title: Justice Department Requires Agri Stats to End Exchange of Competitively Sensitive Information Among Nation’s Largest Meat Processors that Suppressed Competition and Increased Prices for Decades

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement today to resolve the United States’ claims against Agri Stats Inc. (Agri Stats) for unlawful information sharing of price, output, and costs among competing meat processors. Filed in the District of Minnesota, the proposed settlement will help lower food prices, undo decades of distorted competition in the broiler chicken market, and ensure that the pork and turkey markets remain free from these anticompetitive practices that harmed American consumers across the country. “A stable and affordable food supply is critical to our country’s well-being,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Department of Justice is laser-focused on making everyday life affordable for all Americans.” “A fair market depends on real competition, not privileged access to competitors’ playbooks,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “When dominant firms share sensitive data in ways that exclude buyers and the public, they gain an artificial advantage that weakens market discipline and drives up prices for everyday Americans. This settlement proves the Department’s commitment to promoting transparency in the marketplace, enforcing the law, and delivering real relief for American consumers at the grocery store.” “The American people should not have to tolerate business models that only increase their cost of living. The Antitrust Division’s mission is to use the antitrust laws to protect American consumers from inflated prices,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This settlement delivers immediate relief in the meat section of grocery stores across our nation. I am grateful for my talented staff’s dedicated efforts in securing instant justice and to the Attorneys General from California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah for partnering with us on this matter.” Agri Stats is a data-sharing and consulting company that currently operates in the broiler chicken market and has historically operated in the pork and turkey markets. Agri Stats collects information on prices, output, and costs directly from meat processors’ accounting systems, standardizes that data, and redistributes it back to the processors in granular detail through digital and written reports and in-person meetings. Agri Stats and meat processors have historically refused to make this information available to meat buyers like restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors. “When companies decide certain information is too sensitive to share with the broader market, but not too sensitive to share with their closest competitors, that is a significant red flag that competition is being harmed,” said Mr. Assefi. As alleged in the complaint, this one-sided information exchange reduced competition and enabled systematic price increases and coordinated decisions about how much meat to produce. The proposed settlement brings an end to important anticompetitive features of Agri Stats’ information exchange. If approved by the court, the proposed settlement will require Agri Stats to: Stop providing any sales reports or non-public pricing information, which chicken, pork, and turkey processors have systematically used to identify opportunities to increase prices; Stop reporting production, cost, and labor data at either the company or facility level, which enabled competing processors to adjust output, pricing, or both based on near-total visibility into their rivals’ operations; Make the vast majority of information that Agri Stats distributes available to all interested domestic purchasers on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, eliminating the asymmetry of its prior information sharing and increasing market transparency; Adhere to restrictions on the timeliness of the information that Agri Stats shares; Report to a court-approved monitor selected by the Department of Justice who will be responsible for reporting on and ensuring compliance with the proposed settlement; and Establish an antitrust compliance program to ensure data security, whistleblower protections, and mandatory reporting of any future potential violations of the antitrust laws. Agri Stats’ subsidiary Express Markets Inc. (EMI) will be permitted to continue to provide its price reports in substantially the same manner as it has in the past. Because EMI’s price reports are less detailed and provided to all interested parties, not only meat processors, they were not the focus of the case. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Kate Riggs, Acting Chief, Anti-Monopoly and Collusion Enforcement Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8000, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov . Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA’s and Justice Department’s Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at www.farmerfairness.gov . Agri Stats is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Note : Read the Proposed Final Judgement here , and the Stipulation and Order here .


title: Three Men Indicted for the Armed Hijacking of a Delivery Truck Loaded With Apple Products at the Americana Manhasset Mall on Long Island

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging defendants Alan Christhofer Cedeno-Ferrer, Michael Mejia-Nunez and Ennait Alexis Sirett-Padilla with Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before the Honorable Anne Y. Shields, United States Magistrate Judge. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) announced the charges. “As alleged, these defendants committed a violent and brazen daytime robbery that terrorized the victims and endangered the public at one of the most popular shopping centers on Long Island,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will continue its relentless pursuit of violent criminals who prey on innocent victims and put our communities in harms way for their own financial gain.” “The defendants allegedly held two innocent employees at gunpoint before hijacking and robbing their delivery truck out of selfish greed. The FBI remains in lockstep with our local law enforcement partners to stop violent criminals from wreaking havoc on our communities,” announced FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “These individuals came into Nassau County and committed a robbery with weapons that put people in fear. We didn’t stop pursuing them until they were brought to justice. County Executive Bruce Blakeman and I have zero tolerance for criminal activity here in Nassau County. Thanks to our great partners in the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, these defendants have been indicted and will now have to answer for their crimes.” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the Bergen County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance on the case. As set forth in court filings, at approximately 8:00 a.m. on January 3, 2026, the defendants, working with others, hijacked a delivery truck that was parked outside of the Apple Store at the Americana Manhasset mall, as two workers were preparing to deliver Apple products to the store. The contents of the truck included more than $1.2 million worth of MacBook laptop computers, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and various accessories. Three men approached the delivery workers armed with handguns, forced one of the workers into the back of the delivery truck and zip tied his hands. They ordered the other victim into the driver’s seat to drive the truck. The victim driver was directed to a secluded parking area behind an office building located on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset, New York, and was then ordered into the back of the truck with the first victim, where his hands were also zip tied. A Home Depot box truck, rented by Cedeno-Ferrer using a fake Pennsylvania driver’s license, pulled into the parking area and backed up to the rear of the delivery truck so the cargo sections were aligned. The men moved all of the Apple merchandise from the delivery truck to the Home Depot truck. Once finished, they closed the cargo door to the delivery truck with the victims inside and left the location. One of the victims was able to free himself and call 911. The stolen merchandise was then taken to New Jersey and brought to a self-storage facility in Paterson, New Jersey. Upon arrival, as caught by surveillance cameras, Mejia-Nunez and Sirett-Padilla rented a storage unit that was used to facilitate transferring the stolen Apple goods from the Home Depot truck to a U-Haul truck and another vehicle being driven by a coconspirator. The Home Depot truck was abandoned in the Bronx and located by law enforcement on January 5, 2026. Cedeno-Ferrer’s fingerprints were found on a copy of the rental agreement that was recovered from inside the Home Depot truck. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face up to 30 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of paralegal specialist Janelle Robinson. The Defendants : ALAN CHRISTHOFER CEDENO-FERRER Age: 27 Bronx, New York MICHAEL MEJIA-NUNEZ Age: 29 New York, New York ENNAIT ALEXIS SIRETT-PADILLA Age: 24 New York, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-118 (SJB) 2026.05.07_cedeno-ferrer_et_al_detention_letter._final.pdf 26-cr-118_cedeno-ferrer_et_al.indictment_redacted.pdf


title: Pensacola Felon Convicted of Possession of Ammunition & Firearm Silencers

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

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – James Michael Olshefskie, 55, of Pensacola, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Pensacola following a two-day jury trial for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of two unregistered firearm silencers. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am incredibly proud to deliver another win for the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America , through which we are aggressively prosecuting the perpetrators of violent crime to keep our communities safe. This felon has demonstrated an outright refusal to follow the law, and so it is necessary to ensure he remains incarcerated to protect the law-abiding citizens of this District from his continued criminality.” On September 11, 2025, United States Probation Officers visited the defendant at his residence in Pensacola, Florida, as part of his federal post-conviction supervision. The defendant was on federal supervised release for a 2024 federal felony conviction, and as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. During their visit, probation officers found ammunition and unregistered firearm silencers in the defendant’s bedroom. Olshefskie faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 2:00 pm in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. 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 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 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Michigan man sentenced to 20 years in prison after having been convicted of  attempting to provide material support to ISIS and possessing a destructive device

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT — A Michigan man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison after having been convicted by a jury last year on two charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division. Aws Mohammed Naser, 38, formerly of Westland, Michigan, was convicted last year following a five-week trial. The jury unanimously found that Naser twice attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel (including himself) and services, knowing that ISIS was a designated terrorist organization, and that ISIS engages in terrorism. In addition, Naser was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a destructive device. The jury deliberated approximately six hours before returning their verdict. “This self-professed ‘soldier of the Caliphate’ and ‘son of the Islamic State’ has now faced American justice. We welcomed this traitor into our Nation with open arms. And he repaid us by building a bomb and helping our great enemy,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “Those who support terrorism or violent extremism against the United States should expect a lengthy prison sentence. Today’s outcome sends that message without question,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Threats against our homeland and endangering American lives are what the FBI works day in and day out to prevent. Thanks to the thorough investigative work of our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force and partner agencies, this defendant was identified, disrupted, and brought to justice.” Evidence presented during the trial showed that Naser became radicalized in his early 20s and frequently posted extreme Salafi-Jihadist ideological content on his YouTube channel. Naser developed a close relationship with Russell Dennison, an aspiring Salafi-Jihadist preacher, and the two jointly traveled to Iraq in early 2012. In August 2012, Naser returned to Michigan while Dennison traveled to Syria and joined the foreign terrorist organization Al-Nusrah Front, an Islamic State of Iraq-affiliate group that was a precursor to ISIS. Dennison is believed to have been killed in 2019 while fighting on behalf of ISIS in Syria. Once back in the United States, Naser started preparing to join Dennison. Naser consumed large amounts of terrorist propaganda materials, researched weapons, and watched gruesome videos depicting acts of violence such as beheadings. Naser and Dennison continued to communicate and discussed available travel routes through Lebanon and Turkey and the terror group’s urgent need for money to acquire firearms. Naser twice attempted to leave the United States for Syria to join the terror group. First, in November 2012, Naser booked a flight departing the United States and arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with luggage that contained a rifle scope, cane sword, and a four-inch tactical knife. Naser’s attempt to join was thwarted when he was not allowed to board the plane. Undeterred, Naser purchased another one-way plane ticket, this time departing from Chicago O’Hare Airport bound for Beirut, Lebanon, in January 2013. Hours before his scheduled flight to Lebanon, Naser robbed a gas station. After the robbery, Naser took a bus to Chicago and attempted to board his flight to Lebanon with $2,000 in cash but was again denied boarding and returned to Michigan. Naser was later charged and convicted of armed robbery and served a three-year prison sentence. Naser was released from prison and placed on parole supervision in 2016. Unable to travel to join ISIS, Naser renewed his oath to ISIS and focused his attention on how to support ISIS in the United States. Naser surreptitiously created social media accounts and joined invitation-only ISIS supporters’ chatrooms, groups, and private rooms where he obtained and viewed official ISIS media reports, publications, and other jihadi propaganda. Naser considered himself a “Son of the Islamic State,” and a “Solider of the Caliphate.” He solicited and obtained information on explosives from other ISIS supporters, received training from a bomb-maker, experimented with manufacturing explosives, and operated drones. He also downloaded a video that provided step-by-step instructions on the manufacture of an improvised explosive device (IED) using triacetone triperoxide (TATP), known as “The Mother of Satan.” In October 2017, the FBI searched Naser’s home and vehicle. In Naser’s basement, the FBI found a bomb-making lab and multiple drones, tools, and drone parts. In the lab, they recovered a ready-to-assemble destructive device which included precursor chemicals and components needed to make a TATP-based IED. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., Assistant U.S Attorney Hank Moon for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Chatham County woman sentenced to prison for setting fire to occupied residence

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chatham County woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting she set a fire that injured four people in a rooming house. Tamekia Mumford, 50, of Savannah, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to Arson Resulting in Personal Injury, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Mumford to pay $2,190 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Arson is a senseless and often deadly crime,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “It’s a tribute to the quick response of the Savannah Fire Department that all of the occupants of this residence were rescued with only minor injuries.” As described in the guilty plea, Savannah firefighters were called at approximately 7:31 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2024, to a house fire at 1834 Capital Street. The residence operated as a boarding house with up to 25 tenants, including Mumford. Firefighters and other first responders were met on the street by multiple residents who had evacuated and rescued two people from the second floor while fighting the fire. One of those residents was transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta and treated for smoke inhalation. Three others were treated for injuries they received while escaping the fire. During the evacuation, Mumford stood outside the home while flicking a lighter and yelled that the house was “evil.” She later told investigators that she was angry with everyone in the house. Security footage from the morning of the fire showed Mumford lighting a mattress outside the open kitchen window of the house. It also showed her entering the home and exiting with additional material she then added to the fire. She did not alert any of the residents, many of whom were sleeping, as the blaze grew and smoke billowed into the house through the open window. “I’m thrilled to see this arsonist will not be on the streets and putting more lives in danger,” said Fred Anderson, chief investigator for the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit. “This case was able to be solved quickly due to a strong working partnership with local and federal partners working together to keep Savannah safe from senseless crimes like this.” “This incident could have resulted in loss of life. The deliberate nature of this act – targeting a residence with multiple occupants – demonstrates the serious threat arson poses to public safety,” said Charles M. Mulherin, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “ATF will continue to prioritize these cases and support efforts to prevent similar tragedies.” The case was investigated by the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, the Savannah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.


title: Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paul Joseph Richards, 51, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, from December 2023 through April 2025, Richards used the web browser BitTorrent to access and download large quantities of pornography, including over 10,000 files containing CSAM. When law enforcement searched Richards’s devices pursuant to a warrant, they located CSAM on Richards’ desktop computer, on an external hard drive found attached to the computer, and on Richards’ iPhone. In an interview with law enforcement, Richards admitted he downloaded the files and viewed the files, including describing some of the content. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Folsom Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case. Richards is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 27, 2026. Richards faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Henry Curiel Arias. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Ammunition; Illegal Transfer of a Machinegun. Curiel Arias, 47, a Venezuelan national, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, he is charged with transferring a machinegun conversion device solely used to convert a semi-automatic firearm to fire automatically. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-160 Hector Contreras Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Contreras Perez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in January 2004, February 2005, May 2008, and June 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-171 Marco Cruz Ruiz. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz-Ruiz, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in September 2012. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-169 Johnny Ray Leonard, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Leonard, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-130 Simon Martinez Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child; Witness Tampering by Physical Force (second superseding). Martinez Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. Additionally, he is charged with using physical force against a victim with the intent to hinder communication with law enforcement. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Ammon Brisolara are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029 Jerald Michael Scott Newell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Newell, 33, of Sand Springs, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-161 Mylan Derayl Owens. Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Owens, 20, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing a machinegun conversion device. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-162 Octavio Rendon Gonzalez. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rendon Gonzalez, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in July 2011. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-170 Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Aguirre. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Possession of a False Immigration Document. Rodriguez Aguirre, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May and July 2019. Additionally, he is charged with knowingly possessing a false Green Card. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-165 Jeremy Sertich. Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Sertich, 34, of Duluth, Minnesota, is charged with knowingly transporting a minor victim across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Sertich is charged with coercing a minor child to engage in a sexually explicit activity. Homeland Security Investigations, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Duluth Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-163 David Michael Staley. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Staley, 58, of Willard, Missouri, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-164 Devan Miquel Velasco Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion. Velasco, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly persuading a witness with the intent to hinder testimony in an official proceeding. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-172


title: Jury finds Westerville man guilty of impersonating federal agent, making unlawful arrest

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted a Westerville man of impersonating a federal law enforcement agent and making an arrest as an impersonator. Brendan Conklin, 45, pretended to be a federal officer and unlawfully detained, searched and arrested a victim. The verdict was announced yesterday following a trial that began on May 4 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. According to court documents and trial testimony, in December 2023, Conklin, driving a former police SUV with police lights, unlawfully pulled over the victim. Conklin pointed a firearm at the victim, who had just departed her Westerville home with her minor child in the car. Conklin told the victim that he was a federal officer and wore a vest with various badges and insignias suggesting he was law enforcement. Conklin also had an illegal license plate registered to the Columbus police headquarters. Conklin searched and detained the victim. After handcuffing the victim and placing her in his vehicle, Conklin mistakenly locked himself out with the victim in the car and had to have Blendon Township officers let her out. Conklin then called the Columbus division of police’s non-emergency line and inquired about a warrant with them. After that conversation, Conklin told the victim it was her “lucky day” and he would have to release her. He then released the victim. Conklin had previously registered the Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Program (O.F.A.P.) as a nonprofit organization that provided the Columbus police headquarters as its address. Conklin’s internet searches in winter and spring of 2023 included “howbto determine if a us marshal is legit,” “us marshals fugitive task force badge” and “fake federal license plate.” He was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. Impersonating a federal officer and conducting a search or arrest while impersonating are each federal crimes punishable by up to three years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Westerville Police Chief Holly Murchland and Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford announced the verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to 20 years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Possessing a Destructive Device

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: A Michigan man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison after having been convicted by a jury last year on two charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan, and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office. Aws Mohammed Naser, 38, formerly of Westland, Michigan, was convicted last year following a five-week trial. The jury unanimously found that Naser twice attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel (including himself) and services, knowing that ISIS was a designated terrorist organization, and that ISIS engages in terrorism. In addition, Naser was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a destructive device. The jury deliberated approximately six hours before returning their verdict. “This self-professed ‘soldier of the Caliphate’ and ‘son of the Islamic State’ has now faced American justice. We welcomed this traitor into our Nation with open arms. And he repaid us by building a bomb and helping our great enemy,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “Those who support terrorism or violent extremism against the United States should expect a lengthy prison sentence. Today’s outcome sends that message without question,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Threats against our homeland and endangering American lives are what the FBI works day in and day out to prevent. Thanks to the thorough investigative work of our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force and partner agencies, this defendant was identified, disrupted, and brought to justice.” Evidence presented during the trial showed that Naser became radicalized in his early 20s and frequently posted extreme Salafi-Jihadist ideological content on his YouTube channel. Naser developed a close relationship with Russell Dennison, an aspiring Salafi-Jihadist preacher, and the two jointly traveled to Iraq in early 2012. In August 2012, Naser returned to Michigan while Dennison traveled to Syria and joined the foreign terrorist organization Al-Nusrah Front, an Islamic State of Iraq-affiliate group that was a precursor to ISIS. Dennison is believed to have been killed in 2019 while fighting on behalf of ISIS in Syria. Once back in the United States, Naser started preparing to join Dennison. Naser consumed large amounts of terrorist propaganda materials, researched weapons, and watched gruesome videos depicting acts of violence such as beheadings. Naser and Dennison continued to communicate and discussed available travel routes through Lebanon and Turkey and the terror group’s urgent need for money to acquire firearms. Naser twice attempted to leave the United States for Syria to join the terror group. First, in November 2012, Naser booked a flight departing the United States and arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with luggage that contained a rifle scope, cane sword, and a four-inch tactical knife. Naser’s attempt to join was thwarted when he was not allowed to board the plane. Undeterred, Naser purchased another one-way plane ticket, this time departing from Chicago O’Hare Airport bound for Beirut, Lebanon, in January 2013. Hours before his scheduled flight to Lebanon, Naser robbed a gas station. After the robbery, Naser took a bus to Chicago and attempted to board his flight to Lebanon with $2,000 in cash but was again denied boarding and returned to Michigan. Naser was later charged and convicted of armed robbery and served a three-year prison sentence. Naser was released from prison and placed on parole supervision in 2016. Unable to travel to join ISIS, Naser renewed his oath to ISIS and focused his attention on how to support ISIS in the United States. Naser surreptitiously created social media accounts and joined invitation-only ISIS supporters’ chatrooms, groups, and private rooms where he obtained and viewed official ISIS media reports, publications, and other jihadi propaganda. Naser considered himself a “Son of the Islamic State,” and a “Solider of the Caliphate.” He solicited and obtained information on explosives from other ISIS supporters, received training from a bomb-maker, experimented with manufacturing explosives, and operated drones. He also downloaded a video that provided step-by-step instructions on the manufacture of an improvised explosive device (IED) using triacetone triperoxide (TATP), known as “The Mother of Satan.” In October 2017, the FBI searched Naser’s home and vehicle. In Naser’s basement, the FBI found a bomb-making lab and multiple drones, tools, and drone parts. In the lab, they recovered a ready-to-assemble destructive device which included precursor chemicals and components needed to make a TATP-based IED. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., First Assistant U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin, Assistant U.S Attorney Hank Moon for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Houston, Tx., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and commit money laundering. Tyrone Godley-Johnson, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, on Sept. 4, 2024, Godley-Johnson transported approximately two kilograms of cocaine to Kansas City, Mo. Once in Kansas City, Godley-Johnson exchanged the cocaine for $35,000. On Sept. 5, 2024, as Godley-Johnson was returning to Texas, he was stopped in Moore, Ok., for a traffic violation. During the car stop, law enforcement discovered the $35,000 hidden inside the driver’s side trunk area paneling of his rental vehicle. Godley-Johnson admitted that he had transported approximately seven kilograms of cocaine to Kansas City, Mo., over the course of three separate trips, in exchange for a total of $131,000. These three trips occurred between the summer of 2022, and Sept. 4, 2024. On each occasion, Godley-Johnson transported or attempted to transport the U.S. currency back to the state of Texas. Under federal statutes, Godley-Johnson is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department. Operation Take Back America 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.


title: Jacksonville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Over Eleven Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – James Herbert Asberry, III (39, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of $18,938, the proceeds of Asberry’s drug trafficking, which were seized at the time of his arrest. Asberry pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, during a series of meetings in late 2023 and early 2024, Asberry sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover task force officer and confidential source. On February 23, 2024, the DEA arrested Asberry and law enforcement executed search warrants both at his home in St. Johns County and at a Jacksonville apartment where Asberry stored drugs. Investigators located $18,938 in cash, as well as cocaine, fentanyl, and nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: St. Louis Felon Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Gun Crimes

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis felon caught twice with guns, including after a police chase, to a total of 27 years in prison. After a two-day bench trial in October, Judge Divine found Roosevelt Easley, 40, guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Thursday, Judge Divine sentenced Easley to 25 years for that case and two more years for violating his supervised release in a 2018 case in which he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, cocaine base and methamphetamine. Evidence and testimony at the October trial showed that on March 29, 2022, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped a vehicle driven by Easley. Marijuana and a firearm were in plain view in the vehicle. On Sept. 10, 2022, St. Louis police again attempted to make a traffic stop of Easley’s vehicle, but he sped off. He eventually crashed into a tree before running away. Officers found two firearms in the vehicle. Easley also resisted arrest, threatened police officers, intimidated a potential witness and attempted to bribe a police officer, a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce says. Easley has at least three previous convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses, which subjected him to the enhanced penalty provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Boyce and Nichole Frankenberg prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Ten Indicted in Drug Trafficking Conspiracies  in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that ten people were charged in an indictment that was unsealed on May 6, 2026, on charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm. The ten indicted individuals are: Navy Kapeli, a/k/a “Tiny,” “Unc,” 38, of Oahu Joshua Militante-Hanamaikai, a/k/a “Sparx,” 25, of Oahu Samuel Kaolulo, 54, of Oahu Dallas Jardine, 24, of Oahu Kenneth Taylor, 39, of Oahu Alabanza Tuimalealiifano, a/k/a “Insane,” 39, of Oahu Kaylam Kumos, 18, of Oahu Oriana Holmes, 38, of Oahu Taiana Kapeli, 54, of Hawaii Douglas Keliikuli, 37, of Oahu N. Kapeli, Militante-Hanamaikai, Kaolulo, Jardine, Taylor, Kumos, Holmes and T. Kapeli face a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Jardine has also been charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. N. Kapeli, Tuimalealiifano, and Keliikuli are accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court filings, the drug trafficking organization led by Kapeli and Militante-Hanamaikai had large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to Hawaii. The organization, sometimes referred to as H-Mob, used juveniles to store narcotics and firearms at the Puuwai Momi Housing complex. Investigators seized at least twenty pounds of methamphetamine during the investigation. Additionally, several firearms were seized when search warrants were executed at multiple locations on May 6, 2026, including locations within the Puuwai Momi Housing complex. Image 1. Items seized during execution of May 6, 2026 search warrants. In a separate conspiracy, Tuimalealiifano, an inmate at Halawa Correctional Facility, had Navy Kapeli pick up a pound of methamphetamine and deliver it to Keliikuli, a guard at the prison. Keliikuli then brought the methamphetamine into the prison where it was seized by investigators. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years for the drug charges and a maximum of life imprisonment, plus a term of supervised release. Jardine also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the gun charge. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Coast Guard Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Honolulu Police Department, and Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss is prosecuting the case. This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.


title: Southeast commercial fisherman sentenced in illegal halibut fishing conspiracy

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: JUNEAU, Alaska – A Southeast Alaska commercial fisherman was sentenced yesterday to five years’ probation, a $15,000 fine and a world-wide fishing and hunting ban throughout his time on probation for his role in a conspiracy to illegally harvest halibut with another commercial fisherman, in violation of the Lacey Act. According to court documents, from September 2019 to August 2022, Vincent Jacobson, 52, conspired with Jonathan Pavlik, 41, both of Yakutat, to fraudulently use Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) permits to commit violations of federal law and regulations. An IFQ permit is a permit any individual commercially fishing for halibut in the waters off Alaska is required to have. It requires a permit holder to be aboard a vessel at all times during a fishing trip, including when fishing gear is set and when fish are harvested from the set gear. On Aug. 24, 2022, Pavlik allegedly directed his crew aboard the F/V New Era to receive halibut on his behalf from Jacobson aboard the F/V Epic . The halibut was harvested by the F/V Epic at a time that neither Pavlik nor his crew were aboard, which is a violation of federal law and regulations. Pavlik later landed the halibut under his IFQ permit, allegedly falsely reporting the vessel of harvest and that the halibut was creditable to his IFQ balance, when the halibut had been harvested from fishing gear that was set by the F/V Epic and transferred to the F/V New Era , while Pavlik was not aboard the vessel. The next day, while aboard the F/V New Era , Pavlik allegedly retained halibut from fishing gear that had been set by Jacobson aboard the F/V Epic at a time when Pavlik was not aboard the vessel. Pavlik then landed halibut under his IFQ permit, allegedly falsely reporting the vessel of harvest and that the halibut was creditable to his IFQ balance, when the halibut had been harvested from fishing gear that was set by the F/V Epic while he was not aboard the vessel. Pavlik then allegedly paid Jacobson for the illegally caught halibut from both days. Jacobson participated in two additional fishing trips in 2019 and 2020 with nearly identical conduct. On Aug. 28, 2025, Jacobson pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act conspiracy. “In the heart of IFQ season, this sentence should serve as a reminder that there are significant consequences for breaking the laws that help sustain and maintain Alaska’s vital fishing industry,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Jacobson knew the rules and regulations surrounding commercial halibut fishing and used that knowledge to game the system. This conduct is an affront to law abiding commercial fisherman and he now has a federal criminal conviction because of it.” “Protecting the future of Alaska’s fisheries requires honest fishing practices, promoting fairness and equity for all industry participants. NOAA enforces federal statutes to ensure all participants conduct their business within a level playing field” said Benjamin Cheeseman, Assistant Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division. “These sentences ensure lawful stakeholders are given the opportunity to conduct successful business, by sending a powerful message to potential offenders. We remain vigilant in ensuring offenders are deterred, and preserving Alaska’s fisheries for our Nation’s future.” Pavlik was charged with four counts of Lacey Act conspiracy, five counts of Lacey Act—unlawful sale, and five counts of Lacey Act—false labeling. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial. Kyle Dierick, 36, of Yakutat, was charged with one count of one count of Lacey Act conspiracy. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial. Michael Babic, 43, of Cordova, was charged with one count of Lacey Act conspiracy. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial. Timothy Ross, 58, of Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act conspiracy on Sept. 8, 2025, and was sentenced to five years’ probation and a $15,000 fine on Dec. 10, 2025. The NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement Alaska Division is investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case. ###


title: Billings man sentenced for illegal firearm possession after road rage incident

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Matthew David Slemmer, 41, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on January 17, 2025, an individual called 911 and said Slemmer pulled a gun on him following an exchange in traffic. According to the caller, Slemmer pulled into a parking lot and brandished a firearm before leaving the scene. Shortly after law enforcement arrived, Slemmer returned to the parking lot. He eventually provided a statement in which he denied brandishing a firearm but admitted he had a gun in his car. After a further exchange, Slemmer provided consent to search his vehicle and law enforcement discovered a Hi-Point Firearms, Model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol exactly where Slemmer said it would be located. Almost one year before the incident in the parking lot, on March 5, 2024, a hearing was held on a petition for a Temporary Order of Protection against Slemmer. He was present at the hearing. Another hearing was set for April 1, 2024, at which point the Temporary Order became permanent. The order says Slemmer shall not “threaten to commit or commit acts of violence” or “not harass, annoy, disturb” or otherwise communicate with the petitioner, who had a child and an ongoing intimate relationship with him. The permanent order also prohibited Slemmer from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Meriden Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL LUISI, 53, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy. Luisi had an ownership interest in Supreme Automotive and was involved in the acquisition and distribution of cocaine. Luisi, Ortiz, and several other members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of Luisi’s former residence in Berlin revealed evidence of narcotics distribution, a Bushmaster rifle, a Glock 9mm handgun, a Polymer 80 handgun (“ghost gun”), and $36,120 in cash. On April 7, 2025, Luisi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ortiz pleaded guilty and, on March 9, 2026, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.


title: South Portland Man Sentenced for Preparing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns for others and filing false tax returns for himself. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Lawrence Okeyo , 48, to two years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. Okeyo was convicted on October 29, 2025, following a three-day jury trial. According to court records and testimony at trial, Okeyo was a professional tax return preparer in Portland. He prepared tax returns for others in exchange for a fee. Okeyo often collected his preparation fees, which sometimes exceeded $1,000, from the tax refunds issued to his clients. Okeyo falsified his clients’ tax returns by claiming bogus, unreimbursed employee expenses that can be deducted only by a limited set of professionals: Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials, and employees with impairment-related work expenses. Neither Okeyo nor his clients met these qualifications. By falsifying tax returns, Okeyo generated or inflated unwarranted tax refunds for his clients and himself. Okeyo also prepared a false tax return for an undercover IRS agent posing as a client. During his interactions with the undercover agent, Okeyo told the agent, “I know that you should pay [taxes]. What I’m wanting to do is save you from paying.” Okeyo then fabricated supposed business expenses on the tax return he prepared for the undercover agent. Okeyo advised the undercover agent that, if he was audited, he would not be able to prove that he was entitled to claim the expenses. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. ###


title: Federal Jury Convicts Virgina Man on Charges Relating to the Deletion of U.S. Government Databases

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, Virgina, today on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. “Sohaib Akhter harmed Americans who trusted their government with personal information and sensitive requests,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His conviction shows that getting fired from a job is not an invitation to retaliate.” “The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General’s (FDIC-OIG) Electronic Crimes Unit is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners in holding Sohaib Akhter accountable for conduct that compromised sensitive government information and targeted the integrity of federal systems,” said Inspector General Jennifer L. Fain of FDIC-OIG. “As proven at trial, Akhter participated in the unauthorized access of protected computer systems, the theft of credentials, and the destruction of government data affecting numerous federal agencies. The deliberate deletion of databases containing sensitive government information and the subsequent attempts to conceal that criminal activity demonstrated a blatant disregard for the security and integrity of federal information systems. Today’s conviction reflects the FDIC OIG’s continued commitment to aggressively investigating cyber-enabled threats, protecting government networks and data, and pursuing those who seek to exploit positions of trust for personal gain.” “This was a calculated abuse of trust and access. Attempting to profit from stolen sensitive information shows a complete disregard for the law, and this verdict shows that those who abuse access to government information will be held accountable,” said Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D. of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS- OIG). “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and the agencies that worked alongside us throughout this investigation to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sohaib Akhter, and his twin brother and co-defendant, Muneeb Akhter, worked for a Washington, D.C., company that provided software products and services to more than 45 federal government agencies and hosted data for some federal government clients on servers in Ashburn. On Feb. 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked Sohaib Akhter for the plaintext password of an individual who submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Public Portal, which was maintained by the Akhters’ employer. Sohaib Akhter conducted a database query on the EEOC database and then provided the password to Muneeb Akhter. That password was subsequently used to access that individual’s email account without authorization. When the company discovered Sohaib Akhter’s felony conviction, it terminated both brothers’ employment during an online remote meeting on Feb. 18, 2025. Immediately after being fired during this meeting, the brothers sought to harm their employer and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, write-protecting databases, deleting databases, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. The compromised information included case management and Freedom of Information Act response processing software. Over the course of several hours, the brothers deleted approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information hosted by the company. A search of Sohaib’s cellphone revealed that he had obtained firearms as early as January 2025 and, following the execution of a search warrant on March 12, 2025, took steps to sell them. On March 18, 2025, Sohaib drove to a firearm company in Farnham, Virginia, with his domestic partner, who completed paperwork for a transaction to sell the company seven firearms. As a convicted felon, Sohaib could not legally possess firearms. On June 6, 2015, Muneeb and Sohaib pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, and conspiracy to access a government computer without authorization. Muneeb also pled guilty to accessing a protected computer without authorization, making a false statement, and obstructing justice. On Oct. 2, 2015, Muneeb was sentenced to three years and three months in prison; Sohaib was sentenced to two years in prison. Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FDIC-OIG, DHS-OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by: the Department of Agriculture OIG; Department of Education OIG; Environmental Protection Agency OIG; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission OIG; Federal Reserve Board OIG; Department of Health and Human Services OIG; DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG; Department of the Interior OIG; International Development Finance Corporation OIG; Department of Justice OIG; Department of Labor OIG; Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG; Small Business Administration OIG; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Capitol Police; Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department; and the Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.


title: Fraud Promoter Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Fraud Charges Involving Manipulation of Stolen Checks

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATLANTA – Shamarri Tache Brooks has pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in connection with a scheme arising from the widespread theft of checks from the mail. “Brooks used his music and social media accounts to promote fraud as a lifestyle rather than a scourge,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Those who treat fraud like a game gamble with their freedom because my office will vigorously prosecute the perpetrators of financial crimes that undermine our postal and financial systems, erode trust, and disrupt the lives of everyday people.” “For those who think they can take the easy road to financial gains by stealing money people have worked hard for, the FBI will hold you accountable for the pain and losses you cause,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “The FDIC Office of Inspector General is pleased to join our law enforcement partners in this impactful prosecution,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Atlanta Region. “This investigation reflects the FDIC OIG’s unwavering commitment to investigate all allegations of fraud that threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial system.” “The brazenness of the defendant is almost unfathomable,” said Robert Donovan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “He openly recruited participants in his criminal enterprise on social media while teaching others how to victimize members of the public by selling financial fraud tutorials. We are grateful to our federal partners for their teamwork in the investigation and the successful prosecution of this defendant.” “Today’s guilty plea serves as a clear reminder that individuals who believe they can conceal their fraud schemes behind encrypted messaging services are mistaken,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “Our special agents, in collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, remain unwavering in their commitment to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the public’s trust.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: From at least January 2022 through November 2025, Brooks committed bank fraud by negotiating checks stolen from the mail. As part of the scheme, Brooks used social media to recruit individuals with existing bank accounts to use as depository accounts for stolen checks. Brooks altered the stolen checks to list the cooperating accountholders as the intended recipients or payees of the checks. Brooks deposited altered checks at ATMs throughout the Atlanta area, often wearing balaclava-style masks with a logo stating “No Free Sauce.” Brooks also promoted and sold tutorials for committing various forms of financial fraud, including check fraud. He sold a collection of these tutorials under the name “Sauce Book” or “SB.” Brooks also sold images of stolen checks, referred to as “slips,” as a part of his fraud business. When law enforcement arrested Brooks earlier this year, they recovered over 600 stolen checks from his residence. Shamarri Tache Brooks, a/k/a Juney Knotzz, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. The sentencing has not yet been scheduled. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The Dunwoody Police Department and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also provided valuable assistance in the investigation. To protect yourself from becoming the victim of mail theft and check fraud, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommend the following steps: Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. If you are heading out of town, submit a USPS Hold Mail ™ request asking your local Post Office to hold your mail until you return. Sign up for Informed Delivery ® at USPS.com to receive daily email notifications of incoming mail and packages. Contact the sender if you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you are expecting. Consider buying and using security envelopes to conceal the contents of your mail. Use the letter slots inside your local Post Office to send mail. If using a blue USPS collection box, be sure to drop your mail as close to the posted pickup time as possible and before the last collection of the day When using checks, educate yourself about the steps you can take to prevent fraudsters from exploiting stolen checks, such as setting up positive pay with your financial institution. If you think you were targeted by fraudsters, file a report with your bank and request copies of all fraudulent checks. Report the incident to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), www.ic3.gov . If you believe you are the victim of mail theft-related check fraud, report to your local police and the United States Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455 . Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Convicted Felon Indicted for Gun Possession

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Lamar Bunch, 35, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Bunch appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. Bunch faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. The case is being jointly investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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 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 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Shreveport Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SHREVEPORT– On April 27, 2026, Felanda Ashton, a 53-year-old Shreveport resident, was sentenced to 211 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking activity. In addition to his prison sentence, Ashton will serve five years of supervised release following his release from federal prison. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) received a tip that Shreveport resident Ashton was selling a large amount of methamphetamine from his vehicle. Caddo Parish SO located 187.1 grams of pure methamphetamine in his vehicle following a traffic stop. A subsequent tip claimed Ashton was continuing his drug operation out of his daughter’s home. When officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant, Ashton fled scene and threw a fanny pack containing 84.7 grams of methamphetamine, suspected Klonopin pills and 10 blue pills containing fentanyl. Officers also located a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle. The DEA investigated this case with assistance from the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 24-cr-00234. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Morristown Man Admits Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Small Businesses by Offering Phony Debt Relief Services

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morristown man pled guilty on May 4, 2026 to conspiring to defraud small businesses by making false promises to induce them to enter debt relief contracts, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. “This defendant didn’t just break the law—he exploited the financial vulnerability of small business owners who were trying to stay afloat and keep their doors open. By peddling sham debt-relief services and diverting millions for personal use, he turned trust into a weapon and hardship into profit. This case reflects our Office’s sustained commitment to pursuing complex financial fraud schemes and holding accountable those who target everyday business owners for personal gain.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “Small businesses are often the lifeblood of local economies. The cash-strapped victims in this investigation sought Csantaveri's help, hoping to keep their doors open during the COVID pandemic. Instead, he and his co-conspirators stole millions from unsuspecting owners. Fraud schemes are insidious and can take on many different forms and dimensions. If you or anyone you know has been swindled by fraudsters, please contact FBI Newark at 800-CALL-FBI,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. Mark Csantaveri, 53, of Morristown, New Jersey, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court to a single-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The sentencing date is scheduled for September 29, 2026. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Csantaveri and his co-conspirators operated businesses that purported to provide small businesses with debt relief services. As part of the scheme, Csantaveri induced victims to make regular payments to one of Csantaveri’s businesses by falsely claiming that he would hold their money while negotiating favorable settlements with the victims’ creditors. Instead of using victim funds as promised, Csantaveri and his co-conspirators misappropriated it for their personal use, including over $1 million in gambling expenses. Over the course of the conspiracy, Csantaveri’s businesses took in approximately $3.7 million from small businesses and transferred approximately $3 million to Csantaveri’s and his co-conspirators’ accounts. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss involved in the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman, Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Kristen Santillo, New York, NY csantaveri.information.pdf


title: Jenks Man Sentenced After Breaking Girlfriend’s  Leg in Three Places

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Jenks man was sentenced after being found guilty by a federal jury for breaking his girlfriend’s shin and ankle during an argument, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jamon Charles Phetsacksith, 27, to 33 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. In January, a federal jury convicted Phetsacksith of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. In November 2024, Phetsacksith was drinking and hanging out with his girlfriend. Phetsacksith had a key to his work and drove his girlfriend to pick up his paycheck after hours. After arriving, the two began arguing. The victim testified at trial and explained to the jury that she attempted to de-escalate the situation by leaving. Video surveillance shows Phetsacksith chasing after the victim and keeping her from leaving. He is then seen pushing the victim. The jury heard the defendant's 911 call, where he claimed that she had fallen down a flight of stairs and was in need of medical attention. When the victim was separated from Phetsacksith, she told EMSA personnel that he assaulted her. Tulsa Police officers responded to the scene and spoke with EMSA, the victim, and Phetsacksith. The body camera played for the jury showed Phetsacksith explaining that they were drunk, had a fight, and “it got out of hand.” He later told officers that he threw her around. When the trauma surgeon testified, he explained that the victim broke her leg in three places. Her left ankle was fractured, and her tibia and fibula bones were broken in half, requiring surgical rods and screws to be implanted. Phetsacksith is a member of the Osage Nation, and he will continue to remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case. If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777


title: MS-13 Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Racketeering

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a previously-unsolved murder. Adam Rodriguez, a/k/a “Pelon,” 35, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Rodriguez was charged in November 2023 . Rodriguez, along with co-defendants William Pineda Portillo , a/k/a “Humilde” and Jose Vazquez, a/k/a “Cholo” a/k/a “Little Crazy,” conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010 in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent re-examination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder. In the week leading up to the incident, Rodriguez, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Rodriguez, Vasquez, other MS-13 members, and the victim in Allston and drove the group to Chelsea. Once there, Rodriguez, Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock, another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete and Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife. An undercover recording of an MS-13 meeting that took place on Jan. 27, 2011 – approximately six weeks after the murder – captured Rodriguez acknowledging his participation in the murder and other gang members disciplining him for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission. Vasquez was also identified as being present for the meeting. In July 2025 , Vasquez was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Vasquez was already serving a 212-month prison sentence for a May 2018 federal conviction for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Vasquez will serve a total of 37 years for his crimes. Also in July 2025, Pineda Portillo, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for His Role in Conspiracies to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and Laundering the Proceeds

body_text: BOSTON – A Tucson, Ariz., man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in distributing truckloads of fentanyl and cocaine and then laundering the proceeds. Reginel Cazares, a/k/a “Junior,” 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 160 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2026 , Cazares pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine) and money laundering conspiracy. Cazares was indicted on June 13, 2024. In August 2023, law enforcement learned about an individual named “Junior” – later identified as Cazares – based in Tucson, Ariz., who organized multi-kilogram deliveries of fentanyl and cocaine from California to Massachusetts. The kilograms were driven by tractor trailer from the area of Ontario, Calif., to Massachusetts. In November and December of 2023 Cazares directed a cooperating witness to pick up $600,00 in drug proceeds from two co-defendants in Tewksbury, Mass. On Feb. 16, 2024, Cazares directed the cooperating witness to pick up four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine in Ontario, Calif., which were to be driven to Massachusetts and the Carolinas. The narcotics were intercepted by law enforcement. In 2012, Cazares was convicted of cocaine conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Riverside (Calif.), Bakersfield (Calif.) and Tucson (Ariz.) DEA Offices; San Bernadino County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department; Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Methuen Police Department; and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Port St. Lucie Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Port St. Lucie man who attempted to obtain thousands of fentanyl pills through the mail and kept a firearm alongside drug proceeds was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed the sentence on Juneem Jermain Barnes, 34, after he pleaded guilty to attempting to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “Fentanyl is killing Americans every day, and those who distribute it are fueling that crisis for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant trafficked thousands of counterfeit pills designed to look like legitimate prescription medication and kept a loaded firearm alongside drug proceeds and distribution tools. That combination of fentanyl and firearms is a direct threat to public safety. In South Florida, if you poison our communities for profit, you will be prosecuted and sent to federal prison.” According to court documents, Barnes attempted to receive a mail parcel containing at least 15,000 fentanyl pills at his residence. The pills were pressed to resemble pharmaceutical oxycodone. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Barnes’s home and discovered an additional parcel containing fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone, three pounds of marijuana, more than $35,000 in cash, a money counting machine, and other items used to package and distribute narcotics. Law enforcement also located a Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun near the cash and counting machine. In total, law enforcement seized approximately 2,000 grams of fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement. DEA Miami Field Division, West Palm Beach District Office, and USPIS Miami investigated the case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Palm Beach Resident Agency, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and Jupiter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Funk prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-14065. ###


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Orchestrating Counterfeit Money Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a prison term in federal court today, in connection with a counterfeit money scheme he orchestrated while on federal supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jason Christian Evans, 51, of Dundalk, to 32 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the purchase of counterfeit obligations or securities. Evans purchased and possessed counterfeit federal reserve notes or United States currency that he then used at several stores. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Brian McDonough, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Chief Tim Damon, York County Regional Police Department (YCRPD); Chief Todd King, Springettsbury Police Department (SPD); and Chief James Boddington, Southern Regional Police Department (SRPD). According to court documents, on January 30, 2025, after serving a sentence for bank fraud, Evans broke the terms of his supervised release by traveling to Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania, Evans used counterfeit currency to make purchases at a minimum of five different Giant Food and Weis Market grocery stores. Then on April 17, law enforcement arrested Evans, in connection with the scheme, while executing a federal search warrant on his Dundalk residence. During the search, investigators seized two cell phones; five computers, including an HP laptop; and counterfeit detecting pens. Evans confessed to purchasing the counterfeit currency and using it in Pennsylvania. He also acknowledged he used his HP laptop to purchase the counterfeit currency on the dark web from the site “Abacus Market.” A forensic analysis of the HP laptop revealed zip files that included information about how to age counterfeit currency. The laptop also contained a video demonstrating how to avoid counterfeit-pen detection. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USSS, BCPD, YCRPD, SPD, and SRPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and John J. Truex Chung who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Italian National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luigi Esposito, age 60, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry into the United States. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Esposito was encountered in the United States in Franklin County on or about April 21, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2019, and that he did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #