title: Great Falls man convicted of illegal possession of guns and ammunition

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who possessed guns and ammunition illegally was found guilty by a federal jury today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Ian Allister Tomlinson, 45, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Tomlinson faces 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for December 17, 2025, in Great Falls. Tomlinson will remain released on conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Tomlinson was convicted in the District Court for the First Judicial District of the State of Idaho of felony possession of a controlled substance. On July 9, 2024, Tomlinson appeared in person and was sentenced to a minimum fixed and determinate period of custody of one year followed by an indeterminate period of custody of up to one year, for a total unified sentence not to exceed two years. The Court suspended the sentence for two years and placed Tomlinson on probation for a period of two years. That same day, Tomlinson signed an acceptance of probation statement, acknowledging he understood the conditions of his probation. Thereafter, Tomlinson’s supervision was transferred to the State of Montana Probation and Parole. In August 2024, Tomlinson signed an acknowledgement that his right to possess or own firearms or ammunition was suspended while on supervision. Specifically, he signed a Firearms and Voting Regulations form which states: I further understand that my right to possess or own firearms or ammunition is suspended while under supervision . Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing or receive firearms or ammunition [Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1)] Therefore, I understand I could be prosecuted for violation Federal law. I also understand that I could be punished for violating my conditions of supervision AND federally prosecuted. The next day, Tomlinson signed his conditions of probation and parole. Condition 15 states: “Weapons: I will not use, own, possess, transfer, or be in control of any firearms, ammunition (including black powder), or weapons.” On October 4, 2024, a witness contacted the Probation and Parole Office and reported that Tomlinson had a gun safe with several guns inside it a local storage unit. Probation and Parole officers located Tomlinson at his place of employment. He provided the combination to the gun safe and admitted he had several firearms in the safe as well as some of his personal paperwork. Probation and Parole officers located five rifles, six pistols, miscellaneous ammunition, Tomlinson’s passport, and other paperwork belonging to him inside the safe. They also recovered surveillance footage from the storage facility showing Tomlinson accessed the storage unit a few days prior to the search. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by State of Montana Probation and Parole Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Jasper County felon sentenced for federal firearms and drug trafficking crimes

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Buna man has been sentenced to over 33 years in federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Leotis Cornelius McMahon, 48, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on February 5, 2025. McMahon was sentenced to 400 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on August 27, 2025. According to information presented in court, in 2023, law enforcement was investigating McMahon for distributing narcotics within Southeast Texas. On January 5, 2024, following a prolonged surveillance operation, a traffic stop was conducted on McMahon in Lumberton where he was found to be transporting nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine. After the traffic stop, a search warrant for McMahon’s residence in Buna was obtained and executed. Law enforcement discovered materials used in the distribution of narcotics as well as four separate firearms, one being an AR style pistol. One of the firearms seized from McMahon’s residence was stolen. McMahon was operating what was described as a mobile illegal drug shop. The amounts of controlled substances, along with the tools used in trafficking such as scales and bags used for distribution, seized from McMahon indicated that he was dealing significant quantities of drugs for profit. Further investigation revealed McMahon is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations; Lumberton Police Department; Jasper County Sheriff’s Office; Beaumont Police Department; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross. ###


title: Nevada, Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Approximately $1.5 Million from Employer and Filing a False Tax Return

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Nevada, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which he embezzled approximately $1.5 million from his employer and to failing to disclose the embezzled funds as income on his federal income tax returns. Justin R. Marquardt, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. By pleading guilty today, Marquardt admitted that he stole approximately $1.5 million from his employer’s bank accounts and used those funds for his personal benefit. Marquardt held the title of executive director at his company and by virtue of his position, had access to all company finances and financial accounts from 1994 to 2023. As part of his scheme, Marquardt, without authorization, transferred funds from his employer’s bank accounts to his personal accounts and wrote himself unauthorized checks from business bank accounts. Marquardt spent most of the money on personal expenses, including travel and gambling online and at casinos. To hide his embezzlement, Marquardt omitted these unauthorized transactions from the business’s QuickBooks ledger that he provided to an accountant and tax preparer. Marquardt also recorded false and fraudulent payments as business expenses in the QuickBooks records to conceal his embezzlement. For tax years 2017 – 2020 and 2023, Marquardt filed United States federal income tax returns on Forms 1040 in which he willfully failed to report his embezzled income. Under federal statutes, Marquardt is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on the wire fraud count and up to 3 years’ imprisonment on the filing a false tax return count. 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 Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.


title: Denver Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Crimes

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Walter Conwell, age 41, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release for two counts of interstate transportation of an individual for prostitution. According to the plea agreement, Conwell recruited two victims to work for him as prostitutes and transported them between states. He advertised the victims on various websites and made numerous promises to each victim, to include providing housing, cars, health insurance, and clothing, which he never delivered. He coerced and harassed one of the victims, including withholding her money and property. The other victim was under 18 at the time of the crime. Conwell traveled to Texas and drove the underage victim to Colorado, where he engaged in sex acts with the victim prior to promoting the victim for prostitution. “Federal prison is the appropriate place for a man who somehow convinced himself it was okay to take everything from these young women and sell them for sex,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for survivors of human trafficking.” “Like all sex traffickers, this man preyed on people who were vulnerable. The lack of respect he showed for basic human values is appalling,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “His survivors face a difficult recovery process, but they are now on that path and their abuser is in prison, where he belongs. Combatting human trafficking continues to be an FBI priority as we work to keep communities safe.” Senior United States District Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the sentencing on August 21, 2025. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Alecia L. Riewerts. Case Number: 1:21-cr-00364-CMA


title: Madison Man Indicted for Producing and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, returned an indictment today against Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, 30, of Madison. Gilkey-Meisegeier is charged with producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on May 16, 2025, Gilkey-Meisegeier produced and attempted to produce images of child pornography, and further that he possessed images of child pornography on June 1, 2025. If convicted of either of the production related charges, Gilkey-Meisegeier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The possession count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Sun Prairie Police Department with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


title: Movie Producer Arrested on Federal Indictment Charging Him with $12 Million Schemes to Defraud Victims, Including Film Projects

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former San Fernando Valley resident who worked as a producer and accountant in the movie business was arrested today on a 21-count federal grand jury indictment alleging he defrauded victims, including independent film projects, out of more than $12 million, in part by causing them to pay for COVID-19 testing that never occurred and misappropriating funds from film projects for his own personal use. David Raymond Brown, 39, formerly known as “David Brown Levy” and “David Addison Brown,” a former Sherman Oaks resident now living in West Columbia, South Carolina, is charged with nine counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of transactional money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Brown made his initial appearance today in United States District Court in Columbia, South Carolina. Brown’s arraignment is expected in the coming weeks in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. According to an indictment that a federal grand jury returned on August 20, Brown worked in the movie industry in various roles, including as a producer, unit production manager, and production accountant. He worked on various independent film projects to which he owed a fiduciary duty to their production companies. From December 2021 to August 2025, Brown defrauded his victims via several methods, including by misappropriating funds belonging to film production companies by causing money to be transferred from the companies’ financial accounts to accounts that Brown controlled. To create the false impression that the misappropriated funds were to be used for legitimate production expenses, Brown caused the film production companies to make payments to Hollywood Covid Testing LLC, a Studio City-based company he organized and operated, for services never rendered or already paid for, including by using false or duplicative invoices. Brown also represented to an individual referred to in the indictment as “Victim 1” that Brown would pool money with him to make real estate investments as part of a house-flipping business. Brown contributed minimal funds and took some of Victim’s 1’s money to maintain his own lifestyle. Separately, Brown represented to another individual – referred to in the indictment as “Victim 2” – that they would contribute money to a company Brown controlled called Film Holdings Capital. The funds then were supposed to provide loans and other financing to film projects. Brown contributed minimal funds to Film Holdings Capital and – without Victim 2’s knowledge or consent – spent a substantial portion of Victim 2’s money on maintaining his lifestyle and repaying prior victims, including Victim 1 and the film production companies, in a Ponzi-like scheme. To inflate his résumé and credibility in the film industry – and to induce Victim 2 to give him more money – Brown provided Victim 2 a copy of another person’s IMDb (Internet Movie Database) profile, which Brown claimed to be his own. To ensure Victims 1 and 2 would not be discouraged from doing business with him, Brown concealed from them numerous facts about himself, including a May 2023 article in the Los Angeles Times detailing numerous fraud accusations made against him. He also concealed numerous lawsuits filed against him that alleged fraud. Instead of using his victims’ money on film productions as he promised, Brown used their funds to purchase vehicles such as a 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and three Teslas, including a 2024 Cybertruck. He also made mortgage payments on his personal residence and on home remodeling, including approximately $99,000 for the installation of a pool. Brown also used his victims’ money to buy a house for his mother, make payments to members of his family, pay for more than $70,000 on surrogacy and related services, private school tuition payments, and more than $970,000 in payments pertaining to “Untitled SLA,” the working title for a film project relating to the 1974 kidnapping and indoctrination of Patricia Hearst by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a domestic terrorist group. To create the false impression that he had not misspent Victim 2’s money and that Film Holdings Capital was appropriately operating as a film finance business, Brown – among other things – tricked and fraudulently induced a third party into signing backdated loan documents and withheld purported health insurance payments from employees’ payroll while failing to maintain their health insurance coverage. In total, the loss to victims exceeds $12 million. An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Brown would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for each aggravated identity theft count. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Joshua O. Mausner of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and Sarah E. Spielberger of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Carrollton woman sentenced for federal drug trafficking conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Carrollton woman has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jessica Marie Ruiz, 43, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 27, 2025. According to information presented in court, in 2021, Ruiz and her husband, Wesley Ruiz, were operating a methamphetamine trafficking organization while Wesley Ruiz was incarcerated for the murder of a Dallas police officer. Wesley Ruiz used a contraband cell phone to communicate with Jessica Ruiz and their Mexico-based methamphetamine source of supply to move 18-wheeler trucks hauling kilogram quantities of methamphetamine across the U.S.-Mexico border. Jessica Ruiz would then receive the drug shipments from truck drivers in North Texas and store the methamphetamine at her Carrollton residence before it was trafficked across the United States, including into the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for re-distribution within the prison. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the North Texas Strike Force and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne. ###


title: Helena man sentenced to over 10 years in prison on drug charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Helena man who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 148 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. David Alan Moorse, 39, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement received information David Moorse was distributing fentanyl powder in Montana. Moorse told one source he had a good hook up in Helena and sent pictures of a brick of fentanyl powder. On January 9, 2025, Moorse was located at a casino in Helena, Montana, and arrested for a state probation violation warrant. He had 94 grams of methamphetamine, 106 grams of fentanyl pills and 25 grams of fentanyl powder in his vehicle. Moorse admitted in an interview that he sold one to ten fentanyl pills a day to make a little money to buy a few grams of meth for personal use. Moorse denied distributing a large quantity of drugs despite the quantity located in the car. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Moorse’s phone and found messages related to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Deer Lodge man sentenced to prison on illegal firearm possession

body_text: MISSOULA – A Deer Lodge man who possessed a firearm illegally was sentenced today to 21 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Christopher Allen Rochon, 42, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that on June 17, 2022, Rochon was convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute in Powell County. He was sentenced to six years to the Montana Department of Corrections, with four of those years suspended. On April 20, 2024, law enforcement officers stopped Rochon’s vehicle for a traffic infraction outside Anaconda. They conducted a probation search of the vehicle and found a backpack that contained a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm box of ammunition with 45 rounds. Rochon admitted he had used the firearm previously. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Anaconda Police Department and State of Montana Probation and Parole Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Smuggler of Egyptian Antiquities Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ashraf Omar Eldarir was sentenced by United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner to six months in prison for smuggling Egyptian antiquities into the United States through John F. Kennedy International Airport. During the course of this investigation, more than 600 Egyptian artifacts were recovered after having been smuggled through Eldadir’s smuggling network. Eldarir previously pleaded guilty in February 2025 to four counts of smuggling. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); and Francis J. Russo, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office (CBP), announced the sentence. “The defendant looted Egypt’s cultural treasures and lied to U.S. Customs about them as part of a web of deception he spun to illegally fill his pockets with cash,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Those who steal cultural treasures of other countries and smuggle them into the United States should know that they will be held accountable for their crimes. We commend our HSI and CBP partners for their diligent and important work in this case and look forward to repatriating to Egypt the recovered antiquities.” “Safeguarding cultural heritage is an often-overlooked yet important aspect of border security, as smugglers frequently exploit similar vulnerabilities to transport stolen artifacts and other illicit goods,” stated CBP Director of Field Operations Russo. “In this case, the profit-driven defendant lied during border inspection to conceal priceless antiquities, but the vigilance of CBP officers uncovered the truth. Every day, our officers work tirelessly to protect both our security and the cultural heritage of nations worldwide, and while doing so, uncover other sophisticated smuggling plots. Strong partnerships with agencies like HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are critical to this mission, and CBP remains committed to preserving history while enforcing the law.” As set forth in the indictment and in other court filings, Eldarir was a prolific trafficker of ancient Egyptian artifacts. On at least four separate occasions from April 2019 to January 22, 2020, Eldarir smuggled ancient Egyptian artifacts into the United States. Each time, Eldarir used fake provenances to sell those artifacts at U.S.-based auction houses. Provenances are documents reflecting the history of ownership and custody of artifacts, which are used to establish that the artifacts are genuine and that they were not illegally excavated or stolen. On January 22, 2020, Eldarir, travelling from Egypt, arrived at JFK Airport and falsely declared to CBP that he was carrying goods valued at only $300. When CBP officers opened Eldarir’s three checked suitcases, they found the suitcases filled with 590 valuable artifacts that were bubble and foam-wrapped. When the wrapping was opened, loose sand and dirt spilled out of the packaging, indicating that the artifacts had been recently excavated. Among the items recovered by law enforcement officers were gold amulets from a funerary set and wooden tomb model figures with linen garments dating to approximately 1900 BCE. Eldarir was also in possession of a kit of materials used to fabricate documentation for the stolen items. Further investigation following Eldarir’s arrest at JFK Airport led to the recovery of additional illegally imported artifacts that have since been forfeited, along with the 590 artifacts seized at the time of Eldarir’s arrest. Assistant United States Attorneys William P. Campos and Nomi Berenson are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Amara Padilla. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Mantell of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : ASHRAF OMAR ELDARIR Age: 52 Brooklyn, NY E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-243 (S-2) (RPK)


title: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Civil Rights Violations

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shane Millan, age 53, of Jefferson County New York, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to 12 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Vance Kuhner, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Office of Professional Responsibility, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, made the announcement. Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Everybody deserves respect, and we will not tolerate the sexual exploitation of immigrants by members of law enforcement. Nobody is above the law.” “U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holds its employees to the highest standards of conduct and does not tolerate any employee who violates their oath or the rights of citizens and non-citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Vance Kuhner. “The actions of this ex-U.S. Border Patrol agent are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values of the Border Patrol or CBP’s mission to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity.” In pleading guilty, Millan admitted that, while acting under color of law as a Border Patrol Agent, he willfully deprived multiple victims of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches when, during virtual processing concerning their admission to the United States, he commanded the victims to expose their bare chests to him via webcam. Millan further admitted that he told these women that his requests were for legitimate searches incident to admission into the United States, but he knew his demands to see the victims’ breasts were for his own gratification. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.


title: Oneida County Man Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Win Naing, age 20, of Utica, New York, appeared in federal court yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography announced Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) The complaint alleges that in 2023, a cloud storage service reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) the upload of child pornography to the service’s platform by one of its users. Based on geolocation information associated with the internet protocol address linked to the upload, investigators from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office were able to tie the uploads to Naing. During a subsequent search of Naing’s cellular telephone, investigators, including Special Agents from the FBI, found numerous images and videos of child pornography that Naing possessed on the device. Agents also found evidence that some of the material Naing possessed had been downloaded using a social networking application installed on Naing’s cellular telephone. The charges filed against Naing carry a sentence of between 5 and 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and require sex offender registration upon release from incarceration. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Naing had his initial appearance on the charges yesterday in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, and was detained pending further proceedings. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Collecting child pornography is not a victimless crime and the defendant in this case will now suffer the grave consequences of his despicable actions. Anyone who traffics in child pornography in the Northern District of New York should be prepared to face swift and immediate justice and can expect to spend years behind bars.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “As alleged, Mr. Naing had a disturbing amount of child pornography in his possession. The FBI remains committed to relentlessly investigating these appalling predators and ensuring justice is delivered to the victims.” The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI and Oneida County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Ithaca Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Offenses

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Zachary Jackson, age 38, of Ithaca, New York, pled guilty on Tuesday to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. Jackson admitted that on November 19, 2024, he possessed a kilogram of cocaine and a Glock handgun he used to protect himself during the course of his drug sales. Law enforcement investigation revealed that Jackson sold cocaine to drug users in the Ithaca and Auburn, New York, areas. Jackson could not legally possess a firearm, as he had been previously convicted of a New York State felony assault for which he served over 10 years in prison. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Drug dealers, especially ones with violent criminal histories like this defendant, should know that law enforcement in the Northern District of New York will find them and put them behind bars. Thanks to the investigative efforts of local agencies and the DEA, our communities are now safe from this dealer, his drugs, and his gun.” Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, stated: “Drugs and weapons too often go hand in hand. Today’s guilty plea from Zachary Jackson serves a clear reminder that justice will be delivered to those who flood our communities with narcotics. The DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities and enhancing public safety.” Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2025, before United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. At sentencing, Jackson faces a prison term of at least 10 years and up to life; a fine of up to $5,000,000; and a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. DEA is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Police; the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force (FLDTF); the Auburn Police Department; the Ithaca Police Department; and the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tompkins County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Sevierville Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Production Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 27, 2025, Lucas Ray Hall, 34, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 360 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Hall will be on supervised release for 15 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Hall agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). According to filed court documents, in February of 2024, a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) containing child pornography (CP) images and an imminent threat to a child was sent to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the Sevierville Police Department (SPD). Based on the NCMEC information, law enforcement was able to determine the computer used to distribute the CP images came back to the home where the defendant resided. Law enforcement determined the minor victim in the CP images was a seven-year-old related to the defendant. Hall admitted to producing the CP images of the minor victim using his phone at his home. The defendant further admitted he used the CP images to go onto chat forums and trade for other CP images within the group forum. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by SPD, SCSO, Homeland Security Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Knoxville Police Department. This investigation was led by SCSO Detective Jerry Vandergriff. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.” ###


title: Former Silicon Valley CEO Charged With Fraud And Obstruction Of Justice

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO — A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Hawaii man with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction in connection with a scheme to defraud investors of $170 million as the CEO and Founder of the social media company Get Together, a privately held social media startup known as “IRL.” According to court documents, Abraham Shafi, 38, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, allegedly committed fraud in connection with Get Together’s 2021 “Series C” funding round, which raised $170 million at a valuation of over $1 billion. In seeking investment, Shafi told potential investors that IRL was spending only $50,000 a month in paid advertising and that user signups “were not incentivized or paid.” However, Shafi had spent millions of dollars on paid advertising in the form of incentive advertising, a type of advertising in which users are provided a reward in a third-party app if they download IRL. In the lead up to Series C, Shafi asked his vendor for a “big burst” of ads for “a few days” to drive more installs of the IRL app. During the Series C process, investors specifically asked about paid advertising, and Shafi falsely responded that “[u]nlike other apps that spend aggressively to acquire new users, we spend very little.” Shafi concealed IRL’s spending on incentive ads by having them invoiced to a third-party firm, ensuring that the nature and amount of the expense did not appear on IRL’s ledger. Shafi continued to conceal the amount that IRL was spending in incentive ads after the Series C closed, instructing an IRL employee to create false invoices that listed the ad spending as being related to infrastructure, or “infra costs,” and falsely telling his investors that the money spent on incentive ads had instead been used for other forms of advertising. When the SEC opened an investigation into IRL, Shafi restored his cell phone to a previously saved backup, resulting in the deletion of records, and instructed other IRL employees to lie about his involvement in the scheme. Shafi is charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, and obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja Paidipaty and Evan Mateer for the Northern District of California and Acting Assistant Chief Attorney Laura Connelly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Shafi Indictment


title: Hays woman pleads guilty to strangulation

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who strangled another woman on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Rochelle Lynn Jones, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of strangulation. Jones faces 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for December 17, 2025. Jones remains detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on June 10, 2024, Jones and Jane Doe consumed alcohol and got into an argument. Jones choked Jane Doe and Jane Doe said she could not breathe and lost consciousness momentarily. Two witnesses observed the strangulation and intervened to stop the assault. The witnesses contacted the police for help. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Oswego County Man Sentenced to Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Daniel LaRock, 21, of Oswego, New York was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison on three counts of possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. During his previously entered guilty plea, LaRock admitted that he was convicted of Promoting the Sexual Performance by a Child in June 2024 in Oswego County Court and sentenced to 10 years’ probation. Later that same month, he possessed and distributed child pornography on multiple social media accounts, including videos depicting very young children engaged in sex acts with adults. In addition to the imprisonment term, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also imposed a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of 15 years, ordered LaRock to pay $8,000 in restitution to victims, and required him to forfeit the device he used to commit the offenses. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “LaRock received an incredibly lenient sentence of 10 years’ probation by the Owego County Court for committing essentially the same disgusting conduct less than two years ago. Not surprisingly, a sentence of probation for promoting the sexual performance of a child neither deterred LaRock from committing the same type of offense again nor did it protect the public. My Office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to charge and seek just punishment for people who possess child pornography.” Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations Erin Keegan said: “Daniel LaRock’s repeated exploitation of children underscores his complete disregard for our most helpless, vulnerable populations. Today’s sentence reflects the utmost seriousness of the defendant’s crimes. I thank HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners for never wavering on their support for victims of unimaginable crimes and their shared pursuit of justice.” This case was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Sex Offender Sentenced for Making False Statements to United States Probation

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ashley K. Whitaker, age 49, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for knowingly and willfully making a materially false statement on his written monthly reports to the United States Probation Office. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting United States Marshal Christopher Amoia. Whitaker, originally from Lexington, Kentucky, was prosecuted in the Northern District of New York in 2008 for receiving sexually explicit images of an Oswego County minor. After serving a 10 year sentence for that crime, Whitaker has been living in Syracuse, NY, supervised by United States Probation. As a result of his 2008 conviction, Whitaker has been designated a Level 2 sex offender in New York and is required by both state and federal law to register as a sex offender with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. As a part of that registration, Whitaker is required to disclose all internet identifiers and accounts. Upon his release from prison, however, Whitaker created and used an email account that he failed to disclose to the registry, or to U.S. Probation, and then over a series of written monthly reports, falsely claimed to U.S. Probation that he was in compliance with his registration obligations. Whitaker will have to serve 3 years of supervised release on the false statement charge. In addition, Whitaker’s actions violated the terms of his supervised release for the underlying sex offense. For that, he was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, and 10 years of supervised release, to run consecutive to the false statement sentence. He will continue to be required to register as a sex offender. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone, III said “Sex offender registration, and truthful compliance with United States Probation is an important part of a sex offender’s sentence. These guardrails are put in place to protect the public and to monitor an offender’s transition back into society. These are simple requirements. When sex offenders fail to comply, we will hold them accountable.” Acting United States Marshal Christopher Amoia, said “The protection of our communities, especially our most vulnerable populations, remains one of our highest priorities. The U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigative Division collaborates closely with federal, state, and local partners to track offenders, enforce sex offender registration laws, and to ensure compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. These efforts are central to the Marshals Service mission of protecting communities and reducing the risk posed by offenders who attempt to evade accountability. The United States Marshals Service will continue to dedicate resources to locating and apprehending sex offenders nationwide, ensuring that those who violate federal law are brought to justice.” The United States Marshal Service and the United States Probation Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican National Indicted for Drug Crimes in Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Mexican national, who has been living in the United States illegally, has been indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug crimes after law enforcement seized over 15,000 fentanyl pills and heroin. Alfredo Tovar-Ruiz, 26, of Mexico, who has been living in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint August 22, 2025. According to court documents, since July 2025, detectives with the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization. On August 20, 2025, detectives stopped a male, later identified as Tovar-Ruiz, in a parking lot as he approached a vehicle that belonged to the drug trafficking organization. Tovar-Ruiz and the vehicle were searched pursuant to a search warrant. Detectives seized 84 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 840 pills), and 29 grams of heroin. During a subsequent search of Tovar-Ruiz’s residence in West Valley City, detectives seized an additional 1,930 grams of heroin and 1,478 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 14,780 pills). In total, law enforcement seized approximately 15,620 fentanyl pills and 1,959 grams of heroin. Tovar-Ruiz is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for September 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Gorham Man Receives 22-Year Sentence for Using Handgun While Robbing Waterboro Bank Last Summer

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Gorham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for robbing a bank, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Timothy Riley , 42, to 22 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, and she ordered him to pay restitution to the victim bank. Riley pleaded guilty on March 17, 2025. According to court records, in June 2024, Riley demanded money from a bank teller at a Waterboro bank while brandishing a Glock Model 19 handgun. Riley then fled the bank with money, leaving the scene on a dirt bike. Responding York County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted the vehicle and followed Riley in pursuit until he headed off-road where law enforcement vehicles could no longer travel. During canine tracking, investigators recovered a handgun and dark-colored baseball cap consistent with items observed during the robbery. Once apprehended later that evening, Riley admitted to the robbery. Riley’s criminal history includes past state convictions for burglary and robbery, and a federal conviction for interfering with commerce by robbery. His criminal history precludes him from possessing any firearms. The FBI investigated the case, with the assistance of the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Buxton Police Department. ###


title: YouTube Scambaiters Help Dismantle $65 Million  Multinational Fraud Ring Targeting Thousands of Seniors

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Twenty-eight alleged members of a Chinese organized crime ring are charged in four federal grand jury indictments with participating in a massive $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors across the United States—including a 97-year-old San Diego widow of a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire life savings. After a nationwide, weeklong takedown in California, New York, Texas and Michigan, 25 of the defendants have been arrested; all are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigations executed more than a dozen search and seizure warrants this week. The searches resulted in the seizure of more than $4.2 million from financial accounts as well as several luxury vehicles, including a 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63, a 2024 Porsche Panamera, and a 2025 GMC Yukon Denali. Operating since at least 2019 and rooted in Southern California, the criminal network—primarily composed of Chinese nationals, many in the U.S. illegally—worked closely with India-based scam call centers. Fraudsters who took the calls posed as technical support agents, government officials, or bank employees, according to court records. Victims received unsolicited calls or emails directing them to call various phone numbers, which, unbeknownst to the victims, were for the India-based scam call centers. Once connected, the scammers used scripted lies and psychological manipulation to gain the victims’ trust and often remote access to their computers. The most common scheme involved convincing victims they had received a mistaken refund and pressuring—or threatening—them to return the supposed excess funds via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards. Victims sending cash were instructed to use overnight or express couriers, addressing packages to fake names tied to false IDs. These were sent to short-term rentals in the U.S. used by conspirators, including the indicted defendants, to collect the fraud proceeds. Notably, YouTuber Pierogi from “Scammer Payback”— which is known for exposing scammers—played a crucial role in documenting key evidence. In a series of videos, Pierogi from Scammer Payback teamed up with two other YouTubers from “Trilogy Media” to publish videos on their respective YouTube channels. In coordinated sting operations, Scammer Payback and Trilogy Media baited fraudsters, confronted them on camera, and published those videos to their respective YouTube channels. Videos posted in 2020 and 2021 helped law enforcement identify Zhiyi Zhang, Dudu Chen and Huajian Chen. All three are named in the indictments. The videos also helped shed light on how the conspiracy operated and led to the identification of high-level members of the organization. For example, Zhiyi Zhang, alleged to be a member of the conspiracy, used short-term rentals under the alias “Cream Pablo” and the fake name “Hans Bum” to receive victim packages. He and others were paid per package and frequently moved locations to evade law enforcement. Zhang alone is linked to at least $1.8 million in losses, according to the government’s memo arguing that Zhang should be detained. That memo says that the YouTubers Scammer Payback (Pierogi) and Trilogy Media were conducting a sting to expose scammers by posing as victims. During one such operation, Pierogi was told by scammers to send a package of cash to an individual named “Hans Bum” at an address in South San Francisco. Trilogy Media followed up by physically delivering a decoy package to the address and confronted the person receiving it, who turned out to be Zhiyi Zhang. Zhang revealed his real identity during the confrontation and admitted on camera to receiving packages for money—essentially outing his role in the scheme. The YouTubers passed the footage to law enforcement, who then verified Zhang’s identity using unblurred video, rental records, and other investigative efforts. Zhang was arrested by federal agents on August 19, 2025, at Los Angeles International Airport. “Not all heroes wear capes. Some have YouTube channels,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Our office will continue to be on the cutting edge of law enforcement techniques to ensure justice for vulnerable victims who have been defrauded by Chinese organized crime.” “This investigation dismantled a predatory criminal organization that carried out a complex fraud scheme, manipulated victims throughout the country, and cost victims their hard-earned life savings” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego. “HSI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners diligently pursued this organization to bring them to justice and help the victims that were impacted. HSI is dedicated to protecting our communities and the people of the United States from organizations that prey on the vulnerable for financial gain.” “This alleged Chinese organized crime ring laundered money for fraudulent Indian call centers who targeted our nation’s elderly citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office. “These arrest and seizure warrants demonstrate that IRS-CI is committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens, while also taking the profit out of crime.” Episode 1 – Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLZbc-Rfbo Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in_Y5q_-F2Y Episode 2 – Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IEgFgO5pKo Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZFmIKJINA Episode 3 – Scammer Payback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQuya3ELKGQ Trilogy Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRoxVMmtDw This multi-year fraud and money laundering investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. A motion hearing/trial setting is scheduled in 25CR1097-TWR for August 29, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson. Motion hearing/trial setting hearings are scheduled for all other cases on September 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari. DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-cr-1097-TWR Hua Wang Age: 48 Flushing, NY Weining Su, aka “Ning Ma” Age: 27 Flushing, NY Case Number 25-cr-1762-TWR Hongsen Cao Age: 24 Los Angeles, CA Case Number 25-cr-1765-TWR Xiao Lei Xu, aka “Xiaolei Xu” Age: 39 Flushing, NY Wen Chang Wang, Age: 26 Detroit, MI Jiawen Cai, aka “Johnny Cai” Age: 28 Flushing, NY Xinyu Shao Age: 27 Flushing, NY Zhuhan Yin, aka “Iron Yin” Age: 30 Flushing, NY [Redacted] Ziyue Zhao, aka “Chris Zhao” Age: 30 Flushing, NY Guangli Lin Age: 30 Flushing, NY Wenzhi Chen Age: 23 Austin, TX [Redacted] Jiaxin Wang Age: 24 Flushing, NY [Redacted] Haotian Zhang, aka “Kevin Z” Age: 28 Flushing, NY Dudu Chen, aka “Norris Chen” Age: 31 In Custody Yuhui Sun, aka “Ian Sun” Age: 27 Flushing, NY Jiaxin Jiang, aka “YiYi” Age: 26 In Custody Dexiao Lin, aka “Prozac” Age: 27 Flushing, NY Zhiyi Zhang, aka “Cream Pablo” Age: 29 Los Angeles, CA Zhiwei Chen Age: 30 Levittown, NY Bing Shen Age: 41 Flushing, NY Zetian Zhang Age: 29 Flushing, NY Huajian Chen, aka “Marco Chen” Age: 24 Austin, TX Chongchong Li Age: 29 Los Angeles, CA Jianhao Gao, aka “Gh Ghao” Age: 31 Flushing, NY Case Number 25-cr-2208-TW Cheng Li Age: 28 In Custody SUMMARY OF CHARGES Count 1 – Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349, 2326 Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison; a maximum $1 million fine Count 2 – Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the amount of monetary instruments involved in the offense, whichever is greatest INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Federal Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation New York City Police Department San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBSD) San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Mountain View (CA) Police Department Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE) Alachua County (FL) Sheriff’s Department Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT) Irvine (CA) Police Department La Verne (CA) Police Department Mesa (AZ) Police Department Sarpy County (NE) Sheriff’s Department U.S. Postal Inspection Service *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Jamestown woman pleads guilty for her role in narcotics conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anabell Santiago, 53, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, maintaining a drug involved premises, and being a user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 40 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2023, a search warrant was executed at a Van Buren Street residence, during which law enforcement seized cash, a quantity of fentanyl, pills, and drug paraphernalia. As law enforcement was securing the apartment, Anabell Santiago’s husband and co-defendant Santos Santiago attempted to destroy his fentanyl causing a large amount of fentanyl to go airborne. Two officers inhaled the cloud with one experiencing physical effects requiring medical attention. In March 2024, investigators made a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Anabell Santiago. In April 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at the Santiago’s Whitley Avenue residence, seizing fentanyl, crack cocaine, oxycodone, two loaded pistols, ammunition, $30,369.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. The defendant admits the seized U.S. currency converts to at least 300 grams of fentanyl. Anabell Santiago admits that at the time of her possession of the firearms, she was an unlawful and habitual user of fentanyl. On January 15, 2025, Anabell Santiago pleaded guilty in Chautauqua County Court to possession of more than four ounces of fentanyl. Santos Santiago was convicted and sentenced to serve 132 months in prison. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson. Sentencing is scheduled for December 23, 2025, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Rochester man arrested, charged with distributing and possessing child pornography

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zachary Guthrie, 32, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing child pornography, which carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in May and July 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received CyberTips from Instagram that child pornography was uploaded by a user utilizing an IP address in the Rochester, NY area. Subsequently, the uploads were traced back to Guthrie. On September 15, 2024, law enforcement received a report from Microsoft that Xbox user HeadStashClass made the following threat: “im gonna shoot up the local preschool tomorrow for the vine.” Once again, the post traced back Guthrie. In October 2024, a search warrant was executed at Guthrie’s residence, during which law enforcement seized a cell phone. An analysis of the phone recovered more than 200 videos and more than 320 images of child pornography. In February 2025, NCMEC received another CyberTip from Instagram involving the online enticement of children for sexual acts. A 14-year-old female reported that she had sexually explicit conversations online with an individual later identified as Guthrie. In March 2025, the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) also received an anonymous tip identifying “Zachary Guthrie” as “soliciting for sex with minor” and “asking local sex workers in the area for girls 12 and under” after a Facebook user posted screenshots of the conversation on Facebook. And in April 2025, Facebook submitted a CyberTip involving child sex trafficking. According to Facebook, a user sent sexually explicit messages to an adult female via Facebook Messenger, offering money to perform sexual acts on her “kid.” Once again, the message traced back to Guthrie. Guthrie made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was held pending a detention hearing on August 29, 2025. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison  for Escape from Custody

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Chicago man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for Escape from Custody. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Terrance Martice Miller, 38, absented himself from a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) where he was ordered to reside after a supervised release violation. Miller left the facility and did not return. In May 2024, while on escape status from the RRC, Miller strangled an adult female victim until she could not breathe. Following a criminal charge due to the assault, Miller called the victim over 80 times attempting to her get her to drop the criminal charges. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Heath Ashley Harmon, 49, received, uploaded, and distributed files containing child sexual abuse material. During an online investigation into the BitTorrent network, law enforcement discovered Harmon was distributing child pornography content over the internet from August 2023 through January 2024. During a search warrant at Harmon's Iowa City residence, law enforcement seized several electronic devices. A forensic examination showed Harmon stored child pornography on seven devices, including a laptop, two phones, SD cards, and other storage devices. After completing his term of imprisonment, Harmon will be required to serve an eight-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Harmon was also ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. This case was investigated by Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Georgia Man Sentenced for Hate Crime Attack Against Letter Carrier

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Washington County, Georgia, man who made threats and racial slurs against a letter carrier and then six months later escalated his threats when he hit the letter carrier’s vehicle with a harrow attached to his tractor was sentenced to serve more than five years in prison for his crimes. William Charles Franklin, 37, of Tennille, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 66 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and pay $5,101.74 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Aug. 27. In March, Franklin was found guilty at trial of one count of obstruction of the mails, one count of assault upon a federal officer, one count of aggravated assault upon a federal officer and one count of retaliating against a witness. Additionally, Franklin was found guilty of a hate crime enhancement for each of the last three counts. There is no parole in the federal system. “We will seek justice for victims of hate crimes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Letter carriers, federal employees and all citizens have the right to live and work in peace and safety. I commend the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service for helping us hold the defendant accountable for assaulting a postal employee.” “As Washington County Sheriff, I am proud that the diverse citizenry of Washington County works together for the good of our community. I am disappointed when I learn of criminal behavior motivated by racial animus,” said Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. “I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that those who commit such crimes will be held accountable and such behavior will not be tolerated.” “No one should ever have to endure hate-filled rants and violent attacks for simply doing their job,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Atlanta Division. “This was more than an attack on our letter carrier, it was an attack on the community we serve. The U.S. Postal inspection Service will go after anyone who uses intimidation to target our employees and make them feel the full weight of the law.” According to court documents, evidence and statements referenced at trial, the USPIS received a complaint on June 11, 2024, and began an investigation into threats and obstruction made by Franklin to a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier serving the Washington County, Georgia, area. Under the advice of the supervisor, the letter carrier recorded the end of a confrontation between him and Franklin, arguing about moving the letter carrier’s vehicle. Franklin was recorded using racial slurs against the letter carrier and stated that his free speech was protected. The letter carrier was recorded stating that if he was off duty, such statements and threats would lead to a fight. Franklin responded that they could “square up” right then. The letter carrier said no because he would lose his job. Franklin can be heard getting agitated and aggressive with the letter carrier and issuing more salacious racist slurs about him and the community where he lives. The letter carrier told investigators that Franklin threatened to punch his face, run him over with Franklin’s tractor and had called someone else to come to the location to bring a rope so that Franklin could “drag” him away. A family member corroborated that Franklin called to request a rope. On Dec. 3, 2024, the letter carrier’s vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run with a green tractor in Washington County. The letter carrier observed the tractor with a harrow attached come towards the USPS vehicle, and he pulled over to allow the tractor to pass. The harrow hit the letter carrier’s vehicle, destroyed a stop sign and fled the scene. Soon afterward, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the USPIS discovered a tractor matching the description in a nearby field, its engine still warm with fresh damage. The tractor was registered to Franklin. In addition, two witnesses reported seeing a vehicle registered to Franklin’s wife, come to the area at a high rate of speed immediately following the incident. Warrants for Franklin’s arrest and the seizure of his and his wife’s cell phones were issued on Dec. 5. After reviewing Franklin’s phone, agents found where Franklin had saved the letter carrier’s picture following the incident on June 11. They found additional evidence that supported the finding that Franklin’s crimes were motivated, at least in part, by the race and color of the letter carrier. Franklin was taken into custody on Dec. 6. At his arrest, agents found two AR-15 styled rifles inside his truck and Franklin was carrying a loaded pistol. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the GBI and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sonja Profit and Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Nevada Man Charged In $500,830 COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man made his initial appearance in court yesterday for allegedly defrauding the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in a scheme to steal $500,830 in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. A federal grand jury indicted Craig Renard Gibson with five counts of bank fraud, one count of illegal transactions with access devices, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts scheduled a jury trial to begin October 20, 2025 before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware. “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the unemployment insurance program. This collaborative investigative effort with our local, state, and federal partners reaffirms our commitment to investigate these types of allegations,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. According to allegations contained in court documents, from about August 26, 2020, to about December 9, 2020, Gibson and others possessed debit cards issued in the names of other individuals that contained unemployment insurance benefits provided by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). After obtaining the debit cards, Gibson and others illegally withdrew over $500,000 in funds from these cards. Gibson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 162 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5,250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent-in-Charge Quentin Heiden for the Western Region, Department of Labor-OIG made the announcement. The Department of Labor-OIG and Department of Homeland Security-OIG investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Mina Chang is prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican National With Prior Drug Trafficking Convictions Sentenced To Over 13 Months In Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria Navarro to 13 months and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being twice removed from the country. The defendant has a prior drug trafficking conviction, where he was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on December 13, 2024, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for 3 counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance and Trafficking Controlled Substance. Gutierrez-Chavarria was released on bail and on February 20, 2025, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by ICE. Gutierrez-Chavarria was previously deported on April 5, 2022, and again on September 6, 2022. Gutierrez-Chavarria was deported the first time after spending 16 years in prison on a 2007 felony drug trafficking conviction. Gutierrez-Chavarria pleaded guilty to one-count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . ###


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison in Connection with Theft of Vehicle from Local Dealership

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Texas man was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison in connection with the fraudulent purchase of a 2023 Ford Shelby F-150 valued at $130,850 from a local automobile dealership. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, Mario Martinez Smiley, 57, of Fort Worth, Texas, fraudulently obtained an expensive truck from a Jackson dealership by representing himself to be another individual and using someone else’s credit card number to make a $5,000 down payment on the truck. Smiley was recruited by an individual in Texas to pick up vehicles in exchange for $1,000 each. Smiley induced a salesperson from the dealership to meet him in Ruston, Louisiana, where he took possession of the truck after posing for a photograph with it. Smiley was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2025. Smiley pleaded guilty to wire fraud on May 21, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement. The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.


title: FORT WALTON BEACH MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG AND MONEY LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Taj Tariq Tamboura Robinson, 35, of Fort Walton Beach, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders who victimize our communities.” Court documents establish that between 2018 and 2023, Robinson was a high-level distributor in a drug trafficking and money laundering organization who provided large quantities cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana to other dealers in the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere. Robinson and his co-conspirators further laundered the proceeds of their drug conspiracy by purchasing and selling real estate and vehicles in other people’s names. “Bringing this polydrug distributor to justice was a group effort, and I appreciate the work our law enforcement partners did to make this happen,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Our North Florida communities will be safer with him off the streets.” “The ongoing commitment and teamwork leading to arrests like Robinson’s shows the level of local dedication that exists to rid our streets of dangerous narcotics,” said Sheriff Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. “We are proud to play a key role in putting those who peddle these poisons behind bars.” “Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder to criminals that if you attempt to launder drug money in Northern Florida, you will be caught and sentenced to serious prison time,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office. “Through the outstanding joint investigative efforts of the IRS, DEA, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, this defendant is off the street and no longer able to peddle poison in our communities.” Robinson received a total sentence of 13 years in prison, which will be followed by 6 years of supervised release. In addition, the government administratively and judicially forfeited over $265,000, two vehicles, and multiple pieces of jewelry from Robinson and his co-conspirators. The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes and former Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Love. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: PENSACOLA MAN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF INTERSTATE DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jovon “Playa Pat” Booker, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering through high-end jewelry purchases, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Booker is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on August 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. If convicted, Booker faces up to life imprisonment on the charges in the Indictment. The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton. 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 ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced to Life Term for Murdering Fellow Inmate Due to His Religious Faith

body_text: ROCKFORD — An inmate at Thomson Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill., has been sentenced to a life term of imprisonment after being convicted of murder and hate crime in the death of a fellow inmate. BRANDON SIMONSON conspired with a co-defendant, KRISTOPHER MARTIN, to beat Matthew Phillips because Phillips was Jewish. Simonson and Martin assaulted Phillips to gain recognition and membership into a white supremacist antisemitic prison gang called the Valhalla Bound Skinheads. Simonson punched and kicked Phillips in the face and head, despite Phillips being knocked unconscious and unable to defend himself. The assault occurred on March 2, 2020, leading to Phillips’ death three days later. A jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford earlier this year convicted Simonson 41, of Moorhead, Minn., of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hate crime, and assault. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Simonson to life in federal prison. Martin, 43, of Brazil, Ind., pleaded guilty earlier this year and will be sentenced on Oct. 9, 2025. Simonson’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Lucas Rothaar, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincenza L. Tomlinson and Ronald DeWald. “Antisemitic violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere in our district, including in our prison system. My Office and our law enforcement partners will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith.” “The FBI and our law enforcement partners hold those who compromise the safety or lives of others accountable, even those serving sentences in prison,” said FBI ASAC Rothaar. “We continue to ask the public to help keep our communities safe from any acts of violence like those detailed in this case by reporting threatening or suspicious behavior immediately to local law enforcement or the FBI.”


title: Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: AMIRE NEWSOME, also known as “Mire,” 22, last residing in Stamford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang. Today’s announcement was made was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John Iverson. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Newsome was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, a West End gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities. Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Newsome possessed firearms, including firearms with extended magazines, and that he sold a variety of drugs. He also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, some of which were used to commit gang-related shootings, and conspired with them to murder O.N.E.’s rivals. The investigation also revealed that on March 25, 2020, Newsome and O.N.E. member Tyiese Warren stole a car that was in front of the Citgo 6M Service Station and Quik Mart located at 2000 Barnum Avenue in Stratford. During the theft, they dragged the car’s driver, who was trying to stop the theft and was hanging onto the car, several hundred yards before he let go. Warren and Newsome then engaged in a carjacking involving a Toyota Corolla in Bridgeport, holding the owner at gunpoint and ultimately driving away in the car. Minutes later, Warren and Newsome committed a gunpoint robbery of the Citgo in Stratford, taking cash from the store and a cellphone from a store employee. They stole three other cars that same night. In addition, Newsome and fellow O.N.E. member Jahaz Langston conspired to murder rival gang members and, on March 7, 2021, shot and severely injured the mother of two rival gang members as she drove her vehicle on I-95. Newsome has been detained since his arrest on August 10, 2021. On August 16, 2023, he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Warren and Langston each pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. On March 9, 2022, Warren was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment, and on April 17, 2025, Langston was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment. Approximately 47 members and associates of multiple Bridgeport-based gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the police departments from Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, Stratford, Ansonia, Monroe, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Eastchester (N.Y.), Rye (N.Y.), and Newburgh (N.Y.). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.


title: Chicago Grocery Store Owner Sentenced to Three and a Half Years in Prison for Fraudulently Redeeming SNAP and WIC Benefits

body_text: CHICAGO — The owner of a Chicago grocery store has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently redeeming millions of dollars in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”). YOUSEF ABU ALHAWA owned a grocery store in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side. From 2011 to 2019, Alhawa fraudulently redeemed or caused to redeem SNAP and WIC benefits for non-eligible items or cash, and redeemed SNAP and WIC benefits on behalf of stores ineligible to participate in SNAP and WIC. Alhawa admitted in a plea agreement with the government that he caused a loss to those programs of more than $8.3 million. Alhawa, 50, of Lockport, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and tax charges. The tax offenses pertained to Alhawa’s filing of false income tax returns for the calendar years 2015 to 2017. The tax offenses caused a federal and state tax loss of more than $610,000. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger imposed the 42-month prison sentence and ordered Alhawa to pay $8.9 million in restitution to the U.S. Treasury, IRS, and State of Illinois. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General. “Defendant’s offense conduct was serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “SNAP is the nation’s largest federally funded nutrition assistance program. His actions not only deprived those programs of vital financial resources that could otherwise have been made available to deserving recipients, but also risked sowing general disfavor and distrust of government benefit systems.”