxury automobiles. The jury also found that Andrade laundered investor funds through a series of bank accounts and then used the funds for his personal expenses and the purchase of the properties and automobiles. “The defendant made one false claim after another about a sophisticated cryptocurrency offering to create the illusion of a legitimate business. He exploited numerous investors who put their trust in him, not knowing that their hard-earned money was in fact funding his lavish lifestyle. Today, Andrade learned the price of his greed,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This case emphasizes my Office’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting anyone who undermines the integrity of traditional financial or digital asset markets.” “Rowland Marcus Andrade promised innovation but delivered deception. He misled innocent people who believed they were investing in the future of digital currency. Instead, their money was used to fund his personal luxury,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the public from financial fraud and ensuring justice for those who were harmed.” “Today’s sentencing of Rowland Marcus Andrade is another definitive statement about how white-collar crime does not pay. Mr. Andrade enriched himself by misrepresenting cryptocurrency technological advances he never delivered upon,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “IRS-CI agents understand the technology, see through the nefarious lies, and follow the money. Our commitment to protecting individuals from financial fraud is unwavering.” In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge Seeborg also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered that the defendant pay forfeiture representing the amount of fraudulent proceeds obtained from his crimes. The court ordered a hearing on Sept. 16, 2025, to determine the amount of forfeiture and the amount of restitution owed to victims of Andrade’s crimes. Andrade will begin serving his sentence on Oct. 31, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith, David Ward, and Karen Beausey and Trial Attorney Matthew Chou are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.


title: Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in Oregon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Edis Odalis Banegas, 45, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Portland, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release Monday for possessing and distributing fentanyl in Oregon. According to court documents, on September 6, 2023, as part of a drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by Banegas and his co-conspirator. During a search of the vehicle, officers located and seized fentanyl and Super Mannitol, a cutting agent used to mix with fentanyl for further distribution, and arrested Banegas and his co-conspirator. Later the same day, investigators executed search warrants on Banegas’s residence and storage unit. Investigators located and seized additional fentanyl powder, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, Super Mannitol, three firearms, ammunition, and equipment to process fentanyl including vice presses, a scale, masks, and a blender. In total, more than ten pounds of fentanyl and Super Mannitol were seized. On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Banegas with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On February 5, 2025, Banegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) team, Portland Police Bureau, and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org . Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.


title: Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Meth Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Richard Martinez, 30, from Sioux City, Iowa pled guilty July 24, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Martinez pled guilty to possessing and aiding and abetting another’s possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on July 17, 2024, law enforcement was conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino (near Sloan, Iowa) during which a vehicle was observed traveling away from the casino over the speed limit. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which took off at high-speed. During the flight, two packages of methamphetamine were thrown out the passenger window. Law enforcement found the approximately ½ pound of methamphetamine near where it was thrown. Martinez admitted that the driver of the vehicle handed him the methamphetamine and instructed him to throw it out of the window during the pursuit, which he did. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Martinez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and the DEA Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4078. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Tiffin Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Sexually Exploit a Child

body_text: A man who recorded his paramour sexually abusing her toddler child was sentenced today to 37 years in federal prison. Benjamin Paul Egli, age 30, from Tiffin, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 17, 2024 guilty plea to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and possession of child pornography. Evidence at sentencing showed that on multiple occasions in 2023, Egli participated in Snapchat and video calls with his paramour, who lived in another state. Egli was in North Liberty, Iowa, during some of the calls. During the calls, which Egli recorded, Egli directed his paramour to engage in sexually explicit conduct with her toddler child. His paramour also sent him photographs and videos of herself and her toddler engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Egli possessed hundreds of images of child pornography, including images of children performing sexual acts on animals and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Egli was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Egli was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Egli is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Tipton Police Department, and the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-53. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Robbery

body_text: A man who robbed an individual who was selling drugs was sentenced today to more than 11 years in federal prison. Dequan Autrell Jenkins, age 27, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 26, 2025 guilty plea to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. On June 24, 2024, Jenkins and another person met with an individual in Cedar Rapids to purchase fentanyl. During the transaction, Jenkins pulled out a firearm and robbed the individual of the fentanyl and the individual’s backpack. Jenkins was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions. Jenkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Jenkins was sentenced to 141 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jenkins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal 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 case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-93. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Waterloo Woman Who Straw Purchased Firearms Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A woman who bought at least nine firearms for a felon was sentenced on July 28, 2025, to more than three years in federal prison. LaDonna Henderson, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025 guilty plea to eight counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Information from sentencing showed that Henderson purchased nine firearms and attempted to buy a tenth firearm in a six-week period in 2023. Henderson made false statements about her drug use and the real purchaser of the firearms in connection with these purchases. She gave these firearms to her boyfriend at the time, Christopher Hoover, who was a felon and a cocaine and marijuana user. Hoover trafficked some of the firearms. Four of the firearms Henderson bought were recovered by law enforcement from felons or drug users. Hoover was prosecuted for his possession of firearms bought by Henderson and sentenced to 93 months’ imprisonment on September 17, 2024. Four other individuals were sentenced for their possession of firearms bought by Henderson and related conduct. Jayquine Steele, a drug user, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment on June 27, 2024. Jeremy Phillips, a felon, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment on July 22, 2024. Patrelle Green-Bowman, a felon, was sentenced to 105 months’ imprisonment on September 9, 2024. Walter Smith, a felon, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment on January 8, 2025. Henderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Henderson was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Henderson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2067. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carlos Aldalberto Hernandez, Jr., 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 24, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hernandez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hernandez’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. In April and May of 2024, a confidential informant made a total of four purchases of methamphetamine from two of Hernandez’s housemates in Lincoln. Those purchases ranged from approximately ¼ ounce up to approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine. The last of those purchases occurred on May 6, 2024. A search warrant was executed at Hernandez’s residence on that date. During that search, investigators found a cardboard box containing 14 baggies of methamphetamine in Hernandez’s bedroom. Additional smaller amounts of methamphetamine were found throughout the house. The total amount of methamphetamine found was approximately 610 grams. One of Hernandez’s co-conspirators had an additional ½ ounce of methamphetamine in his vehicle. Three of the baggies found in the house were analyzed for purity and were found to contain at least 170 grams of actual methamphetamine. A cooperating witness told investigators that Hernandez had been living at the house for about six weeks prior to the search and was a source of methamphetamine for other residents of the house. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Honduran man pleads guilty to illegal re-entry

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Marvin Jose Espana, 46, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to illegal re-entry of a removed alien. He was sentenced to time serve and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that Espana is an alien without any legal status in the United States. A a native and citizen of Honduras, he was removed from the United States in June 2007, and again in August 2014. On April 15, 2025, Espana was found in Erie County in the Western District of New York. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The plea and sentencing are a result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin Coombs. # # # #


title: Mexican man pleads guilty, sentenced for illegal re-entry

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alejandro Mendez Flores, 38, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to illegal re-entry of a removed alien. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy, who is handling the case, stated that Mendez Flores is an alien without any legal status in the United States. A native and citizen of Mexico, he was physically removed in July 2019 after having illegally entered the United States. On April 30, 2025, Mendez Flores was found in Erie County in the Western District of New York. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. # # # #


title: July 2025: Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 30 unsealed Indictments charging 31 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Jeffery Robinson , age 49, of Springfield, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) from on or about April 7, 2025, through on or about May 2, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Devon Rice , age 28, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with attempted production of child pornography beginning at least on or about May 30, 2025, and continuing to on or about June 18, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and not more than 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Dakota Parrott , age 32, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 24, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Joshua Hollum , age 46, of Kearney, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Hollum with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about February 4, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Hollum with use and carry of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about February 4, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. Victor Zavala Garcia , age 53, of Crete, Nebraska, is charged with making false statement in an application for a passport on or about June 5, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Tyson Bauer , age 47, of Deshler, Nebraska, is charged with knowingly making false statement for the purpose of influencing the action of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation on or about December 14, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Eulisis Martin , age 34, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Martin with attempting malicious damage to federal property using explosive materials on or about June 9, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Martin with possession of a destructive device commonly known as a Molotov cocktail on or about June 9, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Martin with destruction of government property on or about June 14, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Martin with impeding, intimidating or interfering with federal officials by threat beginning from on or about June 9, 2025, and continuing until on or about June 14, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 6 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Cristian Manuel Tovar-Olivares, age 25, and Snaider Sthiferson Castro Hidalgo , age 32, both of Kearney, Nebraska, are charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Tovar-Olivares and Castro Hidalgo with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and unauthorized access of a protected computer on or about July 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Tovar-Olivares and Castro Hidalgo with attempted bank burglary on or about July 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Tovar-Olivares and Castro Hidalgo with unauthorized access of a protected computer on or about July 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Daryl J. Leise , age 56, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with three counts of bank fraud on or about June 21, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count. Carina Guadalupe Salazar-Zuniga , age 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Salazar-Zuniga with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents from on or about December 19, 2024, through on or about May 28, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Salazar-Zuniga with buying a counterfeit social security card on or about December 19, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Cody Chilson , age 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with escape from custody on or about June 5, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Salih M. Samin Totakhil , age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with international parental kidnapping on or about March 19, 2022, and continuing to at least on or about March 31, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Tyrece D. Thomas , age 24, of Macy, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Thomas with sexual assault by force or threat on or about June 8, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charged Thomas with sexual assault by threat on or about June 8, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Guadalupe Cabrera Mejia , age 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Cabrera Mejia with false representation of a social security number on or about January 30, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Cabrera Mejia with fraud and misuse of false identification documents on or about January 30, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Cabrera Mejia with false claim to U.S. citizenship on or about January 30, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Marvin Aleman Zepeda , age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with assault, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon on or about June 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Thomas M. Laughlin , age 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about May 26, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Rodolfo De Leon Cua , age 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two count Indictment. Count I charges De Leon Cua with transportation of child pornography between on or about February 1, 2024, and on or about June 30, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges De Leon Cua with possession of child pornography on or about February 5, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Joyce M. Beauchamp , age 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three count Indictment. Count I charges Beauchamp with production or attempted production of child pornography beginning on an unknown date and continuing through on or about December 31, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Beauchamp with production or attempted production of child pornography beginning on an unknown date and continuing through on or about December 31, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Beauchamp with distribution of child pornography beginning on an unknown date and continuing through on or about February 14, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Juan Cabrera Rivera , age 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three count Indictment. Count I charges Cabrea Rivera with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine beginning on or about May 6, 2024, and continuing to on or about May 14, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Cabrera Rivera with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 6, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Cabrera Rivera possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 14, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Travell Richard , age 36, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about December 6, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Michael Krauth , age 63, of Fremont, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 4, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Tresean E. Washington , age 32, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Osmar Lorenzo-Genchi , age 20, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two count Indictment. Count I charges Lorenzo-Genchi with assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement officers involving the intent to commit another felony on or about June 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 8 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Lorenzo-Genchi with willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States in excess of $1,000.00 on or about June 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco , age 30, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged in a three count Indictment. Count I charges Hurtado-Cariaco with attempted murder of a federal officer on or about June 18, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Hurtado-Cariaco with assault, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees on or about June 18, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Hurtado-Cariaco with resisting a federal officer on or about June 18, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 1 year imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Tomas Castillo-Martinez , age 30 Carlos Humberto Barrios Perez , age 52 Dulce Anel Franco-Cortez , age 31 Ignacio Galvez Aguilar , age 39 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Nelson Enrique Rivera-Maradiaga , age 45 Francisco Meza-Carmona , age 42 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.


title: District Man Sentenced to 35 Year Prison Term For Killing Man in Southeast Washington

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Dennis Chase, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, to 420 months in prison for the 2020 murder of Anthony Orr in Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. In October of 2024, a jury sitting in Superior Court found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the government’s evidence, the defendant drove around the Washington Highlands neighborhood with the victim, Anthony Orr, sitting in the passenger seat. As the defendant slowly drove down Xenia St. SE, he raised a gun to Mr. Orr’s head and fired one lethal shot. The defendant pushed Mr. Orr out of the car and sped off. The defendant drove 30 miles North of the District to the woods of Severn, Maryland, where he doused the car in diesel exhaust fluid and attempted to light it on fire. The defendant then hiked through the woods until he found a random home, where he stripped down and hid his clothes and other evidence in the back shed, knocked on the back door, and asked for help. The homeowner called 911, and Anne Arundel County Police arrested the defendant on an unrelated warrant. MPD Homicide Detectives later charged defendant for the murder of Mr. Orr. The defendant testified at trial and claimed he acted in self-defense. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Anne Arundel County Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling and Charlie Bruce, Victim/Witness Advocate Jenn Clark, and Victim/Witness Coordinators Maenylie Watson and Katina Adams-Washington. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wes Faulkner and Andrea Antonelli, who prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Sues Green Bay Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in Violation of the Fair Housing Act

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Green Bay, WI Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 24, 2025, the United States filed a civil complaint alleging that David Jones and D Jones Properties LLC discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Jones manages multiple rental properties in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area, and the complaint alleges that he engaged in severe, pervasive, and unwelcome sexual harassment of a female tenant by, among other things, making unwelcome sexual comments, grabbing the tenant without her consent, entering the tenant’s home without her permission, and taking adverse housing-related actions against the tenant when she asserted her rights under the FHA. The case was referred to the Department of Justice after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment and a court order barring future discrimination. “No one should be forced to choose between safe housing and their right to live free from sexual harassment,” said Acting United States Attorney Frohling. “The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing fair housing protections and holding housing providers accountable when they exploit their power over tenants.” Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by David Jones or D Jones Properties LLC, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Nia Schmaltz at 414-297-4516 or Nia.Schmaltz@usdoj.gov . The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . The public is cautioned the United States’ complaint states allegations only; the defendants can only be held liable when and if the Government proves its case by a preponderance of the evidence. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: United States files a civil complaint in the Northern District of Texas seeking the forfeiture of over $1.7 million worth of cryptocurrency seized by Dallas FBI

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the United States filed a civil complaint in the Northern District of Texas seeking the forfeiture of over $1.7 million worth of cryptocurrency seized by Dallas FBI in mid-April 2025, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson. As alleged in the complaint, 20.2891382 BTC was seized from cryptocurrency address bc1q5d8af0crjhlnepjq08muhh55899rf2ktye3sxd on April 15, 2025. The seized cryptocurrency, now valued at over $2.4 million, allegedly constitutes property involved in unlawful activity, or proceeds of or property derived from unlawful activity, including money laundering and extortion related to damage to a protected computer, commonly referred to as a ransomware attack. The seized cryptocurrency was traced to a cryptocurrency address allegedly associated with a member of the Chaos ransomware group, known as “Hors,” which has been tied to ransomware attacks against victims located in the Northern District of Texas and elsewhere. The complaint is filed under Case No. 3:25-CV-01920-K. Dallas FBI executed the cryptocurrency seizure.


title: ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR NARCOTICS AND FIREARM OFFENSES

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Eric Shirone Thompson, 47, of Gainesville, Florida was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is dedicated to making our community the safest place to live and raise children. Today’s sentence is another achievement in furtherance of that objective. But we will not stop here. We will continue to aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers like Mr. Thompson who present a danger to the health and safety of our community until all drug trafficking organizations in our community are dismantled and eliminated.” According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence, where they found Thompson attempting to flush fentanyl down a toilet. During a search of the residence, law enforcement also located two loaded firearms and drug paraphernalia consistent with drug dealing, including baggies and cooking utensils with cocaine residue. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute cocaine, marijuana, and “molly” in the Northern District of Florida. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. “This joint investigation involving state and federal law enforcement agencies shows how integral partnerships are in the fight against drug traffickers,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “We each bring specific skills to the investigation, and this leads to more success. These communities will benefit greatly from this drug trafficker being off the streets.” “This case and subsequent federal prosecution sends a clear message: we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our community. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable and protect the safety of our residents,” said Chief Moya of the Gainesville Police Department. 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Two Children

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Court Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Harrison James Miller, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland, to 37 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Miller previously pled guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child as well as commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Gina M. Cirincion, State’s Attorney for Washington County; and Chief Paul Kifer, Hagerstown Police Department (HPD). According to the guilty plea, Miller was ordered to register as a sex offender after a conviction in Pennsylvania involving an 8-year-old child. In August 2022, upon release from prison, Miller moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, but did not register as a sex offender as required by law. Miller then gained access to two children, ages 4 and 5, and sexually abused them over a period of several months. Additionally, Miller took images of the minors which he stored in a password protected folder on his cell phone. Authorities arrested and charged Miller after one of the minors disclosed the abuse to his mother. Through a search of Miller’s phone, law enforcement uncovered the hidden images and other evidence. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and HPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Mexican National Sentenced  For Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FULGENCIO CARDENAS-RIVERA (“CARDENAS-RIVERA”) , a 35-year old Mexican national, was sentenced on July 22, 2025, to 60 months imprisonment, 4 years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, CARDENAS-RIVERA traveled into the Eastern District of Louisiana with approximately three kilograms of cocaine secreted in the trunk of the car he was driving, with the intent to distribute such cocaine. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and assisted by the Louisiana State Police, United States Border Patrol, Kenner Police Department, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: ARMED DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Isaih Malik Cox, a/k/a “Glizzy,” 27, of Gainesville, Florida was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The defendant’s conviction and sentence is the result of excellent work by local and federal law enforcement and my office. In collaboration with our partners in and around the Northern District of Florida, we will continue to aggressively prosecute armed drug traffickers like the defendant who present a danger to the health and safety of our community until all drug trafficking organizations in our community are dismantled and eliminated.” “We are committed to holding criminals accountable in close coordination with our federal partners. Our community will continue to stand strong against drug dealers who carry firearms and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. According to court documents, while traveling in a vehicle in Gainesville, Florida, the defendant possessed a loaded pistol with an extended magazine and approximately 54 grams of a controlled substance commonly known as “molly,” which he intended to distribute. Prior to getting in the vehicle, the defendant was seen leaving an apartment where he had an AR-15 style pistol loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Increases Immigration Prosecutions: Three Violent Felons Sentenced in Two Weeks

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

body_text: SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA- Three convicted felons have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry and other criminal offenses in the Southern District of Indiana: Defendant Charge Sentence Gerson Enrique Cisneros, 20, of El Salvador Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person 2 years imprisonment and 2 years supervised release Josue Miguel Perez-Perez, 41, of Mexico Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien 6 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release Rosario Valencia-Ambrosio, 36, of Mexico Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien 23 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release * The following investigations were unrelated, and each defendant represents a different, individual case. On February 3, 2025, at approximately 12:50 in the morning, Evansville Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired near Sunset Skate Park. Officers observed five males dressed in all black and wearing ski masks exiting and entering a minivan in the parking lot past closing time. As officers initiated a vehicle stop, one male fled on foot while Gerson Cisneros, the driver, remained in the vehicle with a loaded semi-automatic 9mm pistol hidden beneath his seat. The pistol contained 18 rounds in an extended magazine. At the time of arrest, Cisneros had an active warrant out of Posey County, Indiana for reckless driving and had never possessed a valid driver’s license. Further, Cisneros is an illegal alien and was unlawfully present in the United States. Persons unlawfully in the United States may not possess firearms under federal law. Josue Miguel Perez-Perez was removed to Mexico from Wisconsin in 2007 and prohibited from reentering the United States after sustaining a felony conviction for second-degree assault of a child. He was located on February 10, 2025, in Clark County, Indiana, after being arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and intimidation. Valencia-Ambrosio was removed to Mexico from Texas and prohibited from reentering the United States after sustaining a conviction for conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine. Valencia-Ambrosio has been convicted of additional crimes while in the United States, including two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and conversion. He was located on January 4, 2025, in Madison County, Indiana after being arrested and charged with domestic battery and intimidation. At the time the defendants entered their guilty pleas, they acknowledged that upon completion of their sentence, they will be subject to removal from the United States. “Criminal aliens that habitually cross into our country illegally and endanger our communities must face consequences,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to enforce our Nation’s immigration laws and hold these repeat offenders fully accountable for their actions.” “These three violent criminal aliens – each with prior offenses – posed a serious threat to public safety and our neighborhoods,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to protect the interests of our great nation.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration Customs and Enforcement and Evansville Police Department investigated these cases. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt and Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd S. Shellenbarger, Adam Eakman, and Carolyn Haney, who prosecuted these cases. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) ###


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for transporting a minor with the intent to sexually abuse the child and for accessing with intent to view child pornography. He was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, George Travis Woodfield, 41, of Macungie, drove an 11-year-old child across state lines for an overnight trip to New York City in November 2018 in order to engage in sexual activity with the child. After a day of sightseeing, Woodfield sexually abused the child in his hotel room. Further, between September 2015 and July 2024, Woodfield accessed numerous depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent children being sexually abused. “Child sexual abuse is a depraved criminal act that harms the most innocent among us,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant took a child across state lines with the express intent of abusing that child, and he exploited others by viewing child sexual abuse material. We will swiftly bring to justice any individual who commits these horrific crimes against children in our communities.” “Woodfield didn’t just view images of child sexual abuse, he sought out sex with a child,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “The sexual exploitation of children causes unthinkable harm. While prosecuting a predator like Woodfield can’t undo that damage, his prison sentence prevents him from causing further harm and provides his victim justice.” “There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from those who seek to exploit or harm them,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “I commend the work done by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and our field office whose expertise was critical in bringing this offender to justice. This sentence is a testament to our shared resolve to hunt down predators that rob children of their innocence. We will not rest until those who commit these heinous crimes are held fully accountable.” "The exploitation of children remains among the most heinous crimes we investigate,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. “Let today's sentencing send a message: if you prey upon our most vulnerable, you will be found and you will be brought to justice. This case is a powerful testament to the unwavering dedication of the personnel in our Allentown Resident Agency and our law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to protect our children and ensure those who harm them are held accountable.” The case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and FBI Richmond, with assistance from the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). CEOS Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban, CEOS Senior Trial Attorney Jennifer Toritto Leonardo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 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 CEOS, 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: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Steven Jamar Alexander, also known as “Dook,” 39, of Nitro, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Alexander sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl on two separate occasions in March 2025, each time to a confidential informant in St. Albans. Alexander further admitted that he was previously convicted of a serious drug felony, distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on May 13, 2019, and was released from prison for that conviction within 15 years of the current offense. Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, at least six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $2 million fine. Today’s guilty plea results from an investigation that also led to the indictment of 13 other individuals on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Rafael Cee-Erwin Solomon, also known as “Rip,” 43, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, to three counts of distribution of fentanyl as a result of this investigation and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2025. The charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. This case is also part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-70. ###


title: Lehigh County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that George “Travis” Woodfield, 41, of Macungie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. to 360 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Woodfield was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution. Woodfield was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of last year and pleaded guilty in March. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Woodfield drove an 11-year-old child across state lines for an overnight trip to New York City in November 2018 in order to engage in sexual activity with the child. During the trip, Woodfield sexually abused the child in their hotel room. Further, between September 2015 and July 2024, Woodfield accessed numerous depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent children being sexually abused. “Woodfield didn’t just view images of child sexual abuse, he sought out sex with a child,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “The sexual exploitation of children causes unthinkable harm. While prosecuting a predator like Woodfield can’t undo that damage, his prison sentence prevents him from causing further harm and provides his victim justice.” “The exploitation of children remains among the most heinous crimes we investigate,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Let today’s sentencing send a message: if you prey upon our most vulnerable, you will be found and you will be brought to justice. This case is a powerful testament to the unwavering dedication of the personnel in our Allentown Resident Agency and our law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to protect our children and ensure those who harm them are held accountable.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and FBI Richmond, with assistance from CEOS’s High-Tech Investigations Unit, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik, CEOS Senior Trial Attorney Jennifer Toritto Leonardo, and CEOS Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban.


title: More Than Eight Year Sentence Handed Down for Facebook Marketplace Armed Robberies

body_text: WASHINGTON – Elijah Porter, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on July 25, 2025, in Superior Court, to 106 months in prison, for charges pertaining to two armed robberies he committed in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Porter pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, to armed robbery for an incident on December 2, 2023, and to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery for an incident on November 8, 2023. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel also ordered Porter to serve three years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on December 2, 2023, Porter, using a false Facebook account, responded to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for the sale of an Apple MacBook. The defendant arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter asked to inspect the MacBook, so the victim handed the MacBook to the defendant. The defendant then pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun and stole the MacBook from the victim. A search, conducted two days later at Porter’s residence, resulted in the recovery of the victim’s MacBook. On November 8, 2023, Porter created an advertisement for the sale of Apple iPhones using a false Facebook account, and the victim responded to the advertisement, eventually agreeing to meet with the defendant to discuss the purchase of the iPhones posted for sale. Porter arranged for the victim to meet him in the 1300 block of Orren Street, NE. When the victim arrived, Porter and an accomplice got into the victim’s vehicle and struck the victim in the face with a handgun. Porter and the accomplice then stole personal property belonging to the victim. Porter was arrested on December 4, 2023, and he has remained in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hanley and Travis Wolf, who prosecuted the case.


title: Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring with Family Members to Hide more than $90M from the IRS

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Florida woman, and dual U.S. and Colombian citizen, was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by, among other things, concealing tens of millions of dollars in undeclared foreign financial accounts, filing false tax returns, and evading taxes. The following is according to court documents: between 2010 and 2022, Gilda Rosenberg, of Golden Beach, conspired with two family members to conceal from the IRS more than $90 million in assets and income held in undeclared bank accounts in Andorra, Israel, Panama, and Switzerland. Rosenberg’s family had maintained offshore accounts since the 1970s. By the late 1990s, Rosenberg — who was identified as an owner and an authorized signer on some of the accounts — knew that she and her family members had not disclosed their ownership of these foreign financial accounts to the U.S. government and that they had not paid any taxes on the income earned from the assets in those accounts as was required by law. Starting in the early 2000s, the family consolidated their assets at accounts with Credit Suisse in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Family members told Credit Suisse employees that they were U.S. persons and seeking to hide their assets from U.S. authorities. The assets remained at Credit Suisse until 2013, when Credit Suisse closed the accounts because the family members were U.S. persons. When Credit Suisse closed their accounts, the family moved their assets, which were typically titled in the names of nominee entities, to new accounts located at Bank Leumi in Israel, Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) and PKB Privat Bank SA in Switzerland, and an Andorran bank. Rosenberg was documented as the beneficial owner of accounts at UBP and the Andorran bank. She also signed false account opening documents that claimed she was a Colombian citizen and not a U.S. citizen. Rosenberg, as well as her relatives, did not file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARS) disclosing their foreign financial accounts, as they were required to do. In addition, Rosenberg and her relatives continued to file false tax returns that omitted income generated by their offshore assets. In or about 2017, as part of a scheme to continue to evade their U.S. tax and reporting obligations, Rosenberg and the family members divided the family’s assets and signed documents to make it appear that Rosenberg and a relative gifted the offshore assets to another relative after he had renounced his U.S. citizenship. Rosenberg and her relatives then tried to covertly transfer assets to Rosenberg in the United States and to conceal their ongoing and historical tax evasion. To do so, Rosenberg and her relatives, among other things, created fake loan and investment documents to make it appear that transfers to and from Rosenberg were loans and business investments. From 2010 through 2017, Rosenberg filed false tax returns that did not report income she earned from assets in the account she concealed at UBP. For the 2009 through 2017 tax years, unreported income belonging to Rosenberg and two of her co-conspirators totaled more than $5.5 million, causing a tax loss of $1,927,342. Prior to her sentencing, Rosenberg had agreed to pay $1,927,342 in restitution to the IRS. She had also agreed to pay interest on the restitution. Separately, Rosenberg’s plea agreement required her to agree to pay a penalty of $5,857,045.50 to the IRS to resolve her civil liability for failing to file an FBAR. Rosenberg previously pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas to an information charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud the Army and Air Force Exchange Service by making and presenting false reports in order to avoid fully paying contractually required commissions. See United States v. Rosenberg , 4:24-cr-00062-ALM-AGD (E.D. Tex.). Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Tax & Financial Crimes Unit investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in obtaining important evidence. Senior Litigation Counsel Mark Daly and Trial Attorney Marissa Brodney of the Tax Division, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez for the Southern District of Florida, prosecuted the case.


title: Ten Indicted on Racketeering Charges Related to Cambria County Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Ten residents of Pennsylvania and Arizona have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on charges of violating racketeering laws, including acts of bribery conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute various controlled substances, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment, returned on July 22 and unsealed today, named the following 10 individuals as defendants: Lakesha Stith, 45, of Johnstown, Pa.; Ashley Aguilar, 26, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Mikal Davis, 48, incarcerated at Indiana County Jail; James Johnson-Ross, 26, of Altoona, Pa.; Marcos Monarrez Jr., 26, incarcerated at FDC Philadelphia; Jessica Niebauer, 34, of Altoona, Pa; Monique Valencia, 29, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Blake Young, 36, incarcerated at SCI Laurel Highlands; Asiah Young-Atwell, 30, of Johnstown, Pa.; and Carlos Zamora, 29, incarcerated at Northeast Ohio Correctional Center. According to the Indictment, from in and around July 2023, and continuing until on or about December 19, 2023, Stith, Davis, Johnson-Ross, Monarrez, Young, Young-Atwell, and Zamora conducted and participated in the affairs of an enterprise through racketeering activities inside the Cambria County Prison (CCP) in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The Indictment alleges that Stith and Young-Atwell, who were employed as a correctional officer and medical staff nurse, respectively, at the facility, received bribes from inmate defendants Davis, Johnson-Ross, Monarrez, Young, and Zamora in exchange for bringing contraband—including controlled substances such as K2 (a Schedule 1 synthetic cannabinoid), Tetrahydrocannabinol (a Schedule 1 component in cannabis), and Suboxone, cellular phones, security tools, and cigarettes—into the prison. Stith and Young-Atwell hid the contraband in lunch bags and containers in order to smuggle it through the prison’s screening system and then delivered the contraband items to various locations throughout the prison. These locations included the prison’s medical department, which contained private examination rooms without security cameras; numerous pre-arranged stash locations such as storage closets where inmates could later retrieve the hidden items; and the cells and housing units of inmate defendants, with some of whom Stith and Young-Atwell had engaged in personal/intimate relations and warned of planned cell searches as well as other inmates providing information to the prison administration regarding the contraband activity. The inmate defendants used the contraband phones to coordinate smuggling and contraband trafficking with Stith, Young-Atwell, and individuals outside of the CCP (including Aguilar, Niebauer, and Valencia, each of whom are charged in a separate count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in relation to the racketeering activity) who facilitated their contraband trafficking activities. The inmates and co-conspirators also sold these phones and other contraband items to other CCP inmates at substantial profit, with an average price of $10,000 for cellular phones and from $75 up to $250 for Suboxone strips. View the full Indictment here . “It is extremely dangerous when individuals employed within our prison systems choose to abuse their authority at the expense of the safety and well-being of inmates they are charged with overseeing,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Not only did the correctional officer and medical staff member in this case engage in inappropriate personal relations with inmates and accept bribes for sneaking contraband into the prison, which the defendant inmates then sold to others at a substantial profit, but they also provided confidential information about planned inmate cell searches and other internal security matters. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that this criminal abuse of trust is prosecuted regardless of whether those committing the acts are inside or outside of the confines of the prison.” “Today’s RICO Indictment underscores the critical importance of our concerted efforts to protect both public and inmate safety,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “This investigation has revealed the significant threat posed by transnational criminal organizations within our correctional facilities. The successful outcome of this operation is directly attributable to the effective interagency cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The inherent challenges of bringing RICO cases to trial highlight the exceptional skill and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and ensuring the security of our communities.” “Prisons have unique security challenges that are complex and require all involved to act in accordance with the law and procedures,” said Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer. “Inspections and reviews of compliance are an integral part of ensuring the maintenance of security at any prison to ensure the health and safety of inmates and correction officers alike. When it became apparent that certain individuals within the Cambria County Prison were engaging in corrupt activities, prison leadership, the Prison Board, and law enforcement took appropriate steps to contain the problem and worked alongside our federal partners to ensure that these perpetrators of criminal activity were brought to justice. We appreciate the special relationship that we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we thank them for their hard work on this matter. This is yet another example of the successes our community experiences when local, state, and federal entities all work together toward a common goal.” The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Shaun Sweeney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, and the Cambria County Prison conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Lowell Man Arrested for Allegedly Hiding More Than $6 Million in Payroll

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man was arrested today in connection with his alleged involvement in payroll tax avoidance and workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Henry Lam, 67, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 25, 2025 on charges of failure to collect and pay over taxes and mail fraud. Lam will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:45 p.m. this afternoon. According to court records, between 2016 and 2023, Lam owned and operated HL Temporary Services – a temporary employment agency in Lowell that served client companies in Massachusetts. The client companies paid HL Temporary Services for the temporary employees’ work on an hourly basis. Lam allegedly cashed these client’s checks at check cashing businesses in Massachusetts and paid the temporary employees primarily in cash. By using cash payments, Lam allegedly hid over $6.1 million in payroll and avoided paying more than $2.4 million in required payroll taxes. It is further alleged that Lam also used HL Temporary Services’ false payroll numbers to obtain worker’s compensation insurance at lower premium rates. The charge of failure to collect or pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution, and forfeiture. 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 and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Merrillville Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Raul Martinez, 50 years old, of Merrillville, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Martinez was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, between October 2021 and July 2022, Martinez sold cocaine on six separate occasions. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence located in Merrillville, law enforcement recovered approximately five kilograms of cocaine, nine firearms, ammunition, cocaine presses, digital scales, and a money counter. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.


title: Pierre Woman, Sixth in a Large-Scale Conspiracy, Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Pierre Area

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a woman from Pierre, South Dakota, who had been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 21, 2025. Misty Stahlhoefer, age 42, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Stahlhoefer was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. She pleaded guilty on April 14, 2025. Her conviction stemmed from a drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2023 and continuing until September 2024. Misty Stahlhoefer and co-defendant Heather Stahlhoefer were the source of supply to several other individuals in the Pierre area. The Stahlhoefers would acquire up to one pound of methamphetamine per trip to be further distributed by themselves and others including Whitney Marrowbone, Wendy Mealer, Brent Larvie, David Rinehart, and Heath Choal. The conspiracy involved between 30 and 35 pounds of methamphetamine. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, Misty Stahlhoefer and her local co-conspirators are facing significant time in federal prison for pushing drugs that are ravaging our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Drug traffickers should take note that in South Dakota, they will be met with the full force of law enforcement—federal, state, local, and tribal—and unrelenting federal prosecution out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “For years, Misty Stahlhoefer distributed illegal drugs in the Pierre, SD area,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Stahlhoefer will pay dearly for her reprehensible conduct. Those who choose to harm our community by enriching themselves and leading others to drug addiction will pay a heavy price. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to rid our communities of illegal drugs.” The co-defendants were earlier sentenced to federal prison as follows: • Heather Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. • Marrowbone was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. • Mealer was sentenced to six years in federal prison. • Larvie was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison. • Rinehart was sentenced to two years in federal prison. The seventh co-defendant, Heath Choal, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2025. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges. Stahlhoefer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Justice Department Announces Winners of the Access To Justice Prize Competition

component: Office for Access to Justice

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the winners of the Access to Justice Prize Competition. The Department is proud to uplift the incredible work being done across the country through innovative solutions to improve access to justice for all Americans. The Access to Justice Prize focuses on closing the rural justice gap, recognizing that rural communities face unique and significant barriers to resources and support in the legal system. This competition highlights the creativity and dedication of organizations working to expand justice for all. The winning projects represent actionable approaches that will help provide legal support for communities across America. The Access to Justice Prize was launched on Challenge.gov , and after reviewing an inspiring and thoughtful round of submissions, the Department of Justice is pleased to recognize the five winners whose innovative ideas stood out from a competitive field of applicants. Each of these organizations brought a unique perspective and a shared commitment to expanding resources for communities in rural America. The 12th Judicial District of Colorado Access to Justice Committee : creating “Lawmobile,” a vehicle designed to bring legal and administrative assistance directly to remote residents, as well as residents with disabilities, who lack childcare or technological access. Florida Department of Corrections : bridging the justice gap in rural areas by deploying Mobile Probation Units and Mobile Reentry Units to bring probation and reentry services directly to underserved rural communities. People Living in Recovery Inc. : expanding access to justice through an innovative forensic peer mentoring program in rural county jails in Georgia to reduce recidivism and support reentry. South Dakota Bar Foundation : creating the Project Rural Practice Hub, an online resource center that provides on-demand training, technical assistance, and mentorship to rural attorneys. Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law : expanding the clinic’s Rural and Tribal Veterans Outreach Project to effectively connect veterans living in rural communities with legal services. “The Department of Justice applauds the Prize winners’ dedication, bold ideas and steadfast belief in a better future,” said Acting Director Christina Smith of the Justice Department’s Office for Access to Justice. “The winners are addressing access to justice barriers with innovative solutions that are informed by the needs and strengths of rural communities.” Each winning organization will receive prize funding of $15,000 to advance their project. The Department of Justice congratulates all prize participants for their passion to remain committed to introducing fresh perspectives and novel approaches to advance access to justice for all.